BETWEEN THE PAGES Plattsmouth Public Library, 401 Ave A, Plattsmouth, NE 68048 Phone 402-296-4154 Fax 402-296-4712 Volume 21 Issue 5 May 2021
New Carpet
The carpet company was able to remove all the old carpet and install the new carpet in only one work week.
Special thanks to our staff for moving books, Streets department for moving shelves and the carpet company employees for doing an excellent job. Visit our Facebook page for more pictures.
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Summer Reading Program 2021
The library’s Summer Reading Program has fun for all ages this year. There is a rubber duck club for little ones to participate by doing activities at home. The older kids will have fun completing challenges to win many different badges over the summer. Craft Bags to go were so popular last year, we are doing them again for children, teens, and adults. From June 1 through July 27, the Pre-Readers’ log and badge challenge sheets for children will be available for download from our website or pickup at the library. The library will also provide lanyards for showing off the badges. Registration is requested but not required. Pre-Readers (ages 0-4) can build their own family of rubber ducks. Win a rubber duck for completing two activities on the challenge sheet per week. Finish all 18 activities to take home all nine ducks plus a board book. Kids (ages 5-12) have a Badge Challenge log with different challenges for each week. They earn a badge when they finish the challenges listed under the individual badge. Complete three of the five challenge categories for the week to receive a special weekly badge. Logs can be submitted in many ways - post a picture on our Facebook page, email them to [email protected] , drop them into the book drop, or drop them off at the library. All entries have to be submitted by closing time on Tuesday, July 27, to receive rubber ducks and badges. Pick up free craft bags “to go” on Tuesday mornings at the library for ages 0-12. Each week’s bag has fun activities and the supplies necessary to make them. Registration is requested but not required. The registration form will be available through our website or Facebook page. We are looking forward to a fun summer with lots of badges being given away!
We will provide details on the Adult and Teen Summer Reading at a later date.
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Fic on The hun ng party by Foley, Lucy Act your age, Eve Brown by Hibbert, Talia Meant to be by Deveraux, Jude Anywhere for you by Greaves, Abbie Ocean prey by Sandford, John Best laid plans by Florio, Gwen Sunflower sisters by Kelly, Martha Hall Blackberry Beach by Hannon, Irene We begin at the end by Whitaker, Chris Early morning riser by Heiny, Katherine When the stars go dark by McLain, Paula Every vow you break by Swanson, Peter Win by Coben, Harlan A gambling man by Baldacci, David Get a life, Chloe Brown by Hibbert, Talia Audiobooks Good company by Sweeney, Cynthia Danger in numbers by Graham, Heather D'Aprix Dark sky by Box, C. J. The good sister by Hepworth, Sally Do no harm by McDonald, Chris na The holdout by Moore, Graham Every vow you break by Swanson, Peter The hun ng party by Foley, Lucy Exit by Bauer, Belinda In a book club far away by Marcelo, Tif A gambling man by Baldacci, David Indelible by Buchanan, Laurie Good company by Sweeney, Cynthia The Jigsaw man by Matheson, Nadine D'Aprix Leave the world behind by Alam, Rumaan The good sister by Hepworth, Sally Lies we bury by Marr, Elle Her dark lies by Ellison, J. T. A million reasons why by Strawser, Ocean prey by Sandford, John Jessica Our darkest night of Italy and the second Moonlight over Paris by Robson, Jennifer World War by Robson, Jennifer Mother may I by Jackson, Joshilyn The Palm Beach murders by Pa erson, No way out by Michaels, Fern James Ocean prey by Sandford, John The path to Sunshine Cove by Thayne, The path to Sunshine Cove by Thayne, RaeAnne RaeAnne The red book by Pa erson, James Picnic in Someday valley by Thomas, Jodi Sooley by Grisham, John The postscript murders by Griffiths, Elly Stargazer by Hillerman, Anne The Rosie result by Simsion, Graeme C. Too good to be true by Lovering, Carola Somewhere in France by Robson, Turn a blind eye by Archer, Jeffrey Jennifer We begin at the end by Whitaker, Chris Stargazer by Hillerman, Anne When the stars go dark by McLain, Paula Sunflower sisters by Kelly, Martha Hall Take a hint, Dani Brown by Hibbert, Talia Non-Fic on Too good to be true by Lovering, Carola Buried in the sky by Zuckerman, Peter Turn a blind eye by Archer, Jeffrey Declu ering at the speed of life by White, We begin at the end by Whitaker, Chris Dana When the stars go dark by McLain, Paula Finding Freedom by French, Erin For the common defense by Mille , Allan Large Print Reed Danger in numbers by Graham, Heather I'll be seeing you by Berg, Elizabeth Eternal by Sco oline, Lisa Leave out the tragic parts n by Fast ice by Cussler, Clive Kindred, Dave A gambling man by Baldacci, David Overstated by Quinn, Colin Good company by Sweeney, Cynthia The photo ark by Sartore, Joel D'Aprix Thursday night lights by Hurd, Her dark lies by Ellison, J. T. Michael
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Teen Juvenile Fic on Middletown by Moon, Sarah 100 friends by Bernstein, Ariel Rule of wolves by Bardugo, Leigh Alien superstar by Winkler, Henry The sacrifice box by Stewart, Mar n J. Billy Miller makes a wish by Henkes, Kevin Skyhunter by Lu, Marie Broken ground by Schwab, Victoria The burning de by Auxier, Jonathan The snow fell three graves deep by Wolf, Charlie Thorne and the lost city by Gibbs, Allan Stuart Teen killers club : novel by Sparks, Lily City of villains by Laure, Estelle The dragon in the library by Stowell, Louie Video The dragon's eye by Chadda, Sarwat Balloon Harry Po er and the half-blood prince by A call to spy Rowling, J. K. Our friend I, Cosmo by Sorosiak, Carlie Shadow in the cloud I survived the California wildfires, 2018 by Think like a dog Tarshis, Lauren Immortal guardians by Schrefer, Eliot Wonder Woman 1984 Kondo & Kezumi are not alone by Goodner, David Easy Leonard (my life as a cat) by Sorosiak, Carlie Bear Island by Cordell, Ma hew The lightning thief by Riordan, Rick Big rig rescue! by Gall, Chris Lights, camera, danger! by Winkler, Henry Daisy by Bagley, Jessixa Midnight on the moon by Osborne, Mary Girls and boys come out to play by Pope Pearson, Tracey Campbell The monster in the lake by Stowell, Louie Henry and Bea by Bagley, Jessixa The one thing you'd save by Park, Linda Sue The house of grass and sky by Ray, Mary The return by Johnson, Varian Lyn Scary sleepover by Bernstein, Ariel I see you see by Jackson, Richard Sparrow by Moon, Sarah If you give a mouse a cookie by Stormspeaker by Gonzalez, Chris na Diaz Numeroff, Laura Joffe The wildcat's claw by Johnson, Varian The li lest train by Gall, Chris The wizard in the wood by Stowell, Louie Looking for sleep by Deutsch, Georgiana Mel fell by Tabor, Corey R. Juvenile Graphic Novel Most people by Leannah, Michael Buck's tooth by Kredensor, Diane The oboe goes boom boom boom by Donuts and danger by Gallagher, John Venable, Colleen A. F. Drama by Telgemeier, Raina The ramble shamble children by Owly. Vol. 3, Flying lessons by Runton, Andy Soontornvat, Chris na Spring cakes by Harmon, Miranda Regina is not a li le dinosaur by Zuill, Unicorn famous by Simpson, Dana Andrea The rock from the sky by Klassen, Jon Juvenile Non-Fic on The Smeds and the Smoos by Donaldson, Almanac 2020 Julia The snowman by Briggs, Raymond Adopt-a-Book Squish squash squished by Rector, Rebecca Jigsaw man by Matheson, Nadine Kra
Three by King, Stephen Michael In Memory of Gertrude Bri ain The three billy goats Gruff by Jackson, Big feelings by Penfold, Alexandra Richard The li lest train by Gall, Chris Watercress by Wang, Andrea On a magical do-nothing day by Alemagna, Beatrice We are water protectors by Lindstrom, Carole A complete list of new titles can be found on our web- We love fishing! by Bernstein, Ariel site, www.plattsmouthlibrary.org, under New Titles.
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Ferries, Pontoons, and the Dollie Jane Harlan Seyfer, Plattsmouth Main Street Historian
Plattsmouth’s Ferry Boat Era began in 1848, when Libeas T. Coon started operating a flatboat propelled by sweeps [oars] between Bethlehem, on the Iowa side of the Missouri River, and a landing on the west side of the river that eventually would be Plattsmouth. In 1850, when the Mormons adopted the route south of the Platte River, they moved their ferry from the North Mormon Ferry near Florence to Bethlehem which then became known as the South Mormon Ferry. The South Mormon Ferry, like the North and Middle Ferries, took advantage of the river current to do the hard work. Three “dug ways” were created, each excavated far enough into the river bank to keep the boat away from the current while being loaded or unloaded. A hemp cable was strung from the first Iowa dug way across the river down-stream to the lower dug way on the Nebraska side. When all were onboard, the boat was pushed into the river and attached to the “down-leg” cable. The current pushed the boat downstream and across to the south Nebraska dug way, where it was unloaded. Then an ox team pulled the empty boat upstream to the upper dug way for the return trip. The south Nebraska dug way was about where Main Street is today; the north, near today’s water plant. In 1852, Samuel Martin, the founder of Plattsmouth, took over operation of the flatboat ferry. When he died in December 1854, the Plattsmouth Ferry Company was formed to take his place. The ferry company began operating the steam ferry Emma in 1857. Business must have been good. In 1860, Peter Sarpy began operating The Survivor in competition with the Emma. One scholar noted “The competition became so spirited at times that both boats would carry freight and passengers free in an effort to drive the other off the river.” A compromise later in the year left the Emma to ply her trade alone. In 1859, Plattsmouth bought out the ferry operators for $1500 in Plattsmouth city lots. Meanwhile, the town raised $9000 by issuing bonds to purchase the side-wheeler Paul Wilcox. The Paul Wilcox set a record on May 9, 1865, when it brought across 125 wagons and their teams in 24 hours. Throughout that May, a total of 2,360 wagons were ferried over. Unfortunately, in July 1868, the Paul Wilcox hit a snag and sank, putting Plattsmouth out of the ferry business. Fortunately, an agreement was reached with J.L. McGee, a Brownville ferry operator, to take over the operation. McGee salvaged the Paul Wilcox’s machinery and installed it on a flatboat, which he intended to operate until he could acquire a replacement boat that could handle 30 wagons with teams at a time. By the time of the American Centennial in 1876, the Mary McGee was conveying wagons and passengers across the Missouri. When the Burlington and Missouri River Railroad arrived at the east bank of the river in 1869, the railroad used up to three ferries to cross over until the railroad bridge was opened in 1881. Ferry boats, mostly cable, most unnamed, were used to carry people and goods across the Missouri River during the 1880s. In April 1888, the Plattsmouth Board of Trade proposed to the City Council that $10,000 be allocated to construct a pontoon bridge across the Missouri. The Council referred the matter to its Judiciary Committee, a sure sign of a lack of interest. Throughout the 1890s, ferry boats continued to ply the Missouri waters from Plattsmouth, just south of the railroad bridge. The pontoon bridge idea was born again in 1902. This time, a stock company was proposed. Plattsmouth merchants eagerly bought in. By July, the first pontoons were being brought down from Omaha. Meanwhile, 4,520 bridge tickets were delivered to Plattsmouth merchants who owned stock. On Labor Day, 1 September 1902, the Plattsmouth Pontoon Bridge was opened with great fanfare. But alas, on December 4, as the Journal reported … The pontoon bridge, which has stood John Richardson with His Sons, Floyd and Claude the test, and which has been a great at the Cable Wheel of the Dollie Jane . accommodation to parties coming World-Herald Sunday Magazine, 1927-11-06, p. 6 from and going to the other side of the Con nued on page 6.
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raging and treacherous Missouri for several months, cut loose Wednesday and divided itself into several parts. A portion of it remained on the east side while a part floated down stream quite a distance. The trouble occurred during the noon hour, when one of those ice flows, usually so destructive to everything in its course, was the principal cause of the break. Some of the barge were carried several miles down but none were lost. A similar accident was barely averted during a recent cold spell. The structure will be replaced as soon as possible. An effort was made to gather in and reassemble the bridge, but that following March the Nebraska City News reported, “Part of the pontoon bridge from Plattsmouth passed down the river yesterday afternoon, but no one went out to land it.” Fini to that effort. The Journal returned to referring to “the ferry road,” having apparently forgotten about the pontoon bridge. Moving ahead to the summer of 1913, when a notice ran in the Journal for several weeks: “I have taken charge of the Missouri River Ferry, erected new pole and cable, and the same is now in perfect running condition and ready to accommodate all passenger. Will operate at all hours, either day or night. John Richardson” Actually, the ferry was owned by Mrs. Anna Doty and managed by Richardson. The County Commissioners provided her an exclusive, three-year license for $3 a year. Richardson would come to personify ferrying, not only in Plattsmouth, but up and down the Missouri. Born in North Carolina in 1871, he was brought to Iowa some time before 1880. His family settled near the Missouri River in Platteville township, Mills County, where he grew up on the banks of the river. At the time of his announcement, Richardson was supplementing his income by fishing and shipping his catch to Omaha. Perhaps ironically, his most noted catch was two bridges washed down the Platte into the Missouri. “The two were almost a mile apparat, and the first was no sooner landed below the [ferry] point than the outer put in an appearance above the [railroad] bridge,” the Journal recorded. Richardson was offered $50 for each, but declined the offer. Unfortunately for us, there is no record what he did with his catch. Meanwhile, Richardson maintained the road from Plattsmouth to the ferry landing just south of the railroad bridge. On one occasion, he was called upon to rescue two men stranded on a sandbar down by Rock Bluff when the boat they were using grounded and could not be moved. After the men disappeared, Richardson discovered the boat had been stolen. Tragedy occasionally tracked the ferry. On a pleasant October Sunday in 1919, 29-year old George Hobson suffered an epileptic seizure, fell overboard, and drowned. Richardson threw a plank over the side where the young man’s hat was floating, but Hobson never surfaced to grab it. His reputation as a ferryman was such that when Bellevue established their own cable ferry, they contracted with him to install the required poles and cables. Richardson, in addition to operating the ferry system, built the ferry boats he used. He also gained a reputation for raising and salvaging sunken boats in his off-season when the river was iced in. That is, when he wasn’t busy over the winter maintaining his toll, ice road at the foot of Plattsmouth Main St. In 1919, Richardson purchased the ferry franchise from the heirs of Mrs. Doty, becoming its sole owner. A year later, near his Nebraska landing, he constructed a swimming and picnicking park. In those days, the river banks could have nice, sandy beaches. Later, he included a campground for auto tourists. In 1925, Richardson decided to bring his two sons, Floyd and Claude, into the business, each receiving a one-third share. Fares were automobiles 75¢ one way, $1 round trip, regardless of the number of riders. A pedestrian was 10¢, horseback rider 35¢. Every five to ten years, as needed, Richardson traveled to Council Bluffs to purchase lumber and fittings for a new boat which he would build in Plattsmouth. In 1926, the Richardsons launched their last ferry. A year earlier, Floyd’s daughter, Dollie Jane, was born. It was logical for the proud parents and grandparents to name their new craft after the progeny. Soon after the Dollie Jane hit the Missouri’s muddy waters, John Richardson retired. The Dollie Jane was a cable ferry held to the long cross-river cable by shorter cables connected to each end of the craft. By lengthening one or the other of the end cables, the craft could be held at an angle to the current. The current pushing against the ferry’s side propelled it across the river. In one of the photos accompanying this article, John is shown at the wheel controlling the cables. The Dollie Jane ran until the vehicle bridge across the Missouri became available in early 1930. During the Great Depression, Richardson continued to build boats for companies doing river improvement work. He Dollie Jane about 1927. That’s probably John Richardson standing, hat in died from a heart ailment in September 1941, age hand, on the le . 70 years. author photo collec on, ref: Journal 1927-12-11, p. 4
Page 7 Between the Pages May 2021 Donations Being Accepted
Donations of books and other items are now being accepted. Please bring items through the back door of the library.
A tally of the items being donated is available upon request. Sorry, no encyclopedias or VHS tapes.
The book sale will be in late summer or fall so people will have more time to drop off their donations
Laser Cut Flowers
Laser cut some flowers for Mother’s day. One $3 board holds one box and 4 flowers. You can also bring your own colored card stock and cut out some paper flowers for free!
The library has a laser cu er capable of etching on wood, glass, ceramic les, cork, metals, and many other materials. It can be used by anyone who has completed the one-hour training session.
Call the library, 402-296-4154, ext. 24, to schedule training or to reserve me to work on your projects.
You don’t need to have a library card or even live in Pla smouth to use it. It can be used for personal or business purposes, so think about how you might benefit from the opportunity!
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May 2021 Registra on Required*
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
1 Zoom Golden Sower* 10-10:30am 2 3 4 5 Zoom 6 Zoom 7 8 Storytime* Storytime* 10-10:30 10-10:30
9 10 11 12 Zoom 13 Zoom 14 15 Storytime* Storytime* 10-10:30 10-10:30
16 17 18 19 Zoom 20 Zoom 21 22 Storytime* Storytime* 10-10:30 10-10:30
23 24 Adult Craft 25 26 Zoom 27 Zoom 28 29 Bag Pickup Storytime* Storytime* 10-10:30 10-10:30
30 31
June 2021 Registra on Required*
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
1 Summer 2 Zoom 3 Zoom 4 5 Reading Storytime* Storytime* 10-10:30 10-10:30 Starts!
6 7 8 9 Zoom 10 Zoom 11 12 Storytime* Storytime* 10-10:30 10-10:30 Summer Reading Program all week
13 14 15 16 Zoom 17 Zoom 18 19 Storytime* Storytime* Summer Reading Program all week 10-10:30 10-10:30
20 21 22 23 Zoom 24 Zoom 25 26 Storytime* Storytime* Summer Reading Program all week 10-10:30 10-10:30
27 28 Adult Craft 29 30 Zoom Bag Pickup Storytime* 10-10:30 Summer Reading Program all week