Living in North Platte, NE

Living
in
North Platte, NE

by

Shermie - shermie@charter.net

North Platte is a city in Nebraska. With a population of just under 25,000, North Platte is the largest community in Lincoln County, located in west central Nebraska.

In November of 1868, the rails of the Union Pacific Railroad reached the location of what is now known as North Platte. Situated between the North and South Platte rivers, just west of the confluence, the town was named by a flip of a coin to determine between North Platte and South Platte. North Platte was incorporated as a city in 1873.

In 1882, Col. Wm. F. Cody, known to the world as "Buffalo Bill", responded to the calls of local civic leaders and produced an Independence Day celebration known as the "Old Glory Blowout". He later developed this into his famed Wild West Show which toured throughout the world. The home he built while living in North Platte, known as Scouts Rest Ranch, is now a state historical park and is open to tour.

North Platte could have gone the way of many small towns in rural Nebraska, becoming a sleepy backwater, except for native Bill Jeffers. Jeffers rose from a "call boy" for Union Pacific, to become president of the railroad. He chose his home town of North Platte to build a reclassification yard. Union Pacific's Bailey Yard is now the largest railroad classification yard in the world. Nearly 4,000 employees service more than 150 trains per day, totaling nearly 15,000 rail cars.

During World War II, North Platte became famous for the North Platte Canteen. Volunteers met in early December 1941 at the Depot to greet what they thought was a train load of local troops headed for war. When the train stopped, it turned out to be carrying boys from Kansas instead of North Platte. After they got over their disappointment, townspeople offered all of the goodies they had collected to the Kansas boys. From this humble beginning, on Christmas day 1941, the North Platte Canteen opened it's doors. For the next 52 months, volunteers met every single troop train that came through town, day or night. By April 1, 1946, this all-volunteer effort had served more than 6.5 million service personnel.

People of North Platte

Dustin Elliott - 2004 PRCA World Champion Bull Rider.
Mobster Henry Hill used to work as a cook in North Platte
The popular big band leader Glenn Miller lived in North Platte during his childhood and started his musical career there when his father bought him a mandolin
Noted San Francisco Bay Area Disc Jockey Dr. Don Rose, was born and raised in North Platte and would frequently reference the city on his popular morning show
Nebraska Senator Chuck Hagel was born in North Platte.
Danny Woodhead played high school football at North Platte High School. Woodhead went on to play college football at Chadron State College. He set numerous records including the all-time rushing mark for any NCAA division level. He also won NCAA Football- Division II's most prestigious award twice, the Harlon Hill Trophy, in both 2006 and 2007.
Chief Red Cloud, Sioux warrior, was born near North Platte in 1822.

Nebraska Facts

The worlds largest train yard, Union Pacific's Bailey Yard, is located in North Platte.
Nebraska was the home or birthplace of William Jennings Bryan, Goerge Norris, Willa Cather, Mari Sandoz, John Neihardt, John L. Pershing, Edward J. Flanagan, William "Buffalo Bill" Cody, Henry Fonda, Johnny Carson, Dick Cavett, Darryl F. Zanuck, Marlon Brando, Fred Astaire, Malcolm X and Gerald Ford.
Kool-Aid was created in 1927 by Edwin Perkins in the city of Hastings.

AAA - 410 E. Leota Street / Ste. 3, North Platte, NE 69101, (308) 532-5665, email, - 15% AAA Membership Discount & 5% discount for Auto Insurance.

Animal Clinic - P.O. Box 1102, 1603 Rodeo Rd., North Platte, NE 69101, (308) 532-2246, email, (308) 534-7053.

Automatic Transmission and 4-by-4 Transfer Case - Service, Rebuild and Repair, North Platte, NE, call Andy at (308) 539-7323 or email.

Brown's Shoe Fit Company - 502 North. Dewey Street, North Platte, NE 69101, (308) 532-2094.

C & D Plumbing & Heating Service - P.O. Box 894, North Platte, NE 69101, (308) 532-0968

Corn VIC's Popper - 1847 West A Street, North Platte, NE 69101, (308) 532-0323, (877) 244-6322, email, Popcorn - Lunch - Specialty Drinks - Deserts - Gifts - Catering.

Do-It Best Center - 1021 North Jeffers, North Platte, NE 69101, (308) 534-3648, (800) 431-3649, "Everything you need and more...." Kitchen Bath & Lighting Showrooms, Plumbing - Electrical - Paint - Wallpaper, Carol A. Brewer (Owner), www.ucan.doitbest.com, email.

Eakes Office Plus - 520 North Vince, North Platte, NE 69101, (308) 534-7800, (800) 356-8844, email.

Ellett's Automotive Inc, 111 E 11th Street, North Platte, NE 69101, www.elletts-automotive.com

Espresso Shoppe - Terrie & Mike Mooney, 419 N. Dewey, North Platte, NE 69101 (308) 534-9550, email.

Feather & Fin Sports - Jon Farley, 601 Rodeo Road, North Platte, NE 69103, (308) 532-9800, Cell (308) 530-7854, email

Ford Specialist (Mechanic) - all makes & models, Josh Winchester, (308) 539-2039, email.

Super Foods - 1620 E. 4th Street, North Platte, NE, email.

Hong Kong Gourmet - 1211 South Dewey Street, North Platte, NE 69108, (308) 534-3353, email.

Kelley's Custom Pack - Custom Butchering, Catering & Retail Meats, Doug Kelley Owner, 1600 East 8th Street, North Platte, NE 69101, (308) 534-7464.

Kohler Trailer Sales & Service - 3821 Rodeo Road, North Platte, NE 69101, (308) 532-9263, website, email.

MAIN-S-TREET Cafe - 517 N. Dewey, North Platte, NE 69101, (308) 534-0922, email. Breakfast & Lunch Dine in, Carry out. Breakfast & Lunch Monday - Friday (7 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.). Breakfast - Saturday (7 a.m. - noon), Breakfast - Wednesday - Breakfast & Sandwiches - Saturday (10 p.m. - 4 a.m.)

Malcom, Brenda, Realitor / ABR, SRES Century 21 Select Properties, Inc., 1221 S. Dewey St., Suite 100, North Platte, NE 69101, (308) 520-6718 (Direct), (308) 511-2121 (Office), (308) 511-2121, email.

Maxwell's Off-Road Center, Inc. - 902 East 7th Street, P.O. Box 1151, North Platte, NE 69103, (308) 532-2198, email. Performance Parts and Accessories for the Automotive Enthusiast, (Contact Tom / Matt - Motorcycles).

Mike's Motorcycle & ATV Repair - 2220 Prospect Drive, North Platte, NE 69101, (308) 534-4985, email.

Pair of Aces - Shermie & the Madd Hatter, the Best in Midwest Entertainment, call (308) 534-1801 or email for bookings and information, or view website.

Perkins Restaurant & Bakery - 2302 South Jeffers Street, North Platte, NE 69101, (308) 534-7375, www.perkinsrestaurants.com

Piano Tuning & Repair - (308) 534 -1801 or email, Piano Tuning & Repair (website) - 30 years of experience. Electronic keyboard, organ and amplifier repair service experience, call or email Shermie.

Roger's Fine Foods - 1402 South Jeffers, North Platte, NE, (308) 534-3595. All types of catering available, over 50 years of experience.

Runza Restaurants - B & Jeffers or Leota & Dewey, North Platte, NE 69101, (308) 534-4302 or (308) 534-6182

Sache' Salon & Spa - 1909 W. A St., North Platte, NE 69101, see website, email or call (308) 532-7575, Kelli Ford, Cosmetologist.

Sam's Lawn Service - Sam Mohr (owner), 8336 S. Sagebrush Lane, North Platte, NE 69101, (308) 534-4133, website.

San Pedro Authentic Mexican Restaurant - 1002 S. Jeffers Street, North Platte, NE 69101 (308)-532-9579.

Shermie at the Piano - (308) 534 -1801, www.wiehes.com/pianist.html, email. Pianist/Singer/Piano Teacher - 35+ years of experience.

Staples - 1000 South Dewey, North Platte, NE 69101, (308) 532-1990.

Sun Mart Foods - 1921 West A Street, North Platte, NE 69101, (308) 532-7134.

The Log Cabin - 4012 Rodeo Road, North Platte, NE 69101, (308) 534-2316. Weekly Menu

The Pieces of Eight Band - www.thepiecesofeightband.com

Appearing in North Platte, Nov. 6 & New Years at the Anchor In

The Quilt Rack - We sell fabric by the yards! Lisa DeBord, 101 West Front Street, North Platte, NE 69101, (308) 532-2606, www.the-quilt-rack.com/

Town & Country Western Wear Inc. - 108 E. William, North Platte, NE 69101, (308) 534-3300, www.townandcountrywestern.com, email.

Weaver's Tree Service - North Platte, NE, (308) 539-7080, email. Tree removal, trim, grind stumps out, tree injection (disease & fertilize), build wet lands, take out tree claims, make and dig out small ponds, house demolition and tree sheering.

Your Homecare Specialists, www.westfieldpharmacy.com - 1845 West A Str., North Platte, NE 69101, (308) 532-5539, (800) 491-5539, D.M.E. Dept (308) 534-1147, Floral Dept. (308) 534-9330, email.

Whiskey Creek Wood Fire Grill - 311 Halligan Drive, North Platte, NE 69101, (308) 532-0660.

Willow Creek Embroidery "Superior Stitching for a Lasting Impression", (308) 532-9649, Fax (308) 532-9649, email, www.willowcreekembroidery.com

Website Designed & Maintained by Shermie Wiehe