Pieces of McCook

I truly love being a grandparent and wish that all my brood lived close by. Since they don't, this grandma gets to do things like travel to watch softball games in 100 degree weather in the pollen and humidity capital of Nebraska. Softball games that started as late as midnight because of rain. It was a great three days culminating with a visit to the doctor when my allergies decided to focus on my eyes. I'm not sure which is worse, a purse full of Kleenex or my eyes swollen shut! Luckily they stayed open until the last pitch was thrown!

Here are a few moments in history 106 years ago from the McCook Tribune!

"Unrequited infatuation for a young woman and drink perhaps responsible for the deed. George W. Miller, a Burlington switchman, shot himself in the right breast last Thursday night in the Grace LeRoy 'rooming house' on West A Street. After the shooting Miller walked two or three blocks to the Monte Cristo café where he announced that he had shot himself and sank exhausted to the floor. A physician was summoned and he was removed to his room over the Pastime Theatre. "

"Miller had been switching in the local yard and a recent retrenchment order put him back to braking. The day before the shooting, he resigned rather than go on the road braking."

"The evening of the deed he was drinking some and going to the 'rooming house' sought to gain a young woman's consent to go with him to Lincoln. Upon her refusal he shot himself as above indicated, or so at least the story given out reveals." (September 29, 1910)

On July 21, 1910, Ed Huber, Mayor of McCook, issued the following statement: "Take Warning. At the request of the McCook Water Works Company, I hereby place the hours of using water on lawns from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., and then only through a nozzle or sprinkler. This step has been necessary owing to the shortage of water. The city police are instructed to see that the above order is enforced."

In the same publication of the McCook Tribune was this news: "A bunch of boomer harvest hands started a free-for-all fight on lower Main Avenue, last Friday noon, among themselves, one of them attempting to use a razor on another member of the party. Too much booze was the chief cause of the trouble. They were arrested, but later in the day were given the freedom of the territory outside the city limits."

Just like we are getting ready for 4th of July celebrations, so were our predecessors. In the June 23, 1910 front page news was the notice of a picnic at the Wilcox Ranch. "Arrangements are making for a 4th of July picnic at the Wilcox Ranch, 8 miles southwest of McCook, southeast corner of section 36. A short program of interest. Sports enough. Refreshment stand on the ground. Take along your picnic baskets and have a good time. You will be welcome."

Apparently never one to miss a sale, J. W. McConnell, McCook druggist, had this notice right below the picnic information: "On all your outings take with you a bottle of our Skeeter Scoot, to protect you from the discomforts of mosquitos and gnats. Rub on face and hands and it keeps these pests at a distance. Agreeable to use and perfectly harmless, price 25 cents."

Southwest Nebraska Genealogy Society's web site, www.swngs.org, seems to be hard to find at times when searching the web. Once you reach the right one, be sure and add it to your "favorites" list!