Our June meeting was well attended.  We had two guests and Nona did a super job as our new President. 

Nona and Claire had the program - This and That!  But some very good and some new information was given. 

Nona told of the use of Julian calendar to the Gregorian calendar, which made the big change in September of 1752, and gave tips on preservation of your material on your family tree. 

A “Thank-you” to Donna Carlberg of Seattle WA for sending a very informative article on the Blewett family, who lived in Fremont, NE and was one of the families who pushed west. And helped to establish Fremont in the March 1880’s, near Seattle Washington.  It is filed with our Fremont History. 

SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT - 2000 WOES 

Claire read an article that proved to be very interesting. Hopefully it may mean something to some of our members, for it does to her. While the Year 2000 is focused on computers, a decidely low-tech cousin is also  “Looming” up.  Thousands of tombstones and monuments will have to be replaced if some senior citizens  live into the new century.  WHY? 

Many widows and widowers bought double monuments when their spouses died.  To save money, most tombstones were inscribed with the survivor’s name, birth year and the first two digits(19--) of their death year. 

Surprise is almost here, for many will still be living.  Some monuments can be repaired.  Those with indented numerals are easiest.  A monument worker can lay the stone flat, insert some stone powder and epoxy and fill the old date.  Those repairs will cost a few hundred dollars.  Those with raised lettering or with hard to find granite might be facing a complete replacement of the monument costing thousands. 

Claire says, maybe a new solution will arise to help out the situation. 

Donated by Nona Wiese, is the new Czechoslovakia Road Atlas.   A lovely book to put on our shelf with all of our other books about this country. 

The following programme was carried out on the 4th; Instrumental and vocal music; prayer by the chaplain; reading of the Declaration of Independence, by Mrs C K Huntington; Oration, by R W Breckenridge; dinner.  The flag presentation by W W Marple, and answer by J P Scott; Toasts by Hon Wm Marshall, W W Hall, and D H Westfall, of Glencoe. 

In the potato race, Willie McNally took first prize, Harry Cantlin second, Fred Acom third.  Wheelbarrow race, J W McGreath first prize, Johnnie Sievers second, Henry Blue third.  In the “Tug of War,” Robert Miller, Fred Miller, Al Mosier and A Crawford took the prize as against D A Hopkins, John Brundidge, Fred Blessing and Geo Miller - Flail(A North Bend Newspaper). 

The Miller’s mentioned above really spelled their name Millar-and if you are researching this family, you best look under both spellings. 

THE TERRIBLE STORM 
A Chapter of Incidents and Accidents 

The storm which had been wished for, for so long a time, came Wednesday evening.  When it did come, (to be slightly profane,) it “raised the devil.”  Rain and hail, wind, thunder, and lightning seemed to be contending with each other, and from the stand point of a disinterested observer, it would be hard telling which came out first best. 
  Many trees in the city were blown down, and much “garden plots” laid low, chimneys, barns and out houses were considerably inflated. 
  The roof of the residence of Chas A Smith was blown entirely off, and took its position on the other side of the road.  The gable end of the house was also blown in. 
  The new barn of Theron Nye was moved two or three feet from its foundation.  It is still on its own plantation, however. 
  Two of the large window lights of the new hotel were blown in. 
  The large plate-glass window light in the First National Bank was blown in. 
  The UP depot was set on fire by the lightning, but the blaze of the window curtain was seen by J C Cleland, who burst in the door and extinguished the flames.  The operator and all of the employees had gone to supper. 
  A section of the UP wind-mill was blown off. 
  John Henry was found under a load of hay which had tipped over on him. 
  Usher’s celebrated coffin was completely annihilated. 
  The cars on the UP side track were “impelled” a considerable distance by the wind. 
  Wm Montgomery performed the second act of “La Fall Oh the Kr” without any considerable damage. 
  The front of Blanchard & Barnard’s hardware store was blown in. 
  Jack Lee was knocked down by lightning.  He was not seriously hurt. 
  At this early date it is impossible for us to estimate the damage which has been done in this county.  The crops are damaged to a great extent if the storm extended through the county. 

   Fremont (NE) Tribune  10 July 1874  3:3