I was born on the farm five miles southwest of Gandy. When my sister, who was several years older than I, taught school in Cherry County, I stayed with her and went to her school. She drove a two-wheeled cart and horse to school. I moved back to Gandy when I was sixteen which was in 1902. My father, W.T. Newkirk, ran boarding and rooming house for several years. It had six bedrooms and was almost always full. we took in those who had no home of their own. My half-sister, Eva McCain, did the cooking and I assisted her. We had to bake all of our own bread, pies and cakes. She also raised a big garden for fresh vegetables in the summer time but since there were no freezers or fresh vegetables to buy in the winter time, we had to depend on what we could can and for a boarding house that amounted to a lot. The William Fablingers now own this home. There were approximately 500 people living in Gandy at that time. My brother, Otis Newkirk and half-brother, Bill McCain had a store. So did Carl Mansfield. Dr. McLeay was the doctor and his brother, Walt McLeay ran the drugstore. E.R. Smith owned the bank and Ethel Kirby worked there. Dr. Hubbell was the dentist. Earl Hill, the lawyer, and his wife resided in Gandy. I worked in the telephone office and postoffice before I was married in 1 906 to Jess Lamb. Then we ran a store but moved the telephone office in there and I was still the operator. At that time we connected the call and then had a handle to ring the number. Jess was also a carpenter and helped build the Methodist Church. Mrs. Peterson, the banker's wife, taught me the art of painting dishes, etc. In turn, I taught others and even had my own kiln for firing. I have often wondered what became of it as I had to leave it behind when we moved. After traversing through many states I am now living in North Platte to be near my daughter and her family. I Still have many fond memories of my early years in Gandy and do so enjoy meeting old acquaintances.
