|
|
|
|
|
|
From the Scottsbluff/Gering Chamber of Commerce:
For a Map of Historical Sites in the Area,
Early Scottsbluff Area Homestead
Early Locomotive
Chimney Rock, Near Bayard, NE
|
|
History of the Valley Communities
Scottsbluff/Scotts Bluff County Link to the University of Nebraska's State Museum Site Fossils From Nebraska Counties
Scottsbluff and Scotts Bluff County Scotts Bluff County and the City of Scottsbluff, Nebraska were named in honor of Hiram Scott, a fur trapper who perished at the base of a magnificant formation of bluffs along the North Platte River in 1828. Hiram Scott thereby gained a certain immortality, although many other pioneers also lost their lives along the Oregon and Mormon Trails in the area. Between 1840 and 1870, these "trails west" were used by nearly 500,000 Mormons, settlers, gold seekers and pioneers. The eroded wagon ruts are still visible today. Scotts Bluff National Monument rises above the North Platte River Valley three miles east of Gering and is home to more than 125,000 visitors each year. Originally called “ma-a-pa-te” (hill that is hard to go around) by Indians in the region, the bluff formation was once part of the ancient High Plains. Erosion has resulted in the surrounding valleys. Scotts Bluff National Monument
Scotts Bluff County was originally a part of Cheyenne County, but as the homesteaders began to stream into western Nebraska in 1886 and 1887, they wanted their own County Seat. In 1888 an election resulted in the creation of Scotts Bluff, Kimball, Banner, and Deuel Counties. Gering, one of the first towns in the Panhandle, became the County Seat of Scotts Bluff County. The North Platte River stretches 665 miles, from the Big Horn Mountains of Wyoming to North Platte, Nebraska. Early settlers bult their towns along the river to ensure access to water for domestic use and agricultural production. North Platte River
Like many towns along the North Platte River, the City of Scottsbluff was born as a result of the extension of the Chicago,Burlington and Quincy Railroad through the Valley. The CB&Q Railroad, as it was known at the turn of the century, was later named Burlington Northern Railroad. More recently it was renamed the Burlington Northern-Santa Fe Railroad to reflect the merger of two railroads. The town site, consisting of 15 blocks, was laid out on land purchased from the McClenahan family by the Lincoln Land Company, a Burlington subsidiary, in December 1899. Before Scottsbluff became an incorporated village in 1900, the town site was offered sale for $150, but no one seemed interested. Other towns developed before Scottsbluff, including its "twin city," Gering, a thriving community established in 1887. The North Platte River preserves the natural confines of Scottsbluff and Gering, with the Village of Terrytown nestled in the middle. Consolidation of Scottsbluff and Gering has been explored numerous times, but even though there is an ongoing effort to share and combine certain services, some leaders are convinced that a single-community concept will not occur. A prominent early day publisher, A. B. Wood, wrote in his book entitled Pioneer Tales of the North Platte Valley and Nebraska Panhandle, "After the railroad arrived, it was thought or generally understood that Gering would move over to Scottsbluff, but trouble was caused because some in Gering were not consulted." This evaluation may be one of the reasons why the two communities have remained separate towns. At the turn of the century, the CB&Q Railroad and the Union Pacific Railroad (in Gering) were engaged in several meetings to establish game plans in an effort to get a foothold on rail construction through the Valley. Rumors about the railroad surfaced when the CB&Q Railroad revealed its plan during a conversation over a new telephone line between Gering and Alliance in January 1889. Six months later, Union Pacific Railroad took a close look at its need to expand, and a decision was made to halt all construction on the south North Platte River route. Union Pacific then tried to bluff the CB&Q Railroad out of building its new line, but CB&Q refused to buckle under the pressure. Union Pacific did keep its promise to bring its steel rails to Gering, but it was ten years later, and by that time, the CB&Q Railroad had taken its rail so far that no other railroad could overtake it. CB&Q reached the site of Scottsbluff in February 1900, setting the stage for the newborn village. A permanent train depot was eventually built, but passenger service was discontinued in 1969. Rail transportation today consists mainly of the movement of coal from Wyoming's Powder River Basin to power plants throughout the United States. A month after CB&Q arrived in Scottsbluff, the town began to take shape with remarkable speed. Winfield Evans and Frank Draper built the first store, E. H. Kirkpatrick's general store, which was located two blocks north of the depot. Lumber for this 16x24 foot structure was hauled over from George W. King's Lumber Company in Gering. The construction of the Big Laramie and Tri-State Irrigation Canals in the early 1900’s brought several thousand construction workers into the Valley, and alert Scottsbluff businessmen brought them to Scottsbluff to trade. There was so much business activity that the railroad had to move into another building until the new depot could be finished. A new two-story building located at 17th Street and Broadway was constructed for Andy McClenahan, and Kirkpatrick struggled to keep his store stocked with general merchandise. McClenahan's building was eventually purchased by the Bowen brothers, and in 1919 it was acquired by Charles R. Raymond for the First National Bank. Later the L. B. Murphy family bought the property, and it became a member of a clothing store chain, L.B. Murphy's. Bowen Building - First National Bank - LB Murphy's
The first lumber yard in Scottsbluff was Carr and Neff Lumber. Two ambitious young men from Lexington, Nebraska, Jimmy W. Carr and Warren Neff, rode a work train to Sidney, Nebraska. From there they boarded a stagecoach to Gering, where they bought out an existing lumberyard. When they heard nothing but talk about the "new" town, Scottsbluff, they decided to establish their lumber business just east of the train depot in Scottsbluff. Their first structure consisted only of a frame office building and a livery barn. Horses, wagons and buggies were the only mode of transportation, but with the arrival of steam locomotives, most lumber supplies arrived by rail. These two partners were unaware their business would remain in the same location for over 90 years under the ownership of four family generations - Jimmy Carr, William Trumbull, Carr Trumbull, and his two sons, Bill and Jim Trumbull. Soon the enterprising town of 200 people discovered the need for a church. Community leaders had their sights set on a Presbyterian Church, and their wishes were granted when Reverend J. B. Currens, a Presbyterian Missionary, arrived in town and put up a tent in a cornfield for church services. A more permanent structure would soon be constructed. At first, people sat on pine boards, but the Ladies Aid soon managed to get chairs and an organ, and a stove and lamp were donated by private citizens. The church had the only bell in town, so it also served as the town fire alarm. Within a short time, other churches arrived, including the Christian Church, the Methodist Church, St. Agnes Catholic Church, and the Plymouth Congregational Church. St. John's Lutheran Church and Our Lady of Guadalupe came later. Scottsbluff's main street began to take shape when John Emery purchased a quantity of furniture from Gering's Commercial Hotel for his new hotel, the Emery, which was rapidly nearing completion on Broadway. The hotel had ten rooms, a dining room, and a kitchen. As the town boomed, an annex was constructed on First Avenue. The original hotel burned in September 1929 and the Emerys deposited their insurance check in Casselman's Irrigators Bank. Unfortunately, the very next day, September 18, 1929, the Irrigators Bank failed. Emery Hotel - Scottsbluff
In 1909, Harvey Ostenberg started the Scottsbluff National Bank. Harvey's daughter, Jane, married Hank Kosman, and he became the bank's President in 1951. When the town's population reached 7,000, Scottsbluff had five banks: Casselman's Irrigators Bank, started in 1900; First National Bank, 1902; Scottsbluff National Bank, 1909; Platte Valley State Bank, 1915; and American State Bank, 1919. The first newspaper, The Scotts Bluff County Republican, was published weekly by E. T. Westervelt, who bought printing equipment in Omaha following his term as Sheriff for Scotts Bluff County. In 1901, Ernest F. Moon founded The Herald, and some time later P.J. Barron moved The Star to Scottsbluff from Mitchell. These weeklies were consolidated by H.J. Wisner and A.B. Wood, founder of the Gering Courier in 1912 and became the Scottsbluff Daily Star Herald. The publication remained in the Wisner Family for a half century before being sold to Western Publishing Company of North Platte, Nebraska in 1968. Wisner survived several competitive newspapers, including one owned by the Ku Klux Klan. His editor, Charley Cross, quit and went to work for the Klan paper when Wisner refused to join the Klan. Some of the town's first business owners recognized a future for farming. Many referred to the Valley as "a land of opportunity." From dawn to dusk, farmers harnessed their workhorses to one-bottom plows, breaking sod before sowing seeds for marketable crops that would help carry their families through the difficult months of winter. For more than one hundred years, North Platte Valley farm producers have maintained that same mission. The North Platte River, that once provided drinking water for travelers on the Oregon and Mormon Trail wagon trains, transformed the Valley into one of the richest farm producing areas in the United States. Agriculture was not considered to be of much importance to the area at first, because there were no close markets for any crops that might be raised. North Platte River
The first attempt to irrigate crops in the Valley was during the early 1880's, when farmers drew water from Winter Creek. In 1887, ditches were dug from Owl Creek to irrigate a timber claim, and a furrow was dug from Winter Creek to the dry fields two early Scotts Bluff County farm producers. That same year, a group of settlers from Colorado with previous irrigation experience, moved to the northwestern part of Scotts Bluff County. Eleven farmers formed the Farmers Canal Company, the first canal company to appropriate water in the Valley. It took muscle and brawn to build the winding canal system, as well as financial resources. Canal workers and farmers used every method possible to help raise money for the project. The Minatare Canal and Irrigation Company was the first to start operations to bring water to Valley croplands. George Fairfield, a Plattsmouth, Nebraska surveyor, organized a ditch company in December 1887. The canal system became the lifeblood of the North Platte Valley. With the establishment of the sugar beet industry in 1910, the town's population increased, and a group of well-educated, skilled technicians trained in sugar beet production arrived. Soon there was a need for a great amount of hand labor to raise sugar beets. The arrival of groups of Mexican farm laborers became a functional part of the sugar beet industry. At about the same time, came the Japanese families, whose inherent ability as gardeners made them valuable to farm production in the Valley. The effect of the sugar beet industry on the town's population is reflected in the 1910 and 1920 census counts, which showed a 269% increase, from 1,746 to 6,912. In early 1900, enough sugar beets had been raised in the Valley and shipped to the Ames, Nebraska sugar factory to convince farmers that their land was suitable for beet growing. The Chamber of Commerce began to discuss the possibility of securing a beet factory for Scottsbluff. In 1902, a group of men from Leavitt, Nebraska arrived in Scottsbluff to study the agricultural possibilities. Following a careful study of the Valley, the group offered a favorable report; however, it would be necessary to develop a more extensive means of irrigation than that used by early homesteaders. A company known as the Tri-State Land Company was formed, with headquarters in a building east of Carr and Neff Lumber Company. The Tri-State Land Company set out to develop irrigation in the Valley. In 1908, a committee was appointed by the Chamber of Commerce to travel to Denver, Colorado and talk with C. H. Mosey, President of the Great Western Sugar Company about building a factory in Scottsbluff. But because of a tariff protection on beet sugar at that time, Mosey told them his company would not be interested in building another factory. A year later, however, Mosey sent a representative to Scottsbluff, with orders to purchase a site for a sugar factory and to contract to raise twelve thousand acres of sugar beets at $5.00 a ton. Acreage was obtained , a factory site was secured, and in 1909, Great Western Sugar bought the Ames factory and moved it to Scottsbluff. The factory was completed in time for the fall crop and proved to be a boon to the agricultural interests in the area. The development of irrigation, combined with the proximity of the sugar beet factory, soon made the raising of sugar beets a great agricultural industry in Scotts Bluff County and the surrounding areas. The Great Western Sugar Company became a major link in the region's sugar beet processing indusry, operating sugar factories in Nebraska, Wyoming, and Colorado. At one time, five local factories processed sugar beets in the communities of Scottsbluff, Gering, Bayard, Mitchell, and Lyman. Local farm operators were provided a market by Scottsbluff Milling Company, known today as Hergert Milling, Inc. It was established by Clarence E. Boggs in 1917, but three years later it was acquired by the Mead family. Early day milling never had the luxury of electrical ower, so lights were provided by kerosene lamps. A gasoline engine powered the mill. As farmers began asking for delivered fuel, the Meads built two retail service stations and a bulk fuel plant. Flour milling came along in 1927, when a railroad siding was built to serve the business. When World War II started, the U.S. Army purchased all the flour that Mead could produce. When the war was over, the Army contract ended and the Meads were left with no flour customers. Diversification, however, moved their business into cattle feeding and ranching. One of the Meads' mills was acquired by John Cook Sr. in the mid-1950's, and C. David and Nancy Hergert purchased the business in 1972. Since then, the mill has been expanded to substantially increase the grain handling capacity. Livestock feed is manufactured locally and delivered in Nebraska and surrounding states. In 1987, Hergert purchased the Spotted Tail Milling Alfalfa Plant northwest of Scottsbluff. In 1991, he purchased the Nile Valley Cooperative Grain and Milling Company located on the Scottsbluff-Gering Highway. The feed mill, originally owned by John R. Jirdon in Morrill, was purchased by Hergert in 1998. The operation of these four plants allows Hergert Milling to serve Scottsbluff and the area with quality feed and grain for cattle, sheep, hogs, and other types of livestock. In 1927, Chester B. Brown planted his first one hundred acres of beans. People told him he was crazy by wasting land on a crop that couldn't be sold; however, Brown paid little attention to the scoffers. His determination helped develop the Valley's great bean industry. Dry beans became one of three major agricultural crops of the irrigated areas, and Brown established bean warehouses throughout the Valley, with a packaging system that shipped beans to people all over the United States. Robert L. Kelley joined the firm in 1929, and together with Chester's son, Bernard, became active in company management. Kelley became President of the company, which the Kelley family subsequently purchased. Today, the Kelley Bean Company operates processing plants and receiving stations in Nebraska, Wyoming, South Dakota, Colorado, Utah, Montana, and Idaho. The company's corporate offices are in Scottsbluff. F. H. Schafer Elevator, Inc. was started by Francis Howard Schafer in 1929. It was originally located on Railway Street, across from the Burlington Northern-Santa Fe Railroad depot. The old mill, which the company still uses for storage, is a picturesque reminder of an era that prospered with the arrival of pioneer farm families. During the early years of this company, staples of livestock feed, coal, and salt were the main products offered. Later, Schafer Elevator acted as a broker and purchased Great Northern Beans. In the early 1960's, commercial fertilizers and agricultural chemicals were first being developed, and this drastically changed farming methods. In response to the demand of the farming industry, Schafer Elevator added a line of farm chemicals and fertilizers to meet those demands. During the next 20 years, the farming industry changed from small family farming to corporate farming. Corporate farms employed their own feed mills instead of relying on traditional feed stores, such as Greenwalts, Farmers Union Exchange, and Ramsey Feed. In response to this market change, in the 1980's Schafer Elevator added commercial and residential application of lawn chemicals and fertilizers, while still maintaining its livestock feed base. With the development of irrigation, lands became too expensive to graze cattle. Livestock feeding became a prominent industry in the Valley and prompted the growth of livestock auctions. Scottsbluff became the major marketing center of feeder cattle; however, the livestock industry also created the demand for fresh meat, resulting in a growth of packing houses in the Scottsbluff area. Scottsbluff Livestock Commission was incorporated in 1938, and shortly thereafter, the Platte Valley Livestock Auction Yard was started. The Union Livestock Company was also built in 1938; however, Platte Valley Livestock Auction is the only remaining commercial livestock market in the Scottsbluff-Gering community. Scottsbluff rapidly became the principal trading center of the Valley. The town kept pace with its business growth. Buildings were replaced by brick stores, many of which are still in use today. Concrete sidewalks replaced wooden walkways, and an electric light system replaced the gas lamp. A franchise for the first light plant in the North Platte Valley was acquired by two gentlemen from Denver, and the plant was built on lots purchased and owned by the town, south of the railroad tracks. C&R Electric acquired the power plant and made several improvements, including the addition of a steam heating plant. In 1915, the company ran magnesium-wrapped wooden pipes up main street, which provided heat to many buildings. Ownership of the power plant went through several changes, until 1938, when the State Legislature authorized the creation of public power districts. Consumers Public Power District, forerunner of today's Nebraska Public Power District, became a base of operations for most communities in the Nebraska Panhandle. At the turn of the twentieth century, "wildcatting" was a common term that applied to competition of two or three companies who wished to engage in the telephone business in the North Platte Valley. Platte Valley Telephone Company was established in 1903, but there were communication links with other towns as well. The Platte Valley Telephone Exchange building was located in the 1700 block on Broadway, but was moved to 14 East 18th Street. The company subsequently became known as United Telephone Company of the West prior to being acquired by Sprint, who located a new telephone switching center on North Avenue D. North Central Gas Company modernized Scottsbluff with a new natural gas system that was later acquired by Kansas-Nebraska Natural Gas, known today as Kinder Morgan. During the early 1900's, talk on the street supported the desire of many Scottsbluff residents to incorporate the town as a village. The town builders extended corporate limits far enough to include farmers, most of whom were willing to help qualify the town for village status. A petition was presented to the County Board asking for incorporation; however, two area farmers objected to their lands being included in the village and opposed the petition. The County Board checked the petition and appointed several individuals as trustees. Some of the best farms were located in Mitchell Valley, and Scottsbluff wanted that business. On Saturdays, farmers came to town to shop and have a good time, but the only way the farmers could reach Scottsbluff was to take their wagons through Gering and across the only bridge, a 3,500 foot-long wooden structure located on South Fifth Avenue. Many farmers simply traded in Gering. It seemed that a second bridge was the only answer. After Scottsbluff incorporated as a village, a suitable site was selected for the second bridge, which was constructed on West 20th Street. Scottsbluff soon began to establish itself as the cultural center of the North Platte Valley. A Chautauqua Association was formed in 1907, and in 1908, such personalities as Senator Robert LaFollette and Carrie Nation, the country's ax-wielding leader of the antiliquor movement were in attendance. The Association acquired a 10 acre plot where the current Roosevelt School is now located (on East Overland) and built a tabernacle shaped building for its meetings. A new form of socializing was introduced by Louis Marquis in 1910, when he signed a contract to construct an Opera House at 16th Street and Broadway. The building is one of the present day downtown landmarks in Scottsbluff. The Star Movie Theatre opened its doors in 1914. Other theatres had operated prior to the Star and had had little effect on the Opera House; however, this new theatre had an impact on Marquis' business. In September 1915, the Scottsbluff Star-Herald spotlighted all places of business and entertainment in Scottsbluff, but the Opera House was not mentioned. In February 1916, Marquis mortgaged the building to Platte Valley Loan and Investment Company. One of the last events was a dance given by the Scottsbluff Volunteer Fire Department. The Opera House was subsequently purchased by Wade Flynn and became known as "the Flynn Building." Jerry Tallmon purchased the building in the 1990's. A 1910 check of population numbers totaled 1,746. Scottsbluff was ready to take its place among the cities of Nebraska. The village became a second-class city in 1910, but gaining a new designation was controversial. Some residents believed that city status could be achieved by simply electing a mayor and city officials. The Village Board disagreed, and felt Scottsbluff could become a city only upon approval of the voters prior to selecting city officials. This resulted in a double election on April 5, 1910. The Village Board conducted a regular election, and 5 individuals were elected by 83 voters to the new Board. The town election voted in a mayor, a clerk, a treasurer, a police judge, and six others to the City Council. The Village Board said the City election was not legal, and supporters took the issue to the Supreme Court. The Court ruled that a city ticket could not be elected until the municipality had been declared by popular vote. In 1911, this was done. The first street paving was done in late 1920, and cement sidewalks soon replaced wooden boards on the west side of Broadway. Many new businesses developed, more streets were paved, and a municipal airport was built. In 1940, Western Airlines offered 76 minute flights from Scottsbluff to Denver, Colorado for $11.60. During World War II, the U.S. Army Air Forces operated a satellite air field northeast of Scottsbluff, at what is now known as Western Nebraska Regional Airport. In the fall of 1942, 28 farms were vacated so construction could begin. Some 600,000 cubic yards of concrete for the runways was poured in 45 days. There were approximately 108 buildings on the grounds, including barracks, mess halls, officers' quarters, warehouses, a hangar, a camouflage instruction building, and a bombsight storage building. The first troops arrived in early December 1942. Initially, air and ground crews of B-17 and B-24 bombers of the 2nd Air Force based in Casper, Wyoming, received final training here. In 1944, the Scottsbluff field became a satellite of the Alliance Army Air Field and the First Troop Carrier Command, training C-47's and glider crews. Aircraft and radio maintenance personnel also trained here. In 1947, the City of Scottsbluff bought the air field for use as a municipal airport. Most buildings were sold and removed. From 1970 to 1999, the property was operated by Scotts Bluff County. In 1999, an Inter-Local Agreement was made by Scotts Bluff County, the City of Scottsbluff, and the City of Gering to run Western Nebraska Regional Airport. In June 2003 the Scotts Bluff County Airport Authority was formed and has operated the property since that time.
The City of Gering was founded on April 27, 1887 and was known as Vendome, Nebraska, located in Cheyenne County. The name of the city was soon changed to Gering, in honor of Martin Gering, the city’s first banker. The first issue of the Gering Courier was published on 4/27/87 by Asa Woods. The first postmaster was Oscar Gardner, the city’s biggest promoter. Gering was named the County Seat of Scotts Bluff County in 1888. The site for the city was chosen based on a survey by Union Pacific Railroad; however, the building of the railroad did not progress as quickly as planned and did not arrive in Gering until 1910, ten years after CB&Q Railroad had reached Scottsbluff. Gering is rich in history, lying just east of Scotts Bluff National Monument, a well-known landmark on the Oregon Trail. The Monument was incorporated into the National Park system in 1919. The Oregon Trail Museum, at the base of the Monument, tells a vivid story of the building of the west by means of paintings, sketches, and other effective illustrations. Mitchell Pass, on the Oregon and Mormon Trail, is one of the most famous of all gateways for human migration, dividing the huge bluffs. Robidoux Pass lies south of Gering in the beautiful Wildcat Hills. Trail ruts made by the traffic of the fur traders and immigrants to the Rocky Mountains and the West Coast are still visible in both passes. A rebuilt 1851 trading post tells the story of the famous Robidoux brothers who trapped and traded here from the early 1820's through the pioneer migration of the 1950's. Gering is home to the North Platte Valley Historical Museum, which was completed in 1974. The museum displays thousands of historical articles in authentic period displays. Other museums of high quality in Gering include the Farm and Ranch Museum and Wildlife World which is housed in the Old Union Pacific Depot in downtown Gering. This pioneer city of the plains observed it's 100th anniversary in 1987. From that time to the present, leaders of the community have worked to develop Gering into a tourism town. Taking full advantage of its rich history and premier attractions, Gering is proud of its Civic Center, Five Rocks Amphitheater, highly rated recreational vehicle park, Robidoux RV Park, and it' s 80+- year-old Oregon Trail Days, the largest celebration in all of Western Nebraska, attended yearly by over 30,000.
Terrytown is a 50+ year-old community nestled comfortably between Scottsbluff and Gering. The Village began in 1949 under the founding and direction of famed visionary Terry Carpenter, who served in the Senate and represented the interests of Western Nebraska. Terry Carpenter came to Scottsbluff with his mother and stepfather in 1917. He helped his stepfather in an auto body and paint shop and tried several other jobs before packing his bags for Long Beach, California, where he accepted a position as a deputy city auditor. Subsequently, he returned to Scottsbluff and hit upon an idea to sell reduced-price gasoline. He wanted to bring down the cost of gas, because major oil companies were keeping the price high during the Depression years of the 1930's. Major oil companies retaliated by purchasing the land on which his service station was located and evicting him. Carpenter then moved to a location on South Broadway, where he opened a station and started a refinery to produce petroleum products. A chain of discount gas stations in Nebraska, Colorado, Wyoming, and South Dakota soon followed. Wherever he went, gas wars followed. The Omaha World Herald nicknamed him "Terrible Terry," and he accepted the title as an accurate description of his business style. In 1941, he sold the refinery and other associated businesses to Consumers Refinery Association of Kansas City, Kansas. Carpenter went on to become elected to the Nebraska Legislature in 1952. He served in that capacity for the next 22 years, leaving with an impressive list of accomplishments. As the property located south of the North Platte River improved, Carpenter hoped it would be annexed, but neither Scottsbluff nor Gering were willing to consider it. Carpenter knew how governments were established, so he incorporated the property into his own village and appropriately named it "Terrytown." With the new Village came a horse stable, which later was turned into a popular eating establishment, the Stable Club Restaurant, as well as a radio station, a drive-in theatre, a small store, the Copper Kettle Restaurant, and Terry's Arena, where he sold liquor by the drink long before Scottsbluff and Gering allowed such sales. The Copper Kettle became one of the area's most prestigious restaurants, and Terry's Arena hosted top entertainment events and dance bands during the "Big Band Era." Both were destroyed in 1968 by a fire.
The community of Bayard, Nebraska lies approximately 24 miles east of the Scottsbluff/Gering communities. Established in the late 1800’s, Bayard was named after a homesteader’s hometown in Iowa and was later moved farther south when the Burlington Railroad built a line on the north side of the North Platte River. A sugar factory was built in 1916, which resulted in a business boom for some time. A few miles southwest of Bayard lies Chimney Rock, one of the most famous landmarks along the Oregon Trail. Chimney Rock was mentioned more frequently than any other natural feature in the diaries of pioneers moving through Nebraska. Chimney Rock was designated a National Historic Site on August 9, 1956. It is maintained & operated by the Nebraska State Historical Society. According to early fur traders, Native Americans named the rock “Elk Penis” after the penis of the adult male elk, which made more sense to these indigenous people than did comparing a centuries old rock to a feature from a white man’s building! Prim and proper usage among Anglo-Americans, however, resulted in the more delicate name of “Chimney” Rock. Nearly half a million westbound emigrants and other travelers saw Chimney Rock. Many emigrants, surveyors, and members of military expeditions drew sketches as they passed by the formation, and in later years photographs became popular.
Nine miles west of Scottsbluff is the community of Mitchell, Nebraska. Mitchell was named after a military post, Fort Mitchell, that was built during the mid-1800’s. The fort was named in honor of General Robert B. Mitchell and was manned by Company “H” of the Eleventh Ohio Volunteer Cavalry. Fort Mitchell was abandoned after the Fort Laramie Peace Conference in 1867. Today, Mitchell is home to the Scotts Bluff County Fair, held in August of each year. Several miles north of Mitchell, Agate Fossil Beds National Monument houses many weapons, clothing and photographs that Red Cloud, an infamous leader of the Oglala Sioux Indians gave to his friend, rancher James Cook.
Bridgeport is a proud community of about 1,600 people centrally located in the Nebraska Panhandle. It is the county seat for Morrill County. Bridgeport is rich in history, diverse in population and the home of the Bridgeport High School Bulldogs. The lush river valley supports numerous crops around the city including corn, sugar beets, potatoes and wheat. Cattle feed yards are located on the outskirts of the city. The city includes a very nice, full service community center, fast food outlets, outdoor swimming pool, grocery stores, bakery, flower shop and an extremely well kept golf course located just south on State Highway 88. There are three motels and plenty of opportunity for recreation and sightseeing. Bridgeport boasts a beautifully maintained 9 hole course in the shadows of Courthouse and Jail Rock. Located just 6 miles south of Bridgeport, this course is challenging to all levels of golfers and is a must for avid golf fans. The blend of deep green grass and trees set in a rural prairie setting offer golf fans a unique experience. Courthouse & Jail Rock Golf Course measures 2,941 from the men's white tees and 3,039 from the blue tees. Ladies yardage is 2,468. Par is 36 for this course. Course rating ranges from 67.8 to 68.4. Slope is 107 to 110. Rugged Courthouse and Jail Rocks are historic markers that helped to define a place in history for Bridgeport. Just north of town is the famed “Nebraska Sand Hills Region.” It is just 35 miles to Alliance, NE by way of U.S. Highway 385. Hundreds of overland emigrants mentioned Courthouse Rock in their diaries. Often called a "castle" or "solitary tower," the name Courthouse was first used in 1837. One 1845 traveler described the rock as "resembling the ruins of an old castle [which] rises abruptly from the plain. . . .It is difficult to look upon it and not believe that art had something to do with its construction. The voyagers have called it the Courthouse; but it looks infinitely more like the Capitol." Adjacent to the city is the Bridgeport State Lakes Recreation Area. This 197 acre State Recreation Area sits along the banks of the North Platte River near the historic Oregon Trail and offers fishing, canoeing, boating, picnicking, camping and a wonderful chance to just sit back, relax and enjoy the beauty of this historic area - all within just a few minutes of full service amenities found in Bridgeport. Local residents sometimes refer to this area as the "pits" because it is, in actuality, old gravel pits now filled with water. Today the area is alive with a variety of wildlife including ducks, geese, several species of fish, crayfish, toads, rabbits, squirrels and more. Bird watching and plant identification are favorite activities year around. There are numerous primitive camping sites and limited restroom facilities in the park. A fee/permit is required to enter the area and you should plan to arrive early on holiday weekends to ensure a space. Daily and annual permits are for sale at Bateman's Trading Post in Bridgeport. Local celebrations in the summer include Camp Clarke Days (early June), rodeos at the fair grounds in July, and a Greek Festival in August. Sponsored by the Assumption Orthodox Church in Bayard, the Greek Festival has been held every year since the church’s origin in 1926. It is always held on August 15 (or the first weekend following that date) to commemorate the feast day of the church. It began as a small picnic for the church parishioners, as several members would donate a few lambs and the church members would gather for a lamb feed. As the years progressed, members began inviting a few non-Greek friends and a free-will offering helped defray expenses. The event began to grow, so church members who lived near Bridgeport and Bayard hosted the event on their farms. In 1998, the Festival moved to its current location at Prairie Winds Community Center in Bridgeport. The Festival is now a two-day event and always draws hundreds of people to taste authentic Greek foods, listen and dance to Greek music, and sample the Greek culture. It begins on Saturday night at 5:00 pm with ala-carte food booths and Greek music. Foods available include calamari (squid), tyropetas (cheese-filled phyllo dough triangles), loukoumathes (Greek donuts), authentic pastries, Greek salad, gyros, souvlakia (lamb or pork kabobs), loukinako (Greek sausage), and beverages. Tickets can be purchased the night of the event. On Sunday from 12:00 to 1:30 pm, a traditional Greek dinner is served, including lamb (baked fresh that morning), beef, Greek potatoes, salad, spanakopita (spinach-filled phyllo), feta cheese, a hard roll, karithopita (walnut cake), and a drink. Meal tickets are available at the door or from any church member. In the afternoon, an auction and a raffle are held. The event usually ends at about 4:30 pm on Sunday. Those in attendance at both events are entertained by the church’s youth dance group, the Athenian Dancers, as well as by Greek music and dancing. A souvenir booth is also open for those who wish to take memories of the weekend home. Bridgeport, Nebraska Bridgeport, founded in 1900 as a station by the Burlington Railroad, celebrated its centennial in 2000. The town is located on or near many historic trails of the West, including the Oregon, California. Mormon, Pony Express, and Sidney-Black Hills Trails. Courthouse and Jail Rocks, south of Bridgeport, were landmarks mentioned in many travelers' journals. In 1876 Henry T. Clarke constructed a bridge across the North Platte River, three miles upstream from the future site of Bridgeport, to improve the trail from Sidney to the gold-mining towns of the Black Hills. Freight from Sidney and gold from the mines flowed across the bridge for nearly a decade. A village named Camp Clarke sprang up nearby. The coming of railroads to the North Platte Valley established Bridgeport and brought increased settlement to the area. Irrigation projects in the early 1900s promoted agricultural development. Bridgeport became the seat of newly-designated Morrill County in 1908. It remains a stable community, whose economy is based on agriculture, railroads, and government.
RICH IN HISTORY ... A GREAT PLACE TO BE TODAY The entire Western Nebraska region is steeped in the history of the settlement of the West. The Mormon and Oregon Trails, as well as the railroads, played important roles in the early settlement of the region. Enactment of several federal laws to facilitate settlement in the 1880’s, along with the opening of several railroad lines, encouraged residents of the Eastern United States to move to the region. For more than 100 years, this unique area of the country has been characterized by hard work. Today, the traditional principles of hard work, family unity and independent spirit are continuing to make Western Nebraska an exceptional place to live and work.
Link to the University of Nebraska's State Museum Site
View Fossils From Nebraska Counties: http://www.museum.unl.edu/research/vertpaleo/NECounties/
Copyright © 2002-2003 Twin Cities Development Association, Inc. |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
