BuffaloTalesVolume 32, No. 1 BuffaloCountyHistoricalSociety www.bchs.us

Director’s report www.bchs.us • 308-234-3041

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MaRch/apRil 2009

2009 Buffalo County HistoriCal soCiety Calendar of events

Friday, January 2 from 3-4 pm: Girl Scout Cookie Train exhibit

Saturday, February 21 from 2-5 pm: Cake Fundraiser

Sunday April 19 from 1-3 pm-BCHS Annual Meeting

May Date/Time TBA: Youth Chautauqua Birthday Party for Mrs. David Anderson born May 11, 1849 (2009=160th)

Saturday, May 30: 24th Annual Wagons West Celebration- Music from 10-7 pm and Exhibitors from 10-6 pm

Sunday, June 14: 2nd Annual 1/2 Marathon: Buffalo County Stampede-reg. is at 6 am-race begins at 7

June Date/Time TBA: Youth Chautauqua Birthday Party for Mrs. William Nutter born June 16th, 1835 (2009=174th)

Friday, July 3 from 9-10:30: Members Only Night (watch city’s fireworks)

Saturday, July 11 from 10-6 pm: Family Farm Days

Thursday, July 23 from 6:30-9 pm: 3rd Annual Trivia Contest

AUGUST –dates and special correlating events TBD: Smithsonian Harmonies

August Date/Time TBA: Youth Chautauqua Birthday Party for Ms. Fannie Graves born August 1885 (2009=124th)

Saturday, August 15 from 10-3 pm: 5th Annual Genealogy Open House with spotlight on One-Room School w/ a picnic!

October: Date/Time TBA: Youth Chautauqua Birthday Party for Maud Marston Burrows in 1864 (2009=145th)

Friday, Dec. 4 from 6-8 pm: MEMBER’S ONLY preview of Christmas Tree Walk

Sat. Dec. 5 through Sun. Dec. 13 from 1-5 pm daily: Open to the public: 22nd Annual Christmas Tree Walk***Special Night: Friday Dec. 11 from 1-7 pm

December Date/Time TBA: Youth Chautauqua Birthday Party for Sarah Oliver born Dec. 1, 1832 (2009=177th)

Volunteers, chairpersons, and sponsors are still needed. Please contact the office for more information on supporting your Buffalo County Historical Society!

PO Box 523, 710 W. 11th St., Kearney, NE 68845(308) 234-3041 www.bchs.us bchs@bchs.us

We hope you enjoy these stories about Buffalo County. We would love to have a stock pile of Buffalo Tales ready, so they can go out in a more timely manner. Please submit your memories and stories to us by e-mailing them to bchs.buffalotales@hotmail.com or send-ing them to our post office box: BCHS, PO Box 523 Kearney NE 68848.We appreciate your support!

Director’s Report-The Boyd House porch floor has been redone by two very determined, hard working volunteers: Jim Miller and John Robbins. We are really appreciative off their efforts and the porch looks wonderful!

-The Kiwanis finished the Boyd House painting project in 2008 and will start on paint-ing the Church building soon. As a reminder, the paint was purchased through Kearney Keno grant funds and the Dobeytown Kiwanis are donating all of the labor. They spent a lot of time on the Boyd Ranch House and it really shows. Please help us thank them!

ridingatricycle,hewouldrunupandputastickinthespokesofthetrikewheelsandupsetus,orhidebeindadoorandleapoutscream-ing tostartle thedaylightsoutofus. Oneof his famous recurringmonster was “Old Three-toes”theman-eating lion fromdarkestAfrica.Hewouldmaketracksinthe sand definitely showing onlythreetoesandorderustotrackthelion to his lair. We donned ourpith helmets, carryingourwood-en guns and obediently followedthetrailuntilhe’droaroutofhishidingplaceandmauleachofus.Our imaginaryvolleysofgunfirenever killed the beast but onlywoundedhim.Inseekingrevenge,myyounger

brotherMickandIplannedwaystoretaliate. WeoncetookJack’sspecial model airplanes he hadworkedmonths tobuildandflewthemalloverhisbedroom.Sud-denly the tri-plane ofWWIAceBaronBonRichofenandCaptainBrowncollidedinmidairdamag-ingthefragileplanes.Wehurried-lyputthembackatopthearmoirewherehehadhiddenthemfromusandwaitedfortheexpectedtirade.We were tormented mightily forthatbitofdestruction.My Dad’s busy, frequent wres-

tling tours and greyhound racingatthemajorcitieswouldhavehimaway for long periods of time.During his absence my motherwouldhave torun the largefarm,greyhound, livestock operation.Thoughtherewerehiredmenandsometimesdomestichelpshehadtosuperviseherlargerambunctiousfamily.Shewasforcedtoreferee

By: Mary Lee Pesek

ThefarmofJohnandMyrlPeseklocatedonemilewestofRavenna,Nebraska in Buffalo Countywasa hub of constant activity. A fa-mous professional wrestler andgreyhound breeder in addition tooperation a large farm and live-stockoperation, John’s enterpris-eskeptmanypeopleverybusy.JohnandMyrl(Mahoney)Pesek

weretheparentsofsevenchildren.Elizabeth, Jack, Virginia, MaryLee,Kevin (Mick),CatherineandSteve.Asthefourthchild,I,MaryLee enjoyedmyplacement as theyoungest of the oldest three, andthe oldest of the last four. AT averytenderage,myDadhadusgointo his gymnasium where all ofuswere taught the art of self de-fense. There was full sized mat,boxinggloves, rowingmachine,ahuge sand-filledburlapaffair sus-pendedbyapulleythatwepushedor “bridged” to gain strength.Hand grips, heavy leather ballsandarowofironhandholdgripsinstalledintheceilingofthegymtopullourselvesalongtothenextgrip swinging in monkey fashionto strengthen our arms. Then hewouldhaveuswrestleorboxeachother in contests showing variouswrestling holds to us. The girlsweretrainedalongwiththeboys.My oldest brother Jack enjoyed

teasingandtormentingusyoungerkids. Comfort in the discomfortofuswasanabidingfamilyrecre-ation forhim. Hewasconstantlyscaringuswithvarious imaginarymonsters and creatures that hisfertile mind created. If we were

ourmany skirmishes. I can hearher voice yet as she admonishedus—“Nowthelittlestonesarego-ingtogethurtandIwantthisfight-ingtostop.”Towhichwewouldrespond, “Oh no, Mom we’ll beo.k.”Nottoolonglater,thecriesofsomeone injuredwouldsignalitwastimeforhertorushin,bran-dishingthebroomtoscatterusandbreakuptheconflict.Wehadmanypets,buta favor-

iteofminewasasmallratterriernamed “Duke.” He would oftensleep at the foot of my day bed.Jack crept up on his hands andkneestoscareme.SuddenlyDukesprangtoprotectmeandjumpedinJack’sfacefiercelybarking.Jackquickly stood up yelling “Duke,Duke it’s me.” We had a goodlaugh that Duke had interruptedthatonslaught.Mom would

oftenlamentthather kids wereforever playingwithfireorinthewater, climbingup high or dig-ging our manycaves we con-structed. MickandIwereinseparable.MysisterLiz said we were more meddle-some and ornery that the Kat-zenjammer kids of cartoon fame.Wewere forever inher cosmeticsputtingourfingers inher tubesoflipstick, drawing on her mirrorswith the lipstick, spraying on herperfumeherboy friendhadgivenher,andgoingthroughherdresserdrawerofpossessionssearchingforherloveletters.Ifshewerebakingacake-ourgrimyfingersgotintothecakedough. Sheoncerappedmyheadwithalargespoonandagreat knotwelled up onmy skullandshefeltveryremorseful.“Youjustforcedmetodoit”shewailed.One occasion my elder sister

Virginia rushed into the kitchen

BUFFALO TALES is the official publication of the Buffalo County Historical Society, a non-profit organization, whose address is P.O. Box 523, Kearney, NE 68848-0523.Phone: 308.234.3041 Email: bchs@bchs.us

Dr. Mark R. Ellis, EditorKatherine Wielechowski, Production Manager2009 Annual dues, payable January 1, are:Individual ..................................................................................................................................$35.00Family .......................................................................................................................................$40.00Institutional Membership...........................................................................................................$50.00Supporting Membership ...........................................................................................................$75.00**We have replaced the word ‘Basic’ to ‘Family’.**Directors Term expiring June 1, 2009: Janice Martin, Lee Sanks, Mary Kenney, Gary Straatmann Term expiring June 1, 2010: Jim Cudaback, Janice McGregor, Sharon Mason, Jolene Ward Term expiring June 1, 2011: Dr. Mark Ellis, Sharon Martin, Duane Muhlbach, Barb RiegeOfficers (1 year term)President ......................................................................................................................Sharon MasonVice-President ...................................................................................................................Barb RiegeSecretary ..................................................................................................................Janice McGregorTreasurer ...................................................................................................................... Jim Cudaback

GrowinG up touGh www.bchs.us • 308-234-3041 GrowinG up touGh www.bchs.us • 308-234-3041 GrowinG up touGh www.bchs.us • 308-234-3041

anxiously shouting, “Mom, Momcomequick. Mickeyisonthetopofthewindmillplatformledgeandwon’tcomedown!”Wescrambledoutdoorstopeerupintheskyandsure enough therewas littleMick.Iftheolderkidstriedtogoafterhim–hewouldthreatentojump.Momorderedallofus to leaveandstopbeinghisfrightenedaudience.Herwords,“hegotupthere,hewillgetdown.” We anxiously waited un-tilhegrewtiredandmadehiswaydownthesteps.Jackseizedhimashenearedthebottomandgavehimaseverespanking.The livestock tankofwaterpro-

videdourearlyswimmingexploits.Noneofthebabybarnyardanimalsescapedbeingtossedintotheswim.We enjoyed watching the babypigsswimsofuriously.Ofcourse,the dogs were the best swim-

mers, while thecats detestedthe water. If akid failed to re-spondtoMom’scall she woulddashtothetankto see if one ofushaddrowned.My older sib-

lingswereallveryathleticandex-cellentswimmersanddivers.Nat-urally the younger ones followedsuit. We became fleet of foot inourmanyattempts toescapeJack.Therewas always some race con-testbeingwaged.MickandIconstructedandelab-

orate cave. The roof was an up-turnedfeedlotbunkandwedugasmallentrancetothebiggerdeeperhole under the bunk. We knewJackwouldbetoobigtoenterthesmallentrance.Sowedaredhimto“getus”andthenscurriedlikerab-bitsdownourentryway.Heknewbetter than todisturb thedirt atopthebunkforfearofsuffocatingusso then he paused and said, “is itdarkdownthere?”Ans.“ohnowe

havea lanterndownhere,”aswegiggledinsatisfaction.Jack:“OhmyGodyoudon’thavea lanterngoingdown there, itwill suckalltheoxygenout andyouwon’tbeable to breathe.” I peered overat Mick’s face and he was swal-lowingveryhard, lookingscared,whilemybreathseemedmore la-boredtome.Wequicklyblewouttheflame,waitingalongtimeforourtormentortoleave.Whenwefeltitsafe,wecrawledoutandofcoursetherehewas–waiting.The“funandgames”cametoan

abrupthaltuponourDad’sreturn.Therewerenoslackersallowedinourfamily.Atanearlyagewewereexposed tohardwork. Everyonehad their chores and responsibili-tiesandwoetoyouifyoushirkedyourduties.Iftherewasnoimme-diateworkDadwouldinventsomemakeworkscheme.Thekidsbedroomswereupstairs

and he would come to the footof the stairs and bellow up “kidscome forth.” We’d reluctantlydescendandstandinageorderat-tentionashewouldask“whatareyougoingtodotoday?”Thean-swersvaried. Liz– cookdinner;Jack–diskthenorth80;Virginia– I’m driving the stacker teamwherethehiredmenareputtinguphayontheotherplace;MaryLee–feedingandtendingtheCanadageeseandmilkingthecows:Mick–feedingandexercisingthegrey-hounds:Cassie–milkingthecowsandsweepingthekitchen.Finallyhewouldbenddowntothesmall-estsibling,andask“andwhatareyougoingtobedoingStevie?”Towhichhe responded–pickingupcobsinthepigpen.Thereweremanyvisitors toour

farm and kids from town oftenwakedouttogetintotheaction,too.Boredomwasneveraproblem.Inretrospect,Iwellnever,nev-

er understandhowmy long suf-fering dear mother tolerated all

thisbut shedidso ina splendidandspiritedmanner.

Mary Lee Pesek is a life-time member of the Buffalo County His-torical Society.

DiD You Know…?…that the Trails &

Rails Museum sits onthe original MormonTrail. 11th Street thatruns through Kearneyfollows the path theMormonstooktoUtah.Seeyourwordsinprint!What is your favorite

memoryof…planting?Be it a smallgardenor150acres,whatdoyourememberthebest?E-mail us at: bchs.buffalotales@hotmail.com

IntroducIng:LYn hoffman, EDucaTion coorDinaTor

LynHoffmanisthenewlyhiredEducation Coordinator at theTrails&RailsMuseum.MidtownCommunication donated a one-time gift toBCHS specifically tohireanEducationCoordinatorforoneyear.ThejobofanEducationCoordinator is to organize edu-cational activities for both adultsandchildren,bothat themuseumandwithinareacommunities.TheEducation Coordinator is also incharge of implementing and or-ganizing new education activitiesincluding: summer camps, work-shops,andhands-onactivities forBCHS booths at events in andaroundKearney.Lyn has worked as a seasonal

tour guide at Trails&RailsMu-seum since 2006 before joiningthe full-time staff. Previous em-

ployment includesworking sevenyearsasaSpecialEducationPara-Educator for theRiverdalePublicSchool and Kearney School sys-tems.Priortoheryearsasapara.,she worked for three and a halfyearsastheYouthStaffCoordina-tor/Live-inHouseParent atCam-pusHouse,IncinKearney.Lyn’s goals for her time as the

Education Coordinator, will bethesamegoalslistedintheBCHSstrategic/business plan. Her maingoalistodrawmorevisitorstothemuseum by making the Trails &RailsMuseum amore interactiveencounter with history. By usinghands-onactivitiesanddiscoveriesinallofthebuildingsforbothchil-drenandadultsshehopestomaketheirvisitsmoreenjoyableandac-tive. She is also planning largerandmoreentertainingeventssuchasaTrailsGametoshowvisitorswhat life was like on the prairieand also Murder Mystery nightparties,usingBuffaloCountyhis-torytoenhancetheplot.Lyn earned a Bachelor of Sci-

encedegreeinPsychologywithanEmphasis in Leadership StudiesfromFortHaysStateUniversityinHays,KS.ShehasbeenaresidentofKearneyforelevenyearswhereshe currently lives with her hus-band,Marc,andtheircat,Payton.

August, 2009: at the Trails & Rails Museum!

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Brought to you, in part by:

Buffalo County Historical Society

Trails & Rails Museum is owned and operated by the Buffalo County Historical Society.

710 W. 11th St. PO Box 523, Kearney, NE 68848-0523

www.bchs.us bchs@bchs.us (308) 234-3041