Texas Cattle Trail

While visiting the 3 corners area last week, I realized that the Texas Cattle Trail probably moved right through the area where I grew up.

More than likely the cattle grazed up through our east pasture where I played "cowboys and Indians" with my brother and cousins and other friends who came to visit.

The prairie dog town in that valley might not have been there, then, but it was a source of "entertainment" for many years.

Besides the Texas Trail Canyon marker along Highway 34 east of Haigler, there is another marker along Highway 27 north of St. Francis at the corner where the road jogs west for a few miles.

By checking on Google Earth, I can see the route from one marker to the other that they must have taken.

Click on the pictures to see an enlarged version.

-- Editor

High Water Mark - 1935 Flood

May 31, 1935 was a very eventful day for anyone living near the Arikaree, the North and South forks of the Republican River or one of their tributaries. A disastrous flood came roaring down these rivers beginning in eastern Colorado. The lives of people, livestock and crops were destroyed in just a few hours that day. Every canyon, creek and gully became a torrent as the day progressed.

The high water mark at Haigler still sits where it was erected in front of the old power plant (now demolished) as a memorial of that flood.

-- Editor

Bring back Those Good Old Days

Do you remember? If you have doubts about what we kids paid for a coke and a sandwich at Woolworth's in the '50s, here's proof of the era we lived....and it was a great era to live as a teenager!
--Dallas

Who's Heard of Ives in Dundy County?

Do any of you know the history or existence of a town named IVES in Dundy County? I was looking at a 1895 map of the area and see that there is a little town near the current location of Parks.
------------------------------
According to an article found in the Nebraska Historic Building Survey, prepared by Mead & Hunt, Inc., a man named Orin Bert Ballard established a general store and post office on his homestead east of the current location of Parks and called it Ives. The name of Parks was chosen when the railroad went through in the mid-1880s and referred to the location as "Parks".

Rock Creek Fish Hatchery

The Rock Creek Fish Hatchery isn't far from Haigler. Just a short jaunt east on Highway 34 to Parks, Nebraska, then north about 7 miles will bring you to this spring fed lake and fish hatchery operated by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission.

I have memories of the park where we had family and church picnics and trips there to just relax.

My uncle, Lloyd Crabtree, spent many weekends there with his little International pickup and silver camper fishing for trout, bass and blue gill. He didn't much like the carp, but would occasionally bring some of them home, too.

Camping is allowed at Rock Creek State Recreation Area, but it is primitive, so if you plan to camp, take everything you need with you. The only amenity is water. The area offers boating, hiking, camping, fishing and picnicing.

The Rock Creek Lake State Recreation Area is also known as a great bird watching site. The 165 acres of sandhills, sandsage and short grass surrounding the 54 acre lake is a stop over for migratory birds. A little known fact is that the last stands of sandsage in Nebraska are protected in this area.

It is a great place to visit. If you haven't been there for awhile, why not drive up and take a tour. Take your pole with you. (there are staff there to sell you a licence if you don't have one.)

The Rock Creek Fish Hatchery
Rock Creek Birding Site
Birding Trail

3 Corners - We have 2 winners!

Two people responded to the WHERE/WHAT question. Sandy from Wisconsin and CF both knew where it was.

The sandstone marker is Chaffee's Corner. It measures 6 ft. long, but only has 3 feet exposed. It has 40 Degrees North on the east side of it and 25 Degrees West on the south side, with the word Colorado on the west side. It was set in 1869.

There is also a marker of three corners where KS/CO/NE come together. This marker was set by the Bureau of Land Management on June 15, 1873.

This area, known locally as Three Corners, is on property owned by Rex Daniels, Haigler, Nebraska.

On Hiway 34 go to Road RR just east of Laird, Colorado, go south on Colorado county road RR for about 6 miles, then turn east at the T on road 31 for about ½ mile where you will come to a cattle guard. Cross the cattle guard and travel south east along the gravel road for another ½ mile where you come to a fence and a windmill on the left, bear left to the top of a low ridge and follow the dim road to the marker. (Some hiking may be necessary) Please respect the property and leave it as you found it.

Three corners can also be approached from Devil’s Gap by going across the Arikaree River bridge and bearing west, then north to Colorado Road 31.

Can you Guess What/Where THIS is?

We should have a contest about WHAT/WHERE is THIS?

I found this piece of interesting information on the internet and wonder if any of you have been THERE and can tell us WHAT this is?

Click here for HINT

Enter your answer by clicking the word "comments" at the bottom of this post.

Trivia Question: Who can Answer?

Where is the Montgomery Ward mail order house in Dundy County???

Submitted by DALLAS ADAMS

Enter your ANSWER by clicking on the word "Comments" below this post.