#MindenCourierColumn Archives - Pioneer Village - Minden, NE

American Confetti: Historic Lowell Depot

Willaim Ascarza — Thu, 29 Feb 2024 00:46:35 +0000

American Confetti: Historic Lowell Depot

Once a thriving town located in northeastern Kearney County, Lowell, NE, served as the final stop of the Burlington & Missouri River Railroad and briefly emerged as a significant shipping hub in central Nebraska. The railroad extended from Chicago, with intentions to reach Ft. Kearney, located eight miles west of Lowell, where it would connect with the Union Pacific Railroad to the north of the Platte River. However, in 1872, the Union Pacific’s decision to impose exorbitant shipping charges on the B & M Railroad led to the abandonment of this plan, resulting in the completion of the railroad track in Lowell.

Named in honor of James Russell Lowell, an American poet, Lowell was established in 1871 on land acquired from the United States Government, totaling 640 acres. It became a hub for the U.S. Land Office for the Republican Valley and attracted homesteaders. Lowell earned the distinction of being the first incorporated town in Kearney County in 1872. It served as a pivotal point for shipping thousands of Texas Longhorns in 1872-73, guided by a signal light in town visible to cattlemen up to 50 miles away. Recognized as a rough frontier town, it became a haven for rowdy cowboys, gamblers, and gunslingers, featuring four saloons, a courthouse, a train depot, and other structures.

Beyond its proximity to the Platte River and the winter migration of Sand Hill Cranes, a notable site in Lowell is the Boot Hill cemetery situated southeast of the town. An imposing cement boot mounted on a stone platform to the east of the hill, erected in 1976 by the Alumni Association, serves as a memorial to over 25 pioneers who lost their lives in a range war involving cowboys and homesteaders.

By 1874, the town experienced a downturn influenced by various factors. The expansion of the railroad extended westward to Kearney establishing a regional trading hub along with the erection of a bridge across the Platte River at Kearney Junction to aid in transport.

Additionally, the land office was relocated to Bloomington. In 1878, the County Seat was shifted to Minden, a more central location within the County, which marked the official conclusion of Lowell’s status as a boom town. Businessmen from Lowell relocated to other areas in search of profit.

By the mid-1880s, the town’s population had dwindled to less than 50 residents. It continued to operate as a railroad stop until 1942, with the local school closing in 1963. Presently, the settlement consists of a few homes situated near the intersection of Lowell and Carpenter Roads.

Operating from 1872 to 1942, the Lowell Depot holds a special legacy. Each railroad agent who worked there inscribed their name and years of service in black ink on the wall. Although the Burlington Railroad planned to demolish the depot, Harold Warp was granted permission to relocate it to Pioneer Village on November 9, 1951. During its restoration, seven layers of flooring were uncovered, each representing a different era. Notably, one layer of flooring had journeyed with Helga Johannesen Warp, the mother of Harold Warp, and her brother Johannes from Norway to homestead in Kearney County.

At Harold Warp Pioneer Village, visitors can explore educational exhibits at the depot. One highlight is a replica of the golden spike that marked the meeting of the Union Pacific and Central Pacific Railroads on May 10, 1869, signifying the completion of the first transcontinental railroad in the US. Additionally, there’s a Western Union Clock that was synchronized through a wired connection to a coded signal from Washington, DC, powered by dry cell batteries. The display also features dated nails from railroad ties, various railroad lanterns and lamps, a railroad signal switch, a 1888 Narrow Gauge H.K. Porter Locomotive and a restored 1889 Baldwin Steam Locomotive (No. 967) for all ages to enjoy. These artifacts are part of the collection at the Lowell Depot display in Pioneer Village, where the history and significance of these items are preserved and shared.

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American Confetti: Cars Showcased at Harold Warp Pioneer Village

Willaim Ascarza — Mon, 29 Jan 2024 14:00:37 +0000

American Confetti: Cars Showcased at Harold Warp Pioneer Village in Filmography

As Seen On TV, the Harold Warp Pioneer Village exhibits similar vehicles from TV and movies.

The Harold Warp Pioneer Village showcases vehicles that have gained notoriety in the entertainment industry, similar to those featured in popular television shows and movies.

Buckle up and get ready to rev your engines! Harold Warp Pioneer Village has been wowing car enthusiasts for a whopping 70 years. From the late 1800s up to the 1980s, the museum collected an impressive range of cars, many of them original, everyday roadsters with zero modifications. But wait, there’s more! Some of these beauties are similar models to those that have graced the silver screen. Here are a few of these movie stars on wheels and where to find them at the museum.

1944 Willys Jeep in Combat

Ready for some military might? Head to Building #19 on the second floor to catch a glimpse of the Willys Jeep. Built in 1944, this rugged jeep played a vital role in World War II and had a TV stunt double on the show “Combat.” The series followed the thrilling adventures of King Company, a fearless American Infantry Squad battling it out against the Germans in war-torn France. With a production of over 300,000 MB model All Wheel Drive (AWD) jeeps, these versatile vehicles were issued to all branches of the military. The Willys-Overland Jeep MB boasts an inline 4, Petrol engine with 2199 cm3 / 134.2 cu-in capacity, weighing 2,454 lbs, and a horsepower of 55 PS/ 54 bhp/ 40kW.

1951 Ford 2-door sedan in Thunder Road

A 1951 Ford 2-door sedan has been located on the ground floor of Building #19. This vehicle was famously featured in the film “Thunder Road,” driven by Robert Mitchum’s character as he transported illicit moonshine in a custom tank. The hot-rod version of the car boasted several other modifications, including a ’49 Ford hood and grill. The film’s plot centers around moonshine runners, with Treasury Agents and Big-City mobsters also playing prominent roles.

1957 Ford Fairland 500 Skyliner in The Adventure of Ford Fairlane

The retractable automotive hardtop is an invention attributed to engineer Ben B. Ellerbeck, who secured a patent for the design in 1921. The first practical application of the technology occurred in 1922 on a 1919 Hudson Super Six roadster, which necessitated the reconstruction of the windshield and rear body section. Further prototypes were developed over the ensuing decades but proved to be prohibitively expensive. In the early 1950s, Ford Motor Co. seized an opportunity to experiment with the design, allocating a $2.18 million budget for the project. The feature was eventually implemented into production in the upscale Fairlane 500 line. The 1957 Ford Skyliner Retractable Hardtop convertible found on the bottom floor in Building #19 is one of only 20,766 units built. The model featured a base 292-cu.in V-8 engine, along with an optional upgrade to a 312.cu.in overhead-valve V-8. Despite its brief production run, the car remained popular among collectors and was even featured in films such as “The Adventure of Ford Fairlane,” an action-comedy movie in which Andrew Dice Clay played the character Ford Fairlane and drove a 1957 Ford Fairlane 500 Skyliner.

1957 Chevrolet 210 Sport Coupe in Roadhouse 66

The 1957 Chevrolet 210 Sport Coupe shares some body-side trim with the top-of-the-line Bel Air, but lacks the Bel Air’s gold-tone accents and ribbed aluminum body-side ‘wedges.’ Notably, this car played a significant role in the 1984 movie “Roadhouse 66,” which was filmed in Kingman, Arizona. The film depicts a traveler from New York heading to California who teams up with a hitchhiker to race against a gang of hoodlums from Kingman from Kingman to Oatman and back. One of these models is on display in the museum’s bottom floor of building 18.

1967 Oldsmobile Toronado in Mannix

The bottom level of building #17 houses the 1967 Oldsmobile Toronado that features front wheel drive and a V8 engine. Also known as the “Mannix Roadster”, this car made its appearance on the popular detective show “Mannix” that ran on CBS primetime from 1967 to 1975. The actual car used on the show was specially designed for the 1st two seasons of the series. Modified from stock by renowned car customizer George Barris who also designed the Batmobile, a 1955 Lincoln Futura concept car on the popular television series Batman. Barris cut the roof off, removed the back seat while masking the rear compartment with a custom tonneau giving it the appearance of a two-seat roadster. Other custom features to name a few included the inclusion of a rotary telephone, heated seats, halogen headlight inserts and a gun compartment stash. All of these fit the lavish and adventurous P.I. lifestyle of Joe Mannix played by “Mike Conners”.

This has a been preview of the vintage cars on display at our museum. Did you know that you can adopt any of these classic cars? Visit our website to learn more about our Adopt a Vehicle membership, as well as other membership tiers that provide VIP treatment. We’re excited to host you soon!

Sources:

- Sister Clara’s letters by Clara Warp Jensen, 1979, The Village edition, in English.
- 1957 Ford Fairlane 500 Skyliner | Hemmings
- The King’s Chariot: 1967 Oldsmobile Toronado “Mannix Roadster” — Dragone Classic Motorcars
- Jeeps in Movies and on TV – The Jeep and Hollywood Page – Brian’s Military Jeeps of WWII – (wwiijeepparts.com)
- IMCDb.org: 1957 Chevrolet Two-Ten Sport Coupe in “Roadhouse 66, 1984”
- Movie: Thunder Road | FanFare (metafilter.com)

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