STOCKING PRECINCT

Wanahoo Park

Additional lots in Block 157 were purchased from Basil and Victoria Bryant. The Mayor at this time was E.E. Placek and councilmen were Dr. Frank Tornholm, J.B. Hines, G.W. Walter, W.J. Lehr, Elmer Risk and Ernest Hanson. In 1926, the grounds were improved with trees and shrubs. A skating pond was on the east part and a tennis court was built in 1928. Water and electric lights were installed in 1929 and seats and tables made. In 1932 the Wahoo Athletic Assn. donated and conveyed Block 158 to the City for a ball field. Lights were installed in 1937 and the field was renamed Sam Crawford Field in 1970.

   In 1936, a special election was held to vote on $21,000 bond issue to purchase Wanahoo Park but failed 323, yes and 502, no. Lots 5 and 6 in Block 156 were purchased in 1937 from James M. Campbell and this completed the City Park block. A bandstand was built with summer concerts performed by a community band.

   In June, 1946, a petition was submitted by the city's residents requesting a special election to vote on $35,000 bond issue to construct a new swimming pool. This vote carried 628, for and 170, against and bonds were issued. However, an agreement for a suitable site was not reached for several years. Consideration was again given to the swimming pool site at Wanahoo Park (by this time called Dance Island), and land to the west of West Ward School was purchased but there were objections to this site. The money from the bond issue was invested and by 1952 there was still no pool. Taxpayers again petitioned the Council to do something and suggested the City Park area. More land was acquired in the south half of Block 157 from Frank Hobza and Arthur H. and Esther Gerdts. A "T" type pool, 40' x 82' was chosen but by this time the cost was $43,566. An additional $5,000 bond had to be issued to pay for it. The pool was completed in time for the 1953 season. The first manager was Leslie Shepard, followed by James Sandstedt, Nelson Eberle, Wesley Shepard, Ron Keefe, Donald Kolterman, Douglas Peterson, Dennis Korinek and since 1968 Wayne Reeves.

   Cooks Park was acquired in 1944 from J.D. Cook. Placek Park was donated by E.E. Placek in 1959 with the stipulation that a girl scout house be erected on the site. Bel-Aire Park was part of the Bel-Aire Subdivision development by A.J. Vance. West Side Park was acquired in 1974 from Sapp Bros. Estates Subdivision through a State/Federal Matching Fund Grant along with new lighting for Crawford Field and park playground development. The tennis court at the college campus was purchased by the Wahoo Jaycees and transferred to the City in 1975. In 1982, an additional 4 acres was acquired from Sapp Bros. to the north of West Side Park and is not yet developed.

Wahoo City Park

   The old high school block at 310 North Linden was acquired in 1978 and developed into a Civic Center/Senior Center Complex and a Park and Recreation Board was created. Present members of this board are: Robert Laudenback, Peg Erickson, Max Foster, Ted Japp, Sandy Peters, Harry Falke, Gene Piper, Ken Christensen and Beverly Todd.

   Erecting a sign in memory of Dr. Smith is a 1983 project of the Wahoo Garden Club. Mrs. Roy Swanson came across a newspaper clipping about Dr. Smith and the park. Nothing had been done in the way of a sign, so Gladys Swanson and Mrs. Dwain Benson took the initiative for getting the project rolling. Dr. Smith was on the City Council in the 1920's. On October 27, 1939, action was taken at the council meeting to name the City Park after Dr. Smith as a memory for his dedication, time, and hard work for the city of Wahoo. The park dedication will be held in late spring of 1983.

Co-Op Elevator -- Wahoo

Sale Barn -- Wahoo

   On August 1, 1929, the J.C. Penney Company opened a store in Wahoo, Nebraska. It started out as a retail store and grew in size to acquire a catalog department in later years.

   It was first located where the Last Chance now is. In 1941, the second location was the lot where Charlotte's now stands. In 1960, the corner of 5th and Broadway became the new and present location. (The old Ferd Anderson Building.)

   Glen Hancock was the first manager from 1929-1960. Jean Heineman was the second manager from 1960-80. Karen L. Rathje is the present manager. Five full-time associates are Sharon Etherington (22 years service), Bernice Meese (21 years service), Lucille Albert (15 years service), Helen Sloup (7 years service), and Ruth Heiser (7 years service). Part-time is Doug Hedges.

   J.C. Penney Company has served the Wahoo Community for 54 years.

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   On December 21, 1964, Haven House opened its doors to those in the community who needed nursing care. There were 44 beds available. Mrs. Lorraine Syverson was appointed as administrator of the home with a staff of 24 persons.

   In December of 1967, an addition of 30 beds was built. Services at Haven House besides Nursing care are Social Services, Restorative Nursing, and an Activities Dept.

   There have been many people and organizations volunteering their services to our residents. The Staff is very proud of a plaque presented to us that reads, "A Home of Love."

Westview Apts.

   Westview Apartments, located at 1229 Hackberry in Wahoo, Nebraska, consists of 65 one-bedroom apartments designed for the elderly, disabled or handicapped. The complex is being operated under the Section 8 program of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, which provides a subsidy to the rent, commensurate with the individual's income.

   The ground on which Westview Apartments stands was purchased from Sapp Brothers, Inc. in April 1978. A formal Ground Breaking Ceremony was held May 18, 1978, and construction started immediately thereafter.

   Present at the ceremony was Ted M. Seldin, Executive Vice President of Seldin Development & Management Co., James Fauver, Mayor of Wahoo at that time, and Nate Ruben, Director of the Omaha office of the Department of Housing & Urban Development before his retirment in 1981, and John "Ford" Torrens, the first occupant of Westview Apartments.

   Seldin Development & Management Company was the general contractor and is responsible for the management of the complex. The Architect was Gary A. MacKenzie & Associates of Minneapolis, Minnesota.

   The building was completed and opened for occupancy on April 1, 1979. At the present time, there are 71 occupants. Elgin and Bettie Steinbach have been the managers at Westview Apartments since May 24, 1980.

   Armco Steel, Inc, of Wahoo got its start as Wahoo Culvert Company in 1905 when Thomas Hogarth and James O'Brien came from Wisconsin after purchasing a license agreement from William Q. O'Neill, Crawfordsville, Indiana, who owned patent rights on corrugated culverts. The Wahoo plant is now owned by Armco Steel, Inc. of Middletown, Ohio, one of the nation's largest steel companies and producers of various highway construction products.

   Wahoo was selected as the plant site by Hogarth and O'Brien because of its three railroads, good highways, near location to the cities, and a good labor market.

   Emil E. Placek purchased a controlling interest in the company in 1909 and changed the name to Nebraska Culvert and Manufacturing Company. At that time general sheet metal works and road machinery were added to the culvert line. Armco Steel, Inc. purchased controlling interest in 1936 and changed the name to Nebraska Culvert and Pipe Company. Then came World War II and the Wahoo plant was closed because steel was required for national defense. In 1942, the year when the facility suspended operation for three years, its name was again changed, this time to Armco Drainage and Metal Products, Inc.

Culverts of Armco Steel

   Armco Steel, Inc. is among the oldest industries in Wahoo going on its 78th year in business. Its first location was in Northeast Wahoo near the Union Pacific Railroad tracks. In the early days the riveting was done by hand, and the result was noise that could be heard for some distance. Now the plant on Sixth Street between Broadway and Chestnut is mechanized, with between 10 and 15 employees. The Armco plant distributes its products in Nebraska and several surrounding states.

   The Wahoo Hatchery started business in 1920. It was owned by Harold Lampert and Edward Borreson. The business was located on North Linden in the basement of the present Masonic Building.

   In 1923, the large brick building was constructed on Sixth and Linden Streets. Two large 52,000-capacity incubators were installed.

   In 1934, Mr. Lampert started a hatchery in Fremont, Nebraska and sold his partnership to Mr. Borreson. He then became the sole owner of the Wahoo Hatchery. At that time eight 20,000-capacity incubators were constructed and installed in the basement and a large 52,000-capacity incubator was installed on the main floor. About 40,000 chicks were hatched twice a week. The incubator had to be watched very carefully as the eggs had to be turned every seven hours and the temperature had to be maintained at 99 degrees and moisture at 74 degrees.

   Customers came after their baby chicks on Tuesdays and Fridays. Sometimes if the weather was bad and the customers could not come after their chicks, the hatchery would start the chicks for them. A large chick room where the chicks were started was connected to the hatchery's main building. Many farmers preferred having their chicks started for two weeks before taking them home. This was done often for customers wishing to have their chicks started off to a healthy life.

   The hatchery season usually started in January and continued until June 1st. Sometimes the season was extended if the demand for chicks increased.

Wahoo Hatchery

   The hatching eggs were supplied by farmers who were flock owners, and used the hatchery program for bloodtesting and culling. The bloodtesting controlled the disease of white diarrhea. All the reactors were removed from the flock and by this method the hatchery could guarantee 98% livability. Each bird approved was banded, this was the approved stained antgen method. Each flock owner that supplied eggs to the hatchery was paid 12 to 15 cents a dozen above market price. There were about 150 flock owners who supplied eggs and it was profitable to them as the hatchery demanded many eggs to keep the incubators filled and the orders for chicks supplied on dates ordered.

   Many breeds of chickens were hatched. Some were White Leghorns, White Rocks, Barred Rocks, Buff Orphingtons, Rhode Island Reds and Black Austerlorpes. The flock owners could choose which breed of chickens they wanted to raise as all breeds were needed. Most all of these breeds were tested and proved for vitality and strains were noted for high egg yields.

   The large hatchery farm was located right across the street north of Luther College. Three large laying houses were located there. 300 white Leghorn hens were housed in each house. These were Leghorns used for breeding purposes and produced grade AAA chicks. During the summer months the eggs were sold to the Gland-o-Lac Company in Omaha, Nebraska where they used the eggs to make vaccines of all kinds. Some of the eggs were candled and sold to egg customers.

   The hatchery also sold feed, seed, poultry supplies, and remedies. Also feed was milled and made for the Leghorns at the poultry farm. Farm seeds were cleaned. Farmers brought their Red Clover, Alfalfa and Brome Seed to be cleaned. This was done for them and they were charged accordingly.

   Many baby chicks were sent by mail to Crofton, Plainview, Grand Island, Hartington and South Dakota. 100% live delivery was guaranteed by the hatchery.

   The hatchery was certainly a thriving business because of the war. There was meat rationing and everyone raised a few chickens in their back yards to help with the meat shortage.

   During the hatching season 12 employees were hired, and during the summer months about 5 employees were kept working. Morris Miller worked there for about 25 years. He did all the bloodtesting and vaccinating, and during the hatching season he operated the incubators and sorted baby chicks. His wife, Edith Miller, worked there 10 years in the office as bookkeeper-secretary.

   In 1952, Mr. Borreson died very suddenly and the hatchery continued to operate for 2 or 3 more years. The business was liquidated and the building was sold and torn down. In its place now stands the Cuda Gas Station. by Edith Miller

   James J. Svoboda, center, along with his father and grandfather, was cited at the Nebraska Funeral Directors Association Convention in May, 1968, for becoming the third-generation member in his family to become a funeral director. James, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Milo E. Svoboda of Wahoo, is a member of the firm of Svoboda Funeral Home. He is a graduate of Dallas Institute of Mortuary Science, Dallas, Texas. The other two members of the three-generation funeral directors are Jim's grandfather, James P. Svoboda, and his father, Milo E. Svoboda.

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