Diva's Aunt Lela's Book "Popa's Razor Strop" chapter 4. "That Cherished Christmas Box"

Grandad Dale Zemanek, born February 9, 1910 was raised by Grandpa Hood.  His father, Frederick William passed away a couple months in Dundee, IA before his birth and his mother Winnie Hood Zemanek Williams passed away 8 years after Grandad's birth.  

1919 - Married James Edward 'Ed' Hood in Melbeta. He was a widower with two married children.  His son Eddie was killed in France during WW I and daughter Winnie Hood Zemanek Williams died in 1918. Ed Hood took grandson, Dale Zemanad (typo found online @ http://www.potterama.net/private/Genealogy/d270.htm) to raise and Harvey Harward raised the Williams children.

One of the Williams girls, Lela Givens Garrett, which would have been a step syblings to Grandad Dale wrote a book back in 1981 called "Papa's Razor Strop".  I remember us calling her Aunt Lela and at the time didn't understand all the connections til later on in my life.  I recall stories of us being related to Monty Montana and Monty Montana Jr and we use to go watch him perform at the Denver Stock Show.  I loved cowboys and to watch him swing his rope kept me in awe.  Monty Sr was the son of Great great Uncle Mickel and Aunt Edna.  They were Lela's Great Uncle and Aunt.


Aunt Lela's book was a beautifully written work of art that vividly conjures the warm and wonderful memories of growing up on a Nebraska farm in the early years of the twentieth century.  I have a first Edition autographed by Lela in 1981.  A family gift to treasure.  It is dedicated to her Papa and Mama and her brothers and sisters:  Oscar, Ester, Harvey, Bill, Hickey, Neda, Alice Lorene and Elden.

My favorite chapter has always been chapter 4.  "That Cherished Christmas Box"  It talks about how they would travel by wagon and Grandpa making the trip comfortable for the family.  He would warm bricks and flatirons in the oven to put under the blankets to keep everyone warm.  They take the low road to Minatare, Ne passing the Great Western Sugar factory which was a huge part of our past growing up.  All our family raised sugar beets and worked at the factory in the fall.  If you have never smelled the smell of a full going sugar factory... you have no idea how pungent it can be.  Grandad always called it the smell of money. The Christmas ride and day they shared was filled with anticipation of the most wonderful Christmas ever.  Little did they know, it was their Grandpa's last Christmas but they cherished it forever.


Cherish each day as its your last.  Hold your loved ones close this Christmas, you never know if its your's or their last.  Merry Christmas all.

Pictures From Lela's Book

Memories of a lazy summer afternoon Bayard, NE in the 60's

Memories of a lazy summer afternoon Bayard, NE in the 60's

Funny how people take for granite of the things surrounding where they live and don't appreciate them til they no longer live there.  Maybe I didn't pay attention to the beauty around me or maybe I thought the rest of the world looked the same.  Growing up in a small town does that to people.  Someday part of me will be returned a couple miles from Chimney Rock.  My dad lays to rest here and enjoys this beautiful site everyday.  

This area is a plant anchored dunes of the largest Sand Hills in North America and we considered an irreclaimable desert.  As far as I can remember as we rode our horses bareback across the hills, it was mostly a sagebrush prairie, full of little tiny creeks,  coyotes, mule deer and rattlesnakes.  The sand and the cactus always seemed to be where I would land when Champ our horse would throw me when he was spooked by the natures of the land.  My brother would become furious with me because I was too little to get back up on Champ. (I was the runt of all the cousins as they called me and the screamer who always got everyone else in trouble) Champ was a very well trained horse and our dad could make him sit to help me get on.  Although, my brother Randy was not so talented with him. Many times he would back Champ up to a barbed wire fence post for me to crawl on after many attempts.  If it hadn't been for the rattlesnakes, I think he would have left me.

Below is the history of Bayard, NE and was only a couple miles from the Zemanek farm.  How we ever grew crops like sugar beets, corn, etc in such a sandy area is beyond me.

Chimney Rock National Historic Site – Bayard, Nebraska

Chimney Rock National Historic Site – Chimney Rock National Historic Site – Bayard, Nebraska

Seeing the awe inspiring rock on the trip from the east coast on the Oregon,California and Mormon Trail made those traveling want to stop and leave something for those that would follow behind.  There were pictures describing their trip west, words of “wisdom” and encouragement were left.  All were part of a great movement of people and ideas that passed by Chimney Rock in the years 1812 – 1866.  

There are a number of the artifacts housed in the Visitor Center for you to see.  There is also a digital presentation of the material as part of the Western Trails Project that is available for you to view to get a better understanding of those thoughts and remnants from the brave people that headed west during that timeframe.

Chimney Rock stands at 4,225 feet above sea level.  This measurement was taken by a man named David Cosad who measured his shadow against the rock’s to come up with the figure of 360 ft from the base to the top.  With today’s measurement techniques it is interesting to learn that he was within 10 percent of today’s measurements!

The rock is really pretty interesting with the peak extending upward just like a chimney (therein it’s name).  Although there have been stories about how the rock with disappear it certainly will be a long time in the coming.  Although erosion created it and erosion will probably destroy it no one can tell how long it will be before the spire disappears.

The pictures show how the rock has changed over the years, the symmetrical lines of the past are altered some by the wind and rain so the base is less smooth than the picture from the 1930’s compared to the one from 1977.

Visiting the Ethel and Christopher J. Abbott Visitor Center is a great way to learn about the Oregon-California Trail.  The visitor center is open year round and group tours can be arranged in advance.