Historic Envelopes Up For Auction

Among the many amazing packages available at this year's Evening for Hospice event sponsored by Community Hospital Health Foundation, there is also a unique item which should be of special interest to loyal Gazette readers and McCook area history buffs.

Wayne Rouse of Country Stampede in Manhattan, Kan. has donated two envelopes with a special cancellation stamp. Mr. Rouse collects historic memorabilia and likes to support McCook fundraisers.

The envelopes are dated Sept. 14 and 17, 1929, and bear an inked stamp which states: AMERICAN LEGION; Dedicating Their Airport; September 13 and 14, 1929; Inaugurating the First Regular Air Newspaper Delivery Service; McCOOK DAILY GAZETTE; McCOOK, NEBRASKA; "The City Ahead".

The stamp cancelation was part of the elaborate promotion designed by Gazette founder Harry Strunk in 1929 to mark the start of air newspaper delivery service, the first of its kind in newspaper history. Strunk used a Curtiss Robin C-1 airplane, piloted by Steve Tuttle, to deliver newspapers over a 389-mile route to 46 communities in Southwest Nebraska and Northwest Kansas. The airplane was named "The Newsboy" and is still part of the nameplate used by this newspaper every day.

Normally, Evening for Hospice packages are auctioned the night of the event (Sunday, Nov. 22) and are only available for those attending to bid on. Because of the expanded appeal of this particular package, Hospital Health Foundation Executive Director Terri Shipshock decided to open this item for call-in bids.

Interested bidders can call the foundation at (308) 344-7222 to place a bid between now and Thursday, Nov. 19.

The highest call-in bidder will then be contacted by Shipshock and will be given the opportunity to continue bidding at the live auction on Nov. 22, even if they are not able to attend the event.

"We just thought this was such an unusual item and would have very unique appeal to certain individuals," said Shipshock. "By using call-in bidding as well as the live auction, we are giving everyone an opportunity to own this fascinating piece of McCook history."

The two envelopes will be framed separately. All proceeds from the auction and annual event will provide Hospice services through Community Hospital. For more information, contact Shipshock at (308) 344-7222.