Good Roads: Celebrating the 100th Anniversary of Lincoln Highway
The Pictorial Account of the 1911 Campaign to Create Good Roads in Nebraska:
Fremont businessman Dan V. Stephens (of Hammond-Stephens) and Omaha World Herald photographer P.J. McAndrews made the trip from Omaha to North Platte in an open touring car displaying a “Good Roads Special” sign in May, 1911. The trip took three days driving west to North Platte, and two days returning
Fremont businessman Dan V. Stephens (of Hammond-Stephens) and Omaha World Herald photographer P.J. McAndrews made the trip from Omaha to North Platte in an open touring car displaying a “Good Roads Special” sign in May, 1911. The trip took three days driving west to North Platte, and two days returning
to Omaha.
In an effort to garner grass roots support for improved roads and federally sponsored roads, the Good Roads movement in Nebraska planned this public relations driving tour. Advance notice was sent to towns along the way inviting residents to gather for meetings and receptions when the Good Roads party stopped. Stephens made speeches to drum up support for better roads while McAndrews took photographs. A caravan was formed, as delegations from various towns served as pilots and formed an escort in relays, with the Lexington delegation wearing “swell automobile uniforms of long gray dusters”.
As they drove along the route that would be developed in 1913 as the Lincoln Highway and later become Highway 30, the Omaha World Herald published updates on the journey. Excerpts from its articles will be displayed with the photographs. One of the articles mentioned a notorious stretch of roadway outside Fremont
where motorists often got stuck in the sand.
Now 100 years old, the Lincoln Highway was the first improved road to span the country from east coast to west coast. The exhibit is a joint effort between the Dodge County Historical Society and North Bend Library Foundation.
In preparing the exhibit, Dodge County Historical Society volunteer Steve Bunk reproduced 24 of the 40 photos in the book, restoring any damage he found. Now framed, the 24 reproductions vary in size from 8x10 inches to 16x20 inches.
This show is sponsored by Fremont National Bank & Trust.
Good Roads: Celebrating the 100th Ann...
Date and Time
Tuesday Sep 3, 2013 Sunday Sep 29, 2013
Exhibit is on display Sept. 3rd - 29th
Gallery is open 1:00pm - 4:00pm
Tuesday thru Sunday
Location
Gallery 92 West
Fremont Area Art Association
92 W. 6th St.
Contact Information
402-721-7779
Printed courtesy of www.fremontne.org/ – Contact the Fremont Area Chamber for more information.
128 E 6th Street, Fremont, NE 68025 – (402) 721-2641 – info@fremontne.org