Get Well Message for Stanley Zuege

Leah,
Happy Birthday!! Funny way I remembered your birthday this year. A patient of mine last night reminded me. Stanley Zuege was in my hospital last night. He broke his hip and needed surgery so he ended up here in Loveland. Lois actually reminded me of your birthday. They all say hi. They knew the minute I started talking which Haigler family I belonged to. Apparently I sound like a Gregory girl. Not a bad gig huh?

Well Leah, one more birthday and you can vote. Aren't you excited???

Sherry, I got their permission for you to put a get well message on the blog if you like. I gave the younger Stan the web address to look up the Haigler blog. He lives in Pagosa Springs CO. What a small world. I have heard the Zuege name over the years and so I asked Stanley if he was from Haigler and the stories began to fly. I love these small world stories.

Love you all. Kelly

--Kelly (Beeson) Barger is the daughter of Norm Beeson and Leone (Gregory) Beeson/Carlson

Leap Year

February 29 only comes around every four years.

A person born on February 29 may be called a "leapling" or "leaper". In common years they usually celebrate their birthday on February 28 or March 1.

In the English speaking world, it is traditional for women to propose marriage any time during a Leap Year and in some counties there is a fine if the man refuses.

It was also tagged as Sadie Hawkins Day.

In the Li'l Abner comic strip, Sadie Hawkins was the daughter of one of Dogpatch's earliest settlers, Hekzebiah Hawkins. When she reached the age of 35, still a spinster, her father in desperation called together the eligible bachelors of Dogpatch and declared that day to be Sadie Hawkins Day and that "when ah fires [my gun] all o' yo' kin start a-runnin! When ah fires agin - after givin' yo' a fair start - Sadie starts a runnin'. Th' one she ketches'll be her husband."

The town spinsters decided that this was such a good idea, they made Sadie Hawkins Day an annual event, much to the chagrin of Dogpatch bachelors everywhere.

--Wikapedia

Classmates.com

Do you know about Classmates.com? You will want to check it out if you like to keep in touch or find people you went to school with. There are currently 84 Haigler High Alumni registered. Being a member of Classmates.com gives you access to contact information and the profiles of others who are registered.

Check it out.

Then remember that the Haigler Alumni Reunion is coming up at the end of May and make plans to attend.

Robins have Arrived in Nebraska

We have robins and a pair of cardinals eating from our feeder. I think they might get a big surprise when we get our March snow storm.

--CF

The Long Winter (2007-2008)

I don't know about you, but, I am very tired of winter!

I want to go outside without a coat; open my windows and let the air in; sit on my deck and let the sun shine on me; go for a walk without dodging the ice.

I want the global warming to come to my house!

So let's hope Saturday is a very nasty day if the old adage is actually true: "If March comes in like a Lion, it will go out as a Lamb!"

Ed Card Moves to the Next List

Those of you who know Ed Card, might notice that he is at the top of the 60+ Birthday List and will be moving up to the 70+ List next week on February 27. I'm sure he would enjoy birthday greetings. (even if they might be belated)

Happy Birthday Ed Card!

His address is:

6625 Road 165
Lisco, Nebraska 69148-8819

PHONE NUMBER
308-772-4079

And the Winner IS:

The polls are closed and we have a winner:

There were 13 votes with Dallas Adams receiving 5. Second runner up is LaNeta Carlock with 4 votes.

Dallas's submission has been sent to Floy Ruggles, correspondent for the Haigler Happings in the 3 area newspapers. Watch for Dallas's story either this or next week.

Congratulations, Dallas...

==================================

I got a note from Dallas stating that he didn't vote, but that he thought LaNeta's story should have won... So, in that case, it would make a tie again! I'll send LaNeta's story to Floy for next week. How's that for settling it.??

Sherri G.

Paul Sass Obituary

I wanted to let everyone know that Paul Sass's obituary was in our paper. He passed away Feb. 1st at the age of 71 in Oberlin, Ks.

--Pat Parker

The Oberlin Herald, Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Obituaries, Page 2A

Paul Samuel Sass
Paul Samuel Sass, 71, a long time Oberlin resident and a resident of Cedar Living Center, died Friday, Feb. 1, 2008, at the Decatur County Hospital in Oberlin.

He was born June 3, 1936, at rural Haigler, Neb., the son of Clarence Harry and Ida Ella (Redden) Sass. He was reared in the Haigler area and attended school in Haigler.

He married Axie Irene (Still) McVay on July 18, 1964, in Oberlin. He became a father to her two children, Mike and Leanna. The couple made their home in Oberlin.

In April 1970, he attended the Commercial Trades Institute and received certification in auto mechanics. He worked for the Kansas Department of Transportation and retired in July 1998. He was a member of the United Church of Oberlin and Royal Neighbors of America.

Survivors include two children, Mike and Marie McVay, Colby and Leanna and Bill Roberts, Abilene; a brother William and Julie Sass, Yuma, Colo; three sisters, Rachel Gallatin, Cambridge, Neb; Frieda and Darryll Hosick, Stockville, Neb., and Nancy and Dennis Corick, Corvillis, Ore.; a sister-in-law, Arlene Sass, Stockville, Neb.; five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his wife on Oct. 8, 2005; his parents; two brothers; and a sister Margaret Kunkel.

Funeral services were held Monday afternoon at the United Church.

Birthday Stories

If you have a friend or relative who will be celebrating their birthday and you would like to have their story published in the Haigler Blog, I will be happy to publish it for you. You can make it short or long and have pictures included or no pictures. It doesn't really even have to be their birthday. Maybe you would just like to tell about your family.

I don't know about you, but I find people's stories very interesting and love to hear about what their lives are like. So, feel free to tell your own story, too.

You are getting to know my family pretty well. I hope you will share about yours.

Sherri G.
Click here to send an email

Happy Birthday George and Abe!

When I was a kid, we celebrated both George Washington's birthday on February 22nd and Abraham Lincoln's on the 16th.

Both days were holidays until sometime in the 1970 decade when the congress of the United States decided to honor all past presidents on the third Monday in February.

For most people past the age of 40, "President's Day" still seems like George and Abe's birthday celebrations. I liked it better when we had two holidays in February!!


Biography of George Washington
Biography of Abraham Lincoln

Winter in Kansas

I got this poem from three people, but one of them says IOWA instead of KANSAS.... I think it should say NEBRASKA!!!

Winter in Kansas

It's winter here in Kansas
And gentle breezes blow
Seventy miles an hour
At twenty-five below.

Oh, how I love Kansas
when the snow's up to your butt
You take a breath of winter
And your nose gets frozen shut.

Yes, the weather here is wonderful
So I guess I'll hang around.
I could never leave Kansas
'Cause I'm frozen to the ground!

Happy Birthday to Bernice Douglass

Bernice (Smith) Douglass celebrated her 85th birthday Feb. 15, 2008. (I received a phone call from her that she has been ill.) It would be great to send a card or note to bring cheer her way. Her husband was the late Lawrence Douglass. She is a graduate 1943 of Haigler High.

Address 1296 S. Skyline Dr., Globe, AZ 85501

--Lila (Bullock) Fraunkron

George Sharp's Birthday

Just wanted to let you know that George Sharp is living at the Hillcrest in Wray. His birthday is March 27, and he would love to see you or hear from you. His email is butchsharp984@hotmail.com please help to celebrate his birthday.
--Carla

Leah's 17th Birthday!

Leah Anita Gregory was born on February 29, 1940. She was the first of the 5 Gregory kids and almost 3 years old before Leone came along in 1943. This gave her time to become very spoiled and ingrained in the thought that she was "top dog" of the kids in the family. She was the "boss"... the "leader" into all kinds of things - mischief and trouble!! She mothered us all for the rest of our lives!! And we followed her everywhere - kept her in our sights as the model of "how to be". Still do!!

These two pictures are the first I can find of her. They are taken in the east yard of "The Bartlett Place" south of Parks, Nebraska soon after she was born in the early spring of 1940.



In the "ladies" picture are Esther Bartlett, great-grandmother; Mae Crabtree, grandmother, Alice Gregory, mother and baby Leah.



In the " men" picture are George W. Bartlett, great-grandfather; Frank Crabtree, grandfather; Richard Gregory, father and baby Leah.

If Leah was actually 17 years old this month, here is what she would look like. It is her junior class picture.

After attending Union College in Lincoln, Leah "came home" and worked at the Haigler Equity for awhile until she and Dwight Brewer from St. Francis, Kansas got married in the spring of 1963. They lived mostly in the Wray - St. Francis - Haigler area until their move to Tucson, Arizona in 1984. They have two bright and wonderful daughters who are both nurses, and five grandchildren who are, of course, smart and beautiful (handsome in the case of the four boys).

They are retiring this year... Leah from her real estate job at Long Realty and Dwight from his "rental & property maintenance" job. They plan to spend the whole summer in St. Francis.

Seriously, Leah and our mother have been the glue that has kept our family together through thick and thin. We all love and respect her and hope she has a wonderful birthday.

February Birthdays

Happy Birthday to all the people with February Birthdays!!

2 - Don Harford
4 - Lester Adams
8 - Kevin D. Beeson (Norm's son)
9 - Kevin R. Beeson (Norm's grandson and Kevin D's nephew)
25 - Sally Leinen
27 - Ed Card
29 - Leah Brewer (This will be her 17th actual birthday)

NEBRASKA According to Larry the Cable Guy

What Larry the Cable Guy, a now famous Pawnee City fella (which is IN Nebraska), says about Nebraska

If your local Dairy Queen is closed from September through May,
you live in Nebraska.

If someone in a Home Depot store offers you assistance and they
don't work there, you live in Nebraska.

If you've worn shorts and a parka at the same time, you live in
Nebraska.

If you've had a lengthy telephone conversation with someone who
dialed a wrong number, you live in Nebraska.

If "Vacation" means going anywhere south of GRAND ISLAND for the
weekend, you live in Nebraska.

If you measure distance in squares of farm land, you live in
Nebraska.

If you know several people who have hit a cow more than once,
you live in Nebraska.

If you have gone from "heat" to "A/C" in the same day and back
again, you live in Nebraska.

If you can drive 75 mph through 2 feet of snow during a raging
blizzard without flinching, you live in Nebraska.

If you install security lights on your house and garage, but
leave both unlocked, you live in Nebraska.

If you carry jumpers in your car and your wife knows how to use
them, you live in Nebraska.

If you design your kid's Halloween costume to fit over a
snowsuit, you live in Nebraska.

If the I-80 speed limit is 75 mph -- you're going 90 and
everybody is passing you, you live in Nebraska.

If driving is better in the winter because the potholes are
filled with snow, you live in Nebraska.

If you know all 4 seasons: almost winter, winter, still winter
and road construction, you live in Nebraska.

If you have more hours on your snow blower than miles on your
car, you live in Nebraska.

If you find 10 degrees "a little chilly," you live in Nebraska.

If you understand these jokes, and forward them to all your
Nebraska friends & others, you actually have lived in Nebraska!

I would like to add an other one: If you know who "Larry, The Cable Guy" is, without asking, and you love him, you are from Nebraska.

--Luke Cochran

Frank E. Crabtree - 100+ Years Old

Frank Crabtree was born July 29, 1882, and died on Friday, November 5, 1982, at the ago of 100 years.

He was born near Weeping Water, Nebraska, and moved to Haigler, Nebraska, on an immigrant train in the year 1890.

He came from a family of 11 brothers and sisters, all of whom lived around the Haigler area.

In September of 1912, he was united in marriage to Bessie Mae Bartlett who preceded him in death in 1973 at the age of 87.

Frank finished school in 1897 and taught school around this area for several years. After teaching school, he bought the homestead of his sister, Mary, and farmed for the rest of his life until he retired in his late 80s.

For the past two years, he has been a permanent resident of the Hester Memorial Home in Benkelman. For three years prior, he spent winters in the Hester Home and summers in his home in Haigler.

Frank and Mae Crabtree had five children, one of whom died as an infant.

Survivors include Alice Gregóry of Lamar, Colorado; Ethel Rath of Haigler; Lloyd Crabtree of Haigler; and Floy Fisher of Laird, Colorado. Also surviving are eight grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren.

Frank was a quiet, loving and soft-spoken man with a good sense of humor. He joined the Seventh Day Adventist Church in 1923 and has been very close to God for many years.

The Bible was his very favorite book and he read it faithfully every day up until the time he died.

When he was 87 years of age, skin cancer caused the surgical removal of his right eye, but that did not stop him from reading his Bible even though the vision in his left eye was very poor.

One comment he made when he lost his eye was "Oh, well, I see too much with two eyes anyway."

Frank was never a wealthy man as far as monetary value is concerned, but he was one of the wealthiest men on earth concerning peace of mind and family.

He was deeply respected and loved by all who knew him because he always lived by what he believed.

No cross words were ever spoken from his mouth. His love was deep for all mankind and nature.

One of his favorite hobbies was growing a huge field of watermelon and cantaloupe. If you happened to drive by his place in the summertime, you would see him in his melon patch hoeing weeds in above 100 degree weather. People drove from miles around to
purchase the melons. He always grew enough for everyone.

He loved wildlife enough, so that he never set an animal trap in his melon patch. Instead, he made sure he grew enough melons for the coyotes, coons and skunks to have plenty to eat.

Sometimes the neighborhood children would raid his melon patch. What they didn't know was that many times he would be sitting in the dark watching them and laughing about it. He loved to share the melons with everyone.

Frank was always a health-conscious person. He believed it was healthier to abstain from eating meat and was a vegetarian for many years.

He always made sure he got plenty of physical exercise. Other than the skin cancer at the age of 87, he had never been sick. He suffered a mild heart problem at the age of 99 and never took medication at all until that time.

At the Hester Home, he was still able to care for himself until 1 1/2 weeks before his death.

On August 1, 1982, Frank's family held an open house honoring his 100th birthday. He had visitors on that day from as far away as California and New York. His mind was still alert and he enjoyed and appreciated all of the attention he received.

The local newspapers interviewed him on his birthday. When asked about his secret for longevity, he responded, "I had a good beginning and just took care of myself."

His advice to others who wish to live a long life was "Stay away from wickedness and evil. Take good care of yourself and believe in the Lord."

The most important thing he discussed for many years was the second coming of Jesus. He expressed numerous times how wonderful it would be to be in heaven with the one he loved most—Jesus Christ.

Written with love and admiration by
Eunice Richard
Granddaughter of Frank Crabtree

Services were held Tuesday, November 9, 1982, at 10:30 a.m. at Jones Funeral Chapel in Benkelman with Pastor Gordon Herra officiating. Music was furnished by Eunice Richard, Melvin Fisher, Linda Fisher, Gary Fisher and Leone Beeson. Selections were "Waiting and Watching" and a selected duet.

Bearers were Brent Richard, Gary Fisher, Dwight Brewer, Melvin Fisher, Norman Beeson, Tad Harden and Dan Schorzman.

Interment was in the St. Francis Cemetery, St. Francis, Kansas, with arrangements by Jones Funeral Home of Benkelman.
~Printed in the Benkelman, NE Post, November 1982

Allie (Porter) Bush

HAIGLER--At the age of 104 years, Allie Bush passed away on Monday, Nov. 15, 1999, in Wray, Colo. She was born on Aug. 6, 1895, in Beadle County, S.D., to Joseph Laughlin and Elizabeth (Deeg) Porter.

At the age of three weeks, the family moved to Missouri. They then moved to Bartley, Neb., where Allie graduated from the Bartley High School.

In 1912 the Porters drove to San Diego, Calif., to the World's Fair from Bartley. Allie remembered this as a great experience at that day and age.

Allie married Oren Bush on Sept. 12, 1917, in McCook, Neb. They moved to Haigler, Neb., and lived in this area their entire married lives, working very hard farming side by side.

When Allie was 80 she started painting and enjoyed working with both acrylic and watercolor. She spent much time working in her garden and yard and had many beautiful flowers for all to enjoy.

Allie was a member of the United Methodist Church in Haigler. For many years she was a member of the General Federation of Women's Club, the Cloverleaf Extension Club and the Helping Hands Club. One of her greatest pleasures was going to the Golden Inn in Haigler for dinner and attending the monthly card parties.

She is survived by her sons: Dale and wife, Velma, of Lincoln, Neb., and David and wife, Dot, of Wray; a daughter, Dorothy Clegg, of Wray; a daughter-in-law, Barbara Bush, of Mt. Pleasant, Mich.; 11 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren, and a great-great-grandson.

She was preceded in death by her husband, a son, Donald, and four brothers.

Funeral services were held at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 17, 1999, at the Haigler United Methodist Church with the Rev. Theta Dame officiating. Burial was in the Haigler Cemetery. Spellman-Schmidt-Baucke Mortuary of Wray was in charge of arrangements.

Memorials may be made to the Haigler United Methodist Church.

~Printed in the Benkelman, NE Post, November 1999

Send your Story Soon

Hurry and get your "Haigler on Saturday Night" story written. We have several fun and interesting stories already.

Click here to read all the stories that have been submitted: Haigler on Saturday Night Contest

Just write your story in an email or attach a document to an email and send it to: Sherri

You will be able to vote on your favorite story next week.

Plan Ahead for Alumni Weekend

It is probably not too early to put a note on calendar about Haigler/Alumni/ Memorial Weekend -- May 24-26 - hoping many alumni will "come back home." The Class of 1958 (Stan's class of 6) will be the honor class of 50 years. We will continue the tradition of Saturday open house at the Legion Community Bldg. 2-5 p.m. and the pot luck on Sunday at 12 noon. -- More as things develop.

--LaNeta

Happy Valentine's Day

Note about the Kenneth Moore Article

We read the Kenneth Moore article and tried to send in the comment--but don't see that it made it????? so will email you the comment to post. We were given the article from the mag after it came out--probably because of all the research we had done on country schools? - Anyway- long story, short---and w/ the help of magazine- we were able to contact Kenneth Moore. He is 85 years old and lived in an assisted living center in Tigard, Oregon. He has relatives in NPlatte and Lincoln - and hopes to return to Haigler in near future. We were able to identify most of his classmates for him; he was so pleased- and is going to see if he can locate any of them--if still living. He is most interested in the preservation of country school 67 south and wants us to send him additional info.

--LaNeta Carlock

Saturday Night in Haigler - LaNeta Carlock

Saturday night in Haigler! What thoughts do you have? What pictures do you see? What memories do you keep? If you are older – like in your 80’s – you may look at the picture of Haigler, Porter Avenue, 1925, and remember. If you are near Medicare age – like in your 60’s or more – you will have memories like mine. And if you are younger --- like 50’s or less – you will have still different memories. But ------we all have memories of Saturday night in Haigler, don’t we? These memories may be the same as others have and/or they may be special ones that belong to just you. But, they are memories, forever in our minds, of “our town,” Haigler.

So, what do I remember? I remember always looking forward all week to Saturday night. This was the night we could go to town. This was the night everyone would be in town. This was the night Porter Avenue, mainstreet, Haigler, Nebraska, USA, would come alive with people of all ages. Parents and grandparents would shop (trade) and visit. Children would run up and down the streets. Everyone always seemed happy.

For our family, it was the night we all had to have a bath – before we could go to town. And, we did not have a bathroom inside until the twins were born in 1953. So, this meant taking turns for the big washtub that Mama would ready for each of us. My sister, Myrna, always was my ‘tag a long.” We would look forward to getting candy at the John Kamla store. Saturday night movies were shown at the old Legion Bldg. south of the old bank on Hwy 34. Neither of these buildings stands today. John Corder would show the movies; and it seems there was a large popcorn popper in the back – so we could have popcorn with our movie. I liked the “Green Archer” movies best of all.

Saturday night in Haigler! Yes, there was a time when the streets were busy; the cars were parked solid on both sides of Porter Avenue; and people were everywhere. Today, the streets are usually quiet on Saturday night in Haigler – unless there is a special event at Jake’s Place or the Community Legion Building, or it is alumni weekend. But, the streets – and you and I – will always have our memories of what Saturday night in Haigler used to be.

-- LaNeta Carlock

Prayers for Cal

Feb 8, 2008
Keep Cal Freehling in your prayers today as he goes in for surgery at the McCook Hospital.
-----------------------
Feb 10, 2008
Glad to hear you are home safe and sound... We wish you a fast recovery!

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The Old Post Office in McCook

Have you ever visited the Old Post Office site that shows a postcard collection from all over Nebraska? There are many of them for sale and you can even walk in and visit their antique & postcard store in McCook, Nebraska at the old Post Office at the top of Main Street on Norris Avenue.

When I checked out the site today, there was a new icon on the sidebar leading to their blog. Thought you might like to go read the interesting articles they have posted.

OLD NEBRASKA POSTCARDS BLOG

Kenneth S. Moore Story in Farm & Ranch

One page 26 of the March 2008 FARM & RANCH.

An article by Kenneth S. Moore was brought to my attention by one of my college professors. It would be neat if the other people in the photo could be identified.

--Calvin Freehling

T. W. Douglass was so kind as to transcribe the document, which follows:

In the February/March edition of FARM & RANCH LIVING magazine, Kenneth S. Moore from Tigard, Oregon remembered when snow settled on their bedding. “I was born on a farm north of Benkelman, Nebraska, the fifth of seven children. My parents were Carl and Myrtle Moore. I started going to a one-room school on my fifth birthday, September 5, 1927. I did well in my studies, but had a tough time on the playground because I was a year younger than all my classmates.

In 1930, we moved to a farm near Haigler, Nebraska. The old farmhouse hadn’t been lived in for quite a while and was in poor shape. Two weeks after moving in, we had a 3-day blizzard—each morning, we woke up with snow that had come through the cracks and covered the bed. My dad and older brother ran a line from the house to the barn so they would not get lost going out to milk the cows and tend the stock. Unfortunately, we lost most of our pigs.

I have some photographs from when I went to school in the Haigler area. One shows our 2-horsepower school bus. I’m the tallest kid, second from the right. My brother Willard is at the back of the bus on the far left. The other four (three boys and a girl) were neighbors.

I did most of the driving. We had a good barn and some hay at school where the horses rested and refueled themselves. More than once, that team got us home in a dust strom so bad the chickens went to roost by 3 p.m.

Another photo, taken in the spring of 1933, shows my schoolmates and me. I am on the left wearing a pair of overalls my folks bought me new the previous fall. One pair overalls had to last the whole school year. It looks from the knee patches that I may have been playing too many marbles.

I do not remember the names of everyone in the picture, and would love to hear from anyone who went to that school between 1930 and 1935. When my wife and I passed through there in 1963 or ’64, I called our old teacher. Her name was Gladys Jennings until she married the chairman of the school board, a local farmer named Bill Mahon.

I told her how much her teaching meant to me, and she was glad to hear I turned out so well and had a happy home.

-- Transcribed by T. W. Douglass

---

We read the Kenneth Moore article and tried to send in the comment--but don't see that it made it????? so will email you the comment to post. We were given the article from the mag after it came out--probably because of all the research we had done on country schools? - Anyway- long story, short---and w/ the help of magazine- we were able to contact Kenneth Moore. He is 85 years old and lived in an assisted living center in Tigard, Oregon. He has relatives in NPlatte and Lincoln - and hopes to return to Haigler in near future. We were able to identify most of his classmates for him; he was so pleased- and is going to see if he can locate any of them--if still living. He is most interested in the preservation of country school 67 south and wants us to send him additional info.

--LaNeta Carlock

Saturday Night in Haigler Contest

How would you like to read stories written by other Haiglerites about their experiences of "Saturday Night in Haigler"? Well, here's your chance to not only read other's stories, but write one of your own.


Contest Rules:

1. Write a short story about "Saturday Night in Haigler."
2. Send it to the Editor
3. Your story will be posted on the Blog.
4. Readers will vote for the best story during the week of February 17-23.
5. Winner will be recognized by submitting their story to the local newspapers and a special recognition on the blog.

• The story can be from any era of Haigler History.
• The story will be edited for language and content that might hurt or embarrass another person.
• The deadline for your story is February 17, 2007.
• Stories will be posted as they are submitted.
• Sending a picture along with your story will make the story interesting and might just earn you "points" with the readers!! So they are welcome!