Fire Department Auxiliary

   On December 7, 1950 the idea to form an auxiliary was presented to the firemen wives by J. E. Moyer, Fire Chief.
   A meeting was held the following January 11, 1951, when a vote was taken on this motion to form an auxiliary. Fifteen ladies were present, 13 votes yes, two voted no.
   The charter members were: Bernice Moyer Ebel, Lucy Selzer, Florence Kamenske, Gussie Wilson, Erma Hoshor, Lucy Graves, Anna Kinnison, Clarabelle Hoshor, Opal Benedict, Bess Kamenske, Violet Meyers, Marjorie Kimble, Clara Minnick, Dorothy Moyer, Gertrude Sylvester, Angeline Graves, Mary Scholz, Lillian Wirka, Claryce Selzer, Mildred Kamenske and Lois Raric.
   The charter officers were Bernice Moyer Ebel, President; Gussie Wilson, Vice President; Lucy Selzer, Secretary; and Florence Kamenske, Treasurer.
   Mrs. Norman Davis of the David City Auxiliary, then State President, came to explain the work of the organization.
   The primary purpose of the Auxiliary was to assist the firemen in case of emergency.
   Of the original members, the following are still members- Bernice Moyer Ebel, Florence Kamenske, Marjorie Kimble, Dorothy Moyer and Gertrude Sylvester.
   Some of the major emergencies the Auxiliary helped with were:
   The search for Darrel Smith and the Kudron child and

the tornado east of Bellwood.
   For several years a concession stand was maintained at the baseball tournaments. We were also volunteers for the bloodmobile.
   Lap robes were made and donated to the local hospital and rest homes, especially for the people from our general area.
   We have adopted an aged person from a rest home for three years.
   We have participated in several parades with our unique floats.
   At present we have twenty members.

-Dorothy Moyer

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   Savannah Lodge No. 279 was organized on the 17th day of February 1904 by the signing of these charter members: J. S. Bell, J. D. Bell, A. R. Brandenburgh, G. Cady, H. DeFord, E. A. Grisinger, Charles Harris, A. A. Jones, F. Judevine, Phil Smith, E. G. Kitchen, G. C. Meyer, J. Meinyer and A. J. Cooper.
   C. H. Ellis, Grand Master of the I.O.O.F. for Nebraska instituted and signed the charter along with I. P. Page, Grand Secretary.
   The first meetings of Savannah Lodge were held upstairs in the old Derby Store which was located where the Bellwood Co-op Service Center is now standing. Later they moved to the east side of the street and that building is now part of the Bellwood Bar. Their records and books are now housed in the new Rebekah Hall.
   Savannah Lodge No. 279 helped support the Odd Fellow Home at York for many years. This home was a haven for the destitute, the widow and the orphan. Many children raised there came back for the annual Home Picnic each year for a reunion and to express their thanks. In the late years, the aged were cared for there. It also, by its dues to the Grand Lodge, helps support such worthy causes as scholarships for students, eyebanks and sponsors a pilgrimage for students by bus to the United Nations each summer.

   The Chapters were chartered March 1977 by North Bend Jaycees and Mrs. Jaycees.
   The Jaycees assisted in the development of the new park addition by planting the trees, helping erect the shelter, chain link fence, and park equipment. They donated a park

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swing to the park. The Mrs. Jaycees donated a pre-schooler climber by sales of raffles.
   The Jaycees provided 600 hours of labor to complete the interior of the community auditorium donated by the estate of O. A. Brandenburgh. They also donated $550 worth of tables and chairs for use in the hall. The Mrs. Jaycees furnished the kitchen with dishes, silverware, etc. valued at $450.
   The Jaycees Chapter was one of the initial supporters of purchasing a Jaws of Life for the community. They raised $650 for the project and the Mrs. Jaycees donated $50..
   The chapters supported the project of purchasing Resusci- Anne and Resusci Baby for community use and donated $75.
   Several dances were held for money makers to support projects including donations of $233 to the Max Hall and $233 to the Rick Patocka funds.
   The Jaycees have brought Santa to town and free movies for the children. The Mrs. Jaycees sponsored the Campbell's label collection for the grade school to purchase equipment for school use. The Mrs. Jaycees sponsored with David City a Junior Miss Pageant.
   For three years the Mrs. Jaycees have sponsored the Christmas lighting contest. A Senior Citizen salad luncheon and card party was a big success.
   Since chartering the chapters together have held July celebrations consisting of: barbecues, kiddie parades, horseshoe contest, tug of wars, raffles, live music, donkey ball games, and kiddie competitions.
   The two chapters have participated in neighboring centennials with floats in Rising City's and Shelby's parades.
   They hosted the WOW radio station Disc Jockeys to picnic and ballgame and raised $200 for Children's Memorial Hospital in Omaha to be used for purchase of slides in teaching children about poisons. The Mrs. Jaycees sponsored this poison prevention project with a year of activities including fair booth, coloring contest, slides, etc., which earned them a first place in state competition among Mrs. Jaycees.
   The Mrs. Jaycees chartered the Rising City Ms. Jaycees and Silver Creek Mrs. Jaycees.
   The Jaycees erected a community sign in the park uptown for announcing community events.
   The Mrs. Jaycees planted a cottonless cottonwood tree in the park uptown for Bellwood's 100th birthday on April 22, 1980.
   Since chartering the chapter's objective has been to support community projects while developing as individuals and making lasting friendships in the community and state wide through the Nebraska chapters.

*Indicates charter members

Community Auditorium Building, 1978-1979.

    On scaffold, left to right: Roger Schmale, Ben Forney and Gary McDonald.

    On floor: Frank Fichtl and Richard Cole. Jaycee Chapter

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