Downtown Auburn Over the Years

I've found some interesting photos of the major intersections in Auburn over the years.

Here is the intersection of US Highway 135 and US 75 which for Auburn is Central Avenue (12th Street) and J.

The First National Bank of Auburn founded by Church Howe and operated by his son Herbert R. Howe from about 1900-1930.  The bank closed due to the Great Depression.  The building was later occupied by various businesses and currently (2019) is an event center.

Looking east on Central Ave about 1950.  On the left, Rothert's Ben Franklin store, Wrightsman and Rarick Clothing store.   On the right, McKnight's Clothing, Hemmingsen's Dry Good, and Murphy and Brown Hardware.



1919 view of J Street looking south.  Retail stores on the left and the Post Office was on the right at that time.

Looking south on J Street about 1910.  Note the original post office at the corner of  J and Central Ave.

Looking South corner of Central Ave and J Street.  Original Post Office on the right. 

Armistice Day, Nov 11, 1918 at 11:11 AM .  A small park where the State Theater was built later. 

About 1915.

Late 1940s

The  Dort Drug Store that became the first location of Glen's Drug Store.  Glen's moved across the street to its long-term location about 1930.  The building housed Earl May for many years and in this photo APN.    Note the arches in all these buildings built between 1895 and 1910.

Auburn Schools Over the Years

The first high school with 8 graduates in 1889

 The original Auburn School was at 1804 M Street and apparently had some grades and the high school.  Anyone who graduated from Auburn High School (12th Grade) before 1912 would have attended this school.  Edward H. Ely would have attended the country school (District 19) for the early years and then this school. The Kerns children attended St. Joseph's Parochial School (below) and then Auburn High School.

St. Joseph's Parochial School just north of the church.  

Based on my readings, the combining of the cities of Calvert and Sheridan to form Auburn had some ramifications for the schools.  To ease tensions, leaders built the two elementary schools, Athens (former Calvert) and Antioch (former Sheridan).  The specifications are on-line,  most notable is that neither building had indoor plumbing, originally.  By the time we attended Antioch, they had added rest rooms in the basement.

Antioch Grade School built in 1887

ANTIOCH

Athens Grade School built in 1887

The second High School completed in 1913.

The above building was the high school of Grandpa Gene and Grandma Marjorie and their siblings. It was completed in 1912 and a showcase for the state.   After 1938, the building was the Junior High School until about 1966.  Margene, Karen, Joe and Anne attended 6th -8th grade in this building located on Courthouse Avenue.  (The present day Memorial Library is on this site.)

The third High School completed in 1938 and used until 1970. After that it was the Middle School for a few years. 

Grandpa Gene's younger brothers, Bill and Dick, attended high school in this building, as well as Grandma Marjorie's sisters, Maxine and Helen. Margene and Karen went four years year.  Midway in Joe's senior and Anne's freshman year,  they moved to the school on Central Ave. 

Happy 100th Birthday Mary Alice

One hundred years ago, January 22, 1913, our dear Aunt Mary Alice was born on the Ely farm northeast of Auburn.  This week, we can honor her with our prayers and reflections.  

July 5, 2006 Loretto Kentucky

In her later years, when her eyesight and hearing were weak and her body frail, she still had a keen mind.  She had memorized many prayers, poems, and important works that helped her meditate.  She laughed at her favorite family stories, many of those involving nieces and nephews, and kept her happy spirit.  We were so blessed with this remarkable woman. 

This is her First Communion photo which was probably taken about 1920



First Communion, probably about 1920

Mary Alice attended the country school for two years.  Then the family moved to town where she attended St. Joseph's Parochial School until 10th Grade, the highest grade offered in those days. 



High School Graduation, 1931

To complete her high school education, Mary Alice attended the Loretto Academy in Kansas City as a boarder and graduated in 1931. She rode the train back and forth for breaks and vacations to Auburn.   She went on to Duschene College in Omaha and Loretto Heights in Denver.   She entered the novitiate two years after high school on August 15, 1934 at the Loretto Motherhouse in Loretto, Kentucky.   Many of you will recognize the hand-writing from the above photo.... Grandma Laura Kerns Ely, of course!

In those days, she was only allowed to visit her home every 4-5 years.  This photo is from her first visit in 1940.


Back Row:  Ed, Buzz, Edward, Gene, Dick   Sitting:  Laura, Mary Alice

In the 1950s, the order changed their habits.  Here is Mary Alice in Auburn in 1953.  With the changes in the Church during the 1960s, some orders used secular dress.  Also nuns were allowed to study and travel much more extensively.  Mary Alice took part in a number of science institutes updating herself for teaching chemistry, biology, physics, and math.  She also was able to travel extensively.  Before each trip, she would write out adhesive address labels to all the family members..... and we all got cards from places like Russia, Austrailia, and on and on.  I always thought that was so sweet of her to plan ahead so well and to include us in her prayers along the way. She never forgot a birthday either!

Her teaching assignments were mostly in high schools in Kansas City, St. Louis, Lebanon Kentucky, and Denver.  She was very dedicated to her students, helping them in any possible way.  In the last years of teaching, she was a tutor at the Loretto House sometimes working with the same students for several years.

Here are photos of Mary Alice and her brothers in 1969, at their now annual Christmas get-together.
Buzz and Gene are standing.  Dick, Mary Alice, and Bill are seated.

Everyone's standing for their 1982 photo taken at the family house, now Buzz's, at 1014 17th Street.










Back Row: Brian Dean, Joe, Jim, Bob, Dick, Bill, Mike, John, Carol and Ed
Front Row:  Linda, Marge, Barb

Many family members gathered on April 28, 2008 for Mary Alice's funeral in Kentucky:

Brian wrote a nice account of their visit in 2007 including some very cute stories she shared then.  I enjoyed reading this again, Brian. 

St. Joseph's Church

 On June 2,1881 Father James B. Fitzgerald was appointed pastor for a new parish in the Calvert-Sheridan area of southeastern Nebraska, establishing St. Joseph's Catholic Church. The first small building was functional for the growing Catholic community (no photo available). Among the 25 founding families were Peter Engles, J.W. Kerns, W.H. Kelligar and others. We don't have a photo of the original building.  However, below is the church in 1891 with the new bell town and expanded sanctuary. 

In 1900, the parish completed construction of a fine school staffed by the Sisters of Loretto. Mark and Laura Kerns did not attend this school because they were too old.  The rest of the Kerns children, and later the Ely children received an important part of their education here. 

A violent lightning storm hit the church bell tower on the evening of August 17, 1905 that started a fire destroying the original wooden church. Immediately the parishioners began plans for a new brick church on the same site. The building has been in continuous use for over 100 years now.  The photo shows the original dirt streets which were paved in the early 1950s.

The interior of the church shows wooden pews, pillars, and altar. The Kerns family always sat on the right side 4 pews from the front. As the children grew, they sat near the family. Laura and the Elys behind her parents. Then Gene and family in the same pew but entering from the side aisle.

On January 20, 1909, a beautiful Laura Kerns walked down this aisle on the arm of her father to marry Edward H. Ely. This was the first wedding in the completed building, to the best of our knowledge.

Here is the interior in 1961 at the wedding of Margene and Tom Dean.  The first redecoration of the church was in 1950.

I remember the redecoration rather well, consider that I was only 6 at the time.  Before they started, I sat in Mass and looked at the interesting cracks in the ceiling and counted the burned out light bulb that lined the major archs.  It was clear that they seldom changed them!  During the construction, scaffolding was all over the church making it hard to find "our" pew.  And when it was finished, we had to find a new "marker" for the pew.  Fortunately, all the children could find a key piece of decoration on the wall!

The next redecoration and carpeting was in the late 1960s.

The History of Auburn

Our hometown, Auburn, has an interesting history.  In the early 1880's our ancestors, James F. Ely and James W. Kerns, would have been involved in a lively discussion regarding the merging of the small towns Sheridan (north) and Calvert (south) to form a new town.  The idea focused on moving the county seat to a more central location and away from the large city of Brownville.  Church Howe and Charles Nixon donated land that was between the two little villages and strongly supported the plan.  They proposed the new name, Auburn, based on Nixon's memory of lovely Auburn, New York.  In 1882, the legal work was completed and in the election of 1883, the county seat was moved.  A small courthouse was built while plans for a new courthouse were made.

 In 1900, the limestone courthouse on the square was built at a point between the two small towns.  (Calvert was actually south of the square, an area that included St. Joseph's Church, the old Burlington Railroad, and the first J.W.Kerns Lumber Company).   Businesses grew around the square, a school was built to the north of the square (north of the Presbyterian Church).  This became known as South Auburn even with its own post office.

 

The Dovel Family, Longtime Friends

Families in Auburn knew each other quite well spanning generations.  Such was the case for the Dovel Family with the Kerns and McPherrens and later the Elys and Steinheiders.

Elmer and Gertrude Dovel moved to Auburn about 1910 when plumbing was a growing business. Apparently Elmer was highly skilled and soon established his own business. They lived in a large house at 1412 N Street.  They had three children, Irvin "Tiny" Dovel,  Inez Dovel Steinheider, and Doris Dovel.  They were active in the Methodist church, Auburn Schools, and community activities.

Tiny's Cafe, later became Darling's

Tiny was the oldest child, three years older than Gene Ely.  He worked with his dad in the Phillips 66 gas/oil business.  In the early 1950s Tiny expanded his operations by adding a restaurant near the viaduct, called "Tiny's Phillips 66 Drive-In."  Initially, it was like a truck stop, but everyone in town gathered there.  The first building had three food booths and a counter, with the end stool reserved for Tiny himself.  Later, they expanded with the large square building, and at some point they got rid of the gas pumps. 

Gene ate lunch with the boys at Tiny's for many years.  In fact, Tiny had a special room for his buddies to eat together with him.  Tiny weighed over 300 pounds, and thus personally advertised for the quality of the food in his establishment.   After every school event, kids flocked to Tiny's for something to eat, jukebox music, and most importantly "to be seen."  Going to Tiny's was just as important as going to the game... home or away.

After Tiny's death, the Darling family bought the business and operated it for many years.  Although officially the name had changed, to this day, people who understand Auburn's history prefer to call it "Tiny's."

A license plate decoration ca 1955

Tiny had a unique business sense.  He was called a Phillips 66 jobber, whatever that means.  He always wore overalls, specially made for a man of his size, so he had them embroidered with "Phillips 66" on the back.  He had every type of advertising trinket such as matchbooks, pencils, pens, and later T-shirts.  I've seen some of them on e-bay as collectibles.  We had dozens of such items over the years in our house.  On some he listed his business phone number, in the days before Auburn had dial phones.  What was it?  "66" of course!! 

Inez Dovel was an accomplished musician specializing in piano.  As a young child, she was the accompanist for many church events and nearly all school activities.  When the McPherren family moved to Auburn in 1930, she and Marge became friends and often shared the duties of accompanists.

Inez was a year ahead of Marge and Gene at AHS.  Here she is as a senior in 1932. It's amazing how recognizable she is. 



After attending college, Inez married Roy Steinheider and they returned to Auburn where they had one son, Robb.  Roy was in the insurance business and Inez taught piano to future musicians in her home at the corner of 16th and J.  Of course, the Ely children were among those chosen.  She was known as the best piano teacher in town, and also the toughest.  I felt additional pressure to perform since she was friends with my mother.  It didn't seem to bother Anne or Joe that much, though!

When the Ely family needed an organist at the Catholic Church for a wedding or special occasion, Inez was happy to fill in.  And from time to time, Marge would help Inez out at the Methodist Church too. 

Inez Steinheider about 2005

Here is the on-line obituary I found from 2008.

Inez Steinheider, age 94 of Auburn, passed away Sunday, November 30, 2008 at the Good Samaritan Society-Auburn. She was born December 26, 1913. 

Inez's parents were Elmer and Gertrude (Robertson) Dovel. Inez graduated from Auburn High School and University of NE and attended Christian College in Columbia, MO. She married June 4, 1937 to Roy Steinheider in Auburn, NE. They had 1 son, Robb. Inez and Roy lived in Auburn, NE. Roy died in 1997. Inez entered the Good Samaritan Center where she died at the age of 94 years, 11 months and 4 days.
Preceding her in death were her parents and a brother Irvin.
Survived by son Robb and wife Sue of CA. grandson Fritz and wife Amy of IN. 6 grandchildren and a sister Doris Dovel.
Graveside Memorial Services held Dec. 9, 2008 at Sheridan West Cemetery near Auburn, NE. Inurnment of ashes followed.

The Kerns Daughters

Laura Ely Kerns (Gene Ely's mother, born 1883) was the second of thirteen children of James W. and Alice Crowley Kerns.  She had a sister, Tessa, born in 1889 who died of diphtheria in 1892, when Laura was 9.  When she was 16, her next sister, dear Aunt Alice, was born.  And shortly thereafter, three more little girls came along, Kathryn, Emily, and Mercedes.

 Many of you may remember visiting Aunt Alice who was at the Good Samaritan Home in Auburn in the 1980s.  Although she had physical limitations in her later years, her mind was sharp.  Alice and Marge Ely were close friends and spent many hours chatting, laughing, and enjoying each other. 

Alice Francis Kerns Flack graduated from Auburn High School in 1918.  At the time of her graduation, her brothers were going to war (World War I) and J.W. wanted Alice to take a leadership role in the lumber yard.  She did, of course, and proved herself to be quite capable.  She was a fixture among business people in Auburn for many decades.

Alice remembered much from the early days of Auburn.  She recalled the bricking of Courthouse Avenue since her father ordered all the materials.  Such an improvement was a major event for the community.  The boulevard was completed about 1910 and has withstood the traffic (including parades) for over 100 years!

Be sure to enlarge the 1912 photo to see the beautiful detail on the girls' dresses.  We know that their mother did much crocheting, and perhaps she did some of the handwork on the dresses.  They have lovely jewelry on too. 

The Kerns Sisters in 1912:  Top clockwise:  Laura, Kathryn, Mercedes, Emily, and Alice

Here they are together in 1955 in the Ely house. Emily lived in Omaha while the others spent their lives in Auburn.

Kathryn Codington, Emily Guthman, Alice Flack, Laura Ely, and Mercedes Sanders.

1976 Gene, Kathryn, Buzz, Alice, Edith

The Kerns aunts doted upon the Ely nephews throughout their lives.

***

A future post will focus on the J.W. Kerns Lumber Company.