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.