Depot Museum open for Labor Day

Lodgepole's Depot Museum will be open to the public in observance of the Old Settlers' Days celebration held over the Labor Day weekend in Lodgepole.

Lodgepole has a rich history with the Valley of Lodgepole Creek having historic trails, telegraph lines, and railroads run through it. and items on display at the museum tell the story of this history.

According to the Nebraska Historical Society, the Pony Express followed the valley from 1860 to 1861. Pole Creek No. 2 station was a few miles west of Lodgepole near Sidney. Pony Express historian Joe Nardone so enjoyed this particular stop on the Pony Express trail that he donated several items from his personal collection to the Lodgepole Depot Museum. The museum now houses several artifacts from the Pony Express.

In 1861 the first transcontinental telegraph line was built through the valley. Stagecoaches of the Central Overland Route soon followed, carrying passengers and mail. Former Pony express stations continued to serve the stage line, providing lodging and provisions for travelers. When the tracks of the Union Pacific Railroad reached Lodgepole in 1867, wagon and stagecoach travel declined.

Once the Lodgepole station was established, a company of U.S. soldiers from the nearby Sidney Barracks camped there to guard the railroad against attack.

The train depot was constructed by the Union Pacific Railroad (UP) in 1887 on a site adjacent to the tracks. It replaced an earlier section house and was in use until the UP decommissioned the building in 1968.

Tammy Sherman, Lodgepole village clerk, said the train depot was donated to the Village of Lodgepole by the UP railroad after lots of volunteer time and paper work.

In 1971 Filsinger Construction of Sidney donated time, energy and equipment to move the depot from the south side of Highway 30 to lots donated by the Burt Bates family. The present building was opened to the public on Labor Day 1972.

Lodgepole's museum was first established and organized in 1959 by Mrs. Fern Lindley, a Girl Scout leader, and her troops.

Sherman said the first site of the museum was a room at the First State Bank. After a few years, more space was needed and the museum was later moved to a room at the Foster Lumber Company building and eventually to the Englert Stone Hotel before finding it's final home in the old train depot.

A publication put out by the Lodgepole Historical Society said "the goal from the very beginning of the depot museum was 'to collect' one item from every pioneer family in the Lodgepole area and we continue to do this and have saved many historical items for future generations to enjoy. The displays are updated yearly and enjoyed by many visitors though out the season."

Lodgepole Depot Museum is normally open by appoint only, however the building will be open during the Old Settlers' Day celebration this weekend. The museum will be open Saturday Sept. 3, from 9-noon, Sunday Sept. 4, from 1-4 p.m. and Monday Sept. 5, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.