HIGHLIGHTS FROM
2004
* Hot, miserable
conditions on June 7 cut back on attendance at our 18th annual
caravan tour, this one to Hillsdale #3 and Sioux Creek #4 in
southeast Loup County. But we who went had an enjoyable
afternoon! Sandra & Gaylord Man hosted the
mid-afternoon break in their beautiful new home. As
always, coordinator Melvin Hyde's tour booklet was eagerly
received.
* March 15 History
Day local contest hosted by LCHS at the school cafeteria drew
over 90. Traci Jensen & Jill Petersen, LCPS 8th
graders, won the local history award sponsored by LCHS for
"Exploring the Sandhills, Encountering the
Sioux." Seventeen from Loup County eventually
qualified for state competition in Lincoln.
* 11 Garfield
Historical Society members joined 22 from LCHS for the Christmas
Gala in Taylor on December 7th. LCHS's gift to GCHS was a
copy of the new Nebraska 24/7 which features many photos from
Burwell and Taylor.
* Community
appreciation ice cream social held on July 5th was smaller in
numbers, falling the day after a holiday, but everyone enjoyed a
good time on the museum lawn.
* Sponsored prize
at the Loup County Spelling Bee in February.
* Several members
attended an Orphan Train Humanities Council presentation by
Pippa White at Mason City on March 26 hosted by Muddy Creek
Historical Society.
* This year's LCHS article
in the "Legends and Landmarks" feature of the Silver
Salute of the August Grand Island Independent was on
Loup County's Kinkaid Fair & Picnic held on the Calamus
river from 1908 to 1914 consecutively. Our column,
"Photos from Loup County Historical Society" appears
weekly in the Burwell Tribune, of course.
* In December, quilt expert
Sandi fox, of Los angeles, notified LCHS that a circa 1870 doll
quilt made by Anna L. (George) Smith, once of Blaine & Loup
counties, has been selected for an upcoming exhibition of
Midwest quilts at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C.,
and will be featured in a publication coming out in conjunction
with the display. The quilt has long been in the
possession of the Loup County Museum's collection. Anna's
son, Thurman, was the first historian/curator of this group
& its museum in Taylor.
* All new grave markers are
in place at the Long Valley & Gracie cemeteries in Loup
County as a part of an LCHS effort. Jean & Randy
Harden hosted a "Long Valley Workday" with a wonderful
dinner at their ranch home on June 23rd following the
labors. 21 were present for grand time.
Painting and fix-up went with a similar workday at the Gracie
Cemetery by the president and vice-president pm a later date.
* Two fireproof, locking
file cabinets were purchased for the schoolhouse museum to house
historic Loup County school records. Memorial monies were
used as part of the purchase cost.
* Museum was opened to
various visitors, including individuals, clubs, family groups
and more during the spring, summer, and fall months.
Students from the Loup County School helped ready the museum for
the spring opening in May.
* Largest crowd yet to visit the museum complex on an
all-school alumni day showed up October 9, 2004. This
appreciative bunch noticed many improvements and changes to the
delight of the historical society hosts.
* Memorials were gratefully received honoring Bernadine (Brock)
Graham, Ila Dunne (our longtime secretary), Ellis N. and Annie (Gessell)
Bohy, and Lucille Garner.
* We salute those wonderful members and friends we lost in
2004: Leonard Ingraham, Leonard Powers, Bernadine Trent Brock
Graham, Marjorie Hewitt, and Ila Mae Britton Dunne.
* 
Loup County Historical Society, Taylor NE 68879-0102
Updated 24 March 2005
