The Crete Heritage Society
800 West
13th Street, Crete, Nebraska
Society
Overview
The Crete Heritage Society. was created in 1975 as The Crete Bicentennial Society, Inc. to choose and sponsor a project in celebration of the nationÕs 1976 bicentennial anniversary. The group decided to purchase and preserve a 17-acre tract near Tuxedo Park in northwest Crete that was once part of Crete founder Jesse C. BickleÕs original 80-acre homestead. Part of the town of Crete is platted on this homestead, and the townÕs first post office was located in BickleÕs 1864 log cabin. This original log cabin is part of the 1870s frame Carpenter Gothic house, still extant on the property. After many years of fund-raising activities, the organization paid off the $38,000 mortgage, and the property has been renovated and is well maintained. It is also listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Known commonly for many years as ÒThe Maples,Ó the name of longtime owner M.O. SmithÕs meat market, the property has also been designated a Nebraska State Arboretum site. Today, students of all ages, and also adults, participate in heritage activities at the facility each year.
The Bickle farmstead, located on the northeastern portion of the acreage, includes the house, an early 20th century barn, and small outbuildings. Also located on the property are Saline County District #1 Star School, renovated in 2004 in ca. 1910 style, and the Benne Memorial Museum.
The Heritage Society annually sponsors several activities, including picnics, special exhibits, quilt shows, and particularly pioneer living classes in conjunction with the Crete Public Schools. One of the largest events held on the property is the award winning fourth grade Pioneer Day held each May. On this day, more than 125 students and their teachers from Crete Elementary School, St. James Catholic School, and one area class I school dress as pioneers and spend the day rotating between several hands-on history stations manned by Heritage Society members and community volunteers. Stations include quilting, leather working, frontier survival, candle and soap making, and more. The students also clean up using a wash basin, eat picnic lunches, play historic games on the green near the house, and walk the nature trails. Eighth graders also have annual heritage activities on the grounds, and other grade levels participate in Arbor Day activities here. The Society has also worked with community organizations to produce one-time special history-related events.
Over
The
Benne Memorial Museum
The Benne Memorial Museum, named for long-time members Arthur, Cleo, and Myrtle Benne, was completed in June, 2003 with a bequest from their estate. It houses an exhibit hall, office, library/archives, workshop, artifact storage space, kitchen, and a public meeting room that is available to other civic groups as the SocietyÕs schedule permits. The museum is the site of heritage education events, lectures and workshops, and special exhibits interpreting CreteÕs history. The new building allows expanded options in heritage education, and serves as the administrative headquarters of the 17-acre ÒMaplesÓ campus. Doane College students use the new facility as a laboratory museum during applied history and museum studies classes, and also as an internship site. Although the building is in use, permanent exhibit construction will happen over time.
Future
Plans for the Society
Goals of The Crete Heritage Society are to complete furnishing and equipping the offices and workshop in the museum, hold a membership drive, fund-raise for exhibit preparation monies, build several permanent exhibits, improve signage in the Bickle House, and continue to enhance heritage education activities for all grade levels. Long range plans call for growing an endowment fund large enough to support a full time curator and later, additional staff members. At this time all activities are staffed on a volunteer basis.
Founders of the original Crete Bicentennial Society, including the visionary and energetic Arthur Benne and his two sisters, took on a very major and significant project 30 years ago. Since that time, the members have worked hard, and have been successful in carrying out the SocietyÕs mission of preserving and caring for the Jesse C. Bickle farmstead and grounds, and hosting history-related events. Over the years, many civic organizations have also been involved with this program, dubbed the most ambitious community project in the state by the Nebraska Bicentennial Commission when launched in 1975. The Society is now on a new threshold, and is moving to the next level in museum and applied history management, thanks to the generous Benne family bequest for the building. The new museum allows The Crete Heritage Society, Inc. to better serve the city of Crete and surrounding area, through increased public programming in local history and culture.
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Crete
Heritage Society, PO Box 304, Crete, Nebraska 68333
(402)
826-5050 or (402) 826-5270
www.creteheritage.org