Update on Haigler Filling Stations

Wally McKay didn't own the "66" Station in Haigler. Wally's dad Hugh McKay who had come to Haigler from Canada did. Wally owned the Chrysler/Plymouth Dealership on the south side of the highway. Hugh had the service station and the Chevrolet/Buick dealership on the north side of US HWY 34. Hugh passed away January 21, 1955. When I was a lad I thought he was one of the older/senior citizens of Haigler. He was 61 when he died, that doesn't seem so old anymore as I am 64. Ha, how time changes on perspective.

In the winter of 54/55 Wallace McKay took over the Chrysler/Plymouth Dealership in North Platte, Nebraska that he ran for about fifty years. Jack Shinn from Laird took over the dealership in Haigler and ran it just a couple of years. Wally had a very successful business in North Platte. Wally is retired and living in North Platte. Wally still comes to Haigler on Memorial Day, the last couple of years a grandson has driven him down. Wally and my dad Paul Freehling Sr. were the best of friends, Wally was the best man when my dad and mother (Gladys Douthit) were married at the DOUTHIT RANCH north of St. Francis, Kansas on June 15, 1938.

Henry Gies had the Texaco Station and Jim Dexter worked for Henry. Henry leased the station to Jimmy Smith and Jimmy obtained the Texaco Franchise in the deal. Jimmy later built the station on the west edge of Haigler and moved the Texaco Franchise with him to the new station, Jim Dexter worked for him. My uncle Roy Walter ran the old station with a Champlin Franchise for a while. If I am correct after Jimmy closed his west station. Jim Dexter then ran the station Henry still owned but I don't remember what franchise it was under. Henry and his wife had moved to Benkelman where they lived until they died.

I can remember in the 1950's when Haigler had five service stations. There was the Phillips 66, Bay, Conoco, Texaco and Champlin. The Bay and Texaco Stations stayed open twenty-four hours a day. What caused all this to change? When the US Interstate Highway System opened across Nebraska it signed a death warrant for many of the small stations between Omaha and Denver. In the boom years of post WWII and through the mid 1950's US HWY 34 was the most direct route from Omaha to Denver. The trucks that ran that route were the old gas burners instead of the modern day diesel engines. They would fill up in McCook, stop in Haigler for gas and again in Fort Morgan.

I can remember the Rigsby Line and the Red Ball Express rolling into town. Alfred Stute's mother had a sister whose husband was involved in one of those lines. I should have paid closer attention to Royce Stute when we were discussing local history. Royce is gone and probably that bit of information is also. Royce, Albert Zuege Junior and I use to go up and visit with Henry (Pete) Sackett about early days in Haigler. I remember stories but "Albert The Historian" remembers facts and tid bits better than I do. I hope Albert will contribute to this blog. I will try to add some stories this winter and Albert can correct my mistakes. HA

We now live northeast of McCook, Nebraska having sold our place west of Haigler in 2005.The decision to sell was dictated by health problems, diabetes and heart, that is another story. Our snail mail address is 72375 Road 394, Indianola, Nebraska, 69034. Our email address is csfree@swnebr.com. I love to hear from people, I don't like lots of "forward jokes etc" but love pictures and real letters.

Calvin and Susan Freehling