Life in Sidney
The Anderson family now consisted of Bud, Bertha, Betty, Joyce, Vivian,
and a son, Edward, born in January, 1936.
In 1939 or 40 Come to Sidney and went
work for the Massey Harris Mechine Co and work for them until Area went In
During war[.]
* * *
I worked for Jim Hand or the Massey
Harris people In Sidney[.] that was Along about 1940 and 41[.] I was shop
forman there But he didnt pay much. Only $80 per month and the men Below me
Receve $50 per month[.] I had some Weilding Experince is the Reason I reced
more[.] I worked there for a year or more. Hand had some Wheat Land at Colby
Kansas that he harvested every year[.] he would take a colbine down there
and cut his Wheat[,] Sell the colbine there after harvest[.] I didnt have to
go Down to Kansas that year[.] I staged and Kept the Shop open for Reapairs
ect and I had enough to Keep me Busy here then[.]
* * *
then work for the Govement or Area
for a while…
In 1942 the Area or Government
ordance Depot Went In and they paid 65 cents per hour. I quit And Went out
there to work. And I had to join the Carpenters Union[.] But the Draw Back
there If you Were working on a Certin thing they would put you on that for a
while as they agreed to do[,] then they would only give you a Couple Day
work a week So they could Keep Roating their men as men were plentiful In
theose times[.] Then from there I went to work for Charles Delew on the
chain gang for the Surveyors as some year Befor I had helped a County
Survvaior In Survying Lines ect and Knew Something about Dragging Chain and
Making Locations[.] So I was with them for a year or more at the same time
they were Building Grain Bins to Store Wheat In[.] on my hours off I would
also work on that[.] When that was over I worked for Cheyenne County Lumber
Co unloading Lumber for the Area[.]
* * *
It was along about that time I Bought
my home on 1224.6th ave In Sidney
I Stayed With the Delews as Long as
their Job lasted[.] after a short While they put me on as Dispacher and was
given a Car to Deliver Draftings to the field office's and get the men and
surveyors to work[.] I Went to work at 3 AM[.] We Caught a Buss at 2 AM to
work and had to Catch the 12 oclock Buss home at noon[.] If I Rode Buss I
would try to get off on time at Eleven So I could eat at the Cafe at the
Aera and get to Sidney and go to work at noon as I usaly had a several men
under me unloading Lumber for the Area. And While working for Delew I also
had to Collect for the gas oils and Grease the contractors used. So I used
my own Car Driveing Back and fourth for Sometime[.]
* * *
Then from there I went to work for
the Sidney Creamery and worked for them about 7 years until they Sold out[.]
My job at first was Can Washer then I worked up to Butter Maker And Shop
forman[.] I Made Around 3600 lbs of Butter per Week at that time Beside
Receveing the Milk[,] pasturizeing it[;] Also pastureizing the Cream for
Butter & Route Deliveries[,] Checking out the Loaded truck's ect[.]
It was at the Creamery that I
Received a Herneia And had to have it taken care of[.]
I Slipped on a peace of Ice making a
Deliverie of Cream and milk to the IgA. Red and white Store[.] Earl Scharman
was owener and manager,[.] A E Wright was Manager of the Sidney Creamery at
the time and I was plant forman[.]
as Rule we Kept 2 men In the plant
over the noon hour So If we would have to make Deliverys we could[.] But
this day for some Cause Mr Wright and I were the only one's there at the
time the order come In,[.] he Called the order to me and ask me to take it
up to the Store[.] So to oblige I did[.] But to my Sarrow for Some Reason Mr
Wright took a notion to go over to the Store[.] he met me Just as I was
taking my first Case of Cream In And Remarked about it Being So Icey
there[.] Just Befor I took my Last Step an Icickle hanging from the Roof
Broke Loose, and Broke at my feet[.] I happened to Step on one peace and it
Rolled with me or slipped[.] Wright Said Be Careful youll hurt your Self. or
get hurt. [M]y Reply was It is already done, I have. I finished unloading my
load and Drove Back to the Creamery[.] I had a Knot on my Right Side Like a
hens egg In Size[.] So I went over to Dr Dorwart and had it Checked[.] he
said I didnt have a Herniea[,] that If I woul put a Belt and silk Sock on
there. It would be OK[.] But it Never was[.] I tried for a long time to get
him to do Something about it but he Said I didnt have one - And Wright also
Said I didn’t[.] on the last time I went to See Dorwart I told him he would
Never get anymore of my Bisseness any more and he never has. I went accross
the Street to Dr Grimm office and told him about the Deal and he ask to See
the Herniea,[.] he got me Ready for an operated on me[.] that must have been
In about 1942 or 1943 and this 1969[.] that side Never has Bothered me
Sience But I have one on my Left Side Now that I expect to have taken Care
of In a few days. that is If my heart Condition permits the operation[.] I
have been putting the Operation off for 6 or Seven month's[.]
We had a Steam Boiler that Furnished
our Steam[.] It was an old Automontaylor Threashing Engine Boiler that out
lived it use as a thrashing engine So it was put to work at the Creamery[.]
It had a thin Croun Sheet around the Soft plug, But we only carried 35 or 40
pounds of Steam for the plant[.] that was enough for the plant then. But
When we had Step the Boiler up to 80 pounds pressuer that was Different[.] I
had Been getting my cream ready for Butter and had worked later than usal[.
I] had went home at supper and gone to Bed when I was Called out to make a
Delivery to a Café[.] I had just got into Bed the Second time when the
police Rapped on my Door. A Police Said Ed something is Wrong at Creamery
that is Sounded Like a Big explosion. there was water running Down the
alley. By that I Knew the Boiler had blown up. So I went down and Shut off
the water And drained it out of the Boiler Room. But We had An old Boiler
that had Been Moved Back In the Back part of the Boiler Room. the Boiler was
smaller But good yet. I had Been working on to get In shape[.] the Boss
didnt want me work on it But I did and got it In place under Another Chimney
We had there for a Boiler[.] But I didnt have it hooked up to the water and
Steam lines yet when the other Boiler Blew up[.] it was at 12 oclock at
Night. I called a plumer out and he and I went to work on the old Boiler[.]
I tried to Call the Boss[,] Mr Art Wright[,] But couldnt get him[.] So I
decided fit up the small Boiler. We worked on the Boiler until 6 AM But We
had it going and a fire In it. the plumers name was paul Randall. I took Mr
Randall out for Breakfast But Befor I went to Breakfast I called Mr Wright
again[.] that time I got him and I told him what had happened and he said
Let it go to hell and hung up the phone. So we went Breakfast and I come
Back and had got the Delivery truck's Loaded out and on their way. And had
called home and told one of my Daughters that answered the phone what had
happened and that I wouldnt Be home until noon. About 8 AM Mr Wright come In
and Said or ask Andy[,] that is what he alway Called me[,] did you Say the
Boiler Blew up[?] I told him I did[,] And the next thing he said what will
we do[?] I replyed try to take Care of our trade[,] and pointed Steam Guage
on the wall. But he said that is only 35 pound of pressure[.] I Replied I
Know But that is the Little Boiler two of us worked alnight to get it
Working. And all he said was thank god Andy. But he happen to have piroity
on his creamery equipment So he was able to get a New Boiler[.] But we had
to Run the old one for a couple of months Which ment Running the Creamery
around the clock or 24 hour's a day[.] there was times I would only get a
couple hours sleep, as We would have to Run only one unit at a time with
Little Boiler. we were glad when the new Boiler come and was put In as it
was a Scoatch Boiler Return flue, a nice on as Boiler's goes.
We had Several Boys that worke In the Creanery that had joined the Armed
forces. And we held their jobs for them when they Returned[.] Some of them
Came Back But Not Many Stayed. We had Second Luiet that was Soldering In
pearl harbor whe the Jap's hit pearl harbor[.] Said he was In bed when they
hit there[,] said harly Knew how got out of Bed And got his Mechine gun
Crew's together[,] But he did and was on a Roof working the mechine gun. he
was Very nervous And I had to take care So he didnt Blow up or go to peices.
If I Could Keep him quiet he was a good worker. And when had Responsibility
he would try to Settle down. So I would talk to him and try to get him quiet
down[.] I put him to churning Butter But Befor I did I put paper that Lined
our Butter Boxes with under the Churn So If he forgot to Lock the Churn Door
or lid and Dumped the Butter out it would Be on Clean paper[.] he had it
happen a couple of times when working the Butter. the First he expected me
to Ball him out But when I didnt and talked to him as If nothing happened he
cried Like a Baby. But I told him he would have to try to over come his
schock and when he felt it coming on to take things easer and not to expect
to get Balled out for things. At the end of the first year he was a Real
good man[.] he worked for about two and half year's and was a Real Steady
man. we found that the most of the Boy In Service In World War -2- two were
very nerious when they Returned.
* * *
The Building of the Area
From the Creamery or when they Sold
out I went to work at Area or Amo Depot north west of Sidney about 12
miles[.] It was An Army Depot Called the Sioux Ordance Depot at that time
they Amo Stored there[,] Gun[,] Rifles[,] tank parts[,] any thing pertained
to the Army was Stored there to Be Shipped Any where In the World where It
would Be Needed.
the Goverment put up two houseing
projects[,] one on the edge of Sidney And one out By the project or Area[.]
the one In Sidney was Called Sioux Villa and the one at the Area was called
Ord Ville. the City of Sidney took over Sioux Villa And the goverment Sold
the ordance out to Diffrent folks[.] the Vo tech School took over part of
the Buildings And the old Combat Area where the Goverment had their head
quarters and the other part's are sold out for farming pasture[,] Storage
ect[.] As there is some where In the Neighborhood 1600 iggloo's Where
Amunition was Stored During world war -2-[.] It was While working at the
area and operateing A Degreaser that I got gassed which Caused me to have to
Leave the Area[.] the Goverment Didnt do anything about it as the labor out
there was civilian's. and our Doctors didnt Seem to be able to cope with
Situation[.] At Least they didn’t[,] So I Left the Area[.]
* * *
I and my Wife had Bought a house 6th Avenue that used to be her Grand Fathers to Which I was to Be Able to Buy for $700.00[.] But My Wifes Father had the Selling of the property So he hiked the price to $1400.00[.] I got a Loan from the Sidney Building and Loan to which I paid all the Loan off except $75.00 when working In The Creamery and the Area. until about 1947
W. O. & Bud
Anderson and family at 1224 6th Ave Sidney.
Left to right Betty, W. O., Vivian, Judy (in front), Edward, Bertha, Bud,
and Joyce
My wife And two oldest Daughters worked also[.] the other girls were to young and also my Son[.] My Wife worked for Barney Cafe for some time[.] Then She work for Wonauhns Café[.] She was Cook and the girls waited on tables at the same Cafe. Then Latter She Let several Rail Road Men talk her Into Running the Korner Kitchen Cafe While I worked at Area. I worked at the area In Storage and Matainance[.] I would Leave town at 6 A M and get Back on the Buss In the eve[,] and I would Keep the place up take Care of the Children[.] But my Wife Wanted me to help at Cafe until l2 or one oclock in the morning Be Back to the Area at 7 A.M.
I work out side at area for quite a while[.] at First I worked for the Delue engeen engineers and would go to work at 3 oclock In the morning[.] I would get home about l.30 P M and go to work on an other Job unloading Lumber for the Cheyenne Lumber co. Working theose Long hour's And the Degreaser's gass[,] I Became gassed and had a Rather Rough time of it. During this time I was putting my wages Into the Cafe as it wasnt Self Supporting[.] that along with other worries was getting me down[.]
during the Last Couple of Summers Befor my son had Been staying with my oldest Brother at north platte Nebr[.] he had spent his summer at home[.] I took him down to North platte Nebr [for the next school year.] I got a Call that that my Brother had Nervous condition and tryed to Hand him self. But for his wife and Edward he would have[.] My Brothers wife called me and told what had happened and ask me to come down and talk to him as he ask for me to come[.] I went of Course[.]
* * *
Bud’s and Bertha’s marriage ended. The last payment was made on the house on 6th Ave. and Bud turned ownership over to Bertha so she would have a place for the children.
So I Let my Son go to School at North platte Nebr… As he didnt Seem to get along to well In school here But seem to at North platte[.] he worked at the 6th Street Market During after School and Saturdays and also in the Summer[.] he helped my Brother Around the Sale Barn and Shipping and Sales pens Befor he worked for 6th St market[.] But it seems he didnt finish his Last Semester of his last year[.]
* * *
I had Been Called to Vale oregon By my Father[.] [When W. O. Anderson first moved to Oregon] he took all of his Mechinery that he had on 640 acers of Land In easter Nebraska Including horses and a 22-36 McCormick Deering tractor And quite a Sum of money and he farmed at Dallas oregon for Some time. then they moved to Vale Oregon And Rented a Farm[.] My Brother and Father had Built a four Room Tare [tar] paper shack on a 40 acers they had Bought with Fathers money. When I got to Vale Oregon Fathers house had never Been finished, and was Made of tar Insolated paper Sideing about 1/2 inch thick on 2 x 4 Studdings and the sparrows had picked holes In the tar Insolated paper[.] it was Cold from the outside and it had no plaster or plaster Board on the Inside[.] So I had to help him to Fix that up[.] I traded my car for a pick up So I would have some thing to haul the hogs to market and have around the place[.] In my spare time I had Stuccoed his [Dad’s] house and plastered it and it was nice[.]
I Loaned Dad Some money to feed about 30 Sow's and their pigs as I had about $l000 when I went out there[.] he wanted me to go In on the hogs and Farming But I wouldn’t[.]
[Harvey] had Bought this place Seveal year[.] Befor it was l60 acers[.] Father had some hogs and wanted me to go in with him Raise pigs as he Knew I had a few hundred Dollars[.] But I wouldnt go In on the hog Deal[.] I started to put In a Crop But there was to much confussion that I didnt put anything except some potatoes and that year they wer not worth putting In[.]
I went to work for Simplot potatoe Caves under a Jap forman By the name of Fred Reeze[.] Some folks Claim that Japs were hard Bosses But to me this one wasn't[.] he just wanted a good Days work and that was all he ask[.] I work there a short while when come to me and Said Andy I want you to take Charge of the unloading of the potatoes and onions ect as you Seem to Be able to Keep the Conveyars going and the men putting in there about Right[.] It was a Job that you did have to work hard on to Run out 20 car loads a day[.] But you had to feed the conveyors steady and a thin layer speed (spud?) on them or you would Stop up the washing Device. And have to Stop and Clean it out and then that was harder to Catch up and get your quota out[,] and In such Cases would Run Into the Night.
In the potatoe ware houses or caves they had potatoes[,] onions[,] carrots[,] ect[.] I would get the large potatoes for $3.00 a large truck Load for Dads hogs[.] Some time I would Bring home a truck Load a Day[.] we had tons of potatoes that we cooked[.] we had a small creamery Boiler that we steam Cooked them with. I also enough for my Brothers faimly to eat also, Besides the hogs and Cattle.
they had a lot of snow there and Cold weather that winter and the place where they milked was Sloppy and Muddy So you Couldnt hardly get around[.] But still they had to milk In the Cold. he had a lot a good hay for his Cattle But not Grain[.] I offered to help put up a shed But he would not hear to it[.]
he went to Wester Oregon or Corvalis[.] he Drove my pickup out there. And while there he found a place at Alsea oregon that he Bought on Contract But would have to sell his place at Vale to make the payments on it[.]
The place he Bought had Been Logged off Close and was 76 acers or there at, as it was just a few acers short of 80 acers[.] So Dad Sold his place to a Neighbor for about $4000 or $5000 and a few days Latter my Brother Sold his 80 acers for Very Little More than my Father Received for his. I Insisted that Father Keep his money and get himself a Little home or Come Back to Nebraska With me[.] But he Insisted that Due to a promise he made to Mother And Harvey[,] My Brother[,] that he was Bound to help him out. And Look after him. So I helped them move[.] they used my pickup In fact to move part of their things. And as Father Didnt have much Furniture Left I Bought 2 good Beds and Bed Clothes ect[.]
I Stayed part of that summer and did Carpenter work[.] I
Bought a Ford tractor with a Scoop on it for excuvating as we had a Basement
to dig and a large Barn to Build[.] The Basement was under a Church (Methidest)
and the Barn was 45 feet wide 60 ft Long by 26 feet high[.] that spring the
First thing I did help In the hopp's[.] and my Son Come out[,] he an another
Boy from Sidney Nebr[.] they also worke In the Hopp's.
that Fall I Come Back here to Sidney and Edward my Son wanted Join the
Army[.] he would soon Be 18[.] So I gave my consent for him to Join and In a
Couple or maybe 3 years now he will have 20 year's In the armed forces[.]
[This is a photograph of Edward which he apparently carried in his wallet for many years.]
he has Seen action and has had four faringn missions over Sea's[.] And befor
his Last Mission over Sea In Vietnam he was teaching School In omaha
training ROTC's for the Army and is teaching [Advisor to the Nebraska
National Guard] Back there now [1970] at omaha Nebr.
(margin note: a Letter from a
Neighbor In oregon) I Receved aletter from a mr's Evert Nelson of Alsea
Oregon[.] They were Neighbor's of my Brother[,] H D Anderson[.] This
Neighbor's husband was a Cripple[.] he had been hurt By a load of Log's
Slipping off the truck on him. My Father was also Crippled up with Arthitis
and had to walk with a Cane that I had Bought him In the early 1920's. And
didnt Seem to Be able to get a Round to well and I suppose he also Became
Mussel Bound In his Joint's and Couldnt Climb to well[.] I reced the Letter
from Mrs Nelson[,] the Neighbor[,] Stateing that my Father was Sleeping up
Stairs In the garage[.] I had fixed up a make shift Room up there that wasnt
Bad for a younger person[,] had Bed and Dresser In it[.] It was OK for
Summer and not as Bad as a person would think for winter If there had of
Been a place for a Stove and the Lower opening had Door on it[.] But for an
older person it was to much Cold and to much climb up the Stairs and Father
Couldnt take it[.] he told this Lady that he Couldnt. Then had An old
trailer house on their place So they Moved his things up there and he was to
Look after their place while they were gone. Which I appreciated. So when I
Could get around to it I took a vacation and went out an tried work
something out[.]
[Bud agreed to build a small
house.] But under one condition[,] that [it]was to Be his home as Long
as he Lived, to which they agreed[.] I cleared the ground of Fern, and made
a Deal with the Willamit Lumber Co for Some Buildings. and Built him a
home[.] I have the pictures of the Same. I also furnished Beds[,] table. The
cupboards and bafnets which I Built for him[.] that lasted for a while[.] As
Long as [I] would do their Building for them as they were working on their
house and Barn also and my Brother worked In the mill and Logged Some on his
own Beside milking 10 and 12 cos's [cows] at the time. I also Let theme
Drive my car once In a while[.] I was Call Back here on some Business and I
Left my car out there and come Back on the train[.]
W. O. Anderson's house in Oregon
I had come Back to Sidney Nebr.
Father Come Back here for a visit[.] I was a police officer at OshKosh Nebr[.]
It was there that Father had his first heart attack[.] I took him to a
Doctor But he wouldnt go to the Hospital[.] So I had my Daughter come up and
get him, She and her Sister got him to go to the Hospital at sidney here. I
paid the Doctor Bill at OschKosh and my oldest Brother paid the hospital
expenses at that time.
Dad had a Rupture and also prostrate
trouble[.] he had that taken care of it seems while he was at Vale Oregon.
he went to the Hospital at Ontario Oregon for that. he had Been up at Dallas
oregon Befor that an a place that Belonged to A man By the name of Joe sciha
Wills. It seems he[,] Mr Wills[,] was School Supertendent of that County
there. dad farmed and took care of his thing for him on the Farm.
After my Brother Went to Alsea oregon
he put father on Relief for Some time[.] they wanted me to Signe for his
support on Relief But I wouldnt do It for Signing would Be Classing him as
Destitute and I did not think that he was[.] And my oldest Brother And
Sister did not Sign the papers either[.]
W.O. Anderson & E.L. Anderson at a park near Corvallis, Oregon, July 4, 1973