WELCOME to the Events Calendar
of the Ashland Historical Society
Saline Ford Historical Preservation Society in Ashland NE
MEMBERS & FRIENDS OF AHS - SFHPS
AHS - SFHPS MEETING SCHEDULE:
Quarterly meetings are held - please watch here
for the next scheuled meeting, location and time
The APRIL 2012 MEETING of the AHS-SFHPS
Our quarterly meeting of the Ashland Historical Society
will be held on a date to be announced here soon ;
Our first-quarter-meeting was Sunday, JANUARY 8th, 2012
at First Christian Church - Fellowship Hall - 17th & Boyd
(Fellowship Hall is in the lower lvel & handicap-accessible
at the rear/north side entrance, in the "Education Building)
Our meeting was held @ 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm
We want to thank the MANY members & guests
who attended out JAN meeting! GREAT attendance ! !
We look forward to seeing YOU in APRIL 2012 ! !
RECAP of OCTOBER 6th 2011 meeting:
ASHLAND – In 2005 Paul Johnson gave the late Lillian Bailey a coin that he had found in his junk drawer at home. He knew she would like it.
It was about the size of a silver dollar, but it was not a silver dollar.
On one side is says “S.L. Sears. Ashland, Nebraska.” On the other side is says ”Good for $1.00 in Merchandise.”
Johnson was right. Bailey loved the coin and knew exactly what it was. It was a “coupon” for the Seabury Sears General Merchandise Store, which was located at 1435 Silver where the NAPA store is now. You can see this coin and the article Bailey wrote about it at the next
Ashland Historical Society meeting on Oct. 6 at 7 p.m. at Willow Point Gallery in Ashland.
Those who attend will also have the opportunity to bring their own mementos of Ashland’s past. Perhaps you have an old photo of a well known person or building or event in Ashland’s history. Maybe it is an old playbill from the Sears Opera House, which was located on the second floor above Seabury Sears’ store.
Or perhaps you have a collection of old Ashland telephone books.
Only you know what you have stored somewhere in your house that people who are interested
in history would like to see. THANK YOU for your contributions to our Oct. 6 meeting for show and tell.
See the RECAP of this meeting & others;
on our new AHS Quarterly Meeting Recap page
Our SPRING 2012 NEWSLETTER is in production; We will be announcing availablity & e-mailng it to our registered e-mail list
The SPRING 2011 AHS NEWSLETTER was sent, 23MAR,
LINOMA BEACH restoration
a special web page, including the history of this site
DATELINE JUNE 2011
Linoma Beach is OPEN !
See their new website & Facebook page
MUCH more will be added to
the 'Linoma Beach page' soon !
SAVE THE BEETISON HOUSE
a specal web page, pictures & stories from the past
and the start of the restoration project / fund
The AHS MUSEUM ! !
a dream soon to be realized!
more details on "About Us" page
Tax deductible SUPPORT of the AHS-SFHPS can be made ! Make checks to Ashland Area Foundation
- please 'memo' your donation check for AHS
address: Ashland Area Foundation
1442 Silver Street - Ashland NE 68003
JOIN US ^ ^ as a "FRIEND" of ^ ^ Ashland Historical Society
CLAY returns to his 'hometown' of ASHLAND NE
Clay was kind enough to send a 'thank YOU' e-mail to
click above ^ ^ ^ to see Clay's email message
We invite you to see & learn more about Clay's "adventures in space" ? ?
see Clay's special page with photos, stories and daily logs
from Clay's space travel and 5 month stay
on the International Space Station in 2007
LINK > > Clay Anderson Astronaut
Clay awaits his introduction, with Ashland Artist Gene Roncka & his wife Mary
to present the Towers Of History Ornament, that Clay took on STS-131 - Discovery
The community of Ashland, together with guests from Omaha, Lincoln, Fremont
and other NE communities, as well as from as far away as FL, gathered to
'greet and meet' Clay again, for his official presentation of the Towers of History
ornament, that Clay took with him on the STS-131 Mission on April 5th of 2010
Clay presented the Towers of History ornament to Mayor Paul Lienke and the
City of Ashland. The Towers of History is a project that will showcase local
history by the non-profit Ashland Area Foundation, a 501 (c) 3 corporation
The first ornament, pictured above, is the first in a series produced by local artist
Gene Roncka of Willow Point Gallery, with proceeds directed to the project.
See the recent Ashland Gazette article by Suzi Nelson, announcing the event
Scroll down to see Suzi's article
The second ornament is NOW available **
Clay approved the design, while on his STS-131 Mission
** The second ornament is NOW AVAILABLE !
the 1st ornament is also available at Willow Point Gallery
ASHLAND – An ornament created by a local artist, Gene Roncka, depicting the
historic career of a local hero will return to Ashland after a trip to space.
Astronaut Clay Anderson, a native of Ashland, will present the ornament to the community during a special ceremony on Friday, June 18 at Willow Point Gallery in downtown Ashland. The public is invited to attend.
The event is also a fundraiser for the Towers of History, a project that will showcase local history. Dignitaries including Gov. Dave Heineman and First Lady Sally Ganem have been invited to attend.
The ornament was designed by artist Gene Roncka, owner and artist in residence at Willow Point Gallery.
It is the first of a series of ornaments that combine contemporary events and local history in a 24-karat gold over mirrored brass ornament. Roncka created the ornament to salute the pioneers who traveled the Oxbow Trail
across the Saline Ford in Ashland as well as Anderson, who pioneered space travel in Nebraska by being the
first person from the state, as well as the city, to fly into space.
Last winter, while Anderson was preparing to go up on his second space mission, he contacted the
City of Ashland, requesting a special item to take with him to space.
The city purchased the Roncka ornament and gave it to Anderson.
Now, he will present it back to Mayor Paul Lienke during the ceremony, which begins at 6 p.m.
Ironically, Anderson approved the design of the second ornament while in space.
Last April, Anderson and the STS-131 crew spent 15 days in space. They flew on the shuttle
Discovery to the International Space Station, where Anderson performed three spacewalks.
During his mission, Roncka sent a sketch of the new ornament to Anderson via email.
“I thought it was cool and I said, ‘Go for it!’” Anderson said after returning from the mission on April 19.
The second ornament shows Anderson during his spacewalk. The astronaut hangs in the middle of the ornament, and can twist and turn to add a three-dimensional effect. Again, a historical scene graces the ornament, to bring past and present together. The new ornament will be on sale in late August or early September.
Roncka has done the same thing with the Towers of History, a project he has spearheaded since 1997. Roncka hopes to build a tourist attraction along Salt Creek that pays homage to the history of the community.
The Towers of History will consist of four elaborate concrete pillars topped with sculptures created by Roncka.
Each sculpture will depict a chapter in Ashland’s history.
The first tower will feature Anderson’s accomplishments. It shows Anderson in his signature white space suit
used for the six spacewalks he took during his career. The shuttle will also be included.
Anderson also approved the sculpture design, adding his input and requesting that the International Space Station also be included, since it was such a big part of his career. He spent 152 days there in 2007.
“Clay made a couple of little changes that I thought were dynamite,” said Roncka.
Roncka said he hopes work on the first tower will begin next spring. He said it will take him a couple of months to create the sculpture. In the meantime, dirt work and grading can be done, and the pathways started.
“I would look at next year as that happening,” he said.
That will depend on funding, however. The entire Towers of History project is funded by donations to the Ashland Area Foundation and sales of the historical ornaments.
The other three towers will depict other eras of Ashland’s history, including the pioneers crossing the Saline Ford. They will be erected as funding is secured.
“The whole thing behind all this is the creation of the monument, which will bring attention to Ashland and be there long after we’re involved,” said Roncka.
In addition to the ornament, Anderson took several items in space on his last mission, including a College World Series baseball and cap. He will throw that ball out at the opening game of the College World Series on June 19.
Anderson also took flags from his alma mater, Hastings College and Iowa State University, a Nebraska Press Association necktie, t-shirt from Children’s Hospital, USS Nebraska submarine patch and cap, and photos and personal items for friends. The article above, was written by Suzi Nelson and reprinted from The Ashland Gazette;
- 10JUN2010 edition - with grateful appreciation and acknowledgement. (empahsis added)
Photos courtesy of NASA
2011 Ashland Stir-Up Days are announced ! JULY 22 - 23 - 24 2011
A carnival theme has been chosen for this year's Stir-Up !
" Step Right Up to Stir-Up "
Below, are some pic's 2010 Stir-Up Days
Claude Hurst & Elsie Martin, 2010 King & Queen of Stir - Up Days
Coronation of the 2010 Royalty - right, 2009 & 2010 Royalty together
2010 Ashland Stir - Up Days GRAND PARADE pictures
King Claude & Queen Elsie in the Grand Parade 2010
Bill Sapp and his Red "M" in the Grand Parade
featured on the JUL 2010 cover of Discover Magazine
click above ^ ^ for full calendar
The annual Ashland Arts Council Art Show
at Historic Saint Stephens returned again in 2010
NOTE - See more photos of the GRAND PARADE
AHS - SFHPS MEETINGS SCHEDULE:
Quarterly meetings are held - please watch here
for the next scheuled meeting, location and time
WATCH HERE FOR POSTINGS OF THE SUMMER 2011 MEETING
AHS - SFHPS MEMBERSHIP & DUES SCHEDULE:
Ashland Historical Society - Saline Ford Historical Preservation Society
Ashland NE 68003
2011 Officers and Directors are:
Co - Presidents: Marti Fritzen & Marilyn (Dean) Rush
Vice President: Peg Lutton
Secretary: Judy Hull
Treasurer: Marilyn (Kolb) Wright
Directors: Jerry Froistad, Shirley Hemke, Geri Lemon, Pat Proctor
MEMBERSHIP is available to all interested in Ashland NE History:
As a member of AHS - SFHPS, you will remain on the newsletter mailing list
and you will be on the calling committee's list for special events.
Your dues will go toward supporting the Society's objectives.
Dues are for the fiscal year of October through September each year.
Ashland Historical Society
Saline Ford Historical Preservation Society
(Renewal / Annual Dues - October 1st each year):
Patron $75 Family $35 Single $20 Other $_____ We have provided a membership category
entitled "Other" for those who may wish to make a
contribution 'above & beyond' those listed above.
Payable at our meeting(s) OR:
Mail to: Marilyn (Kolb) Wright
26259 West Park Highway
Ashland NE 68003
Thank You for your support - financial, contribution of articles, pictures and history -
as we now share the "living history" of Ashland NE to Members and the world !
Tax deductible SUPPORT of the AHS-SFHPS can be made ! Make checks to Ashland Area Foundation
- please memo your donation check for AHS
address: Ashland Area Foundation
1442 Silver Street - Ashland NE 68003
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