Blogs from Beatrice, Nebraska, United States, North America

Homestead National Monument of America, Beatrice, NE In 1862, while the country was embroiled in civil war controversy, Congress passed and Lincoln signed, the Homestead Act. It was intended to serve as a kind of relief valve by siphoning off the disaffected and unlucky, including released black slaves, and send them into America’s hinterland by offering up free land. 160-acre parcels were available to anyone - all you had to do was build a home on it and farm it (they called that ‘proving it’) within five years of staking your claim. Over the next several decades, 160 million claims were filed, giving away one third of the American landmass in 30 states - pretty much from Indiana westward. (Texas was the only western state that did not participate in this rush). Although the portion of ... read more

Thursday, 11 June, 2015 Another trip begins. This year our granddaughter, Jenna, is ten and will be traveling with us. My cousins, Gena and Bob, arrived at our house yesterday afternoon. We were still trying to get the trailer loaded and it was a hot, sticky day for it. As we were finishing supper, Michael and Jamie came by with Jenna's bicycle, and stayed for a short visit. We all showered and headed for bed early. Thursday morning we were up early, had a hearty breakfast casserole, and finished packing the camper. David came by and brought us some of his beef jerky for the trip, and helped us hook up the camper to the truck. Kim brought Jenna and we got all her gear loaded before heading out, sweating like mules in the muggy morning ... read more