Bandstand

THE BANDSTANDS

Always a summer center of music and fun, there have been at least two -- a wooden one at first, replaced by one of brick in the 1920s.

1911

circa 1918 - a fundraiser for a "new" bandstand

circa 1924-1926

Photo 1401, undated. The water tower was put up in 1924. The landscape around the bandstand looks established. The extensive landscaping described in 1926 and showing up in pictures in the late 1920s would be in the foreground, in part, but is not. Those are the main factors to help date this photo.

Excerpt of Photo 1401

1920s - the bandstand in use

Photo 7792, shared by George Binder. It was in the collection of his grandma Nellie Bain Binder. No names or date.

1927 - the new bandstand amidst spectacular landscaping

the story behind the astonishing beauty of the park includes the caretaker, mr. joseph hayak, "who loves the park as he would a child...." Mr. Hayak is soon discovered to be a veteran of the indian wars.

November 23, 1928

1928

1936: the park board was, i mean, serious!

1936

1941

Excerpt of Photo 2303, a view from the water tower by Arvid Blecha.

Photo 2328 -- a platform was built of planks for a number of years. Here you see it in 1941 in a photo by Arvid Blecha. Those are the Humboldt baton twirlers performing.

1948

June 1948

July 8, 1948

Ed Steiner lead a crew to put up the new, permanent, platform. With a crew of 25 or 30 men, they poured the second of five supports. Note that they met at Johnnie's Cafe -- Johnnie Clark had a cafe that was in what is now the Argus museum.

July 1948.

The bandstand with permanent platform -- no date. Photo 4942, from Ines Madden scrapbook album

1951

Photo 5105, 1951 fair bandstand, from Ines Madden scrapbook

1954: the hanna family enjoys a reunion

Photo 7769, 1954 Hanna family reunion, shared by Deb Hanna Anderson

Nebraska Territory was established 100 years earlier, and the stage was host to demonstrate the results of tghe local beard growing competition. Photo 36.

1988

Photo 770

1989

Photo 756 - Table Rock's beloved bandleader Eddie Hanna doing a skit with a retired Queen of Table Rock, Isabel, who has returned to tell her memories.

2015

2017

Photo 4434, ready for the fair in 2017

2018

In use at the fair. Photo 6749, photo by Daric Siztman

2022

With the vision and leadership of Kim Vrtiska, a new dance floor seating area were built in front of the stage uder the sponsorship of the Table Rock Community Club. Major Donors included the Vrtiska family, Pawnee County Promotional Network, the Pawnee County Board of Commissioners (from the Lodging Tax Improvement Fund), the Table Rock Historical Society, and others. Various families and organizations donated benches. Dedication night was held at the end of June 2022, with a performance