McCook city directory pre-dates 1935 flood

A new addition to the SWNGS library is a 1931 R.L. Polk & Co. directory. Because this directory is prior to the 1935 flood that changed the layout of south McCook, it is fascinating to look at the listed residents for that area, residents that we know lost everything in the flood. Even though the house located now at 27 South Street was saved from complete destruction, it was moved up to South Street on the same lot but above what was its original elevation so that another flood could not (hopefully) reach it.

South West, which was about two blocks long, was the location of the Nebraska Light and Power Plant which as most of us know was at the entrance to what is now Barnett Park and was completely destroyed in the flood. Additionally on that street were residences occupied by Conrad Schoup, Harley Cook, Henry Herman, Nick Spahn, Jas Johnson, John Herbst and Mrs. Mary Brown. Nick was employed by the McCook Equity Exchange, Conrad by CB&Q railroad, Harley by Whitten Hatchery, and Jas Johnson was a bell hop at one of the hotels. The rest appear to have been retired.

Two young men living in McCook as students are listed. Remember the first Junior College in the state of Nebraska was started in McCook. John L Batty was a student living at 502 East 4th, and Wendell P Cheney was also a student, but he was living with his parents at 1006 Main (Norris). Thomas Colfer was clerking for Cordeal, Colfer & Russell and living in the family home (his parents Frank & Margaret) along with his sister, Pricilla and his brother, William, at 403 East 1st.

Jas. E. Hughes was the manager of both the Fox West Coast Theatres and the Fox Temple Theatre, and his home was at 1203 Main. Martha A. Jones, the widow of Dr. Wm F. Jones, had a business called The Martha Tea Room (Home Cooked Food Courteously Served) at 311 Main which today is the location of the north side of El Puerto.

The Brown’s Shoe store was the C. R. Woodworth Drugstore, the building was called the Scott-Reed Building, and the offices on the second floor held Cordeal, Colfer & Russell Law Office, Dr. Griffith A. DeMay, Rex E. Scott real estate, and Dr. Roland R. Reed. The top floor of course was the McCook Dance Garden (C. P. Hainey, Manager) which was proclaimed on the roof by large letters which may have been neon but are clearly seen in early photos of downtown McCook.

The McCook Elks Club was located at 611 Main, thanks to V. Franklin who owned the building originally. Included in that building was the meeting hall for the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, the Brotherhood of Railway Conductors, Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and Enginemen, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Now pay attention to this! The McCook Airport was at 512 West M Street or essentially close to the Red Willow County fairgrounds at 1408 West 5th. On top of that, the McCook Country Club was located NE of McCook! I’m still trying to figure out exactly how far NE that was.

Dr. Jas. M. Willis lived at 1001 Norris, Honorable George W. Norris was at 706 Main but Bert Clary and George Leahman are also listed as residing there. Mrs. Mary Morlan was at 802 Main, Steve Bolles at 1101 and Harry D. Strunk at 1112 Main and Wm. C Bullard (Bullard Lumber) was at 1212.

City directories and phone books abound at the SWNGS library, and we are open two days a week, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1-4 PM. We are located in the Temple Building, 322 Norris Ave., Rooms 2-7 and there is an elevator for your convenience. Come check out our large collection of high school annuals, not only from McCook, but also Palisade, Red Willow and McCook Community College.