Michael Cripe
Special to the Citizen
The North Platte Historical Society Museum and Cultural Center held a get together for locals to gather and learn about Platte County’s Interurban Railroad on Saturday, Oct. 19.
The event was held to teach the community about Platte County’s history but also served as a means to bring others together.
Home cooked chili and hot dogs lined the tables of the Robert S. “Bob” Bryan Dearborn Community Center kitchen while a table of cookies, brownies and cake was set off to the side for those with a bit more of a sweet tooth.
After guests grabbed food to snack on and finished greeting, an hour-long presentation about the Interurban Railroad ensued. Presented by Steven Goodlet, the presentation was filled with photos and facts about how Dearborn and other surrounding towns fit into the county’s wide history.
The North Platte Historical Society Museum and Cultural Center had its museum soft open last December and plans to continue on hosting informative events like Saturday’s occasion.
Museum board member Nigel Adkins expressed the importance of the railroad and the organization that wants to sing its praises.
“We want to preserve this part of our heritage because children today don’t know this…It’s pretty sad that we’ve got all this heritage here and kids don’t know about it.,” Adkins said. “You just don’t know what you’re missing.”
Adkins added that the organization wants to grow but needs time and money to do so.
“We have the museum started,” Adkins said. “It’s a temporary place, because we need to be able to fund property and a building, so we’re working on that.”
With a turnout of just more than 30 guests, Adkins says she wishes more people had shown up, but understands that other events were keeping Dearborn residents from attending. Though this event was specifically held in Dearborn, she says other similar events will reach outside communities as well.
“We’re all interested in the same goal: promoting the history of this area,” Adkins said. “We want to familiarize children young and old with their heritage here.”