Genealogy society hosts Heritage Cemetery Tour this Sunday

I once more want to remind everyone of two events that I think you might enjoy. This Sunday, as part of the Heritage Days Celebration (Nebraska’s 150th birthday and McCook’s 135th), we are hosting a Heritage Cemetery Tour that includes people in Riverview, Memorial Park, and Calvary Cemeteries. This is not, as some people are assuming, a spook tour. I have way more respect and love of our historical cemeteries than that. This is a beautiful testament to 15 different families who have in some small way contributed to or represent our wonderful history in McCook. This tour is a free-will donation only; there will be no charge at the gate.

Second event is of course the Southwest Nebraska Genealogy Society's fourth annual Tri-State Exposition that will be Oct. 14 at the McCook Christian Church. Our featured speaker, Megan Harwager, comes from the Nebraska Children’s Home Society and will be covering adoption records and searches for biological family. Then in the afternoon, Rich Hampton and Tom Corey will be demonstrating the difference between autosomal (female) DNA and Y-DNA results and how to chart your relationships. These three speakers will benefit everyone but be especially helpful to those who have adoptions in their tree. This expo will be a $25 entrance fee, payable at the door on the day of.

Heritage Days is going to be enhanced this year not only by the birthdays of our town and state but also by the fact that the Monzon family is having a big reunion in celebration of their 100th year in McCook. The branches of their tree extend throughout the United States now and many are traveling back to McCook for the weekend. The original settlers, Jesus and Francisca, are also among those being portrayed in the Heritage Cemetery Tour on Sunday.

Now to some bits of history: The Nebraska State Fair in Lincoln had a large ad in the McCook Tribune on Sept. 5, 1911 featuring an “Aeroplane.” Apparently they had two aeroplanes doing daily flights at the fair and the picture shows the planes to be the type similar looking to the one the Wright Brothers famously flew. It also boasts of the “Liberati Military Band” plus an Opera Company, races, Patterson Shows, fireworks and vaudeville.

McCook Tribune, June 28, 1907: “Dog Tax: Owners of dogs in the city of McCook will take notice that the dog tax must be paid on or before June 30, 1907. All dogs on which the tax has not been paid in accordance with the ordinance will be destroyed. (I guess they didn’t mess around with excuses.) The tax should be paid to the City Treasurer. $2.00 for the male and $3.00 for each female.”

“The High Wind of Monday Evening": The chimney on the Sawyer house in South McCook blew over and went through the roof of the lean-to Mr. and Mrs. George Walters were abed. His head was badly cut by the bricks and her arm slightly hurt. Hogan was considerably damaged.” McCook Tribune, June 28, 1907.

June 19, 1908, McCook Tribune: “There will be an annular eclipse of the Sun, June 28th, visible in nearly all parts of the United States, but annular only in the vicinity of Tampa, Florida, and beginning there at 7:45 a.m., will be of 2:45 duration. About three-fourths of the sun’s surface will be eclipsed at Tampa.”

SWNGS next meeting will be Saturday, Oct. 7 at 1 p.m. We continue to have open library on Tuesdays and Thursdays starting at 1 p.m. Our library is located at 110 West C, Suite M-3 here in McCook.