One who has pride in the past will soon
have a future of which to be proud

Volume 4, Number 2 December 2005

Letter from the Editor

Winter is fast approaching and all the projects we set for the Historical Society have all been started but not all are finished. Volunteerism is waning but we still have members who are there to get things done. Carol and Ray Kingsley come to mind - they almost single-handedly completed the Rural Schoolhouse restoration and led a crew to complete restoration of the historical brick sidewalk at the EUB Church. Carol and her Mother Marguerite Marshall were key to the refinishing of the Historical Marker. Don Sprieck and Jim Duncan also come to mind - they have been a great help to me in the renovation of the Annex to the Pilger Museum. They, along with Melvin Meyer, were the key workers in the success of our annual pancake feed, which raised over $1,000 for the Historical Society. Elaine and Loren Fuller are always doing things at the Stanton Heritage Museum - they are always available on Saturday afternoons to greet visitors, especially high school class reunions and visitors from out-of-town.
We were disappointed that Stanton Heritage Day did not happen this year, as we wanted to use that community event to dedicate the Rural Schoolhouse. We are working with the Stanton School Superintendent to put a mid-April date in their schedule for 2006.
Celebrating our 40th year spurred on our efforts to accomplish several meaningful projects. 1. Our two month display in the Elkhorn Valley Museum during January and February was viewed by hundreds; 2. Our celebration dinner on June 22, 2005 was a complete success with over 100 attending; 3. Our covered wagon float was viewed by many at the July 4th parade in Stanton; 4. Historical Marker rededication at the Pilger Rest Area was completed on July 30, 2005 with Lt. Gov. Sheehy and some 120 in attendance; 5. Rural Schoolhouse renovation was completed with dedication to be done during 2006 Stanton Heritage Day; 6. Pilger Annex renovation is over 50 percent done - once completed work on the log cabin (to be build inside the annex) can begin with dedication to be done during the 2006 Pilger Days; and 7. I lost track of our goal of putting 40 articles in the newspaper, but I'm sure we're well over half way in that effort which will continue through June of 2006. Guess my message is - we need more volunteers to get 5, 6, and 7 done. And we still need to look at projects for the coming year. Yeah!!

Roland Jensen, Editor

4th of July Parade a Success

Dressed in pioneer era clothing, members of the Society (click to see photo) rode in the back of the pickup truck (could not find horses) pulling a covered wagon furnished by Gunsmoke Wagons of Norfolk.

EUB Church Sidewalk Restored

The old brick sidewalk at the EUB church had been covered over for the past several years. Thanks to Carol Kingsley the bricks were dug up one by one and placed aside (click to see photo). Jim Duncan, using the Village of Pilger's dump truck, delivered pea gravel and sand donated by Pilger Sand & Gravel. With the help of Ray Kingsley, Monty and Tina Kremlacek a new bed was prepared and the old bricks were placed on top. The job was completed in October 2005 and a piece of history preserved for many years to come.

Mary Lea Lage
April 11, 1932 to September 1, 2005

The Historical Society of Stanton County has lost a longtime and dedicated member in Mary Lea (Jensen) Lage who passed away on September 1, 2005. Mary Lea (click to see photo) was a mainstay in the Society having serving on the Board of Directors for many years. She could be counted on to audit the financial records annually.
Born April 11, 1932 at Norfolk, NE to Leo and Mary Elizabeth "Mamie" (Prince) Jensen. She was baptized and confirmed at Trinity Lutheran Church in Winside, NE. Mary Lea attended Wayne County Rural School District #65 and graduated from Winside High School in 1949. On December 31, 1952, she was united in marriage to Orville D. Lage at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Winside, NE. The couple moved to Rapid City, SD while Orville was in the Air Force and Mary Lea worked as a bookkeeper for the First National Bank in Rapid City, SD. Mary Lea had worked as a bookkeeper for Beckman Implement in Pilger for 12 years. She clerked and was the bookkeeper for their business Lage Auction Co. In 1995, the couple moved to Pilger, NE. Mary Lea was a member of St. Peter's Lutheran Church, a dual member of Wayne Eastern Star Chapter #194, and the Wisner Eastern Star Chapter #149, and was a life member of the Roy Reed American Legion Post #252 Auxiliary in Winside, NE. She was an active volunteer for the Pilger Senior Center, the Stanton County Historical Society, and the Pilger library Board. She enjoyed playing bridge with her friends

New Lifetime Members

The following have been added to our list of lifetime members: Rick Daniel, Ronald Wolverton, Betty Bohac, Robert Kuehn, Lowell and Louise Christensen, Mark and Sheila Driesmeier, Val Jeanne Miller and Patricia Ransom. Letters of Congratulations and Lifetime Membership cards have been sent to each new member for their one-time contribution of $100 or more.

Renovation of Pilger Museum Annex

The work is in progress. The outside walls have been insulated and covered with strandboard. Work on the ceiling is about half completed. Track lights are being installed to improve lighting of displays once the renovation is completed. Cold weather has limited further progress, which will include replacing the roll-up garage type door with insulated swinging doors.
This photo (click to see photo) shows the work in progress.

The Rural School Almost Complete

The work on the restoration of the rural schoolhouse is essentially done. We thought some photos would be in order to showcase our efforts. Currently, we are building the school library with books used in the early days. The formal dedication will take place in mid-April of 2006 during Stanton Heritage Days.
The photo (click to see photo) shows the restored light fixtures, black board (green paint was painstakingly removed to reveal the original slate), sanded and oiled floor (old carpet and glue had to be removed using chemicals and a large scrubber), teacher's desk and student chairs.

The "Remember A Teacher" plaques are showcased just as one enters the schoolhouse. Currently, names are displayed on 3 wood plaques. We will continue to add more plaques as needed.

Shown in the photo (click to see photo) are Myrna Vollbrecht and Ray Kingsley.

Rural Schoolhouse Restoration Update

The formal dedication of the restored rural schoolhouse has been put on hold until the next Stanton Heritage Day now scheduled for mid-April, 2006. In the meantime, the Society would like to continue gathering pictures, stories and memorabilia to be displayed. We are still looking for a picture of Abraham Lincoln (the size used in rural schools), crock water dispenser, lunch boxes, etc. If you have items that would enhance the preservation of our county's rural schools please let us know by returning the information in the enclosed pre-addressed envelop.
The "Remember-a-Teacher" project has resulted in honoring 154 teachers and superintendents. Added since our last report are: Ella (Zander) Mielke, Hazel (Pont) Schellpeper, Audrey (Woehler) Neitzart, Sylvia (Jirovec) Kuzelka, Elsie (Hartl) Kratochvil, Lenora (Siecke) Eckert, Rachel (McIntosh) Craig, Reba Hill, Kenneth Carson, Dorothy (Bos) Prusa and Mary Nye.
If you remember a teacher but the name escapes you, we can help jog your memory. We've printed a 1941 map (click to see photo) showing all the rural school districts in Stanton County. Let us know what district and year you attended and we will research the records to try to come up with the name of your teacher. We will send you a letter with that info - then you can decide if you want to send in the $25 to have the name engraved and displayed on the plaques in the restored schoolhouse.
The school district "Buy-A-Brick" project is nearly complete with only districts 6, 9, 10 (needs $75), 11 (needs $90) 15, 26, 27, 31, 33, 35 (needs $80), 38, 40, 48, 49, 54 (needs $50), 56 (needs $15) yet to be funded ($100 each).
It should be noted that District 11's name is Fuhrmann (not Euhrmann as was previously reported), District 56 is the Roosevelt school and District 81 is the Bernstrauch school.

What's it called (click to see photo) What year? What district? Answers in next issue.

Historical Marker Rededication A Success

The refurbished marker at the Pilger Rest Area was rededicated on July 30, 2005 with Lt. Gov. Rick Sheehy as featured speaker. Over 120 attended the ceremony including Sen. Conneally, Sen. Mike Flood, Norfolk City Manager Mike Nolan, Norfolk Mayor Gordon Adams and other area officials.

(click to see photo) From left to right: Robert Miller (Mayor of Pilger in 1970); Tim Kabes, current Mayor of Stanton; Andrew Andersen, Chairman, Board of Trustees, Village of Pilger; Jim Duncan, President, Historical Society of Stanton County; Lora Young, President, Elkhorn Valley Museum and Research Center (Representing the Nebraska State Historical Society; Allys Hansen (representing her son Tom Hansen); Gale Miller (Pilger High School Sr in 1970); Bryce and Lawrence (Tony) Lovett, sons of Lawrence Lovett; Charles Caskey; Stanton County Attorney in 1970; Sherlene Eicher and her husband Randy (direct descendent of Charles Sharp the lst Homesteader in Stanton County; and Keith Hopkins and his wife Elda (also direct descendent of Charles Sharp). Note: This photo re-enacts the original dedication photo taken in 1970 (see last issue of Historical Times)