NIOBRARA COUNTY – The second community history presentation with celebrating America’s 250th Anniversary and Explore Niobrara was held in Node on October 5.
Niobrara residents came to not only celebrate a “Day in the life of Node,” but to also hear from those who have lived or still live in the Node community. The celebration was held in the Node school house and drew well over 50 people. Memories were shared by those in attendance. Events that occurred long ago in the small town of Node were shared. Although Node has only been in existence for a decade, those who have lived in the surrounding community remember well a time when life was very different in the town. Presenters displayed photos and antiques. Local historically themed books and calendars were sold. Refreshments were also provided.
The community of Node was built around the Node Ranch in 1910. The small town grew with two restaurants, a school, a Lutheran and Congrega- tional Church, a blacksmith shop, two hardware stores, a pool hall, a real-es- tate agency, a lumber yard and a stock yard. Homesteaders came to the Node area during the late 1800’s and early 19th century.
Node Ranch was eventually purchased by Frank Lusk, founder of Lusk. Then, the Node Ranch traded hands once more, landing the hands of Thomas Bell in 1894. There was a significant tornado in 1915, which destroyed both homes and lives in the community. Although the small community began to experience a demographic decline, several ranching families remained to this very day. Their descendants continue the ranching tradition.
The Node Homemakers Club was established in 1918. It met at the Node school house to knit and sew items for the Red Cross. The Node Homemakers held their meeting with a carryin meal. Afterwards, the men would play cards or horseshoes while the children would play outside. Simultaneously, the women would hold their meeting. These meetings could be considered more of a community-wide affair than just an isolated event meant for a narrow demographic. This very distant and radically different world was the object of festivities during the October 5.
The presentation began with Jimmy Shane, who shared the history of Node and his own memories of attending the local school.
“I’d like to welcome everyone,” Shane said. “We didn’t know if we’d have 50 or 100 people. I am glad you are here.”
In 1886, a post office was established in Node. Prior to this development, outgoing mail would be hung on a pole. As trains traveled by, a postmaster would reach out and snatch the bag off the pole. Many times, incoming mail was thrown on the ground as the train moved along. The Node Post Office was vandalized three times over the years. During these unfortunate episodes, a plaque was stolen, and doors were actually removed from the building. The Node Post Office was closed in 2000, and the original post office boxes were donated to the Stagecoach Museum. A year later, a package containing the stolen items was left at the Lusk Post Office.
In 1938, a national air mail week was held. Every post office in the United States had their mail delivered by plane for one day. Niobrara County had the most mail delivered per capita in the United States.
Bell, one of the aforementioned owners of the Node Ranch, was born in Canada in 1863. He came to the United States at the age of 15. Bell worked on several ranches and eventually pur- chased land in Lance Creek. He organized the Buck Creek Oil Company and controlled thousands of acres of oil fields. Bell was also a participant in the 1884 cattle roundup.
“Bell was one of the most picturesque and highly respected members of the state,” Shane said. “He was elected to the Legislature in 1905 and was the first chairman of Niobrara County commissioners in 1911. Bell was also mayor of Lusk in 1912.”
The Node School District #5 was es- tablished with a dozen schools at the time. The schoolhouse was built in 1914 and, at one time, boasted over 60 students. The school term ran from March to November. This was imple- mented to accommodate the winter months. A well was situated next to the school. Each student had a tin cup they would use to withdraw and consume water from the well. There was no electricity or running water. There were two outhouses, one for the girls and one for the boys. The schoolhouse is still used for church services and occasional weddings.
“For a field day, we would ride the train to Lusk and visit the courthouse, the library and the jail,” Shane said. “Then, we’d visit the creamery and have an ice cream cone and then ride the train back to Node.”
Other speakers included Nyonne Perry, Pat Bruch, Kevin Baars, Ronda Pfister, Georgia Schultz and Donna Peterson.
Perry shared her family history in relation to Node. Perry talked about the Paisly family, which came from Ireland to Node as homesteaders. Carlton Paisly was a veterinarian and surgeon in Lusk. Later, he moved to Iowa. Alfa Donald Paisely and his wife Elsie homesteaded near the divide by Kirtley. In 1924, Paisley purchased a ranch.
Perry’s grandmother, Elsie, was one of the coffee makers that frequented the Node Homemakers meetings. Elsie was also one of the club’s charter members.
“Because of the numerous windstorms and tornados, Don and Elsie dug a root cellar close to the house and it was used as a storage for food and, in addition, as a weather [shelter],” said Perry. “When a severe storm cloud threatened to arrive, my grandmother would tell the children that it was time to go sprout potatoes. Busy hands kept the children quiet.”
Kevin Baars’ grandfather, Fred Baars, homesteaded near Node in 1911. Kevin and his wife, Denise, still own and operate a family ranch today. Kevin spoke about how his grandfather was in search of good water and found it in Niobrara County. Kevin’s father, Henry, was the last child to be born.
“My dad told me that, when the midwife was there to help deliver him, his grandpa had to sleep in the granary because there was no room in the little house,” Kevin said.
The original Baars home had a rock foundation and a boxcar roof. According to Kevin’s sister, his dad tore the house down because his chil- dren liked to play in it. Kevin’s fa- ther was worried the children would get hurt. The foundation of the old home is still on the Baars’ ranch. The original long shed that serves the dual purposes of cattle housing and chicken coop is still in use today. All of the Baars’ children attended the Node school. Kevin told the crowd his dad was the first on and last off the school bus to Node. It was Henry’s job to open and close all of the gates going to and from school. There was a total of 22 gates. According to Kevin, the Baars family spoke and wrote in German.
“It is a blessing to live here and work the land that my grandpa had come to 114 years ago,” said Kevin. “I would hope that they would be honored that we are still doing what they did after all this time.”
Carl Bruch, a rancher near Node, was known for only having an eighth- grade education. However, he was considered a genius. Pat Bruch spoke of how Carl would tinker and build things in his workshop. Carl built a drill, which he used to make the well for the Node Schoolhouse. Pat Bruch’s son, Brian, will be taking over their ranch and continuing the Bruch fam- ily legacy.
One event that significantly impact- ed the families of Node was the torna- do in 1915. One little girl sustained a broken her leg during the tornado. A cowboy rode to Lusk to fetch the doctor for her. Unfortunately, the doctor was not in Lusk at the time. Instead, the cowboy brought the veterinarian. This return trip to Node necessitated breaking into the railroad shed, where the cowboy found a small box car with a pumper. The cowboy and veterinarian traveled back to Node not on horseback, but on rails. The veterinarian was Carlton Paisly, one of Perry’s family members. He set the little girl’s leg and Schultz’s family members watched over her as she recovered. Later, she was taken to Douglas where another doctor complimented Paisly for the job he did setting the little girl’s leg.
The “Day in a life in Node” has been added to the Explore Niobrara Facebook page, where one can watch all of the presentations. The presentations can also be viewed on the Niobrara County Library YouTube channel.
This will be the second community history presentation presented by Explore Niobrara –Celebrating America’s 250th Anniversary
