C&NW Historical Society had a big day in Chadron!

by Larry Miller

Rick Mills and Phyllis Carlson pause during a busy day – Friday May 18th – as three busloads of eager railroad buffs came to town to immerse themselves in.....railroading!

Rick Mills and Terry Sandstrom

Mills, whose day-job is curator of the Railroad Museum of South Dakota located in Hill City, served as chairman of the three-day Chicago and NorthWestern Historical Society convention held last week in Rapid City.  On Friday, three busloads of conventioneers arrived in Chadron to tour the Nebraska Northwest Railroad facilities – owned and operated for over a century by the C&NW Railway.

In the afternoon, they converged on the Dawes County Museum, where director Phyllis Carlson and a bevy of volunteers hosted the group.

Of particular importance at the museum was a wonderful new exhibition of railroad photographs, artifacts and memorabilia recently donated by Chadron native Terry Sandstrom, now of Wheatland, Wyoming.  Sandstrom, wearing the ball cap in the above photo, is shown visiting with Mills at the museum.

We captured a few photos of the roundhouse and museum events and have posted them in a linked gallery.  While not all images have yet been posted, and many have not yet been identified and need captions, we thought you might like a sneak preview.  You'll find it in our C&NW Gallery.

The Chadron Record did a special report about the C&NW in Chadron for their edition published just before the convention, and reporter/photographer Brandon Davenport also assembled a story posted a week after the event.  It's headlined Chadron's Railroad History on display.  

"History in Action" celebrates 20 Years!

The latest edition of Chadron's Golden Age Courier, edited by Ron Wineteer, shares details about the forthcoming History In Action celebration on Sunday, September 25, at the Dawes County Museum three miles south of Chadron.

An early but beautiful September morning at the Dawes County Museum

"History In Action Day began in 1996," writes museum Executive Director Phyllis Carlson, "in order to provide Dawes County historical attention to our county and give a welcoming Thank You to our visiting public."

Admission to the event is free, but donations to the society, which is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, are tax deductible and go a long way in helping grow and maintain the museum.

Among the new additions to the museum:  the Marcus Cain Collection of Farm Implements, which is housed in a new building on the property.

There'll be a wide range of activities at the 2016 History in Action.  They include corn shelling, carriage and antique cars, butter making, leather work, apple cider making, horse shoe tossing, a hymn sing, and much more.

Among the demonstrations will be a Civil War cannon, ferrier, quilting, tatting, live music, wheat ground into flour, a primitive camp, spinning and weaving. 

Exhibits include bee 'n honey, rural school, log cabin and barn, church, tractors (both old and new), military history items, chuck wagon, barber shop, antique machinery, and more.

It'll be fun for folks of all ages and -- of course -- lots of homemade pies, lunch on the grounds, and bottled water available at a price.

"All other refreshments such as ice cream, cookies, iced tea and coffee, and popcorn are by freewill donation," writes Carlson.  "We hope to see you there!"

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