The Campus Shop

Some time back, we shared a piece about the old Colacino’s Supper Club east of Chadron.

There’ve been many popular eating establishments around Chadron over the years – from King Louie’s and the Niles Café to the Pullman and the Chuckwagon. But how could we overlook the Campus Shop?

Well, we haven’t. And while it was popular mostly with college kids for several decades, it also drew lots of younger teens and a few adults, too.

The building today looks much the same as it did nearly a half century ago, sitting along the east side of Main Street near the entrance to Chadron State College. There’s even still a sign that says “Campus Shop,” although you’re not likely to catch any wafts of burgers and fries. It’s been decades since the building housed a restaurant.

John “Richie” Fahey has vivid memories of the Campus Shop. When he moved from Igloo, South Dakota to Chadron in 1951 to go to Assumption Academy, he worked at the restaurant for a couple of years.

“It was in the days before there was Student Union cafeteria or snack bar on campus,” says Fahey, who remembers making 60 cents an hour at the popular college hangout.

“And there wasn’t much in the way of tips in those days.”

The shop was operated by Gorton Jim Boyd, who also was an early owner of the Frontier Drive-In on the east edge of Chadron. Boyd’s father, Jim, who was a retired C&NW boilermaker, was also involved in the business, according to his 1951 obituary.  Our thanks to Karen Schlais of Chadron for sharing that information.  By July of 1957, Boyd had left Chadron and was serving as City Manager of Holton, Kansas, a job he held until at least the end of 1963. 

“We were open from about 5:30 in the morning until 10 o’clock at night, and we had a drive-in window,” remembers Fahey.

“For 10 cents, you could get an egg sandwich on a bun. Our slogan was Where Eagles Meet to Eat.”

Of course, the Campus Shop was something of a social hub, too. With a busy grill and soda fountain, it was the place to meet for a quick burger – or perhaps enjoy some soft ice cream on top of a brownie. All the while, “grooving” to music from a juke box that was stocked with all the latest tunes. The photo here -- an ad lifted from the 1950 Cardinal -- said the Campus Shop was "Famous for its 'after the game' snacks and convenient curb service. You'll find delicious sandwiches and drinks at this drive-in. These students find the Campus Shop's home-made rootbeer delicious on a warm afternoon." Not sure who the gals are, but the boys in this photo look like Jerry Richards and Lloyd Eitemiller. [Ed. Note:  Thanks to Gerald Miller for helping us identify all four of these kids.  They are (l-to-r):  Gretchen Carlson, Jerry Richards, Nancy Cartwright, and Lloyd Eitemiller. 7/2/12]

Over the years, dozens – probably hundreds of high school and college kids worked at the buzzing little hangout. Fahey specifically remembered co-workers Charlene Yeradi, JoAnn Konrath and Ruth Ann Katen.

We’re aware of at least two other owners back in the ‘50s and 60s.

Red and Juanita McKnight operated the Campus Shop for a while, as did Charley and Marian “Mammy” Shumway.

Shumway's daughter, Penny, had her turn working there.

“Becky Moody and I could really clean the floors, but it’s just a wonder we didn't kill ourselves when we mixed ammonia and Clorox!”

“They (Mammy & Charley) always said it was hard work, but the best place to be,” says Penny, who now lives in Torrington, Wyoming.

“They truly loved the college kids. I know we sure had a lot of them live with us over the years!”

Batter up!

Ah…..smell the popcorn…..the public address system echoes off the fences at War Memorial Baseball Park in Chadron. The music is a traditional march -- probably National City or Stars and Stripes Forever. The year: probably about 1952 or 1953. Baseball season has opened, and you should beware of the wiley West Ward crew! This may be the year they upend the Kenwood battery of Tyon and Steele. Or maybe not.

In any event, the crew shown here comprised the Ward Three baseball team – probably in about 1952. Perhaps you can confirm the year and some of the players.

On the ground, left-to-right: Michael Hoevet, LeRoy Preble, Dale Butler, UNKNOWN, and Maynard King. Standing are: Orville Preble, Cash DeFlon, UNKNOWN, Larry Moore, Bill Hoevet, Melvin White, Ron Moody, Gary Butler, Mickey Megown and Fred King. If you can offer additions or corrections, please e-mail us!

Thanks to ex-Chadronite Larry Moore of Mohave Valley, Arizona, for sharing this great old photo with us. You can get a closer look at the photo above, along with other old Chadron area photos in our Photo Gallery.

Remembering teachers past

As Chadron celebrates its 125th anniversary next summer, there’ll be an abundance of school reunions. It'll be an opportunity to rekindle many memories -- including those of teachers at Chadron High, Chadron Assumption and Chadron Prep. If you have photos or information about teachers of the mid-20th century....or earlier....E-Mail us. Thanks.
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GLENN MASTERS was on the staff at Chadron High School as the Vocational Agriculture instructor in the 1954-1959 period. He then returned to the university in Lincoln on a fellowship to obtain an advanced degree in agricultural economics.

That stirred memories of his childhood as a Garden County farm boy in the 1930s and the suffering that his parents endured through years of severe drought and economic depression. So he was motivated to find a job where he could better use his new skills toward improving the economic and general welfare of rural populations.

His search led him to a career with the Bureau of Reclamation.

“The bureau specialized in capturing runoff from the mountains each year to provide water for irrigation, municipal and industrial needs, and hydro-electric power generation with the releases from storage powering the turbines,” says Masters, who found himself in Grand Island for a couple of years, then the Pacific northwest, and finally Denver.

That’s where his responsibilities put him in touch with all the bureau planning activities for 17 western states.

“I feel very fortunate to have had nearly forty years in public service, including my time in Chadron.”

Glenn and his wife, Dorothy, live in Littleton, Colorado.

Four score and two years ago...

Browsing through the 1928 Milestone yearbook from Chadron High School has been been a delight!

The hair styles and dapper attire of these pre-Depression-era students at CHS were definitely from another era. But reading the "farewell messages" offered by the graduates of that year seemed remarkably contemporary. We remember similar quotations inscribed in yearbooks from the 1950s and '60s. It seems that some things just don't change.

“Love is too simple a game for brainy men to indulge in,” wrote Harold Thompson.

Ann McDaniels, whose extracurricular activities included a role in the Class Play of 1928, offered “Sometimes I sit and think, and sometimes I just sit.”

But our favorite – and one often likely repeated in yearbooks over the years – was from football player Roscoe Godden. “The reason I don’t study is that my questions baffle the teachers."

Baffled and otherwise, teachers at CHS had to not only ride heard on their students, they also had to toe the line for superintendent James Skinkle, a graduate of the University of Chicago and long-time CHS superintendent. We suspect Mr. Skinkle was long gone from this earth before most of us roamed the streets of Chadron, but many of you may recall his widow, Ethel, a longtime housemother at Crites Hall at Chadron State College.

Mr. Skinkle and all the faculty were beholden to the folks shown here: the elected members of the school board. Click on the image at right from the 1928 Milestone, and you'll get a closer look at them.

Perhaps some of you recall these community leaders. We recognize only attorney F.A. Crites (top left) and businessman F.A. Hood (bottom right). And it's not surprising that David A. Hood – whom we remember as a 1952 grad of Chadron High School – looked exactly like his father, Fred, who ran an insurance company from his home at 3rd and Main Street for many years.

Please e-mail us or leave a Comment below if you can offer additional information about these or other school board members from 1928.

Remembering teachers past

As Chadron celebrates its 125th anniversary next summer, there’ll be an abundance of school reunions. It'll be an opportunity to rekindle many memories -- including those of teachers at Chadron High, Chadron Assumption and Chadron Prep.

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Elmer Dudden taught Vocational Agriculture for three years at Chadron High School (1959-1962) and then returned to school at the University of Colorado in Boulder.

While there, he received an M.S. in Public Administration with a minor in history. In 1965, he began teaching at Lookout Mountain School in Golden, Colorado, a correctional school for delinquent teenage youth. He worked in the Vocational Department there for 27 years. During that time, he married, became a father, and used his free time to build four or five houses.

Retired since 1992, he and his wife, Elaine, continue to live in Golden with a grandchild, Kimberly. They live on a five-acre ranch with four horses. They bought the horses so that two granddaughters could participate in Westernaires, a precision riding group that performs at the national Western Stock Show and regional events.

He is active in both Lions and Optimists service clubs and has served on the local Water District Board for over 20 years. He says he’s also been active in conservative politics. Mr. Dudden says his health is still very good, and he feels blessed for many things – including his experience at Chadron High School. He says he’d enjoy a phone call or visit from any FFA students who were in his classes.

Remembering teachers past

Robert “Bob” Folsom taught music at Chadron High School from 1956 through 1958.

Born in Minnesota, his family moved to Chadron, and he was a 1943 graduate of Chadron High School. During World War II, he served in the Army, but we know nothing about his tour of duty. He returned to Chadron and earned a degree from Chadron State in 1949 – later picking up a Master’s in Music Education from the University of Nebraska.

Besides Chadron, he taught in Ravenna, Nebraska; Trinidad and Brighton, Colorado; and Lewellen, Nebraska. His longest tenure was in Benkelman, Nebraska, where he headed the music program for many years. Folsom married “Modie” (Pack) Wood in 1965 and they happily shared a home until 1999, when health required that he be moved to a nursing home in North Platte.

An avid model railroad enthusiast and amateur radio control pilot, Folsom was also a member of the Benkelman Methodist Church, the Lions Club and American Legion.

According to the Benkelman Post, Bob Folsom died in July of 2000 and was survived by his wife, four daughters and a son, as well as two brothers, a sister, and 15 grandchildren.

"Speck" Brown dies at 71

Another well-known alum from the 1950s at Chadron High School has died.

Ronald Louis Brown died last Friday (2/19/10) at his home in Montgomery, Illinois, a suburban community just west of Chicago. He was 71 years old.

Ron was born in Chadron to Charles and Hazel Brown on March 21, 1938.

“Speck” was a four-year letterman in football and basketball during the mid-1950s at Chadron High and served as Vice-President of the Junior class in 1954-55. Long-time Chadron writer Con Marshall remembered that "All three Chadron basketball teams won district championships, but only Chadron High reached the state tournament. The Cardinals won the Class B district title by beating Bridgeport 69-38 after losing to the Bulldogs 67-66 the week before and downing Bayard 58-49 after falling to the Tigers 83-63 in February. Chadron then topped Valentine 55-54 in the regional playoff. Coached by Verne Lewellen, it was the Cards’ first trip to state since 1933. At state, Hebron beat Chadron 56-50 as the Cards made just half of their 32 free throws."

A 1956 graduate of Chadron High School, "Speck” was among the handfull of varsity basketball players who also coached 5th and 6th graders, and he called his team the “Wildcats.” Both “Speck” and his older brother Clayton were athletes and well known throughout the community. You'll find a Ron Brown in several of the photographs we've posted in our Chadron Public Schools Photo Gallery.

According to his obituary, Ron did a tour with Army Special Forces after high school. He later went to work in the automotive industry.

Ron Brown was preceded in death by his daughter, Valerie Nicholson; his sister, Ermel Brown; and his parents. He is survived by his wife, Beatrice, and children: Kimberly (Les) Fugate and Victor Davidson; four grandchildren and seven great grandchildren. Also surviving are his brother Clayton Brown and sister Marjorie Williams.

Read Ron Brown’s obituary in the on-line Chadron Record.