When B Street had parallel parking

If anyone is expecting an organized article from me this week, they will be sorely disappointed. This time of year, I am trying to put up produce and act like I know what I am doing which is often glaringly not so. This week is corn on the cob, pasta sauce, salsa and pickled corn relish, a new addition to my pantry after reading an article on pickling in Mother Earth News.

I am getting a kick out of picturing the old B Street in McCook as the workers block off lanes. When I was a kid, B Street was two lanes, no turning lane and parallel parking on both sides. Consequently, there were a number of store fronts on B Street where you could pull right up front and park. It’s no wonder that they have all disappeared today since an entrance off of B Street proper is no longer easily assessible. I’ve wracked my brain trying to remember how many actual stop lights there were and am thinking they existed on East 6th, Norris Ave., and West 5th but I’m not going to swear to that. All I know is that flipping U turns at the top and bottom of Norris was pretty darn convenient when you were trying to find a parking space (and trying to catch up to that good-looking kid dragging main in the evenings).

Anyway, here are a few historical notes on McCook. The names ring a bell with me, perhaps they will for you too: McCook Tribune, Feb. 26, 1909; “Last Saturday the deal was closed whereby R. D. Rodgers and M. S. Modrell became the owners of the D. C. Marsh meat market, under the firm name of Rodgers & Modrell. These gentlemen will do their utmost to continue the high standard of the market. Mr. Marsh expects to take life easy for the next few months at least. A little later he will oversee some improvements on his ranch near Haigler, where he will have a large amount of land broken out.”

“Death came to Brakeman A. H. Wasburn in sudden and frightful form in the yard at Benkelman, Monday morning about half past eleven o’clock. He was in the act of setting out a poultry car from freight-train No. 140 at that station when he met his sad and tragic fate. It is stated that in attempting to operate the Jenney-coupler the pin failed to raise and that while the cars were in motion, Washburn stepped in between the cars and attempted to elevate the pin, and that his foot was caught in some way throwing him to the rail, when three freight cars ran over his prostrate body lengthwise, causing instant death and cutting up the body in a horrible manner.” Dec 6, 1901, McCook Tribune.

Railroad work was dangerous then and now. From the same paper: “Pinched between cars: Brakeman Frank. S. Curry was quite painfully pinched Wednesday, at Haigler. He was on Train 149 and was setting out a car of ballast at Haigler. He was caught by the slack of the train by the bumpers or man-killers and squeezed about the stomach. The extent of his injuries cannot now be stated, but it is hoped that they are not serious. He was brought home to McCook on freight No. 150, the same afternoon and is progressing favorably.”

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