Loup Generator - Spring 2019

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around the District CLARKSON OPERA HOUSE The Clarkson Opera House has hosted dances, talent shows, concerts and receptions for more than 100 years. “It’s a great old building,” said Chuck Hamernik. He’s a member of The Clarkson Community Opera House, Inc., a nonprofit organization that formed in 2002 to ensure that the Opera House will host events for years to come. The history of the Opera House dates back to the late 1800s when a fraternal organization formed in Clarkson. They met in businesses around town before building their own hall in 1891. As the Western Bohemian Fraternal Association (Zapadni Cesko Bratrska Jednota) grew in membership it outgrew the building. The new Opera House was built in the fall of 1915 and the ZCBJ had its first meeting there in January of 1916. It began showing movies in 1930 and hosted many school events before Clarkson’s modern high school was constructed in 1952. The Lion’s Club leased the Opera House from 1958 through 1961 and continued to show movies and host public gatherings. VFW Cornhusker Post 6419 took over the lease in 1961 and took care of the building for 40 years. When the VFW and Ladies Auxiliary decided they couldn’t maintain the building due to their advanced ages, the nonprofit group stepped in to take over. With the help of donations, the group has updated and maintained the building for the last 16 years. Hamernik said they added central air conditioning and new windows and refinished the floors several times. Another big project is restoring the hand-painted curtains. One has been completed with seven remaining. The curtains are in fairly good shape with a bit of water damage. They were painted in the 1920s and 30s. The Opera House is listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Nebraska. It continues to be the site of community events and hosted the Glen Miller Band, a Beatles tribute band, and Elvis impersonator in the last few years. 16 GENERATOR
Above: The Opera House featured eight hand-painted curtains. This is the first to be restored and was painted in 1929. It features Svatopluk, a Moravian king who ruled in the late 800s. His three sons wanted to split the kingdom so they could each rule a portion. The curtain features the legend of the three twigs. Just before his death, Svatopluk asked his sons to come to him and to bring twigs. He asked his sons to break a single twig, which they did easily. He then bundled the sticks and asked them to break the bundle, which was not possible. “The moral of the story is, ‘Stay together and you’ll be strong. If you’re an individual, you’ll be easily broken,’ “ said Chuck Hamernik, who serves as Clarkson’s mayor and helps maintain the Opera House. The brothers did not listen, fighting for control of the throne following Svatopluk’s death. Their division lead to the fall of the Moravian Empire. Top right: Hamernik lowers a curtain at the Opera House. Bottom right: One of eight curtains at the Opera House awaiting restoration. Below: A view of the Opera House from the balcony. A gymnastics class meets there a few times a week. The Opera House is open by appointment. clarksonoperahouse.org 340 Pine St., Clarkson, Neb. 402-892-2457 SPRING <strong>2019</strong> 17
Page 1 and 2: GENERA OR a publication of Loup Pow
Page 3 and 4: PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE Historic flood
Page 5 and 6: County payments total more than $2
Page 7 and 8: ‘We were in awe’ Flood estimate
Page 9 and 10: Top left: A breach by the Highway 2
Page 11 and 12: Far left: A 1,500-pound sandbag is
Page 13 and 14: Top: Equipment Operator Jack Jones
Page 15: Above: Staff Sgt. Joseph Yates look
Page 19 and 20: SHEILA SUP Columbus Service Center
Page 21 and 22: Ho find the answers with ENERGY ADV
Page 23 and 24: LOWERING PIPELINES The Headworks cr

Loup Generator - Spring 2019

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