Greetings from Historic Red Cloud: Great Stories Grow Here!
Set amid brick-lined streets, charming homes, historic buildings, and the immense beauty of the prairie, Red Cloud offers a glimpse into a storied American past while maintaining a progressive vision for the future. Great stories start in Red Cloud--add your own chapter today!
|
|
|
Red Cloud Community Fund Launches 2nd Annual September Month of Giving to Benefit Local Causes
Launched in 2020, the September Month of Giving campaign affords the Red Cloud Community Fund (RCCF) the opportunity to give back to the community immediately. Funds raised for the campaign between Sept. 1 to Sept. 30th are granted out to local causes and organizations before the end of the calendar year. Last year, our fund raised over $15K! Thanks to the generous support of donors and sponsors we were able to award $2500 grants to The City of Red Cloud’s Historic Preservation Commission, Cherry Corner Estates Assisted Living Center, and Webster County Senior Services and $2K grants to The Valley Child Development Center’s (TVCDC) Outdoor Classroom and to RCCF’s Youth Committee.
Thanks to our generous sponsors and supporters, the first $10K in donations will be matched dollar for dollar!
This year, we’ve selected some great causes for you to support. The RC Ballfields Improvement Project would result in a new concession stand, improved bathrooms and storage space, as well as a new crow’s nest. Our own Recreation & Health subcommittee is exploring options for a Recreation Trail around the community, and we continue to try and build resources for community improvement projects identified by our Youth Committee. South Central State Bank has given the Hotel Garber Steering Committee a Challenge to raise $25K in local support by the end of the year which they will match.
We will also accept donations during September for ongoing support of TVCDC and Heritage Tourism Development as well as the Historic Preservation Commission.
Fill out this form and pick which cause you want to support! You can also just donate to our general account if you would prefer. If you'd prefer to donate online, please click the button below. You can donate to Heritage Tourism and TVCDC using the online portal.
|
|
|
|
Highlights from Street Car Days 2021!
|
|
Street Car Days Celebrates 150 Years of Red Cloud Proud!
Despite being plagued by rainy weather and an evening storm that moved the Saturday evening concert by the Hotbox Revival Band (featuring Eric Horne, RCHS Class of 2000) into the Community Center, the 2021 rendition of Red Cloud's annual Street Car Days celebration was a success. There was great turnout from locals and alumni. The Webster County Community Hospital took home the prize for best float from the Street Car Days Parade while The Valley Child Development Center was the winning entry in the kids division. Mike and Barb Kenny were this year's Grand Marshalls, celebrating 32 years of their business, Kenny's Lumber. Mike and Barb's son Matt and his wife Casey will run Kenny's Hardware & Home Center going forward (see the new signage in the story below!).
Click on the video above to see highlights from the weekend, including the 5K the Warrior Way, Missoula Children's Theatre, the Saturday morning parade, and Lions' Club Pancake Fly-In breakfast at the RC Airport.
|
|
|
|
Street Car Days Parade Grand Marshalls Mike and Barb Kenny. Mike and Barb ran Kenny's Lumber from 1989-2021!
|
|
|
Reception held for artist and Red Cloud native Lynn Wolfe at the Red Cloud Opera House Art Gallery
Red Cloud has the good fortune to be associated with some extraordinary historical figures like Silas Garber, Willa Cather, Cy Young, Dazzy Vance, William Norris, and Lea Penman. Relatively overlooked in that canon of RC legends is artist and professor Lynn Wolfe (RCHS Class of 1935). Wolfe passed away recently at the age of 102 and was, according to David Cook Galleries, "A versatile artist proficient in painting, sculpture, stained glass and mosaics."
Wolfe's work is on display at the Red Cloud Opera House for one more day but many pieces from the artist will be housed permanently in the National Willa Cather Center's art collection thanks to a generous donation from Wolfe's family. Learn more about Wolfe's life and art by reading this biography and this Hastings Tribune article about a reception for the artist that took place at the Opera House during Street Car Days. If you can't make it to the Cather Center be sure to check out this digital gallery of Wolfe's work.
|
|
|
|
Facebook live preview of the work going on at the former Stockaid Location in downtown Red Cloud
|
|
Up to 5 New Businesses to Operate in Former Stockaid Location
Brad and Andrea Frey have been busing sprucing up the former Stockaid & Standard Oil station location on the northwest side of the Cedar St & US Hwy 136/4th Avenue intersection. Watch the video above to get a sneak peek at work that has been completed on the building. The Silver Spur boutique will occupy the former storefront area while Brad & Andrea will utilize the former mechanic's bay area to complete production work for their business Abundant Life Honey. Andrea will utilize the remaining space for an office for her accounting business. Customers will also be able to rent U-Haul trailers and trucks at the location (see the picture below) and the Freys are in discussions to allow a possible food truck park at the site permanently. The Frey's entrepreneurial spirit is in the process of transforming a space that sat vacant for a few years into space for 4-5 businesses! Brad and Andrea will be our September "Get to Know" feature so stay tuned!
|
|
|
South Central State Bank Challenge Grant Would Raise $50K for Hotel Garber Project
South Central State Bank recently agreed to donate $25K to the Hotel Garber Project if the Red Cloud Hotel, LLC Board of Managers and Steering Committee raise $25K from local sources before the end of the calendar year. The project continues to progress with about 75% of the funding in place. In order to achieve the look and feel of the historic Potter Block building and thus make Red Cloud's downtown even more of a destination for tourists, the LLC Board decided to pursue Historic Tax Credits from the Nebraska State Historic Preservation Office. The tax credits will allow the Board of Managers to be able to afford the new and improved historic concept. The application process for those tax credits has begun. APMA Architects will begin work on preparing Construction Documents during the month of September. If you'd like more information about the Hotel Garber Project please contact Jarrod McCartney at 402-746-4065 or jmccartney@redcloudnebraska.com.
If you live in Webster, Nuckolls, Clay, Adams, or Franklin Counties in Nebraska or Jewell or Smith Counties in Kansas and would like to donate to the South Central State Bank Challenge specifically please fill out this pledge form or you can contact McCartney or any RC Hotel Board member or member of the steering committee: Ashley Olson, Dennis Hansen, Liz Rasser, Gary Meyer, Gary Thompson, Marion Arneson, Justin Armstrong, Todd Mahin, and Jay Yost. You can also give via the Red Cloud Community Fund's September Month of Giving Campaign. Any amount from $25 to $25K is more than appreciated! Please note that pledges can be spread out over a number of years or quarters.
|
|
|
Changes and Upgrades Occurring at Local Businesses and at RC Schools!
Changes and upgrades continue to occur at local businesses! Kenny's Hardware & Home Center recently unveiled new signage that not only signals the transition of the business from Mike & Barb Kenny to Matt & Casey Kenny but also describes the new vision for the business and pays homage to the roots of this locally owned family business which go back to 1989.
Brad and Andrea Frey have also added a U-Haul Service to their multipurpose business space at 4th & Cedar while Hometown Market has expanded its hours, opening at 7:30am M-F and are now preparing breakfast burritos each morning as well. The YWCA School of Dance will also open its studio in the National Willa Cather Center in September.
Red Cloud Community Schools has been busy improving as well, adding a new parking lot on the southside of the elementary school and adjacent to the football & track fields.
|
|
|
|
|
|
