Stories in Time

03/29/2023

A sneak peek of the first in the "Where Was That?" series available for purchase at the Adams County Historical Society.

03/22/2023

TRADING SPACES (EVEN BACK THEN)
Christian Nicholai Jorgensen emigrated from Denmark, found his way to Iowa, and married Miss Martha “Mattie” Lumpkin in 1868. The Jorgensens settled in Hastings where Christian was a coal dealer in 1880, a grocer in 1885, a traveling sales agent in 1895, and an insurance agent in 1900.
The residence was built for the Jorgensens in 1887; however, they “traded spaces” with Frederick “Fred” and Eliza (Calvert) Benedict in 1894. The Benedicts moved to this house for which they paid the Jorgensens an additional $6,000 and the Jorgensens moved to the Benedicts’ home 416 West Fourth.
Hailing from Monroe County, New York, Fred Benedict arrived in Hastings in 1872 where he was a grain dealer; in the lumber business with Charles C. Ingalls (they hauled the first load of lumber to the city); worked as a clerk and then owner of Pratt & Lawson general merchandise; and served as an organizational director of First National Bank of Adams County in 1881.

03/15/2023

This home was built by Andrew and Rose (Hayzlett) Boston in 1884. Andrew was a bookkeeper in 1885 and a lumber dealer by 1900. They sold the house to Clarence and Roberta “Bertie” (Nyce) Rose for $9,500 in November 1890 and eventually moved to Oklahoma City.
Clarence Rose was born in Ohio and moved to Hastings sometime between 1881 and 1885. He and his father were contractors and bridge builders for C. L. Rose & Co. Clarence and Bertie relocated; and, at the time of the 1900 census, there were three families (sixteen people) occupying this sprawling residence.

03/08/2023

William F. Kerr was a Scottish emigrant who arrived in Hastings by 1879. His occupation in 1880 and 1885 was listed in the censuses as “money broker.” Kerr was instrumental in building what would become the Kerr Opera House, which opened in 1884. (As the plans for the building became more elaborate – costs increased from $35,000 to $61,000 – many of the stockholders withdrew, and Kerr bore most of the expense himself.) He and Miss Thomson were married in late 1884 and were living here in 1886, the same year Kerr opened the Adams County Bank on the first floor of the new opera house. Kerr also served as a park commissioner in 1895 and city councilman from 1899-1901. The home was modified by 1894, and porches were added by 1905. The house was razed between 1923 and 1924.

02/08/2021

One year ago, "The Book of Elaine" was made available on Amazon. To date, 92 books have been sold and ALL proceeds (nearly $855) has been donated to the Elaine Lamski Student Foreign Travel Fund. Thank you to all who have supported Mme. Lamski's wishes. Merci beaucoup!

02/07/2021

I am so pleased with this project! Thank you John Hanssen!

Over the course of his 87 years, J.M. Hanssen recorded many details of his life, which is to the benefit of anyone who wants to know about life in Grand

02/08/2020

Here it is! Please share:

https://www.amazon.com/Book-Elaine-Cross-Lamski/dp/1654201855/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=The+Book+of+Elaine%3A+Elaine+Cross+Lamski&qid=1581186816&s=books&sr=1-1

03/14/2019

Stories in Time took a brief departure from doing personal history to assist Allen Tork of Hastings with his new children's book, What Wanda the Robin Thinks. :) It's now available on Amazon:

Follow the tale of Wanda the Robin and the fantastical questions the author thinks she may be asking.

10/05/2018

Good tips for what sometimes seems like a mammoth undertaking!

Old family photos are like cars, aren’t they? They need a place to live out of the elements when they aren’t being displayed or driven (your pictures do take you places, don’t they?). Hold that thought. This morning I spent a few hours with a box of UFO photos I’ve had since the twilight yea...

09/03/2018

Once again, the power and benefit of storytelling!

Storytelling allows young children to become familiar with sounds, words and language while simultaneously sparking their imaginations.