the weather - WINTER
Photo 4623, a Stepan family photo shared by Millie Buethe.
a little slide show about snow
the school children's blizzard of 1888
Table Rock people have enjoyed and suffered Nebraska weather like everyone else. The story of young Avis Dopp as she struggled to get home during the School Children's Blizzard of 1888 is locally well known. However, an adult suffered from the storm even more. This was John Tlustos. He came to Table Rock from Nory Mesto Kuklik, Moravia in 1883 with the Frank Jun family. He worked around Humboldt, Wilber, and Omaha. In the blizzard of 1888 he froze his feet so badly that his toes had to be amputated. In 1896 he married Marie Svanda Pruddish; they were to have five children. John, with his family, left Pawnee County in 1904 to make their home in Haigler, Nebr. where they took a homestead. They suffered many hardships, drought, grasshoppers, prairie fires, hails; their small home burned down with all their personal possessions. Discouraged in 1911 they came back to Table Rock, where John died in 1913. He was 52.
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This page gives an overview of the blizzard and then tells the stories of little Avis Dopp Taylor trying to get home from the school in town, her home being only a block away. It also tells the story of her father Seymour Dopp, teacher at a country school somewhere between Pawnee City and Table Rock.
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the blizzard of 1949
the thanksgiving blizzard of 1952
Leonard Wenzl of Steinauer lost his life in this severe blizzard. Historical Society member Larry Layden shared these clippings:
Lawrence Obrist of Steinauer researched and discovered that these clippings are from the November 26 and December 3, 1952 issues of the Argus. Larry recalls:
My dad, Chuck Obrist, and Bob Buman, found Leonard about 4 days out. My dad offered Leonard s flashlight and coveralls prior to his leaving, but he declined both. He left the Tavern in Steinauer to walk the RR tracks 11/25. On 11/29/52 Dad saw one of Leonard's leggins he knew he had been wearing. Dad and many others from town and the Co. via Sheriff's office had come out in the search. On 11/26 five from town had done their own search w/o success. Thanksgiving was 11/27. |
more
Read a beautiful poem from a 1915 edition of the Table Rock Argus that talks about memories of a small town and how it looks in the various seasons. It ends by concluding that it is best when seen with "the benediction of snow" and includes some beautiful visual images. See it on the page, "1915, The Year." |
FAMILY PICTURES
Becky Roberts Sitzman in the late 1940s. She lived near Elk Creek at the time. Shared by her daughter Sharla Sitzman.
Daughter Sherry Winkinhofer points out that she is not wearing boots -- those are two pairs of socks!
In 1931 - Leo Herinck on the sled with sister Mildred Herink. Buethe Photo 4667, shared by Mildred.
In 2019, Millie -- the little girl on the sled just above, shared a recollection about snow:
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This is my earliest recollection of snow. My mother had made a small cup of snow ice cream for me with the new snow making it with cream and sugar, which was delicious. |
Photo 3336, April 4 1928, the Fencl farm. From Lou Fencl photo album owned by the Historical Society.
Photo 3794
Photo 3769 - A family photo of Gary & Terry Frank. They believe the men are brothers Charlie & Virgil Burow. Looks like they've been hunting jack rabbits. Terry recalls hearing that they put the rabbits in barrels down by the railroad which were periodically picked up and taken to Chicago. Why, they are not certain -- the pelts?
This ad from a 1916 or 1917 edition of the Argus corroborates the story that rabbits were desired, presumably dead. What would you do with 10,000 live rabbits?!
Photo 3948, the Square in snow, shared by Brad Bowen
Photo 3794
Photo 4151, District 32, Pleasant Valley Country School, shared by Mary Snook Hawkins
Photo 7471,, In the snow: George, Dwayne, and Edgar Gilbert, shared by Ronnie Gilbert.
Photo 3773, shared by Gary Frank. Family members are not identified, but some of Gary's Burow relatives lived near Elk Creek, and it's a good chance these are either the Burow or Frank families.
Photo 3347, scooping snow at the Burow Brothers Station. This is in Lou Fencl's album of pictures; this one is not dated, but others are dated from the late 1920s to the mid 1930s.
The Table Rock Cemetery in December 2012, taken by Sharla Sitzman
On a snowy morning, an old thresher sitting by Highway 4 in Lower town. Photo 6865, by Kim Vrtiska, January 12, 2019
Photo 6866 by Kim Vrtiska on January 12, 2019 -- the railroad bridge across Taylor Branch, taken from the Highway 4 bridge.
Photo 4623, a Stepan family picture shared by Millie Buethe
Delores Burow Frank,
Photo 4359, shared by Gary & Terry Frank
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Photo 8229, unidentified man from Burow family collection, shared by Gary & Terry Frank
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Scooping snow to clear the road for a car. Burow family picture. Photo 8223, shared by Gary & Terry Frank
Emil Michal on the running board of a Ford. Burow family picture of a friend. Photo 8224, shared by Gary & Terry Frank
playing in the snow IN MODERN TIMES
Little Sadie Binder out in the snow on January 12, 2019, shared by her mom Valerie Binder. Photo 6863.
snowmen (and girls and families!)
This is Kelly Freeman Vogt at age 2-1/2 standing in front of the home of her grandma Pat Mertes Stevens. It is Photo 6958, shared by Kelly's sister Paige Freeman Rogge on Facebook, and has a special story attached to it. As told by Paige,
Just wanted to share this picture. My Uncle Chris Stevens and Kelly Vogt (age 2.5yo) built this Snowman on January 12, 1995 - the day Grandpa, Roy Stevens passed away. Pictured here is that snowman in front of Grandma Pat Stevens’ home - accessorized with many of Grandpa’s things. 24 years ago - to the day.
Photo 6959 is Marty Hughes. Marty shared it to Facebook in 2019. He says it was taken in 1976 north of Table Rock. His family had moved from Oceanside, California to the old Bethel farm in the summer before his Junior year, and he had never seen snow before. He graduated from Table Rock in 1977, and doesn't live far away even when he shared this photo in 2019. "I've always loved southeast Nebraska," he says.
snowman contest, january 2019
After a six-inch wet snow, the Sitzman family sponsored a snowman contest for Table Rock kids. There were four entries, all great! First prize -- $25, plus a $5 bonus for having the maker in the picture. The quality of other picture did not count, by the way.
January 12, 2019 - Susan Puhalla shared this picture of two of her grandchildren, Chloe Blank & Caitlynn Anderson, and their snowman.
Photo 6867 -- Wyatt Blank with his snowman -- and a home for it! Shared by his mom Karen, January 2019
Photo 6868, Hayden & Paxton Binder shared by mom Crystal, January 2019
Photo 6869 - a whole family of snow people, by Photo Neveah and Taelyn Blecha, shared by dad Nick
and the winners OF THE SNOWMAN BUILDING CONTEST
grand prize, for the very best snow people in table rock made from the big snow of january 11-12, 2019 - Neveah & Taelyn Blecha
loveliest & prettiest snow girl -- chloe blank & caitlynn anderson
Caitlynn & Chloe collect their certificate and prize money, 1/16/19
snowman with the most verve & personality - hayden & paxton binder
special award for the design & construction of the very best new housing in table rock (although temporary) - wyatt blank (no picture of him receiving his award)
some snow builders who weren't on facebook
On January 28, 2019, I braved an icy back road that took me past Taylor Branch Country School, which is the local Amish community school. There in the school yard was a set of snowmen that were hugely impressive, even after a week that had some days of much melting. Had they been on Facebook and known of the contest, things may have gone a little differently! Sharla, 1/28/19
Here are the still-impressive remains of snowmen playing tether ball:
Here are the still-impressive remains of snowmen playing tether ball:
