2005 Highlights

The CRETE BICENTENNIAL SOCIETY, INC.

dba The Crete Heritage Society

JANUARY & February

Winter months were quiet at the Benne Memorial Museum, Jesse Bickle House, and District #1 Star School. No special classes or events were held, and the January and February meetings were cancelled due to bad weather. Initial plans were made for a vintage apron exhibit to open in June. Doane College junior Christina Hall began an internship in February that included work on the Society’s photo collection. Photos stored in the Bickle House in less than ideal conditions were moved to the museum building where Christina sorted and filed them by subject.

MARCH

On March 22, the Saline County Democrats held a meeting at the museum.

APRIL

A clean-up day was held April 23 at the Bickle house and grounds. Thorough cleaning took place in the first floor of the house, and the flower beds around the house were weeded by Society members.

MAY

On May 2, the Crete Public Schools’ fourth grade classes held an Arbor Day program and tree planting activity on the museum lawn. Participants included Bicentennial Society members Evelyna Burianek and Janet Jeffries Beauvais, and Eric Stehlik from the Saline County Extension Office. Students planted a redbud tree east of the museum building.

The annual Crete Public Schools/St. James Catholic School fourth grade Pioneer Day was held all day Friday, May 6. Rural school district #18 also participated. More than 125 fourth graders spent time in various hands-on pioneer history stations in the Jesse C. Bickle House and Barn, on the Bickle house lawn, and in the Benne Memorial Museum. The stenciling activity that had been held in the District #1 Star School was moved to the museum building due to the school’s restoration.

On May 10, teacher Mike Coe brought four Crete High School biology classes to work along with Society members on the Bickle farmstead grounds, a designated Nebraska State Arboretum Site. The students and Society members cleaned out unsightly trees, weeded and mulched flower beds, and replanted small peach trees in the orchard.

On May 16, Crete Public Schools’ enrichment teacher Barbara Kuzma brought several of her students to the museum for Notable Nebraskans Day. Two “theatre” settings, one in the meeting room and one in the gallery, were created for the Chautauqua-like student presentations. Each student presented twice, once in each setting, before audiences containing approximately 50 people each. Spectators included parents, other students, and townspeople.

The Society voted to use “The Crete Heritage Society” as the working name of the group to avoid confusion in the press caused by the “Bicentennial” term.

JUNE

The Vintage Apron Exhibit opened June 25 in conjunction with Crete’s Blue River Festival. More than 200 aprons of all

sizes, types, and ages filled the gallery. The exhibit also included pot holders and sewing notions. Jan Stehlik of Dorchester

and Francy Scheele of Lincoln provided the core collection; however, many Crete residents also participated. In addition to regular open hours, one special group tour of the apron exhibit and the entire complex, was held this month. The Lincoln

Journal Star newspaper ran a large feature story on the exhibit.

Progress was made on the acquisition of permanent furniture for the gallery and other areas of the museum. A bookshelf once used in Doane’s Whitin Library was renovated by local carpenter Keith Nicholson for use in the museum’s library, and an oak exhibit case donated by Ted Beauvais was refurbished by Society member Scott Kuncl in time for use in the apron exhibit.

JULY

Thirty-nine ladies enjoyed a formal tea party at the museum on Sunday, July 10 that was hosted by the Society in conjunction with the apron exhibit. The tea and program on the culture of tea was presented by Doane College instructor and tea enthusiast Tere Francis of Wilber. Guests were encouraged to wear their favorite aprons and bring a favorite tea cup to use during the afternoon.

Members of the Welsch family met at the Benne Memorial Museum on July 17 for a reunion luncheon and tour of the complex.

On Thursday evening, July 27, Marilyn Clark of Fremont presented a humorous and informative program, “The Aprons of My Life” to an audience of 51 people. The program included information about the uses and styles of aprons and a variety of apron lore. Guests were encouraged to wear aprons, and Marilyn also chose people from the audience to model some of her aprons.

The family of the late Herman and Esther Svara, longtime Bicentennial Society members, initiated a wonderful family project to benefit the Society in memory of their parents and grandparents. Since several family members are professional builders and restoration carpenters, they volunteered to restore the Bickle House porch according to an original 1880s photograph. This was a very important project that made a significant impact on the house’s appearance. Led by grandson and carpenter Kevin Svara of North Carolina who made a pre-July visit to set the stage for the project, the majority of the work took place between July 27 and 30. Three generations of Svaras from all over the country participated in the effort. During this time, the family members also held their biennial reunion in Lincoln. Minor porch finishing, including painting, was left to Society members.

The Vintage Apron Exhibit continued with 24 open hours this month and four special group tours.

AUGUST

A set of steel bleachers that seat 60 people was purchased by the Society for use during outdoor events. LTR Towing Company owner, Randy Korbelik, Lincoln, and Wilber farmer Galen Beck donated time and equipment to deliver the bleachers from Centerville to the Bickle house grounds.

The Vintage Apron Exhibit continued with 18 open hours this month and three special group tours.

SEPTEMBER

The Vintage Apron Exhibit continued with three open hours this month and three special group tours. One organization used the meeting room.

OCTOBER

The Vintage Apron Exhibit was held over this month to accommodate a special tour group on October 12. The exhibit was removed October 19 after being viewed by 506 people.

Member Tom King began work on a web site for the Society. The internet address is www.creteheritage.org.

NOVEMBER

Preparation began for the Celebrating Santa Claus exhibit scheduled to open December 3.

Mel and Mary Krupicka of Crete donated two large oak display cases that were retrofitted by Scott Kuncl for use in the Santa exhibit. The Society purchased an oak display case in near perfect condition that was also put into immediate use.

DECEMBER

A third annual holiday open house was held December 3 and 4 to launch the Celebrating Santa Claus exhibit. The Santa Claus exhibit featured more than 250 Santas and Santa items, and showcased Wilber resident Gwen Anthony’s collection of nearly 150 Santas. Exhibitors from Crete, Wilber, Lincoln, and Friend provided about 100 additional Santas. Crete fourth grade classes, under the direction of their teachers and Society members Debbie Prokop and Larry Shestak, made pioneer ornaments and cut-outs for District #1 Star School. A hand-cut cedar Christmas tree was featured. On December 4, Judy Myers of Omaha presented “The History of Santa Claus” to 25 guests. The District #1 Star School was open that day, and a bake sale and gift raffle was held in the museum to generate money for the exhibit fund. Two local organizations held their Christmas dinner parties in the meeting room in December, and two special group tours were held. The museum was open three December weekends for a total of 24 hours for regular visitors. Two hundred and two people viewed the exhibit in December. Celebrating Santa Claus will run until January 30, 2006.

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SUMMARY

Approximately 1,188 people visited the Crete Heritage Society Complex during 2005 for tours and historical activities. The meeting room was rented five times by outside organizations, and 11 special group tours were conducted.

LOOKING AHEAD TO 2006

Plans for 2006 include a spring tea party in April, and the annual Crete Public Schools Pioneer Day and other educational activities in April and May. A model train exhibit is scheduled to open in June and run through the summer months. In September, the National Rope Makers Association will hold their annual convention on the Bickle farmstead, and a Fiber Arts Festival is planned in conjunction with this event. A Raggedy Ann and Andy exhibit will open in the museum in late fall, and will run through the holidays and winter months.

The Crete Heritage Society, Inc. ● PO Box 304, 800 West 13^th Street ● Crete, Nebraska 68333-0304 • (402) 826-5050