A New Exhibit at Harold Warp Pioneer Village

Step right up, tech time travelers! Get ready to journey through the riveting saga of computing at the brand-new exhibit in Harold Warp Pioneer Village! From ancient abacuses to mind-boggling virtual reality headsets, this exhibit is a rollercoaster ride through the evolution of tech wizardry.

The ubiquitous presence of computers in contemporary society underscores their pivotal role in numerous professional and personal tasks. Remarkably, the origins of computing can be traced back several millennia. The inception of early computing devices can be found in the Far East with the advent of the abacus, an ancient calculating tool. Utilizing beads or stones on metal rods to represent numerical values, the abacus facilitated arithmetic operations and was a favored tool among merchants for tracking financial transactions. Subsequent advancements in computing included the Antikythera Mechanism, an ancient Greek analog computer dating back to 150 BC. Recovered from a shipwreck in 1901, this intricate device comprised over 30 bronze gears operated by a hand-crank, enabling the calculation of astronomical positions and eclipse timings.

In 1642, Blaise Pascal introduced the Pascaline, recognized as the first mechanical calculator. Operating on a decimal system, this hand-cranked machine featured wheels representing digits from 0 to 9 and had the capability to perform basic arithmetic functions like addition and subtraction.

The collaborative efforts of innovators in the 19th and 20th centuries significantly propelled the evolution of computers, revolutionizing fields such as business, communication, defense, and education. Charles Babbage, an esteemed English mathematician, earned the title “father of the computer” for his groundbreaking designs of the Analytical Engine and the Difference Engine, which automated complex mathematical computations including logarithm tables crucial for navigation.

Subsequent inventors contributed to the development of computing technology, such as Herman Hollerith, who devised a punch-card system for the 1890 census, and Vannevar Bush, creator of the Differential Analyzer at MIT, the first large-scale automatic general-purpose mechanical analog computer. Noteworthy is the creation of ENIAC (Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer) by physicist John Mauchly, J. Presper Eckert, and their team at the University of Pennsylvania during World War II. ENIAC, the first programmable general-purpose electronic digital computer, occupied multiple rooms and was pivotal in defense and scientific endeavors.

The continuous innovation in computing technology led to the refinement and miniaturization of computers. To explore this fascinating history further, the Harold Warp Pioneer Museum will unveil a new exhibit in May, showcasing the evolution of computing. Housed on the second floor of the Shops &

Homes #13 building, the exhibit commences with the abacus and progresses through various milestones, culminating in contemporary technologies like virtual reality headsets. Emphasizing innovation as a central theme, the exhibit features an International Dial Time Recorder Clock at the entrance, manufactured by the International Time Recording Co., a precursor to IBM, and utilized in industrial workplaces circa 1910.

Among the exhibited items is the IBM System 3, introduced in the late 1960s to support small businesses with card-based batch-oriented applications like billing, payroll, and inventory control. Additionally, the exhibit showcases the Altair 8800, hailed as the world’s first minicomputer kit, introduced in the mid-1970s. This revolutionary kit, which users assembled from scratch by soldering connections, marked the advent of commercially successful home computers, devoid of a keyboard or monitor compatibility. Instead, users inputted information using toggle switches and received it using LEDs. The exhibit also pays homage to subsequent innovations in personal computing by renowned manufacturers like Commodore, Apple, and Texas Instruments.

So, grab your QR code scanners and get ready to geek out at this tech-tastic time warp. Psst! If you have any vintage video gaming treasures to spare, the museum is all ears – think Atari, Sega, Nintendo, and more! Time to dust off those relics and make a tech donation that’ll go down in history. Contact Pioneer Village at (308) 832-1181 or manager@pioneervillage.com for more information!

Minden Courier Story

 The Shoe Shop that is now in Pioneer Village was once operated by a father and son pair in New England from 1840 to 1880. They had quite the process to make their shoes. It started by getting animal hides from local farmers. Then, they took the hides back to their shoe shop and sat at a low bench that served as their workstation. The tools used by the shoemakers were practically the same tools that ancient Egyptian sandal makers used: a lapping stone, hammer, crude needle, and knife. The knife was the shoemaker’s best friend as it was used to cut fabric and build the structure of the shoes to the form. The needle was used for the precision needed to make a shoe. The whole process was unpleasant and daunting, taking eight to ten hours to finish each pair of shoes.

Once multiple pairs of shoes were finished, the shoemakers went back out to the country to sell their final products to people. Then, they got more animal hides from local farmers to start the process all over again.

In the year 1845, the first machine to be widely adopted by the industry was introduced. It was a simple form of a rolling machine, which took the place of the lapping stone and hammer used by the shoemakers for toughening the leather. This machine saved shoemakers about thirty minutes of hammering and flattening out leather because it could do the job in one minute.

If you come to visit the Shoe Shop at Pioneer Village, you will see that all the shoe forms were the same. Before 1865 there were no right and left shoes. Two different shoes for each foot were made for soldiers in the Civil War and became popular for the public as well then. So come check it out for yourself!

When was the last time you had to run to the store? We rely heavily on the convenience and efficiency of chain stores like Walmart and Target across the country.

With the evolution of grocery pick-up and amazon prime, shopping has become quicker, highly systematic, and impersonal. While life these days seems bustling and hectic, a quicker shopping process might seem like a no-brainer. But, there is actually value in a slower, personal, and more intimate shopping experience.

Back in the 1800s, the picture of shopping looked a lot different than today. Instead of Walmart, pioneers had what was called a “general store.” This was one of the only options to purchase goods such as clothing material, spices, tins, guns, and anything else needed. The general stores were also a meeting area for people in their towns, and oftentimes even doubled as a home for the people who owned and ran a general store. People also used these locations to share news and spend time with one another, playing games and enjoying each other’s company. The owner’s relationship with the customers was much closer than in the present day. People often had the option to trade as opposed to buying goods because of sparse funds during this time frame.

Pioneers traded things like crops or handmade goods. The general store was a true gem that not only provided goods but maintained meaningful relationships with its customers and served as much more than just a store.

While the array of shopping processes and the conveniences that Walmart, Amazon, and Target no doubt hold a special place in our 2021 hearts, you might wonder what it’s like to experience shopping pioneer style. Thankfully, Pioneer Village, located in Minden Nebraska, just off interstate 1-80, is home to a historical general store. Pioneer Village decided to re-create exactly what a general store would have looked and felt like in the 1800s. And not only do they offer an exact replica of an old-fashioned general store but it’s also filled with real artifacts from the pioneer days. When you walk up to the general store, you’ll be greeted with a replica of the storefront, and as you walk in you can experience what it would be like to shop as a pioneer. You’ll see a huge variety of goods like lamps, furniture, dishes, seed, gun material, washing machines, and even more. Pioneer village is home to artifacts you’ll find nowhere else, and an experience you and your family will never forget. While the general store is appealing to most and an experience of its own, Pioneer Village has so much more to offer than just the general store. It has a church, a schoolhouse, a blacksmith shop, and even more for a full experience. You can find over 28 buildings and 50,000 items. Pioneer village’s current hours going into winter are 9 am-4 pm, making it a perfect excursion for any road trip heading east or west or an excellent weekend getaway.

Minden and surrounding areas are home to multiple hotels and a campground for those traveling. The history that pioneer village holds is a priceless experience for everyone. So step away from the hectic world of consumerism for a day and enjoy the simplicity and endless stories that pioneer village has to tell through its general store and several other buildings and artifacts. 

Have you ever taken the time to really think about buttons? The history of buttons, different colors, unique shapes, various uses for buttons. You’ve never thought about that? Me neither. That was why I was intrigued when I heard about a button collection at the Harold Warp Pioneer Village. 

I personally love buttons. My grandma had an enormous jar full of an assortment of buttons that I would look through when I visited her. It was so fun for me to sort through them all and find little dainty buttons, big bulky buttons, normal sewing buttons, and unique one-of-a-kind buttons. My grandma always let me pick out a couple of buttons to take home with me, so I had a small collection of my own.

Buttons are obviously useful for clothes but they are also great for crafts. On each of my Christmas cards last year I hot glued two little white buttons next to each other and decorated them to look like a snowman. I also got a miniature Christmas tree and hot glued one button on the end of each branch so I have a centerpiece full of color and cheer for the holiday season. When it comes to buttons, there are thousands of ways to use your creativity especially when you have thousands of buttons at your disposal. 

One creative way the Harold Warp Pioneer Village displays their button collection is by covering different wooden shapes with them. The Hobby House, home of the Pioneer Village button collection, has wooden alphabet letters hanging on the wall. Each letter is covered with approximately 200-300 buttons. Along with the alphabet, there is a miniature rocking chair, wheelbarrow, windmill, water well, star, and covered wagon made of wood that are each covered and decorated with bunches of buttons. A full-sized button dress and some picture frames with buttons glued in different patterns that hang on the walls are the final displays in the button collection. 

On November 16, 1960, Clara Warp Jensen wrote a letter to Harold Warp telling him that her husband, T.C. Jensen, had traveled to Murdock, Nebraska. It was here that he purchased the button collection from a lady named Mrs. Martha Kruse for 25 dollars and brought it back to Minden, Nebraska. Clara worked on adding the button collection to the Hobby House for all to see over the years. 

Buttons are fun to collect but, if you think about it, any item can be collectible if you get enough of them in one place. For instance, I was proud to own a collection of bouncy balls that I took to school for show-and-tell in kindergarten once. The Hobby House, according to the History of Man’s Progress book, contains over 50 different collections with over 5,000 total individual items. Some collections in this building along with the buttons include canes, hatpins, trivets, model trains, arrowheads, belt buckles, night-caps, glass slippers, miniature night lamps, spittoons, cigar lighters, and cigar clippers. 

Some people collect a super specific item and they know everything about each separate item such as how it is similar and different from the others. This is not the case for the button collection. With thousands of buttons in the Hobby House, it would be impossible to know the background of each individual button. That is the beauty in it, I guess. One button may be from your great, great, great, great, great, great, great grandmother’s wedding dress or even from the clothes of a royal king. However, another button may just be mass-produced in a factory and have thousands that look just like it. The world may never know.

Interested in classic Fords and want to learn more? Come visit this classic Ford Model T and many others at Harold Warp Pioneer Village located in Minden, Nebraska. 

History

The Ford Model T first debuted in 1908 in Detroit, Michigan, and was sold until 1927. The launch of the Model T was different than any other launch before because it was one of the first mass-production vehicles which meant it was available for lots of customers. As mentioned on Ford’s website, Ford Motor Company could sell the vehicle for between $260 and $850 as Henry Ford passed production savings on to his customers. 

What’s cool about this is that since the car was so cheap, many people could afford it with 4 to 18 months’ salary. With this amazing price, almost 40 percent of cars sold at that time were Model Ts.

About the Car

The Model T came with many different variations like two-seat runabouts, five-seat touring, and a seven-seat town car. Its body was mounted in a 100-inch wheelbase chassis. In the beginning, the car was offered in many different colors, however, after 1913, the only color that you could buy was black. 

This vehicle also had its engine block and crankcase as one unit. It was made of four cylinders and could detach the cylinder head for easy access and repair. The engine came with 20 horsepower and could reach speeds up to 45 miles per hour. According to Britannica, “In most Models, the engine was started by a hand crank, which activated a magneto connected to the flywheel, but after 1919 some Models were equipped with battery-powered starters.” The car came with a 2-speed transmission with two forward gears and one reverse. The transmission was also smooth. It was a planetary type, controlled by a hand lever. 

The Model T had a fuel capacity of 10 gallons. One interesting fact about the Model T is that gasoline was fed to the engine by gravity and reverse gear had more power than forwarding gears. This made a bit of a problem going uphill, so people put it in reverse. The early Models came with a tool kit, packed the gas tank under the front seat, and the option to either have windshield or not because it wasn’t standardized back then. It was also the first to make the lightweight but strong alloy known as vanadium steel. 

Nickname and Popularity

The Ford Model T also had its unique nickname called “Tin Lizzie.” There are many theories about how this name originated, some say that origins include the popularity of the female name “Lizzie” during that time, some say that it was a generic name given to a horse and was passed on to the Model T.

Ford was already a big automotive back then. As early as 1920, more than half of the registered automobiles in the world were Ford. They sold more than 15 million Model T’s and it ended its era in 1927. Even though this vehicle is more than 100 years old, this vehicle is iconic because it introduced new features at a low cost and revolutionized manufacturing.

As the West expanded in the 1840s with events like the Oregon Trail and the Gold Rush people flocked to the unknown of the west, receiving a letter was a big deal in the 1800s. This expansion was great but journeying into the unknown came with zero established communications. How would people travel east to west fast enough  to be able to spread information in time? William H. Russell, Alexander Majors, and William B. Waddell created a relay system that spread from Missouri to California, about 1,966 miles, in just 10 days. This was the fastest and most practical way to be able to spread information quickly. The original names were Central Overland California and Pike’s Peak Express company but was later known as the Pony Express Station. This relay system that started in 1860 had stations  along a direct route through eight states. At each station, a rider and horse would be waiting. Once one rider arrived at a station, the rider waiting would then take the mail and travel to the next station. Passing it along until it reached its destination. The riders for the stations had certain requirements and most of the riders were only 100-125 pounds to keep the horse’s load light. 

Though the Pony Express was only operational for about 18 months, until the telegraph station took over, it became well known and is still a solid part of the communication history today. Here at Pioneer Village an original Pony Express Station has been restored so you can see it as what it would’ve looked like in all its glory. Along with it, is a replica of an original Pony Express Barn complete with model horses, historic saddles, and items dug up at Fort Kearney. Some of these saddles include an original Pony Express Saddle and one of the four unique original Buffalo Bill Cody Saddles made in Omaha, NE. Buffalo Bill Cody’s house and museum are not too far located in North Platte and would be a great day trip! 

Obtaining the Pony Express Station took a while as Harold Warp tried a couple times to get it from Bridgeport, Nebraska where it was originally a Pumpkinseed relay station for the Black Hills. In 1953 Harold offered $100 for it but was turned down as the town of Bridgeport planned to restore it and create a park around it. After 2 years, they reached back out to Pioneer Village by mail and asked if they would still take it for the original price offered. In Sister Clara’s letter, she quoted Harold who said, “Get it right away before they change their minds again.” Apparently, it was going to be a while before Bridgeport would be able to add a park and they hadn’t been able to restore it at all within the last 2 years. For these reasons it was given to Pioneer Village for just $100!

They spent a lot of time restoring it and filling it with authentic antiques from that time. They poured a foundation for it to sit on first just east of the church in the famous Circle at Pioneer Village. It was Harold who suggested this, and it stuck! They also redid the roof and added new shingles to it on a day Sister Clara deemed beautiful. Once the Relay Station was restored, they also built an authentic barn to go beside and complete the look. 

Come visit Pioneer Village to see this truly historical site with a complete Station and Barn. In it see how the riders on the Pony Express lived and how the horses lived too! Ride into the 1860s by stepping into this original building!

If you like horses then you would have loved getting around back in the day. That is, until the steam powered engine came along.
However, prior to ingenuity and modernized ways of travel, in the 1800-1900’s people needed a way in which they could travel. The best way for this was a stagecoach. 

What is a stagecoach

A stagecoach is a four-wheeled public transport coach used to carry paying passengers and light packages on journeys long enough to need a change of horses. A fact I found very interesting about stagecoaches is that not only would they be on a constant schedule of transportation to people in the country, but they would run on a normal schedule just as a bus would do today in modern times. Also, just as a car would need a change of tires, staging stations would have fresh horses that would be swapped out to keep the stagecoaches moving. On average, a stagecoach would travel about 5 miles per hour and covered roughly a distance of 60-70 miles. However, with modifications being made, some stagecoaches were able to reach speeds of up to 10 miles per hour. Over the course of time, these stagecoaches really made a mark in the U.S. and some of them became very famous as well. That is why it is so fascinating that Pioneer Village has so many on display for viewers to really take a glimpse at and get an idea of what it would be like to travel in such a vehicle. 

Conestoga

One of the most famous wagon/ stagecoaches was known as the Conestoga wagon. From 1820-1840, the Conestoga Wagon was at its peak usage. The wagon was used mainly in the state of Pennsylvania and neighboring states such as Maryland, Ohio, and Virginia. However, that is just where the Conestoga was most prominent; the stagecoach was all over Canada as well as the U.S. There is a  misconception that the Conestoga was very useful for the Westward migration. What people don’t realize, however, is that the Conestoga was a heavier wagon and was not very useful for long treks. 

Wells Fargo

Wells Fargo is on the opposite side of the U.S. and was very prominent in the western hemisphere. It is also equally, if not more so, famous than the Conestoga. Movies have been made of this stagecoach and it is a very important piece of U.S. civilization of the past.

The Wells Fargo was used heavily more towards California to haul gold and precious metals at the time of the goldrush. According to the Western Historical Quarterly, in March 1854 alone, $2,618,404 worth of gold dust was brought into San Francisco using these stagecoaches. Due to how much value was being hauled by the Wells Fargos, they became a very enticing target for robbers back in the day. You know how it goes; we have all seen the movies of the wild wild west and the stickups that settlers would encounter. Well, this is the reasoning behind that. 

Thinking of transportation now, it is so impressive and overlooked how travel has changed. With these facts in mind and even if you are fond of horses, would you still be into the stagecoach life now?

Have you ever heard of San Francisco Cable cars? Maybe wonder how people were getting from point A to point B before gas cars took over? Or are you eager to learn how it was built? Then you came to the right place. Andrew Smith Hallidie invented cable cars in the hilly city of San Francisco. Cable cars are a transportation system which had to be built along a cable to travel from A to B. After the cable cars took over in San Francisco and replaced horses, other cities picked up the idea and introduced cable cars into their everyday lives in the city. An interesting fact is that these cable cars survived earthquakes and fires. In the 1870s and early 1900s they were incredibly common and in almost every city across the US and even in other countries, like England and Australia. Cable cars have become a worldwide symbol of San Francisco. 

San Francisco Street Cars 

Horses were used for transportation before any operating railway was built. Andrew S. Hallidie  was a rope manufacturer who invented cable cars and built the world’s first cable street railway in San Francisco in the year of 1871. No one wanted to see horses struggling pulling horse cars up hilly and steep hills in the city. So Hallidie saw the opportunity and had the power to build and run a cable car in the city. In 1873, early in the morning when everyone else was sleeping at 4 am, he tested out the first cable car on San Francisco Clay Street.  

On September 1^st, 1873, the success of Hallidie cable cars was opened to the public and it was huge in the city. Then soon after other horse car companies started to build their own similar system and run their service. In an article on Cable Car History, quoted “All totaled, San Francisco companies had laid down 53 miles of track stretching from the Ferry Building to the Presidio, to Golden Gate Park, to the Castro, and to the Mission.” 

 Present day cable cars  

Now that we know what cable cars are and its history in San Francisco, it is still used and running around today. There are two types of cable cars that are still in service. They may look a lot different in appearance, but these two different cable cars operate very similarly. First there are the California street cable cars which have 12 seats, with the middle section closed but opened in the front and end. This cable car can operate from either end plus turn around at the end of line by a simple switch. They are usually a maroon color. The second is Powell Hyde & Powell Mason which is a single ended cable car that only operates from one end and is smaller than the California. They come in a historic paint scheme known as “livery”.

Last thoughts 

San Francisco street cars are very interesting and something worth experiencing and so I highly recommend going to see them in person. The history behind these cable cars is incredible and on top of it surviving the earthquake and fire is beyond fascinating to know. But if you, family members, or friends ever think about planning a trip together to experience these cool street cars, I suggest checking out Harold Warp Pioneer Village Museum. They have tons of other awesome stuff as well and over hundreds of cars.  

Have you ever wondered how fires were put out or what equipment and stations looked like back in the 50’s? Well, this firehouse will give you a blast to the past. I’ll tell you right now the technology has come a long way, specifically in the fire department. The strategies that were used to extinguish fires back then are laughable in today’s society. 

Starting off on the engine portion of things, back then the fire trucks used a 310-horsepower engine with 12 cylinders. Compare that to today’s fire truck engines which average about 500-600 horsepower and 12-liter 6-cylinder engine which not only makes it so the truck can handle the heaviness but also is more fuel efficient. While they once looked like a horse and buggy, they have now transformed into full on armored vehicles.

The equipment that firemen used were also drastically different as well. We have all seen scenes from a movie where buckets are used to put out fires, well back then this was a normal practice. They would use leather fire buckets and pass them through a line of people that were close to the fire to try and extinguish it. This practice was later terminated by the steam pump which not only provides more water but also adds high pressure to the flame. In fact, in the fire house at Pioneer Village there is the only intact horse drawn steam fire engine. This horse drawn steam engine may have been used in the great Chicago fire of 1871. Where in that fire over 17,000 buildings were destroyed, and hundreds of people lost their lives. Not only has the technology in equipment been helpful in fighting fires but technology in general made the job a lot easier. In the 1900’s, firemen used a torch which they would use to navigate through dark times in a fire. That was later replaced by a flashlight. This new technology has also helped with communication, fire horns were a big part of letting people know about the fire, which came in handy. Nowadays all firefighters carry a walkie talkie to make internal communication much cleaner. 

With all this equipment there needs to be a place to store all of it, that is where the most important part is – the firehouse. Fighting fires in small rural areas is a tough task for most, you are rewarded with the luxuries that bigger cities get. You also need to be always ready, if you are slacking off it could mean the downfall of a community. This is why firehouses are so important, a “home base” for firefighters to be prepared from sunup to sundown and beyond.. All of these amazing rare antique items are a must see if you want to learn about our nation’s history not only in firefighting but also the way technology has progressed through the years. We hope you are able to visit these amazing features out here at Pioneer Village in the near future!

Blacksmithing, the art of forging iron to make tools using extreme heat and force, can be thought of as one of the most important trades known to mankind. Tracing back to 1500 BC, the art of blacksmithing has been vital for the growth of what our society has become today. Blacksmithing is most well-known from the medieval time period. This was when every town had their own skilled blacksmith to create everyday essentials for the locals. Of course back then, along with tools, blacksmiths were also in charge of making weapons. As the years went on, the trade strayed away from forging weaponry and focused on making the tools and equipment we still use today. 

The blacksmithing trade contains four major processes which have been improved upon over the decades but still use the same concepts. These processes are heating, holding, hitting, and shaping. In simple words, a blacksmith would heat a metal to high temperatures, hold it safely with the proper tools, and then hit and shape the metal to the desired outcome, such as a horseshoe. The Harold Warp Pioneer Village in Minden, Nebraska gives you a chance to experience a little of what this historic trade is all about and how it relates to the way of life from yesteryear. 

This blacksmith shop in Pioneer Village allows you to travel back and take a look at how important it was in the development for early settlers in America. Unfortunately, there are no swords or suits of armor being made to battle around with but, nonetheless, the littlest kind of steel work done here will leave you in awe. Most of the blacksmithing done back then in this part of the country was made for farmers. Examples of popular items that were forged are horseshoes, plow shares, disc blades, shovels, or anything a customer might have needed that was made of metal. In the summer months at Pioneer Village, visitors can purchase items that were forged right there in building 21 to take home as souvenirs. 

This blacksmith shop was originally bought on September 13, 1951 in Elm Creek, Nebraska for only 300 dollars. It was then brought over and placed strategically in Pioneer Village’s circle of museums to fit in perfectly, showcasing the early century trade workings. Original restoration was done in February of 1960 by family members and workers at Pioneer Village to make the blacksmith shop match the historical vibe all the other exhibits project. A monkey wrench display done at that time is still up and viewable to every guest who visits the shop. Now, the blacksmith shop is decorated with all kinds of tools that are essential in the process of blacksmithing. As you visit, you can step inside and see all the tongs, hammers, anvils, and other equipment that were not only used back then but can also still be used today.