A Journey into the Past - Aunt Marge

Forty-five years ago I was a happy farm wife with a part-time dream job..."Society Editor" for the Wahoo newspaper. My job was to make any necessary corrections in spelling or grammar in the news items sent in from 'reporters' (local women) in each town in Saunders County. Then I chose a 'lead story' from those items and wrote a headline for each column.
But circumstances decreed that I must leave my dream job and go into the business world at Western Electric Co. And I told myself that some day I would visit each of those communities that I had come to feel such a part of. Well, the years went by and I didn't do the visits, but one day I mentioned to son John what I had always wanted to do. And John said, "we will do that! The time came Sunday, October 25th. We had hoped for a bright sunny day, but it was dark and chilly. 'Oh well...it's going to be interesting anyway." And it was. I am including population numbers from a Year 2000 road map which, of course, is 9 years old...but that gives you an idea of the size of each town.

We left at 1pm via the interestate to the Mahoney State Park exit and took the back road to Ashland, (pop. 2262). Went west from Ashland to Ceresco (pop. 920), and from Ceresco west to Valparaiso (pop. 563).

North to Touhy (no pop. lisited!). John took the picture of the tavern and told me that he would say he had to drag Mom out of the tavern so that she could admire the big beautiful Catholic church that overlooks the tiny town.

From there we went north to Highway 92, and on into Butler County until we came to a sign that pointed north to Bruno and Abie. We took a gravel road to Bruno (pop. 112) and Abie (pop. 108).We backtracked 5 miles, then went 7 miles east to Prague (pop. 346). From there we went north to Morse Bluff (pop. 134). Then east on a gravel road parallel to the river to Cedar Bluffs (pop. 615).

Now we turned south, to Colon (pop. 138).

We continued south and turned west on gravel to Malmo (pop. 109). We continued south to Highway 92 and headed east to Wahoo, the County seat.

But before we reached Wahoo, we came to the Starlite Ballroom. Boy! something was going on here! Hundreds of cars crowded the grounds with license plates from as far away as New York...honest! And from California and Texas, etc., etc. The signs on the Ballroom told us it was hosting the Big Joe's TV Polka Fest.

We continued on our way, coming to Wahoo (pop. 3,942). John said he was going to take my picture in front of the Wahoo Newspaper office...and here it is. I said I would treat him to a bite at the Wigwam Cafe, but, alas, it was closed. So we settled for the Dairy Queen and we refreshed ourselves (John's treat) for a last leg of our journey.

Now we were in home territory and reached Yutan (pop. 1,216). But look! someone has updated the population sign which now reads 1,218. 
We went north from Yutan to Leshara (111) and turned east. We crossed the Platte River and we were in Douglas County, almost home.

No, the sun didn't shine, but the open road for my chauffeur and guide made it a happy day for me.

NOTE from Sue...I've been struggling with this all afternoon, and the pictures just don't seem to want to land where I want to put them!! So, enjoy the story...You all know the sequence the pictures should be in anyway!.... Be sure to click on the picture of Marge standing near the newspaper stand to see the reflection of the fellow in the window!