This program is stories about women who left footprints on history by stepping out of place. Consider Ann Eliza Young, Brigham Young’s 19th wife, who was instrumental in getting polygamy outlawed, “Baby Doe” Tabor, sometimes called The Silver Queen, or Dr. Mary Edwards Walker, the only female to be awarded our nation’s Medal of Honor. Nebraska’s Tad Lucas, lady bronc rider, was the only person inducted into all three Cowboy Halls of Fame. Nebraska also claims Susan LaFlesche Picotte, the first Native American woman to become a physician. If you’ve never heard of Helga Estby, who walked across America in 1996, it’s probably because her achievements were hidden by her family. Her story segues into a discussion of Tillie Olsen’s views about ways that creative women are often silenced.

Speaker Lyn Messersmith is a third generation rancher in Cherry County Nebraska, newspaper columnist and free-lance writer who has earned her spurs and hung them up, but hasn’t sold her saddle or cows. Lyn hangs her hat at the home ranch as well as her husband’s home place in Sheridan County, and lives part time in her pickup, traveling with Deb Nolting to present writing workshops and historical programs for the Nebraska and South Dakota Humanities Councils. She doesn’t much care what else you say about her as long as it is something her mother would have liked to hear.

NEWS from the Custer County Historical Society

The Custer County Historical Society will dedicate two new Nebraska Historical Markers on Saturday, August 5, 2017.  These markers, in addition to the 530+ across the state, tell the sometimes forgotten stories of Nebraska’s history that are worth knowing. 

The first ceremony will be at 10:00 AM for the MITCHELL AND KETCHUM HOMESTEADS MARKER located six and one-half miles east of Westerville on Nebraska Highway 70 at Road 459.  The marker tells the 1878 story of a deadly showdown between settlers and cattlemen.  The homesteads of Luther Mitchell and Ami Ketchum were located a mile south of the marker.  Join us for more of the story, refreshments and the dedication.

The second ceremony will be at 3:00 PM for the ETNA MARKER located nineteen and one half miles south of Arnold near the intersection of Highway 47 and Drive 780. The historical community of Etna had a Post Office, general store, school and a telephone company.  Please join us for refreshments, Etna stories, and the dedication. 

We are grateful to the Nebraska State Historical Society, members of the Custer County Historical Society, and for the generosity of our marker fund donors.

Custer County Historical Society, 445 South 9th Avenue, Broken Bow, Nebraska 68822

Custer County Historical Museum 308-872-2203

Learn to make the basic rag rug in one hour.