Beth McKeown Weblog

New Hope ARP Church

October, 1996
On September 29, New Hope ARP Church in Fairfield county celebrated its 200th anniversary. (I remember attending the [1]50th.)
Michael, Anne, Robert, Harry [Sr.] and I attended. Sisters Jessie and Emmie with their husbands were there. Brother John and wife, Mary Alice, were also there. Pam who is not well was in the hospital. Her children Steve and Emmy were able to come.
The last time we had all been there and sat near the front was for Daddy's [John Stevenson McKeown] funeral in [1978].
Johnny welcomed everyone and several area ministers and former ministers were there.
The church is barely holding on as so many rural folk have moved away. However with donations from former members, the cemetery and church are in good condition. The builders of the church were forward looking in that the sanctuary and balcony can seat over 200.
We had dinner on the grounds.
Afterward, our family went to front steps for pictures. Mike said he wanted to make an announcement. He told us he and Anne are expecting a baby in May. We were all delighted.
Harry and I had been married there 49 years ago so felt it was a good omen to hear of a new grandchild while there.
We left the Saturday after that to go to Grand Island, Nebraska to an Elderhostel. We left our car at the airport and flew US Air to Kansas City, MO- by US Air Express to Lincoln, NE. Rented a car and drove to Grand Island on Sunday. We rode about 200 miles around the country side. We enjoyed seeing all of the corn fields - sorghum - soy beans - cows - and a little town settled by the Danes called Daneborg. Pretty houses very much like Denmark. Also a town called St. Lebory where they grow wonderful watermelons and beautiful pumpkins.
Classes started Monday at the Stulk Museum. We were kept busy all week studying about the immigrants (mostly Germans who settle Grand Island). Also those who continue[d] west over the Oregon trail, Morman trail, etc. to go to west coast (California - Utah & Oregon & Washington state).
Also studied about Indians, Mountain men, and cattle drives.
Cooked a meal out on [the] prairie as the immigrants would have. Hauled all supplies out in hand carts like some of the Mormans used on theie trip west.
The museum has a good display on the era from wagon trains to present time.
The have moved in original building and made a replica of a Railroad town complete with railroad & cars.
Railroad towns were established about 10 to 15 miles apart so that all settlers could drive to a town after doing morning chores and get home in time to do evening chores.
The people who traveled west and settled these small towns were indeed a rare breed. The women had an especially lonely time on Homesteads. They were isolated on the Plains - no trees to break the scene and the wind blew almost constantly. Enough to drive one to distraction. No doctor - no neighbor to help for childbirth & sudden illness.
We saw the modern part of area one day when we traveled by bus to a working corn farm - then to a farm where the owner grew Long horn cattle, pigs, Thoroughbred horses and Draft Horses.
Then we went to see the Pioneer seed process. Learned more about how seed corn is grown and processed than I can recount. It is a very exacting and scientific process.
Then we went to a feed lot where the cattle are fattened for market. Again a very scientific process. The grain is hammered, mixed precisely with other products and fed twice a day so much per cow.
At the end of that day we were entertained by the Mayor of Grand Island at a downtown reception. By the time we arrived back at motel we collapsed and slept soundly until 7 AM.
On day we put up an Indian tent as the Indian women would have. They did it in 10 minutes. It took us longer. I was surprised at how warm it was. The wind didn't penetrate it at all.
By Saturday morning we hated to leave our new friends. All in all it was a very good experience.