Hall County Historical Society

01/15/2025

There has been A LOT of advice (and not all great) given to u***d men and women throughout history. We hope you join us at the City of Grand Island - Public Library on February 2 at 2 pm for Dr. Catherine Biba's program "How To Be Single: A History of Advice Literature to Unmarried Adults in the 20th Century."

https://gilibrary.events.mylibrary.digital/event?id=158514

01/07/2025

It’s January and we are back!

Join us this Saturday at 11:30 am for Bygone Book Club at the Grand Island Public Library for a discussion led by Stephanie Crosby of “Down the Tracks of Time” by Mary Ann (McGovern) Carson. As a special surprise, the author will join our conversation to help with any questions you may have about the book. This program is free and open to the public.

On Sunday at 2 pm we have a program change for Voices of the Past at Burlington Station. Unfortunately John Hanssen will not be able to present his program on historic Christmas ornaments. Michelle Setlik will provide us with a look back through some of Grand Island’s historic people, places, and events from the 1870s to 2020s. This program is free for HCHS members and $5 for non-members.

We hope to see you at one (or both) of our programs this weekend!

01/02/2025

🌟2024 Fantasy of Trees Spotlight: Hall County Historical Society

🎄About the tree: This year's tree is a 1950's plastic ornament platform tree. The Hall County Historical Society promotes the research, education, ​and preservation of Hall County's heritage and history.

❄Thanks for being a part of the 2024 Fantasy of Trees display!

12/20/2024

Are you looking for a last minute gift for that hard to buy for person in your life? What about a gift of community history?

A 1-year household membership to the Hall County Historical Society (valid for 12 months from the date of purchase) is just $25. Member benefits include 4 issues of Hall County Times and admission to our programs and events, including our monthly Voices of the Past programs and our popular Grand Island cemetery tours.

On top of all of that your membership helps us preserve historic properties we have been entrusted including: Burlington Station, Seedling Mile, First Settlers Site, Stolley House, District 1 Schoolhouse, Hall County Heritage Memorial, and Murdock Townsley (Oregon Trail) site. Our members also support our efforts to preserve, promote, and share our rich community history through programming and preservation projects throughout Hall County.

1-Year Memberships are available online at: https://www.hallnehistory.com/store/c2/Memberships.html

***Please note - since 2000 we have not increased our membership dues. In January 2025 we will increase memberships by $5. If you would like to purchase (or renew) a HCHS membership for $25 please submit your order by December 31.

12/20/2024

The Hall County Historical Society won the "Most Traditional" display at the Stuhr Museum Festival of Trees tonight.

12/14/2024

Are you looking for a unique Christmas gift? We have just the thing and at a great price too! HCHS is clearing out our inventory of retired Cat’s Meows and now you can get a replica of a historic Hall County building for only $10! Quantity is limited and when they are gone they are gone for good. Comment below if you would like to purchase one of our last remaining stock and we will contact you.

Remaining Stock

St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church
Burlington Station
Drive-in Theater

Platt Duetsche - SOLD OUT
St. Mary’s Cathedral - SOLD OUT
Capitol Theatre - SOLD OUT
Grand Theatre - SOLD OUT
William Stolley House - SOLD OUT
Stuhr Museum - SOLD OUT
Shady Bend - SOLD OUT
UP Depot - SOLD OUT
Stuhr Service aka (Kensinger) - SOLD OUT
Peter Stuhr House - SOLD OUT

12/05/2024

Before being released to PBS stations nationwide we have a few more edits to make on the David Kaufmann documentary. One of those edits involved refilming the scenes with HCHS Vice President Michelle Setlik at Stuhr Museum this week to ensure continuity on those scenes. She was previously interviewed by the production team 3 different times over a year as they developed the story.

We are on track for A Life Well Lived to be made available to PBS stations across the country in late spring/early summer 2025. If you want to follow the production team's progress and updates on the documentary you can like and follow them at Chimney Rock Media.

11/29/2024

🎶It’s beginning to look a lot like (1950s) Christmas…🎶

We are celebrating Christmas 1950s style this year.

You are invited to join us for our annual Stolley Christmas Open House on Sunday, December 1st, 2024 from 1 to 4 pm. The house is decorated with ornaments from the 1950's. So stop by and step back in time to a 1950's Christmas. This event is free and open to the public.

We think our 1950s style platform tree on display now at Stuhr Museum’s Fantasy of Trees exhibit is going to be a big hit. Make sure you check it out before Fantasy of Trees ends on January 5, 2025.

From the HCHS Board, we wish you a Merry Christmas!!!

11/18/2024

We had a great crowd last night for our final public screening of A Life Well Lived before it goes into the NETA distribution system for 2025 launch on PBS stations nationwide.

Thank you to UNK History Department and BuffaloCounty HistoricalSociety for hosting the screening. A very special thank you to Mark at The World Theatre for his extraordinary skills and quick work in getting the film rolling again after a technology glitch.

11/17/2024

Our junior HCHS members did a great job yesterday in helping us clean up the Seedling Mile.

Grand Island’s 1915 Seedling Mile, one of the last remaining sections of the original transcontinental Lincoln Highway, is one of the historic properties maintained by HCHS in Hall County.

As an entirely volunteer run organization we could not preserve and protect our historic sites and rich community history without the support of volunteers, like our junior members Walnut DC Diplomats, and donors who provide funding to help with property maintenance costs, educational programs, and historic preservation projects. If you would like to help us continue our work through gifts of time or money, please send us a message, visit our website, or reach out to any of our board members.

11/16/2024

One last chance to see “A Life Well Lived” before it goes into the NETA distribution system for a 2025 PBS release!

UNK History Department and BuffaloCounty HistoricalSociety are hosting a screening at Kearney’s historic The World Theatre (just down the street from David Kaufmann’s former Kearney store) on Sunday, November 17 at 7 pm.

Make sure you join us before the show for a 6:30 pm talk given by Dr. Torsten Homberger from UNK and Michelle Setlik from HCHS about the film.

11/11/2024

One last chance to see the film before it goes into the PBS system.

Buffalo County Historical Society is happy to sponsor an amazing film made about an amazing man. Come see a FREE screening of A Life Well Lived: An Account of David Kaufmann at the The World Theatre on November 17, 2024! Show up at 6:30pm for a pre-screening talk with UNK professor Dr. Torsten Homberger; the documentary will begin at 7:00pm.

11/03/2024

Coming up next week!

Thursday, Nov 7 at 6 pm - David Kaufmann: Businessman, Community Leader, Philanthropist, Quiet Hero presented by Michelle Setlik at Kearney Public Library. Free to the public.

Saturday, Nov 9 at 11:30 am - Bygone Book Club: One of Ours by Willa Cather led by Sue Clement at City of Grand Island - Public Library. Free to the public.

Sunday, Nov 10 at 1:30 pm - HCHS Annual Member Meeting at Burlington Station.

Sunday, Nov 10 at 2 pm - Voices of the Past: The Crimes and Times of Stephen Dee Richards, Nebraska Serial Killer presented by Dr. Nathan Tye from UNK History Department at Burlington Station. Free to HCHS members and $5 for non-members.

10/19/2024

We are beyond thrilled that this remarkable true story is going to be made available to homes and schools across Nebraska and to viewers of PBS stations across the country who add it to their local programming.

Big news for a locally produced documentary telling the story of an unsung hero who saved the lives of countless families fleeing persecution from the Nazis.Th

10/16/2024

We received some AMAZING news! The David Kaufmann documentary has been picked up by the national PBS distribution network. Thank you everyone for your support of this remarkable project!

GOOD NEWS!!!!

10/16/2024

A few months back we removed the upper horizontal pipes from the First Settlers Marker. Today we painted the pipes. These pipes were originally installed to keep the cattle from rubbing on the stone marker. No cows are in the area now.

10/15/2024

Make plans to attend an educational program on Saturday, October 19 about a hero who called Grand Island his home. Michelle Setlik of the Hall County Historical Society will be giving a presentation on David Kaufmann, who was known as a 'quiet philanthropist' for doing what he could from where he was to help others.

This program will be held on Saturday, October 19 from 10:00-11:30 am in the Stuhr Building and is included with regular daily admission. Admission is free for Stuhr Museum members or $14 for adults, $13 for seniors, $12 for youth ages 6-12, and free for ages 5 & under.

10/15/2024

Coming up this weekend at Stuhr Museum.

Michelle Setlik of the Hall County Historical Society will be giving a program on David Kaufmann, a Grand Island businessman, civic leader, and humanitarian. This program will be presented on October 19 from 9:30 – 11:30 am in the Stuhr... Read More »