Crofton Community Guide

Crofton

NEBRASKA

Best Little Town THE

BY A DAM SITE!

FREE COMMUNITY GUIDE

Heading

Historic

Argo Hotel

Bed and Breakfast, Steakhouse & Lounge

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Historic Argo Hotel was built in 1912 to serve the railroad traffic of the time. The exterior of this brick bed and breakfast is reminiscent of hotels of the early 1900s. Inside, transom windows over the doors, metal ceilings and a large oak staircase add to the periodic charm. Today, the eleven Victorian-style rooms on the upper floor are decorated with antiques but have modern amenities. The hotel is open 24/7. The steakhouse and lounge are open on Friday and Saturday nights, the steakhouse from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. and the lounge from 5:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m. It is owned and operated by Sandy Thunker.

Hotel Rooms Available 7 Days a Week.

Dinner- 5:00 to 9:00 pm Friday and Saturday. Reservations Recommended.

Accommodations for Weddings, Business Meetings, Events & Private Parties.

402-388-2400 211 West Kansas Street, Crofton, NE www.HistoricArgoHotel.com

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Customer service and going the extra mile is part of our heritage.

We’ve been in the lumber business since 1930!

LUMBER YARD PRODUCTS n Adhesives & Caulk n Asphalt Roofing n Steel Roofing & Siding n Builders Hardware n Cabinets, Countertops & Flooring n Dimension Lumber n Treated Lumber n Siding & Decking n Engineered Trusses n Plywood & OSB n Insulation n Doors & Windows n Millwork n Gates & Tanks n Posts & Fencing n Paint n Plumbing n Drywall Products

Custom Cabinetry • Built Locally • Exceptional Quality

Stop in and see our new Custom Cabinetry line.

Schmit Home Solutions

Building Value into Your Home.

• Maximum energy efficiency • Greater home comfort & sound resistance.

• Safety for your family • Long-term value.

By Using Nudura Insulated Concrete Forms to build your next home you can ensure you are choosing the best buiding solution available today.

Sister’s Park

Ready Mix Products Concrete • Sand • Gravel Rock • Mud Rock • Expansion Joint Re-Bar • Flowable Fill Concrete Block • Masonry • Cures Sealers & Coatings • Round Column Concrete Forms

- A NEW RESIDENTAL DEVELOPMENT • Osmond • Bloomfield • Crofton • Niobrara • Norfolk • Plainview

Crofton, NE 68730 402-388-4330

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From Our Mayor Let me tell you a little about Crofton. We are a progressive community on the northern edge of Knox County in northeast Nebraska. Located just 12 miles from Lewis & Clark Lake and the Missouri River, tourism and outdoor activities are strong economic motivators for our residents as well as the success of our surrounding agricultural operators.

The city fathers are pushing forward with several development plans designed to keep Crofton a strong and vibrant rural community including a new housing development, commercial/light industrial district and a wide array of utilities. We’re one of few small towns in our region that offer curbside recycling!

The city council realizes the need to keep Crofton thriving and have made improvements to the city parks, developed street projects and are working hard to keep the waste-water facility strong while keeping in mind the development of a growing business district.

Crofton Community School was the only high school in the state of Nebraska to receive the National Blue Ribbon Award in 2016, which makes us very proud. The students excel in extracurricular activities as well as academics and we have many title trophies in sports, speech, FFA and FCCLA. Crofton’s a great place to raise a family with summer activities like softball and baseball, a vibrant library, a strong city youth program and a champion amateur baseball team.

Our philosophy of survival is being passed on generation to generation. We are home to several entrepreneurs in our community and along Lewis & Clark Lake; our goal every day is to encourage our youth to come back home — where living the good life is as important as a successful job — seeking ways for new residents to have the best of both worlds.

We are proud to be a ‘bedroom’ community to neighboring towns with diverse job opportunities but also realize our rural lifestyle and friendly wave as you pass by are attractive to new families, young and old.

We welcome you to check us out and stay around for a while.

You might find something you like and we hope it’s Crofton, the Best Little Town by a Dam Site.

— Mayor Wendell Strom P.S. If you received this guide in the mail, thank your city council men and women. They thought it was important that every resident of Crofton enjoy this fun and educational guide to our community. (Heck, even I was surprised by some of the stories. Did you know Crofton was originally supposed to be named Frances?) As an economic development tool created by the Crofton Community Club, this guide will be shared with every resident and business in Crofton, as well as perspective new residents, entrepreneurs and visitors.

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Volunteers, including Mayor Strom (far right), gathered to cut and store firewood for a local young family in need.

What’s Inside Mayor’s Letter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 New to Town? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Map of Crofton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Opportunities for Our Youngsters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Take in Our Trails . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Near the Shores of Lewis & Clark Lake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Pulley Museum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 American Legion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 A Weekend in Downtown Crofton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Crofton’s Natural Resources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Dining Out . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 The Warrior Way . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Crofton’s Baseball Tradition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 To Serve and Protect . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Crofton History . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Business Directory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

Crofton Community Guide, Produced by Specialty Publications Division, A New Century Press, Inc. Company, 310 First Ave., Rock Rapids, IA • 712.472.2525 • sebeling@ncppub.com We know that we may have inadvertently omitted some activities that should be included and advertisers that would have liked to be a part of the publication. For these omissions we apologize. However if you wish to be included in our next edition please e-mail us with your contact information at ads@ncppub.com and we will contact you before next printing.

No material from this publication may be copied or in any way reproduced without written permission from the publisher.

Electronic versions of this book available from New Century Press. Call 712.472.2525

CROFTON COMMUNITY GUIDE | PAGE 5

New To Town?

Here are some numbers you might need:

UTILITIES:

Ambulance: 911

Electric: Cedar Knox Public Power, (402) 254-6291

Fire: 911

Gas: Black Hills Energy, 888-890-5554

Police: 911

Phone/Cable/Internet: Great Plains Communications, 855-853-1483

City of Crofton: (402) 388-4766, cityofcrofton@gpcom.net Municipal Pool: (402) 388-4965

Propane: Country Pride Cooperative, (402) 388-4588

Crofton Post Office: (402) 388-4800

Water/Sewer/Garbage (In town): City of Crofton, (402) 388-4766

Crofton Senior Citizen Center: (402) 388-2365

CROFTON SCHOOLS:

Eastern Township Library: (402) 388-4915

Crofton Community High School: (402) 388-2440

Avera Medical Clinic: (402) 388-2343

Crofton Elementary: (402) 388-4357 St. Rose of Lima School (pre-k and 1-8 grades): (402) 388-4393

Wiebelhaus Recreation Centennial Lanes Full Bar & Menu Catering Parties Sand Volleyball 4 Lane Bowling Center On & Off Sale Beer & Liquor

SPECIALS: WEDNESDAYS - All-You-Can-Eat Spaghetti THURSDAYS - Walt’s Monster Burger with Fries FRIDAYS - All-You-Can-Eat Pike - Fish Fry SUNDAYS - Buy One Pizza at reg. price, get second for HALF PRICE

115 Main St., Crofton 402-388-4640 www.wiebelhausrecreation.com 301255

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THERE REALLY IS NO OTHER TOWN LIKE CROFTON ... where a group of community-minded volunteers work hard to clean the parks, offer scholarships for our teenagers, support leadership and business development opportunities and offer family-friendly events like the ones listed below.

Crofton Community Club ... striving for the future of Crofton!

CROFTON EVENTS: Easter Candy Run – April Spring Clean-up – May Golf Tournament - May Fourth of July Fireworks - July Crofton Cruisin’ Day: Rummages, Car Show, Grillfest, Live Music – August Back to School Open House Homecoming Parade Halloween Trick or Treat - October Santa Day & Soup Kitchen - December

TO GET INVOLVED:

www.Crofton-Nebraska.com Facebook.com/CroftonNebraska CCClub@gpcom.net 402-388-2477

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CROFTON COMMUNITY GUIDE | PAGE 7

Map of Crofton

City of Crofton P.O. Box 189 1210 West 2nd St. Crofton, Nebraska 68730

402-388-4766 301635

Email: cityofcrofton@gpcom.net PAGE 8 | CROFTON COMMUNITY GUIDE

KEVIN’S PLUMBING SERVICE LLC Kevin Zavadil, Kurt, Jarod & Brent

New Construction, Cabin Indoor Plumbing, Remodel and Reliable Repairs IN BUSINESS SINCE 1994!

Fordyce NE (402) 357-3302 and Yankton SD (605) 661-2894 CELL

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The Good Begins Here

Life

Crofton was laid out in the summer of 1892 and 100 years later, Brett’s Body Shop was born. Owned by Brett Boecker, Brett’s Body Shop has been serving this great community since 1992. Located on West Main Street it’s easy to find.

With Warrior Pride to uphold and strong community Brett’s family is proud to call this place home.

Brett’s top-of-the-line 8000 sq. ft. facility can tackle any job, new or old, big or small. They specialize in collision repair; PDR (Paintless Dent Repair); custom paint & restorations, and repairing vehicles to their original finish.

They also handle all insurance claims. Brett’s Body Shop has 75 years of combined staff experience to repair your car to a certain standard, not price, giving your vehicle the highest quality finish. Excellent customer service is their standard.

Brett’s Body Shop, LLC 103 West Main St. in Crofton 402-388-4275

8:30 – 5:30 Monday – Friday Stop in a see us anytime!!

COMMUNITY PROJECTS

brettsbodyshop.com

COMMUNITY PROJECTS

COMMUNITY PROJECTS

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A Vibrant Place for Young Families Explore and enjoy Crofton youth activities!

Signs of positive youth development in Crofton are everywhere. Here’s a list of activities that may be just around the corner from you, many free or very low cost.

Crofton Youth Program is cultivating the next generation of citizenship in Crofton.

This group meets under the watchful eye of City safety leaders and administration during after-school hours and the summer months.

Those involved in the Crofton Youth Program find opportunities for serving the community, building leadership skills and promoting physical health. Many benefits of the Youth Program prove a boost in academic performance, reduction in risky behaviors, and a safe, structured environment. Call the City office for more information on the Crofton Youth Program (402) 388-4766.

Get in the spirit of the game! Youth baseball, softball, volleyball, football, basketball and wrestling are great team sports for all seasons! A good place to start is by contacting the Crofton Elementary School Principal (402) 388-4357.

Eastern Township Library, located at 206 W. Main St. has story time for kids on Wednesday mornings, public speakers and presenters throughout the year, crafts, knitting and crocheting gatherings, among other fun activities. Youth look forward to parades around town, trick-or-treating, egg hunts, Valentine parties and Library Bingo! Call Librarian Diane Limoges for a tour at (402) 388-4915.

The library is open Monday 1-5 p.m., Tuesday 1-5 p.m., Wednesday 9 a.m. -1 p.m. and 6:308:30 p.m., Thursday 1-5 p.m., and Saturday 9-11 a.m.

Crofton Parks and Recreation can be found on all corners of town! South Park boasts new playground equipment, stage gazebo, American Legion Memorial and Avenue of Flags, with convenient parking on the corner of 2nd and Hwy 12. Northside Park includes our swimming pool, Arbor Walkway, and Memorial Rose Garden, located near the newest housing development. Crofton’s newest public park, East Park, is adjacent to Crofton Baseball Park — a perfect picnic area for Crofton’s favorite spectator sport! To reserve a picnic shelter or sign up for swimming lessons, call the City Office (402) 388-4766.

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Knox County touts one of the best little fairs in the state with a full midway, bull-a-rama, national acts on the grandstand and livestock shows spotlighting young 4-Hers.

Summersault in with Flippers Gymnastics, a family-oriented facility that accepts boys and girls ages 3 to 19. Gymnasts have the opportunity to compete at area meets, including a home meet in Crofton every March.

For information on sessions (8 weeks/fall/summer/winter) email flippersgym@yahoo.com or call Sarah Petersen (402) 640-1146.

Pledge with the local Crofton 4-H Club, Lucky Livewires. Rural and town youth are learning to lead through 4-H. From fundraisers and educational projects, to cleaning up parks, ages 5-18 are engaged in both organized and grassroots efforts to enrich our community and their future. Enrollment information can be found through UNL Extension of Knox County (402) 288-5611 or email knox-county@unl.edu.

Roll with family bowling! Kid-friendly with youth shoe rental and gutter bumpers. Birthday party packages available. Reserve your lanes by calling Wiebelhaus Recreation & Centennial Lanes (402) 388-4640.

Always be prepared with Girl Scouts! Crofton Daisies, Brownies and Girls Scouts, grades K-12 meet every Tuesday afternoon during the school year. Their biggest fundraiser, cookie sales, start in February! In addition to many community service projects, these gals have fun with Christmas caroling, bowling parties and selfesteem building activities. Contact Dorothy Schoenberner (402) 388-4337. She’s been a scout leader for over 35 years!

Your Full-Service Grocer!

n Fresh Cut Meat Daily

n Bakery/Deli

n Floral & Gifts

n Fresh Produce

n Full-Service Grocery

PEOPLE’S GROCERY 1105 W. 2nd Crofton, NE 402-388-4329

Swing in to Youth Golf at Crofton Lakeview Golf Course! The 9-hole course is located on a bluff overlooking the panoramic Lewis and Clark Lake, just 7 miles North of Crofton on Hwy 121. Youth annual memberships (high school age and younger) are just $125. Contact the Clubhouse at (402) 388-4552.

Dig through our newspaper The Crofton Journal for activities, and give it a few weeks before giving up!

As time goes on, you may find upcoming holiday events, home and garden tours, spiritual speakers, ethnic festivals, high school theater and live musical events.

Crofton Community Foundation serving the Crofton Area

Check out our weekly ad at: peoplesgrocerycrofton.com

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P.O. Box 52, Crofton, NE 68730 www.crofton-nebraska.com Link: Crofton Foundation Info.

402-388-2578

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CROFTON COMMUNITY GUIDE | PAGE 11

Take in Our Trails

By Rebecca Lancaster Crofton’s beautiful countryside and the land surrounding the Missouri River and Lewis and Clark Lake beg to be explored. The local trails offer the perfect opportunity for my little family to enjoy picturesque views, encounter wildlife and burn off some toddler energy! I hope you enjoy these Crofton area trails as much as we do.

South Shore: Located on Highway 121, just west of the Lakeview Golf Course.

South Shore offers hiking, biking, and equestrian trails. Maintained by Nebraska Game and Parks, the trails offer peaceful scenery and stunning views of the Lewis and Clark Lake. You’ll need a state park sticker or Evelyn and Elizabeth Lancaster search for morel mushrooms along the south side of the Missouri River.

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day pass for this trail. Visit the Lewis & Clark State Recreation Area, call 402-388-4169 for information.

Sheryl Mueller Memorial Bluebird Trail: Inspired by its namesake’s love of bluebirds and running country roads, this two-mile stretch of gravel road offers the opportunity for a leisurely stroll or a quick run. Within walking distance east of Weigand Campground on 896 Rd., the gentle hills and winding road offer peaceful views of the countryside. You may even catch a glimpse of deer, wild turkeys, or bluebirds heading to the many bluebird houses along the way.

Meridian Walking Bridge: A favorite of Crofton residents and visitors, the historic doubledecker Meridian Bridge spans the Missouri River connecting Nebraska to South Dakota. Located north of Crofton off Highway 81, pedestrians enjoy sweeping views from either the top or bottom levels. Benches are located frequently for those who want to sit and take in the view, plaques tell the history of the river, and lovers place locks to commemorate their passage of the bridge. This scenic route is perfect for my family as it allows toddlers to safely run ahead while I push one in a stroller. On hot summer days we cool off at the splash park on the South Dakota side of the bridge.

Along the way, we pass runners getting exercise, people out walking their pets and tourists taking in the views. This is a nice option for those in wheelchairs as well.

Nebraska Primitive Trails: My personal favorite is the primitive trail system found just west of the Meridian Walking Bridge. Located through the same access off Highway 81, these trails feel as though you are traveling in a woodland adventure. Multiple trails offer hikers a variety of options to explore the serene landscape of the area. Mossy trees and lush undergrowth lead the way to the sandy shores of the Missouri River.

On our last hike, my family was hoping to score some morel mushrooms. We were unsuccessful, but my girls were just as pleased to play with the frog that crossed our path. On the sandy river shores, we also found rocks to skip and there was no end to sticks and wildflowers to pick up along the sides of the path. Keep an eye out for bald eagles as they like to perch high in the trees along the Muddy Mo. Devils Nest: I leave my toddlers at home when hiking Crofton’s notorious Devils Nest. The rough roads alone are treacherous for a low-riding car, but believe me, the deep wooded valleys and sprawling views of the Missouri River are worth it.

In 1970 Devils Nest Development Co opened a ski run and lodge, yacht club and equestrian center with ambitious dreams for a 3,000 acre, $10 million development. The endeavor failed and the ski lodge closed.

Today the lodge (a giant red barn) and the lift — with rusty chairs dangling from the cables — still stand. The hike from the top of the chair lift to the big red barn is not maintained and sometimes treacherous, but worth the views.

Thanks to local developers, new homes are being built at Devils Nest and plans are being made for an 87-slip marina. Visit devilsnestnebraska.com for information.

BEFORE YOU GO: Make sure to call The Nest manager Monda Kohles at (605) 661-8674 for directions and permission.

Remember, The Nest is private property.

CROFTON COMMUNITY GUIDE | PAGE 13

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Near the Shores of Lewis & Clark Lake If Meriwether Lewis and William Clark returned to this region today, they’d be shocked by the development … all because the Wild Missouri was dammed creating a recreation haven and Nebraska’s second largest lake under their namesake, Lewis & Clark Lake.

Crofton sits just seven miles south of the Lewis & Clark Lake and the Missouri River.

The lake stretches nearly 35 miles with 90 miles of shoreline, welcoming 3 million visitors annually. Visitors appreciate sandy beaches, picturesque chalkstone cliffs lining the lake and ideal conditions for sailing, boating and canoeing.

The Lewis & Clark State Recreation Area lies along the south shore of the lake offering excellent camping facilities, cabin rentals, a marina and boat docks, as well as family activities throughout the summer.

For information, call the park office at (402) 388-4169.

A diverse fish population — walleye, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, northern pike, catfish and perch — call our lake and river home making our region a sanctuary for fisherman. Unique to the Crofton area is paddlefishing. A month long paddlefish snagging season is shared by both Nebraska and South Dakota along a small stretch of the Missouri River downstream from Gavins Point Dam. Summer months bring camping and boating enthusiasts. In the winter when the ice is solid, the lake area is open to ice fishing, snowmobiling, skating, sledding and cross-country skiing.

Looking for something slower pace? Visit the Gavins Point Dam (just a 16 minute drive), operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Watch for eagles, osprey and other wildlife along the way. Regular tours of the powerplant are available Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day weekend or by appointment by calling (402) 667-2546.

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Pulley Museum History Preserved... One Hay Pulley at a Time Doug de Shazer wonders some days if he is crazy because he collects pulleys. “Who buys pulleys?” asks de Shazer. “Nobody uses them today and they are not worth a lot of money but I still feel the need to collect them.” He thinks his hobby is more than a passion; maybe a disease.

De Shazer is a contractor who has made the bluffs along the Missouri River north of Crofton his home. Since 1974 as a child, his family made weekend trips to their cabin on Lewis & Clark Lake. In 2002, along with his wife Juliet and two children, de Shazer made the permanent move to Hideaway Acres. Nestled in the bluffs among giant cedar trees, de Shazer constructed a home and pulley museum. “I became fascinated with pulleys in 2005 and since then I have amassed hundreds,” says de Shazer.

Pulleys are so prevalent in old barns because most farmers relied on the pulley to haul their hay crop up into the loft of the barn for winter storage. De Shazer travels to farm auctions or flea markets but the best place to find pulleys is in abandoned barns, falling down or recently bulldozed. As he sifts through the rubble he finds his treasures; bits of junk no one else wants, but to him they tell a story about early farm life in America.

The most rare pulley de Shazer has is labeled Law. They are very hard to find and he believes they are so rare because the design was very poor and they broke quite easily. Some pulleys ride a wooden rail and some a steel rod or rail. That is how

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de Shazer displays them in his museum. He also collects different types of hand-haying equipment and has about 200 pieces.

When de Shazer brings his treasures back home, he sandblasts the rust and restores them as best he can. He can usually tell if there was paint used and tries to replicate the factory colors.

Each pulley is researched, tagged with a laminated card carrying the pulley’s history and cataloged so he knows exactly what he has.

De Shazer’s collection grew so big he refurbished and relocated to a historic building in downtown Crofton. He hosts tours, field trips and caters meetings, holiday parties and conferences at the museum. In 2016, the North American Hay Tool Collectors Association held their annual show and swap in Crofton bringing collectors from all over the country to our main street.

The new location allows room for an exhibit devoted to Crofton history — the beginnings of Crofton’s first site for valuable relics. “I just want to preserve a disappearing part of American history,” says de Shazer. For more information about the Pulley Museum or to reserve the event space, call (402) 510-8845.

American Legion Letters home tell the story of Crofton’s World War I heroes It has been called the “war to end all wars” or simply the “Great War.” Crofton was just 25 years old when the U.S. entered World War I, and the young community sent some of its youngest and brightest men to fight in what many would know as a grand, but terrible adventure. The U.S. joined World War I in April 1917. Twenty-six local boys were drafted or volunteered out of sheer patriotism.

By May, the Crofton men were ready to head out to basic training. Their last night as civilians was spent at a huge banquet hosted by the community and the old veterans in the town of the Civil War, the Indian Wars and Spanish-American War. The next day one proud old veteran who had served in the early 1890s, George Whistler, carried Old Glory and led the motorcade of about 30 vehicles that accompanied the Crofton boys to the train station where they would ship off.

“Well Pa, I am right up on the front line where I can see and hear the Germans talking. Was out on patrol last night in No Man’s Land,” Tucker began his letter to his parents.

In the days before emails, texts and cell phones, letters home to parents and friends that were often published in the local newspaper were one way local residents stayed in touch with their hometown soldiers. At first, letters were published from the boys in basic training camps. Although “I went back there, many received less than about six miles, and adequate training, the letters home were filled stood and prayed for with optimism and even Ellis, so we have done lust for the fight ahead.

But, as the Crofton all we can for him. men got into the fight All the hell I ever in France, the letters imagined in my life, became more somber.

More and more often, I have seen during the boys just wanted to the past few days.” come home.

Tucker’s September letter concluded, “Well Pa, these Huns are getting busy with their big guns but don’t do much harm.

Of course, we hand it right back at them. The town and

s

Although the community was made up of predominantly German immigrants, it was no longer as acceptable to be too proud of that original heritage because America was at war with Germany. Patriotism swept through the streets of Crofton and every rural town across the nation. By the time America entered the war on the side of France and Great Britain, millions of Allied soldiers and enemy soldiers as well had already perished in the trenches and out in No Man’s Land since the war began in 1914.

It was early September 1918 when Ellis Tucker, one of the first Crofton men to be drafted, wrote a letter back home to Nebraska from a trench in France thousands of miles away from his hometown of Crofton and his family and the people he grew up with and loved.

CROFTON COMMUNITY GUIDE | PAGE 17

everything is blown to pieces here. It is just one mass of trenches and shell holes. Well, I hope this finds you all well and happy and in good health. Your son, Ellis.”

That was Tucker’s last letter home. He was killed in action on Sept.15, 1918 when his unit went over the top and out of the trenches near Flivey. A machine gun bullet cut Tucker down during a bayonet charge in the Saint-Mihiel drive.

Tucker’s parents didn’t learn of their son’s fate until a month after he had been killed. The official Army message and the last letter he wrote were printed in the Oct. 10, 1918 issue of the Crofton Journal.

Another Crofton boy, Orin Salley was on burial detail after the Saint-Mihiel battle. Salley attended to burials of other soldiers nearby and a third Crofton man, Ralph Brown, stood vigil as Tucker was buried alongside his fallen comrades. On the same day a tentative agreement was announced to end the war in early November, a letter home from Salley was also printed in the Journal, describing his visit to Tucker’s grave.

Salley wrote, “I went back there, about six miles, and stood and prayed for Ellis, so we have done all we can for him. All the hell I ever imagined in my life, I have seen during the past few days.”

The residents of Crofton felt the pain of loss of Tucker, but they were also jubilant that the war had ended. However, by

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1104 W 2nd St. Crofton 402-388-4363 301615

December that jubilance had turned again to sadness when everyone learned that Ralph Brown, who had stood vigil at Tucker’s grave, had been cut down in the final days of the war.

An editorial in the paper read, “The sad news came as a great shock to this community as we had all felt that the war being over, there would be no more death messages from France.”

And it still wasn’t over.

Howard Everton, who was at officers’ training camp at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln, died of complications from influenza. That’s how the American Legion Post in Crofton gained the honored name of Tucker-Everton-Brown.

Crofton’s beautiful and moving Veterans’ Memorial and Avenue of Flags strike different people in different ways. Almost everyone

can name veterans in their families with similar experiences defending our nation and our freedoms. The veteran photos etched in the memorial, some formal, some funny and some rather somber, give us a small glimpse of what it might have been like for those brave souls who fought in lands so far away so we could live out our lives in freedom here at home.

But as you look through the tattered old pages of the Crofton Journal from those terrible days in 1918, the articles and letters home still speak volumes to us about the innocent rural boys who went off to war and returned with a new view on life, honor and liberty. It’s been almost 100 years now since those letters were written, but we can still appreciate the sacrifices those boys made then and those sacrifices made since then in subsequent battles and wars by countless other soldiers with hometown roots in Crofton.

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CROFTON COMMUNITY GUIDE | PAGE 19

A Weekend in Downtown Crofton

By Charlie Hendrix, City Manager Crofton has a vibrant downtown! We have old favorites like Wiebelhaus Recreation and the historic Argo Hotel, as well as preservation projects that will lead to new venues on Main Street.

Stretching four blocks north to south and three from east to west, the Downtown District is a gathering place where locals and travelers collide. Here’s how we would spend a weekend in the heart of Crofton.

Friday Let’s first find a place to stay! The Argo Hotel, built in 1912, is a delightful bed and breakfast with no shortage of history and charm. Lewis and Clark Lodge is a new 12-room motel. Call Lewis & Clark Mini Mart across the street for availability. Thinking about bringing your camper or tent? The South Park offers camping with electrical hookups and picnic facilities.

Crofton offers a full array of business services, such as banking, insurance, tax and legal services, health care, building supplies and more.

Once visitors come to Crofton they usually want to stay. Stop at Land & Lake Realty to plan your long-term stay.

Is it lunchtime already?

Our Senior Center offers lunch to the public at a nominal Four lanes and pizza make Wiebelhaus price. It is a welcome Recreation an ideal birthday party spot. environment for all ages with much to do. Delicious Crofton baseball field, the region’s most homemade dinners are scenic field. served Thursday night. One Sunday a month they house a community pancake, Hit the town on Friday night! The Argo sausage and egg breakfast. Watch for Hotel offers high-end dining. Try the the white board sign at our four-waytenderloin filet or the six-ounce cod loin stop intersection (Second and Main) with fried okra. Wiebelhaus Recreation advertising pancake breakfasts, baseball (coined Waltz by locals in remembrance games and other community happenings. of the family restaurant, bar and bowling alley’s founder) offers a Friday Night Fish After a nice lunch take a leisurely walk Fry as well as a full-serve regular menu. through Crofton’s North Park or the Sports Stop has pool tables, a jukebox Baseball Park Trail that circles the PAGE 20 | CROFTON COMMUNITY GUIDE

and a gigantic screen to watch all the best sports. If you stick around until Monday night, Sports Stop serves burgers and fries for just a dollar each. The food is inexpensive and simple, but the conversation with locals is rich!

Saturday A stroll down Main Street will take you past the historic Swartz building and through the doors of the Lewis and Clark Pulley Museum. The Pulley Museum, home to the country’s largest collection of hay pulleys on display, is a local favorite

for small tours and group gatherings. Going further down the street, don’t skip over Main Street Treasures, Crofton’s Thrift Shop, opening Spring 2017. As the shop grows, there are plans to host craft fairs and other special events.

Crofton is home to three beauty salons. Saturday morning is a great time for a little “you time.” Come get to know us better!

Saturday and Sunday afternoons are perfect times to throw some strikes at the bowling alley at Wiebelhaus Recreation.

Catch a ballgame at the Crofton Baseball Field, at the far east end of Main Street. Watch for our amateur south central league team, the Bluejays, on Thursday and Sunday nights.

In the fall, visitors gather at local food venues to watch Cornhusker Football.

Sunday On Sunday morning, attend one of our three local churches or do some last-minute gift shopping at People’s Floral and Gift Shop (located inside of People’s Grocery).

As you pack up your car and fill up with gas (Steffen’s Service and Lewis & Clark Mini Mart are nice options), we hope you will check in again with our local realtor and hotels to plan your next trip to wonderful Downtown Crofton.

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www.LandLakeCrofton.com CROFTON COMMUNITY GUIDE | PAGE 21

Crofton’s Natural Resources To conserve, develop, and manage the natural resources in and around Crofton is a responsibility the community takes very serious. The soil, wind, and water within our boundaries create a quality of life for both present and future generations.

Hydropower at Gavins Point Dam Lewis & Clark Lake and Gavins Point Dam are nestled in the golden, chalkstone-lined valley of the Missouri River growing into one of the most popular recreation spots in the Great Plains. But our dam boasts more than just recreation­—we’re providing a continuous energy supply!

The dam has a hydroelectric plant with 3 turbines, max power generation capability of 132,300 Kw - that’s enough electricity to meet the annual needs of 68,000 homes!

The power plant and dam are managed by the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers. Tours are available on weekends Memorial Day through Labor Day.

Wind Energy Elkhorn Ridge Wind Farm is the first privately-owned and operated wind farm in Nebraska and located just southwest of Crofton. Commercial operation began in 2009 with 27 turbines, producing enough energy equivalent to the amount of electricity used by 25,000 Nebraska residences in a year.

Crofton Bluffs Wind Farm, a 42-megawatt wind facility, became commercial on November 1, 2012. Twenty-two turbines are located on the rolling hills of southwest Crofton farmland. The farm could produce an amount of electricity used by approximately 12,000 Nebraska residences in a year.

Clean Water Source Cedar Knox Rural Water Project was started in 1977 as a result of lower groundwater quality and quantity in a few areas of northern Knox County. Because a suitable ground water source within the area could not be located, a surface water treatment plant in the Devils Nest Development was purchased with Lewis & Clark Lake as the water source.

Work on the distribution system and refurbishing the treatment plant began in 1981 and the first water went out to customers that same year. At that time, 165 miles of pipe and one booster station served 283 rural users and two towns (Crofton and St. Helena).

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Dining Out Today, its claim to fame is prime rib thanks to a group of farmers and investors. When locals feared the closing of their beloved Lindy Country Club, a group was formed to keep it open as long as a manager continued to serve delicious steaks and Sunday morning brunch. Sunday mornings are busiest by 11:30 am… that’s when churchgoers filter down from Good Shepherd Evangelical Lutheran Church just a short walk up the road.

Check their Facebook page for other lunch and dinner specials.

May we suggest the frog legs?

Food brings people together! Like many lake towns, Crofton caters to weekend visitors and “no shoes, no shirt” type crowds. Our eateries vary as much as their patrons — some offering the same secret recipe for over 30 years and others starting fresh with new concoctions every night. Here’s one thing you can count on: the food will be as nice as the smiling waiter or waitress serving it.

Here are a few dishes we recommend trying while in the Crofton area.

1. Walleye. It doesn’t have to be fish-fry Friday to enjoy the lightly battered, lemon flavored walleye at Murdo’s Restaurant … they serve this specialty every night except Mondays. The beloved fish and steak house is the only restaurant that sits directly on the Missouri River, just downstream from the dam, so visitors enjoy sitting on the huge deck with a cocktail while they wait for their food.

2. Burgers & Taxidermy. Looking for a wild night? If you don’t mind dining with a giant black bear, mountain lions and skunks, then we recommend grabbing a burger at CJ’s At The Lake. The burgers are good (don’t get me wrong) but the restaurant, bar and sea store is an experience even if you’re not hungry. The restaurateur Barry claims to have more than 150 mounts — the largest collection of taxidermy in the region! He also hosts live music in an outdoor beer garden throughout the summer. To get to CJ’s, head north out of Crofton on Hwy 121 and turn west on the Lake Road toward the state park (897 Rd). CJ’s is just a few miles down this scenic road that curves around Lewis & Clark Lake.

3. Tenderloin Filet. The Argo is Crofton’s finest dining experience with a beautiful old dining room, chandeliers and a sweeping staircase. The food, not surprisingly, is as wonderful as the atmosphere. Try the tenderloin filet with fried okra. You’ll want to book one of their historic suites and stay forever! The Argo Hotel and Steakhouse is located on Kansas Street in Crofton, just a block west of 2nd.

4. Prime Rib. Lindy, a tiny village just 13 miles west of Crofton, was known in the ‘70s as the gateway to Devils Nest.

5. Fried Chicken. There are about a thousand things we love about Wiebelhaus Recreation on the corner of Main and 2nd in Crofton. It could be the fact that most locals call it Waltz, coined after the original proprietor. Maybe we love the Friday night fish fry with homemade salads and a huge variety of seafood (or do we call it Missouri River food?) during Lent.

But, if you’re really looking to experience Crofton’s most notorious bar and restaurant, we suggest the fried chicken dinner with a side of soft serve ice cream!

6. Frog Legs & Alligator. You can’t eat out in the Crofton area without ordering frog legs and alligator at the Dam Fish Shack. It’s a summer hot spot along Highway 121 near the Missouri River and the Lewis & Clark Dam. With a foodtruck feel, patrons can eat in an open-air dining room, outside by a bar made from an old canoe or in a giant tee-pee. Not feeling the deep-fried frog legs? We also recommend the fish tacos. The Fish Shack is open Memorial Day weekend through paddlefish snagging season in October. Watch their Facebook page for details.

7. Buck Burgers. Sport Stop Bar is the place to go if you’re looking to chat with locals and maybe catch a game on the big screen. Go on Monday night … that’s when they serve burgers and fries for just a dollar each. The food is inexpensive and simple, but the conversation with locals is rich! Sports Stop is just across the street from People’s Grocery on 2nd Street.

8. BBQ Ribs. When the Eskens family opened the doors to a BBQ restaurant in the summer of 2015, Backroad BarB-Q was packed for days! They had been catering their secret recipes for years from their home near Fordyce. With a solid reputation in meat smoking paired with a delicious mixture of beans, creamy potato salad and tangy sauces, the BBQ ribs are a must have on their menu.

Or the sausage. Or the chicken. Did I mention the brisket? Backroad Bar-B-Q , located northeast of Crofton just off Highway 81, is open ThursdaySunday 4 p.m. until the meat is gone.

CROFTON COMMUNITY GUIDE | PAGE 23

The Warrior Way

By Corey Dahl, Crofton Superintendent Crofton Community School was the only high school in the state of Nebraska to receive the National Blue Ribbon award in 2016! This prestigious award was based on Crofton’s overall academic excellence and is a reflection of the hard work and dedication of our students, teachers and community. The National Blue Ribbon Schools flag — now proudly hung in Crofton’s high school — is a widely recognized symbol of excellence in teaching and learning.

“In state testing, Crofton as a whole ranked in the top 10 percent in the state of Nebraska,” says high school principal Johnnie Ostermeyer.

To stay in that 10 percent, the teaching staff is enthusiastic about education. Mr. Volmer’s eighth grade biology class, for example, takes an annual trip to the Lewis & Clark Lake (just 10 miles north of Crofton) where they find prehistoric shark teeth and other fossils. Our local newspaper, the Crofton Journal, publishes stories written by Mrs. O’Brien’s journalism class and Mrs. Filhaus’s art students have been awarded Best in Show for the past five years at the conference art show. If you were to stop in at Mr. Sanger’s shop, you’ll find students creating iPad holders and chess pieces using a new 3-D printer. We’ve also added a robotics class to the Career and Tech education curriculum and our SkillsUSA team qualified for a national competition in 2015 in electrical engineering.

Crofton continues to strive for excellence in other activities as well. The Warrior Marching Band is recognized as one of the best of their size in the area and has a rich tradition of superb performances. The Future Farmers of America (FFA) is a noted leader in the state.

Other programs like art, speech, choir and FCCLA (Family, Career and Community Leaders of America) continually represent Crofton Community School in a positive fashion. Speaking of fashion and FCCLA, sophomore Mariah Dather was invited to showcase her ice skating uniform at Omaha Fashion Week 2017 — a piece designed and created as an FCCLA project.

PAGE 24 | CROFTON COMMUNITY GUIDE

s

Athletics at Crofton Community School outperform the competition year after year.

The cross country team recently won ten state championships in a row and the girls basketball

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Warrior Way

(continued from page 22)

program won five consecutive championships.

Crofton Warrior football earned a trip to the final game in Lincoln in 2016 and our wrestling and track programs qualify several for state competition each year.

Whatever the area, be it academics or activities, Crofton Community School achieves at a high level. The support from the community combined with the strong work ethic of our students and staff make it a great place to get an education. The manner in which the school performs has coined a motto that is gaining in popularity, “The Warrior Way.”

CONTACT OUR SCHOOLS Crofton is proud to be the home to both the Crofton Community School (grades K-12) and St. Rose Catholic School (pre-k and grades 1-8).

To learn more about Crofton Community Schools, call Superintendant Corey Dahl or high school principal Johnnie Ostermeyer at (402) 388-2440, elementary school principal Mark Wragge at (402) 388-4357 or connect online.

Website: www.croftonschools.org Twitter: @CroftonWarriors Facebook.com/CroftonWarriors Snapchat: CroftonWarriors To learn more about St. Rose School, call Mrs. Jennifer Fiscus at (402) 388-4393 or connect online.

Website: saintroseoflimaschoolcrofton.weebly.com Twitter: @StRoseCrofton Facebook.com/StRoseSchool

PAGE 26 | CROFTON COMMUNITY GUIDE

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Crofton’s Baseball Tradition

By Ryan Loecker Ever since the first ball field was built in 1907, Croftonites have embraced the all-American sport. The field today is undeniably the most picturesque park in the tri-state region with high-rise grandstands, a towering announcers booth, grassy areas for blanket-sitters and an outfield mowed and maintained to match major league fields.

The Crofton Baseball Field is busy from early spring to late fall hosting four area teams: Crofton Pony League, two American Legion sponsored teams and the adult amateur team, the Crofton

Bluejays. The Bluejays compete against some of the toughest teams in Northeast Nebraska and South Dakota as part of the South Central League, bringing home the Championship in 1972 and 2011, and many runner-up trophies in those 50 years.

Crofton’s field is a favorite for tournaments, the largest being the Lewis & Clark Wooden Bat Tournament. For two days in early summer, spectators enjoy the familiar clack of wood meeting ball. Other teams such as northern states colleges (North and South Dakota and

Our Lady Ball Players Softball is also very alive in Crofton from t-ball to the adult league. The Youth Athletic Complex on the northwest corner of town hosts games nearly five nights a week throughout the summer. A new concession/restroom building is on the community’s agenda to be built soon.

Crofton has a longstanding baseball tradition. This juvenile baseball club sponsored by St. Rose Catholic Order of Foresters played ball in the late 1930s.

Minnesota) use the field in early spring for their baseball training programs.

With the support of the City of Crofton, annual fundraising activities by the Crofton Baseball Association and private donations, improvements are made to the park every year with the goal of preserving and enhancing the great baseball experience for current residents, and those to come in the future.

For more information, to join a team or volunteer contact Baseball Association President, Bob Hegge (402-388-4293) or Jim Wortmann (402-388-4493).

CROFTON 125 ANNIVERSARY

TH

JUNE 30-JULY 4, 2017

CELEBRATE WITH US! FRIDAY, JUNE 30

9 am-5 pm Children’s Mobile Museum 6 pm Firemen’s Open House 9 pm History Pageant

SATURDAY, JULY 1

9 am-5 pm Children’s Child Mobile Museum 10 am Opening Ceremony 12 pm Cowboy Show 11 am-4 pm Quilt Show 1 pm Parade 5 pm Alumni Banquet 9 pm FREE Street Dance featuring Pink Kadillac Visit us online for updates and a complete list of events: CroftonQ125.com or Facebook.com/CroftonQ125

SUNDAY, JULY 2

8 am-12 pm Senior Citizen Breakfast 11 am Antique Machinery Display 11 am-4 pm Quilt Show 12 pm Car Show Plus food vendors, kids activities & Missouri River Recreational Trailer 2-5 pm Old Fashion Hay Mowing 9 pm History Pageant

Monday, July 3

4 pm - Old Timers Baseball 7 pm - Bluejays Baseball 9 pm - Freedom Glow Run Fi 10 pm - Fireworks

TUESDAY, JULY 4

8 am Community Breakfast 10 am Ecumenical Prayer Service & Closing Ceremony

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To Serve & Protect Crofton’s safety lies in the hands of worthy volunteers They are all ordinary men and women. You sit next to them at Sunday morning service or wait behind them in the grocery line. Their kids play on the same basketball team as yours. They change your oil, fix your cable TV and even clean your teeth. They are like you in every way, and that is why they never question being there in your time of need. They are the volunteer firefighters, EMTs and First Responders of Crofton.

WANT TO KNOW MORE? Every fall, the fire department and EMT squad host an Open House where civilians can climb through a smoke house, practice CPR on a dummy, spray a fire hose and climb on the equipment. Watch the Crofton Journal for dates.

Support the squads by attending the annual Firemen’s Dance, held every spring at the City Auditorium. Funds support training, updating equipment and other needs.

Call Fire Chief Dave Hansen (605) 660-5985 or EMT Squad Leader Katie Tramp (402) 388-4149 if you have questions or would like to volunteer on one of the squads.

PAGE 30 | CROFTON COMMUNITY GUIDE

The community is silently protected by a volunteer Fire Department and Rescue Squad that each has over 20 members, respectively. With the help of a very supportive Rural Fire Board, both departments have recently benefitted from new upgrades to ambulance equipment, fire engines and grass rigs.

Together, these individuals volunteer hundreds of hours per year on training, development and equipment maintenance.

They attend statewide fire schools, train others on CPR and teach your children to Stop, Drop and Roll. They may be throwing candy from the ambulance at the Homecoming parade one minute, and racing to an accident scene the next.

Not everyone is cut out for this type of calling, and that is okay.

There is a certain level of pressure that comes with carrying the emergency pager. It is weight that never subsides, resting on the shoulders both day and night of every volunteer on the department. But it is a burden that drives them, a challenge begging to be met … a life pleading to be saved.

So Crofton, rest assured that as you settle in to sleep this evening, your fire and rescue squads are on call. They are

prepared to pull you from a burning building or breathe life back into your unconscious spouse. They are ready to respond to your vehicle accident or save your choking child. Their job is to stay cool under fire and to bring calm to the chaos. But most importantly, they hope they never have to. If you only ever cross their path as your insurance agent or your city mayor, at golf league or when you need your furnace fixed … that’s just fine with them.

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CROFTON COMMUNITY GUIDE | PAGE 31

Could Crofton have been named Frances, NE? Ask Frankie!

In 1892, even with just a few tents perched on a hill, the potential of a bustling town was clearly visualized by early German settlers. These pioneers were lured to this remote parcel of country in part by the opportunity to work on a new railroad line. This new line was initiated by one J.T.M. Pearce, who had come from London, England. Pearce’s plan was to build a railroad that connected the north and south route between Yankton, South Dakota, and Norfolk, Nebraska. The money was bankrolled by one of Pearce’s English capitalist associates and was used to purchase the necessary equipment and hire men to do the work.

Several small towns and settlements sprang up along the route, and the population of the region grew. It was in September 1892 that the legal plat for a new town was laid out and parceled out of land which was owned by Mr. William C. Miller. The town was to consist of blocks numbering from one to twenty, with streets and alleys dedicated to public use.

Miller, who not only owned the land where the new town was built but was also to be the banker of the first Crofton State Bank (located on the North side of Main Street). His wife, the former Frankie Current, was the first bride in Crofton and

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might well have been known as “Crofton’s First Lady”. Miller promised to give away a lot in the new town to the first child born in Crofton. Imagine his surprise when twins were born to the Hutchinson family (Mr. Hutchinson operated a hardware store). What was he to do but give them two lots!

Prior to the formal platting of the city, local folk met at a special church meeting to decide what the name of the new town would be. Many names were read and considered, but no one would make a final decision. Ultimately, a short list of potential names was assembled and the names placed in a hat.

Mrs. Miller was asked to draw out the name. She first drew the name “Frances”, but objected to it because of the similarity to her own name, Frankie. The second name drawn was “Crofton” which had been suggested by Mr. Pearce in honor of

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You may be wondering what happened to Mr. Pearce. He built a hotel in Yankton, the Pearce Hotel, and made his home there while his new railroad line was being built. Sometime in 1894 however, he suddenly went missing and folks soon learned that he was a fraud. He reportedly turned up in South America and refused to be brought back by the authorities.

his home in England — the Crofton Courts. The name stuck and Crofton was now on the map.

PARTIES PARTIES PARTIES

BY PULLEYS BY

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After the disappearance of Pearce and the investment money, Crofton, like the railroad, was left at a virtual standstill. Many businesses closed or moved, railroad grades were left unfinished

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CATERING FOR ALL OCCASIONS CATERING FOR ALL OCCASIONS The Lewis & Clark Pulley Museum is dedicated to preserving the heritage CATERING CATERING FOR FOR ALL ALL OCCASIONS OCCASIONS  WEDDINGS WEDDINGS WEDDINGS DINNERS REHEARSAL  REHEARSAL DINNERS  REHEARSAL DINNERS  FAMILY REUNIONS  FAMILY REUNIONS  FAMILY REUNIONS  GRADUATIONS  GRADUATIONS  GRADUATIONS  BIRTHDAYS  BIRTHDAYS  BIRTHDAYS  HOLIDAYS  HOLIDAYS  HOLIDAYS  BUSINESS MEETINGS  BUSINESS MEETINGS  BUSINESS MEETINGS  

of hay farming.

The museum is full of the tools the early farmer used to  WEDDINGS work dating from DINNERS 1840 to 1950. The museum displays these items  hay REHEARSAL from every angle possible.

Currently, the museum’s inventory consists of FAMILY REUNIONS over 350 hay trolleys, 800+ barn pulleys, industrial pulleys and marine  GRADUATIONS pulleys. There are also hundreds of other items the farmer used to move  BIRTHDAYS hay throughout the barn. 

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The museum also doubles as an event center with seating for up to 100 guests.

Whether it’s a party, business meeting, or any other gathering it’s an awesome place to hang out. We also offer full catering!

Call Doug for tour and event center info. 402-510-8845

BY PULLEYS CROFTON COMMUNITY GUIDE |

CATERING FOR ALL OCCASIONS CATERING FOR ALL OCCASIONS

PAGE 33

s

The first building materials to come to Crofton consisted of two large piles of lumber that were to be used in the construction of two saloons. One was built on the block east of the main square on the north side of the street and near the location of what is now the Lewis & Clark Pulley Museum. It was run by Mr. Charles Korth. The other saloon was built directly across the street and was operated by Mr. Ed O’Donnell.

and land wasted. The depot, which was to have been located at the present site of the Crofton Baseball Park, was never built. However, a post office was acquired in 1896, the year that the first doctor, J.M.Talcott, opened his office on the southwest corner of Second and Main Streets (in the building presently occupied by Hendrix Law).

In 1898, Mr. John Kuehn, who had been farming before moving to town, purchased a grocery store on the corner of Main Street. In addition to her husband’s grocery store, Mrs. Kuehn opened a small hotel (across from the lumber yard office), known as home to many of the lonely and weary pioneers. Here, she served meals to men working on the railroad. Mr. and Mrs. Kuehn could very well be known as the “Mother and Father” of Crofton.

As for William Miller? Unfortunately, Crofton’s land donor and banker died of sun stroke in August 1895, leaving Frankie a widow and two children without their patriarch. Miller was laid to rest in Hartington. Many citizens from Crofton attended the services out of respect for the work he had done for their new town. Some of the men walked in a funeral procession all the way to Hartington, to show their last respect to an honored citizen.

Today, Crofton is that bustling small town that the settlers of 1892 hoped for. Known by many as the “Best Little Town by

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Hours: Mon.-Fri. 8:00 - 5:30 e-mail: downtownauto@hotmail.com PAGE 34 | CROFTON COMMUNITY GUIDE

Crofton is currently preparing to lay out the welcome mat in 2017 to visitors attending the town’s 125th anniversary. Please consider this your invitation!

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DOWNTOWN AUTO SERVICE 1009 W. 3rd, Crofton, NE

a Dam Site,” Crofton’s downtown remains a homage to the past, offering unhurried atmospheres where spectators savor conversation. Those early settlers would certainly be surprised by the recent construction of wind-powered turbines at Crofton Wind Farm and first graders doing daily assignments on computers and tablets.

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Business Directory AGRICULTURE Direct Biologicals 54997 897 Rd. (402) 388-2360 Crofton Farm Supply 301 W Main (402) 388-4274 Complete Agronomy Solutions 55503 887 Rd., Fordyce (402) 360-2583 Crofton Elevator 100 W Omaha (402) 388-4377

Kayton International 1211 W 2nd St. (402) 388-4374

Downtown Auto 1009 W 3rd St (402) 388-2578

Uptown Style 1107 W 2nd St. (402) 388-2647

SKCI, Inc. 88653 Hwy 81, Fordyce (402) 388-4945

Lewis & Clark Mini Mart Corner of Hwy 12 & 121 (402) 388-4181

CHILDCARE PROVIDERS

Steffen’s Incorporated 89088 Hwy 121 (402) 388-4990

Steffen’s Service Station 109 W Harold St. (402) 388-4301

AUTOMOTIVE & FUEL

Wiebelhaus PDR 1402 W 8th St. (402) 388-2314

A&D Service 203 W Harold St. (402) 388-4880 Brett’s Body Shop 103 W Main (402) 388-4275

BEAUTY Magic Mirror 1111 W 2nd St. (402) 388-4255

Jolene Steffen Gallery

Jill McCoy (402) 388-2311 Lakyn Mueller (605) 661-7675 Judy Peitz (402) 388-2468 Cindy Schumacher (402) 388-4487 Cindy Stucky (402) 388-2570

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Goeden Steel 89122 553 Ave (402) 388-4953

The Best Little Town by a Dam Site is here to serve you ... Come check us out!

Open Anytime

By Appointment

Clockwise from top left: Days Gone By, oil;

Oil and Watercolor Originals, Prints & Notecards ~ Local landscapes, people, florals and animals ~

Sailor’s Delight oil; Crofton’s Historic Tree, oil and Seize the Daisy, watercolor.

Contact Jolene Steffen:

55472 888th Rd. Crofton, NE 68730 Ph. 402-357-3740

For Open House, show schedule, complete gallery and info., check out Jolene’s website:

www.jolenesteffen.com

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CROFTON COMMUNITY GUIDE | PAGE 35

CHURCHES

Sunday Service, 10 a.m.

Community Bible Church 4 miles west of Crofton on Hwy 12 (402) 388-2305 Sunday School, 10 a.m.

Sunday Service, 11 a.m.

ENTERTAINMENT

St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church 1316 W. 5th St., (402) 3884814 Masses: Saturday, 5:30 p.m.; Sunday, 8:30 a.m.

Crofton Senior Citizen Center 1008 W 2nd St. (402) 388-2365

Trinity Lutheran Church Kansas & 3rd St., (402) 254-6606 Sunday School 10 a.m.

Sunday Service 11 a.m.

United Church of Christ 412 Main St., (402) 388-4124

Flippers Gymnastics 310 W Main (402) 640-1146 Lakeside Fun Rentals 1110 W 2nd St. (402) 388-4444

Corps of Discovery Welcome Center 89705 Hwy 81 (402) 677-6557

Crofton Journal 108 W Main (402) 388-4355 Municipal Swimming Pool 802 W 2nd St. (402) 388-4965 Eastern Township Library 206 W Main (402) 388-4915

Lakeview Golf Course 55356 Hwy 121 (402) 388-4552 Lewis & Clark Pulley Museum 105 W Main (402) 510-8845 Lewis & Clark State Recreation Area 54731 897 Rd. (402) 388-4169 Lewis & Clark Visitors Center 55245 Hwy 121 (402) 667-2546

Shannon Trail (402) 640-2147 Triple T Hunting (402) 388-4366 WJ Ranch 55659 W 892nd Rd., Fordyce (402) 357-2102 FOOD & DRINK Backroad Bar-B-Q 55698 898 Rd., St. Helena (402) 667-7262 CJ’s At The Lake 54882 897 Rd. (402) 388-4267 Dam Fish Shack 55310 Hwy 121 (402) 388-4140

Heating & Cooling Geothermal Plumbing Water Softeners

At Farmers Union Insurance you experience local service that makes a difference. As an independent agent, we work with a variety of insurance companies which means more options for you. We help you protect your assets and help save you money. We also believe it’s important to work with companies, which deliver outstanding claims service and support.

And if you have a question or concern, you have the peace of mind knowing you won’t have to deal with an automated voice menu or sit on-hold waiting for the next available operator. Instead, with Farmers Union Insurance you’ll be able to talk to a real person, someone who can help.

Koch-Tramp Plumbing & Heating, LLC Roger Koch - Mark Tramp

Call James Murphy

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203 E. Main P.O. Box 308 Hartington, NE 68739 402-254-3444 | 402-841-7829 ktph@hartel.net 301627

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HOME IMPROVEMENT

Sports Stop Bar 1108 W 2nd St. (402) 388-4418 Subway Corner of Hwy 12 & 121 (402) 388-2782 Wiebelhaus Recreation & Centennial Lanes 115 W Main (402) 388-4640 HEALTH Avera Sacred Heart Medical Clinic 203 W Main St., (402) 3882343 Crofton Family Dentistry 1103 W 2nd St. (402) 388-4388

Dam Handy Man 55005 897 Rd Lot #5 (402) 510-8845 Doyle Stevens Construction 89463 Hwy 81 (402) 388-2477

Kock-Tramp Plumbing & Heating (402) 254-3444 (402) 841-7829 TB&K Construction 89475 Hwy 81 (402) 980-4620 West-Hodson Lumber & Concrete 213 W Main (402) 388-4330

Hideaway Builders & Landscape Design 55075 897 Rd. (402) 388-2612

LODGING

Kevin’s Plumbing Service 89476 557 Ave., Fordyce (402) 357-2564

Cottonwood Villa 1301 1st St. (402) 388-4339 DSM Apartments Corner of 2nd & Wyoming (402) 316-6430 Land & Lake Realty 1120 W. 2nd St. (402) 388-4852 Marv Hegge Real Estate 502 W. Omaha, (402) 3882601

Argo Hotel 211 Kansas St. (402) 388-2400

JW Home Repair (605) 660-7971

REAL ESTATE

Lewis & Clark Lodge Corner of Hwy 12 & 121 (402) 388-2630

The Nest – Discovery Trails Ranch (402) 373-2200

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Shore to Shore Realty 54997 897 Rd. Lot 14 (402) 418-0402

Mountain Plains Agency Inc. Janice Schieffer- Agent

Call Toll Free 844-627-2777

Providing quality products & services by the experts in the field.

On 2nd St., one block South of the South City Park schiej1@nationwide.com

Farm • Home • Auto Commercial • Life

Energy for your home, business and farming needs.

• Propane - Contracts and Pricing To Fit Every Budget • Quality Cenex Lubricants • Bulk Oil Programs • Cenex Warranty Program • Cenex Gas and Diesel Delivery

211 W Main St., Crofton, NE 68730

402-388-4588

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Copyright Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company and Affiliated Companies. Nationwide Life Insurance Company. Home Office: Columbus, Ohio 43215- 2220, Nationwide, the Nationwide Framemark and On Your Side are federally registered service marks of Nationwide Mutual of Insurance Company. Not available in all states.

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CROFTON COMMUNITY GUIDE | PAGE 37

SHOPPING

INSURANCE

Jeanne’s Antiques 55296 Hwy 12 (402) 388-4631

Farmers Union Insurance (605) 664-2121

Jolene Steffen Gallery 55472 888 Rd. (402) 357-3740

Midwest Agency 1110 W 2nd St. (402) 388-2659

People’s Grocery & Floral 1105 W 2nd St. (402) 388-4329

Mountain Plains Agency 1411 W 2nd St. (402) 841-5787

Ponca Smoke Signals 210 W Harold St. (402) 388-4816

Town & Country Insurance 1201 W 2nd St. (402) 388-4772

Upper Missouri Trading Company 304 W Harold St. (402) 388-4844

MISC. SERVICES Arts Garbage Service (402) 644-8300

Cedar-Knox Public Power (402) 254-6291 Country Pride Cooperative 211 W Main (402) 388-4588 Farmers & Merchants State Bank 111 Kansas St. (402) 388-4344 Great Plains Communications (888) 343-8014 Green Valley Veterinary Services 55170 Knox Ave. (402) 388-4343

Keith Kube & Associates (402) 388-4511 NOHR Wortmann Engineering Yankton, SD (605) 665-1214 Signature Sewer Pumping 55116 891 Rd. (402) 388-4488 Schumacher Tree Stump Removal (402) 388-4487 Wintz Funeral Home (402) 254-6547 NOTE: This list was collected in 2017. Businesses listed in bold are advertisers in this guide. Visit www.Crofton-Nebraska.com for an updated business listing.

Hendrix Law 1104 W 2nd St. (402) 388-4363

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Available on E-Bay!

4 Septic Pumping 4 Septic Repair & Install 4 Portable Toilet Rental & Service 4 Sewer Cleaning 4 Drain Cleaning 55116 891 ROAD, CROFTON PAGE 38 | CROFTON COMMUNITY GUIDE

Keith Kube and Associates Management Consultants

Conservative Advocates for Agriculture and Business

Keith F. Kube Analyst - Author

54794 889 Road, Crofton, NE 68730-4066

keithkube@gmail.com www.KeithKube.com 402-388-4511 Contact for speaking engagements

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St. Rose of Lima

CATHOLIC CHURCH Heading

Mass Times: Saturday: Vigil 5:30 PM St. Rose Sunday: 8:30 AM St. Rose Wednesday: 8:15 AM St. Rose School Mass/ Exposition of the Eucharist Friday: 8:15 AM St. Rose School Mass Father Timothy Podraza, Pastor

1316 W. 5th St. Crofton, Nebraska 68730 402-388-4814 www.strosestandrew.com

Serving God – Serving Our Parish – Serving Our World PRESCHOOL: (2 morning session, 3 morning session, & 5 day afternoon Pre-K) GRADES 1-8: • Certified Teaching Staff Nine full-time teachers/ Full-time Principal.

• High quality education that meets and exceeds Nebraska State Standards and those of the Archdiocese of Omaha. We believe in instruction that goes above and beyond requirements.

Our students excel in high school and beyond, as honor students, in the classroom and on athletic fields.

• Religious formation is a hallmark of our school with daily religion education in the classroom, as well as opportunities for planning and participating in Mass, Eucharistic Adoration, Reconciliation, weekly Rosary service, prayer services each day.

• All new cutting edge technology including Apple TVs in each classroom, Mac books, & iPads • Our students carry out a full schedule in all seasonal sports, available through a cooperative agreement with Crofton Community Schools.

St. Rose of Lima

CATHOLIC SCHOOL

Principal, Mrs. Jennifer Fiscus 1302 W. 5th St. Crofton 402-388-4393 jdfiscus@schools.archomaha.org www.saintroseoflimaschoolcrofton.weebly.com CROFTON COMMUNITY GUIDE | PAGE 39

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Terry, Delores, Ryan, Amy & Erin

At TOWN and COUNTRY INSURANCE, we believe that INSURANCE is only as good as your AGENT! Auto • Annuities • Bonds • Crop • Commercial/ Contractors packages Disability Income • Errors and Omissions • Fire • Farm property and liability General Liability • Garage packages • Health • Homeowners • Long term care • Life Medicare supplements • Motorcycle • Municipalities • Notary Services • Personal watercraft (jet ski) Recreational Vehicles • School Districts • Truckers • Watercraft Licensed in NE, SD & IA

1201 W. 2nd Street • Crofton, Nebraska 68730 402-388-4772 800-535-3378 www.tcicrofton.com

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