oral history
Oral history is history that is passed on by word of mouth. Is there a family story that your dad told you that his grandpa told him? That is oral history. And it is important. History is not just names and dates and official records.
History is about what people do.
Alexander Graham Bell may have invented the telephone. But Lewis Day of Table Rock, Nebraska walked to the box on the wall, picked up the receiver, and talked to "Central," the Central Telephone Exchange. Irma Purcell was one of the operators at Central, which was located in the second story offices over the State Bank of Table Rock. And -- pick a name -- were the ones on a party line, asking someone who talked too much to yield the line, listening for her ring (two longs and a short?), paying the phone bill.
World leaders may have ranged around the controversy of the Berlin Wall but it was Don Siske of Table Rock, serving in the Armed Forces far from home, who was posted at the Wall to help those fleeing over it. It was he who watched people being shot just as they reached the point where the American soldiers were permitted to intervene and help.
In a village like ours, these threads of history are as interesting and important as the few lines in a book. What "really" happened, what did people think, how did things really play out.
For this reason, the Table Rock Historical Society hopes to preserve as much oral history relating to our little village as we can. If you have written down stories, please share them. If you have home movies or video interviews. please share them. If you have a family member who has interesting memories, please contact us on our Facebook group page and offer to help us gather those memories.
History is about what people do.
Alexander Graham Bell may have invented the telephone. But Lewis Day of Table Rock, Nebraska walked to the box on the wall, picked up the receiver, and talked to "Central," the Central Telephone Exchange. Irma Purcell was one of the operators at Central, which was located in the second story offices over the State Bank of Table Rock. And -- pick a name -- were the ones on a party line, asking someone who talked too much to yield the line, listening for her ring (two longs and a short?), paying the phone bill.
World leaders may have ranged around the controversy of the Berlin Wall but it was Don Siske of Table Rock, serving in the Armed Forces far from home, who was posted at the Wall to help those fleeing over it. It was he who watched people being shot just as they reached the point where the American soldiers were permitted to intervene and help.
In a village like ours, these threads of history are as interesting and important as the few lines in a book. What "really" happened, what did people think, how did things really play out.
For this reason, the Table Rock Historical Society hopes to preserve as much oral history relating to our little village as we can. If you have written down stories, please share them. If you have home movies or video interviews. please share them. If you have a family member who has interesting memories, please contact us on our Facebook group page and offer to help us gather those memories.
MINNIE PARKS BINDER
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Minnie was born in 1930. Memories here include going to country school, teaching at country school, growing up south of Pawnee City, she went to town with her dad on Trade Day, hanging out being the main entertainment available; harness racing at the county fair; meeting Willard; married life; the kids; and more
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bernice marfice kopetzky
In June 2018, Bernice came back to her old country school, Maple Grove. She spoke to a full house, a tour bus full of country school aficianados with the Country School Association of America. While she was in town, she agreed to an interview about her country school days, which is below.
ethel tibbets ward
1896-1988
ron gilbert
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When the bridge collapsed; when he worked on a harvest crew for Jim Kotalik, picture labeled as "last steam thresher harvest in the county"; A. P. Goodenkauf's test of manliness; egg money & the TV; pie and the Reno Inn; country school teacher Noma Schuetz (mean) and her husband Sam (not mean); Evert Storbeck; and more.
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evelyn kalina michaelis
dorothy gilbert penkava
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Going to country school (Hillcrest, Dist. 49); housekeeping with mother; brothers cooking well; getting married with barbers as the witnesses; getting the first bathroom & what went before; chickens -- eggs, making noodles; helping brother George at the Reno Inn with Mother's & Father's Day crowds; and more.
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lawrence petrashek
delores mccourtney penkava
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Includes but not limited to: Grandpa Charlie McCourtney's grading business, house moving business; grandma Lula McCourtney's cook wagon, cook tent; playing at the brickyard; playing grocery store with the Massey kids; playing with Marge Fellers; the public toilet by the library; Amy Marble, M. H. Marble; pet skunk Mortimer; her dad's Ford Mainliner 6; her grandpa's Cole Straight 8; her Dad & his black eye after losing a boxing match in TR; her aunt Velma McCourtney Epley's boxing match with an uppity cousin.
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george kreifel & lawrence petrashek, friends for 84 years, talk
Best friends from Table Rock, Nebraska Lawrence Petrashek and George "Babe" Kreifel share their stories of growing up and of their service in World War Two. Both men have since passed away. This video was completed in 2008.
glee covault tells true stories about 11-year-old avis dopp in the schoolchildren's blizzard of 1888. Avis was the grandmother of glee's husband, and when she was 98 told the story.
eddie hanna, a few words about rudy senft
lloyd vrtiska
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When this video was posted on Facebook, Lloyd's niece Barbara, daughter of his sister Floreine, commented:
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Floyd vrtiska
leroy malmos
marilyn wenzbauer mccage
bill almond
Bill graduated from Table Rock in 1950. Remembers Lower Town, friend George Slaughter, whose dad worked at the railroad round house, playing in the round house
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Bill's high school graduation picture, shared by Bill Tomek
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