Research Papers

Research Papers

Today is:

                               January 1920, Continued

A Variety of Topics & Winter Activities

Two Common Winter Social Events in 1920
    Oyster Suppers
        Amherst Kensington held a community oyster supper New Years Eve. They purchased 3 gallons of oysters.
        The Odessa Ladies’ Aid Society was holding a bazaar and oyster supper at the town hall
        The Woodman [insurance group] had an oyster supper after their meeting

    Church Events
        The Baptists had Bible studies on Sunday evenings
        The Methodist church held revival services all through the month of January
        The Haven Chapel church interior was being painted and redecorated

    1920 Census - taken in January instead of April.
    By the last week in January people who had not been counted were asked to call the Commercial Club to give their
    information or fill out the form printed in the newspaper and turn it in to them.

    Auto Licenses - New state law in 1920 required auto licenses be renewed by the end of the month.
        A separate room at the courthouse was opened to take care of all the business

    Farm Sales
    This was the time of year when land ownership or rental changes were made in preparation for the new growing
    season starting March 1.

    There were many farm sales and frequent moves to rent different properties during the month.
    At one point toward the end of the month the editorial comment was made that there were more than usual.

February – Sandhill Cranes

Cranes usually begin arriving in mid- to late February

Not the tourist attraction in the past that the annual spring migration is now.

Memories of area pioneers included an account of a terrible hail storm in the hills north of Kearney in 1880
     [no month given]. The hail was 18” deep.
    “An enormous flock of sandhill cranes was passing over at the time.
    After the storm was over, three double wagon bed loads of dead cranes were picked up.”

Early sighting - January 21, 1916 – On the previous two evenings flocks of sandhill cranes were seen passing over
    Kearney.

Casual mention of cranes over the years

        A 1934 Hub newspaper article about soil conditions and the general farm situation in the area included an account of signs of spring and spring activities at home and on the farm which included “the presence of large numbers of sandhill cranes on the river….”

        A couple of years later in October State Conservation officers from all over the state were reporting large numbers of flocks of geese and sandhill cranes flying over.

        Another time it was reported that "the sandhill cranes went north over Kearney earlier than usual.”

        A 1957 "Hub Spokes" item gave an indication of the numbers of sandhill cranes passing through –
‘Residents of the Platte Valley have had opportunity to witness another sign of spring, these past few days.. . .Thousands of sandhill cranes have been feeding in fields near the river, and may be seen flying over the city. . . .One veteran hunter remarked that, although cranes are reportedly good to eat, there is no open season on them... .A farmer, who observed the cranes feeding in his field, remarked "If those birds were turkeys. I'd be rich."

Whooping Cranes received attention also in 1936
        The director of the Hastings Museum was asking anyone who saw whooping cranes coming through this area to let him know the location and number in the flock.

        They used to be quite numerous but were becoming scarce. In the previous year there were only about 30 spotted in the state.

When did sandhill canes become a tourist attraction in the Kearney area?

According to the Nebraska Audubon Society website:
        Audubon's Nebraska Crane Festival was formerly called the Rivers and Wildlife Celebration and the Spring River
        Conference.

        It was started by National Audubon Society's regional director at the time, Ron Klataske, in 1971 to raise
        awareness for the Platte River and the spring migration.

        It resulted in the formation of the Big Bend Audubon chapter and possibly all the chapters in Nebraska.

        The first two years it was held in Grand Island and then moved to Kearney when Rowe Sanctuary was
        purchased in 1974.

        Some of the big names for attendees to the conference are Roger Tory Peterson, Bruce Babbitt, Jane Goodall
        and many others. Their attendance brought the event to the attention of Audubon Society members and birders
        across the nation.

        Rowe Sanctuary, Big Bend Audubon Society, Audubon Nebraska, and Spring Creek Prairie Audubon Center
        team up to put on this celebration of migration now.

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Revised: 03/27/2020