Fire threatens Culbertson in 1882

I finally broke down and bought a replacement phone for our house. My answering machine/phone combo had given up the ghost several months ago so that even though the calls got answered, I couldn’t talk to anyone or recover any messages. The ringer had broken even before that resulting in blessed silence since 99 per cent of the calls were those robo, steal someone else’s number to disguise your true self, calls. Sid keeps telling me to answer the phone now and give them a piece of my mind but I’m fairly sure that would be like pouring gas on a fire. I know that somewhere a lone person sits just watching to see if you answer your phone so that he/she can click an app and add a couple hundred more robo connections to your number.

From the binder entitled H.P. Waite: “September 7, 1882: Before McCook was selected as a division station, the railroad company attempted to secure a sufficient amount of land both at Indianola and at Culbertson for its shops and yards. The owners of the town sites at each of these places demanded what the company believed to be an exorbitant price for their holdings which was the reason for the selections of McCook as the location of division headquarters. However, during the construction period the railroad had built a wooden engine house and other buildings at Culbertson. All of these structures, including the equipment, were afterwards brought to McCook. The removal was completed on this date.”

“The work on the Congregational church had been commenced and was being pushed as rapidly as possible. School had not yet started as the only place in which it could be held was an old building that had been used for school purposes situated more than a mile from the settlement.”

“Willow Grove post office was discontinued about this date, the post master having resigned and no new candidate having been appointed. Mail addressed to Willow Grove post office was sent to the McCook office and persons who had theretofore received their mail there were notified to come for it at McCook.”

“September 12, 1882: A prairie fire broke out today several miles up the Blackwood creek, that raged for hours, and seriously threatened Culbertson. The grass in the valley and even on the divides where blue stem is found has attained a rank growth this season. The fire was driven by a high wind. The most strenuous efforts of every able-bodied man in this part of the country were required to check the progress of the fire. The wall of flame that swept over the prairie, sometimes to the height of several feet, was many miles wide, and when at its worst traveled faster than a horse could run. It was a magnificent but a terrifying sight. Because of the strong wind, the smoke hung close to the ground, and rolled on ahead of the line of fire in great billowing, stifling clouds, so that it was difficult to plow guards and set back fires. A large area was burned over and lies desolately black. The weary fighters are thankful that singed hair and eyebrows and blistered hands and faces are the only injuries suffered.”

Fires were then, and still are, even with all of our modern equipment, one of the most dangerous happenings on the prairie. These last few days of rain have been a blessing for our region. SWNGS will return to open library days of Tuesday and Thursday, 1-4 PM. Now located in the Temple Building, 322 Norris Ave., our room number is 207. There is an elevator to assist you to the second floor.