McCook Columbian Souvenir 1893: Selling Southwest Nebraska

More excerpts from the McCook Columbian Souvenir 1893:

Water Works: Most cities think they cannot afford an expensive system of water works until they have attained considerable wealth and population, and trust to the precarious supply to be furnished by wells, which invariably fail in dry seasons. McCook, thanks to the Lincoln Land Co. has had water works from the first, in 1882. At present there are 101⁄2 miles of mains, 332 taps and 21 fire plugs. Original cost $75,000.

Electric Lights: Since 1885, the streets and business houses of McCook are brilliantly lighted with electricity. A light plant was built in 1888 at a cost of $17,000. We doubt if another city of its size in the West can compete with McCook in this respect.

Newspapers: McCook has three newspapers, all published weekly -- The oldest paper is The Tribune, editor, F.M. Kimmell, begun in 1882. The newest paper is The Independent Enterprise, editor W.T. Lindsay, begun in 1893. The Times-Democrat, C.W. Barnes, editor -- a first class paper, neatly printed, Republican in politics, and an upholder of pure men and measures in city government as well as in county matters.

Social and Business Clubs: McCook has a well-developed social scene. The McCook Social Club has sixty members who have fitted up a suite of rooms over the First National Bank, open at all hours to members for social amusement.

A.F.&S.M. McCook Lodge was organized in 1884 with nine charter members. It has grown to 58 chapter members, commandery, 48.

The Knights of Pythias were organized in 1885. They have a band composed of 20 well uniformed men, which will compare favorably with any band in the West. They are available for concerts, parades, etc. H.P. Sutton is musical director.

The railroad employees have several organizations, among which are Order Railway Conductors, Order Railway Firemen, Order Railway Engineers, all popular with the public, especially when they give their annual ball.

Parks: The Lincoln Land Company set apart Block11 of the original town for a public park (Norris Park) and have planted trees, both ornamental and shade, which already have attained a good height and the Park is fast becoming a place of beauty.

Women: (Note: In 1893 McCook was a man's world. Though there are many pages of pictures of prominent male citizens in the community and articles about their accomplishments, there is no picture of any woman in the entire booklet. Indeed, the only mention of women in the entire publication occurs in the story of the Congregational Church. "The ladies society of the church contributes largely to its support."

A Sampling of Ads from the McCook Columbian Souvenir 1893:

Cheap Land

Unimproved Land, $6 to $10 per acre

Improved land, $10 to $15 per acre

These farms are as productive as those in Eastern States that sell for $50 to $100 per acre.

Immense crops of Wheat, Oats, Barley, Rye, Hay and Vegetables raised here the last two years.

C.J. Ryan, Real Estate and Insurance, McCook, Nebraska

First National Bank

Geo. Hocknell Pres., B.M. Frees V. Pres., W.F. Lawson Cashier

Capital stock, $50,000 Surplus, $10,000

Does a General Banking Business

The Times-Democrat

Weekly

Is The Representative paper of McCook and the Republican Valley

Subscribe for it -- only $1 per year

G.E. Barnes, Editor and Proprietor

Lenhart's Steam Laundry

Prices Reasonable Satisfaction Guaranteed. Give Us A Call

Mr. L. Adamire Restaurant South Main Avenue

Oysters in Every Style

Fish and Game (In season) Meals at all hours.

Blue Front Livery Stable

Oldest Barn in City -- D.J. Smith, Prop.

F.S. Wilcox, Proprietor B & M Meat Market

Dealer and Shipper of All Kinds of Live Stock

A. Kalstedt Merchant Tailor

Remember when you buy your clothing of Kalsteadt you can select the garment from the Piece and not from a sample

J. Albert Wells, Dry Goods, Millinery, Carpets

Ladies' and Gents' Furnishing Goods.

Commercial Hotel, Etter & Miller, Proprs.

Rates $2.00 per Day

All of the Modern Conveniences, Tables not surpassed

Owing to climatic conditions, this city is becoming a great resort for invalids who desire stopping over before reaching the mountain regions.

W.J. Palmer's Shaving Parlor

Also, Breeder of S.C. Brown Leghorn Chickens, Eggs for Hatching in Season

Joseph Reizenstein

Manufacturer of Fine Havana Cigars

20,000 Cigars per Month -- Employing 3 Hands

Brands: Havana Trade, Columbus, Grand Union B. of R.T.

Billiard and Pool Tables, Pleasant Rooms, under Boston Shoe Store

Pade & Son Wholesale and Retail

Furniture, Sewing Machines, Undertaking in all its Branches

Frank Carruth & Son, Leading Jewelers

Spectacles and Eye Glasses, Paul E. Wirth Fountain Gold Pen $2.50

S.M. Cochran & Co.

Hardware, Stoves, Tinware, Farming Implements

Charter Oak Wagons, Quick Meal Gasoline Stoves, Charter Oak Stoves and Ranges

Castle Cure Company Institute

Treatment for the Liquor, Opium, Morphene, Tobacco, and Neurasthenia

L.J. Spickelmeier, Medical Director

The Citizens Bank of McCook

V. Franklin, Pres. A.C. Ebert, Cashier

Does a General Banking Business. Collection made on all accessible points.

Drafts drawn directly on principal cities in Europe. Taxes paid for non-residents.

Tickets for sale to and from Europe

Burlington Route B. & M.R.R

Don't Be a Clam!

Of course you are going to visit the World's Fair. It is useless to advise western people to do so -- they will take it anyway; but a word in the ear of our eastern friends. After you have wearied of the big show, you know you are going out west to see that boy who left home a few years ago.

Well, there is but one way you can find him, and that is by taking the Burlington Route. Its 6,000 miles of steel railway reaches every important point in the Great West. Its trains are models of speed, safety and elegance. Through Pullman Sleepers, Solid Vestibule Trains, Reclining Chair cars (free), Through Dining Cars. Now be sure and buy your excursion tickets over that line; you will regret it if you don't; and say, don't forget to stop at McCook, the Queen of the Southern Tier.

The leaders of McCook, who sponsored the Columbian Souvenir 1893, were a confident group, sometimes even a bit brash in describing their community. They were eager for more pioneers to join them in building their city and this section of the state. They had no doubt that McCook was to become the Metropolis of the Plains, and they had no qualms about telling others about it in the colorful language of that time.

While, in retrospect, we may question some of the statements they made in their promotional booklet, we have to respect their optimism, their work ethic, and their vision of the future. Their example set lofty goals for those of us, who have come later, to fulfill.

Source: McCook Souvenir 1893