Who knows about the Pawnee Academy?

My fear is that there is no living memory of this school which in its time was an important institution.  It was a high school.  It may have been only for girls.  It was private.  My mother went four years to the Academy.  Her parents lived in western Nebraska and she boarded with some family.  Nellie Warneke also attended the Academy.  She didn’t remember much when I asked questions 15 years ago.  She did however made little wooden models of the building’s facade, one of which I have.

Here is your trivia question.  The building of the Academy still stands at least partially.  It has another use now.  what building am referring to?

Michael Elliott Leander John Bacon.

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Ronnie Ray Runs the First Pawnee City Marathon

Ronnie Ray and his loyal dog Bgawk run the 2.62 mile Pawnee City Marathon. 

In celebration of the London Olympic Games The Pawnee City Marathon Organizing Committee staged the First Annual Pawnee City Marathon. The 2.62 mile event route was from one city limit to the other and was planned in such a way as to not disrupt community traffic.

(c) Photo courtesy of the Pawnee City Marathon Organizing Committee showing Ronnie Ray taking a break at the mid-point of the race.

The only participants in this prestigious activity were Ronnie Ray and his loyal, but somewhat dim dog, Bgawk.  Both Ronnie Ray and Bgawk lined up at the starting line and when the 7:00 am Fire Siren blared they began the grueling race.

Ronnie Ray followed the route as planned but Bgawk ran willy-nilly throughout the town scaring old ladies and tearing up gardens before arriving at the finish line well ahead of Ronnie Ray. During the race Bgawk ran through Niders and knocked down shelves and otherwise disrupted the normal activities of the “city.”

The organizing committee was not sure if they were allowed to give the First Place Wood “Medal” to Bgawk so they gave it to Ronnie Ray to use as he sees fit.

There was a picnic planned after the conclusion of the race but nobody came because Bgawk was so excited about winning that he continued his rant through the “city” and everybody in town stayed inside with their doors locked.

Once again the volunteer fire department was deployed to catch the dog, but with no luck. Ronnie Ray waited until dark and found Bgawk near the old city dump and took him home after a triumphant day.

Ronnie Ray and his loyal dog Bgawk.

Just a side note: the barn with the nuclear symbol on it is where Ronnie Ray parks his truck that was used for many years for hauling waste material from the uranium mine fields. That barn is where Bgawk was born. Bgawk is of a rare breed known as a Speckled Redneck.

Basketball in Siberia

Submitted by Michael Elliott Leander John Bacon.

Alas Siberia is gone.  There was an old gymnasium at the far end of the long block on which the high school and current gym sit.  It was small by modern standards, had a stucco exterior.  It was used for high school basket ball prior to the completion of the high school in 1928.  After that is was used for dances, occasionally for a lunch room, and when we were in junior high, for basketball again, as David reminded us. 

Its small floor butted right up to the wooden bleachers, with no room to spare and the same for the slate wall at the the north end.  It hurt when you hit it full speed.

My favorite moment was probably 11th grade. There was a school assembly in Siberia, and I, being a minor troubled kid, got Mr. Rumbaugh mad as hell at me. Don’t remember what I did.  he grabbed me so hard, I actually passed out.  I do remember when coming to Larry Graham was standing over Rumbaugh menacing him.  Rumbaugh was genuinely worried, and appologized.  We did not sue people in those days.  And I wasn’t hurt.  Wonder if I could sure now?  I don’t think I thanked Chubby.

It was a very old building.  It had a small shower room.  My brother, a generation older than me and his pals used to break into Siberia in the winter to play.  It was not heated and got its name at that time.  Their breaking-in was a big deal at the time.  The sheriff used to try to catch them in Siberia.  But they did it for years.

Now others with memories tell me something:  I always felt that there was a big well of water under Siberia.  Did I dream this?  Did someone tell me and I bellieved them, or was there a well of water under it?  I always thought it very dangerous to go into the back of the building and never would.  I still have these vivid images of a secret well under there.  Still scary.

So, Sput, that is one recollection of Siberia.  I wish others would add to it.  One thing for sure, we knew our geography. meb

Katherine Fay and “The Exchange Hotel”

Submitted by MEB

I had a note from one receipient of this silliness (vital history) who asked to be taken off. So I looked at the list and wonder how many more resent receiving our mental excursions? Conversely who ought to receive them and is not?

Katherine Fay once told mother that the hotel (opened 1867 as the Exchange Hotel) saw many instances of things, behaviors which were hidden from the light of day. When asked to explain, she just giggled.

It is time for the secrets to be revealed. The closely guarded secrets, the real life of the good people of Pawnee City.  Who will begin?

Class of 61 Athletic Prowess

Sumitted by MEB

Our class, 1961 was one of the least athletic ever at PCHS.  Thinking back I think our best natural athlete was Jerry Spohr.  I can remember him on the trampolin in Siberia almost hitting his head on the ceiling.  I don’t want to take away from the many outstanding athletes who thrilled fans with their dazzling abilities. Snyder, Graham, wyatt, who else?

Our real skills were in other, less admirable areas. meb

Who Remembers “Sawyer and Barklay”

Submitted by Bob Barklay

The only one of you I know is Ron Auxier.  He owns my grandparents old house where my father was born in 1915.  My grandfather was in partnership with Tom Sawyer (Sawyer-Barclay mens clothing).  Joe and Larry Phelan are my cousins (their mother is Harriet, nee Huston).  My Dad’s first cousin is Bill Colwell (my Grandmother was a Colwell),   I probably should use the past tense when referring to my dad, since he passed away in 2011 at age 95.  Dad and I had returned to Pawnee a couple of times, the last being in 2006, and I usually get back there once a year.  I’ve always thought of Pawnee as my home, having spent many a summer vacation with my grandparents during the early to mid 50’s.

Dad wrote his memoirs a few years ago and I believe the Van Horne’s or perhaps Larry Phelan have copies.  Much of it concerns his growing up in Pawnee.  He had quite a flair for the language and so enjoyed writing.  I have some wonderful stories he told me about his youth that didn’t make it to his memoirs.  Probably a good thing!

Please don’t remove me from your list.  I can’t add much but so enjoy the “history lesson”, as Sput put it.

Bob Barclay (I think Ron has my last name as Barkley).

Serenading Mr. Bucknell

Submitted by: Bill “Duke” Snyder

Mike, it was you, Dave, and myself who serenaded Mr. Bucknell with “Donny Bird, Donny Bird riding through the glen.” We sang it to the tune of Robin Hood which was a TV show’s theme song, as I remember. He showed more class than we.