Rock Creek (Nebraska)

Rock Creek is a 19.1-mile-long (30.7 km)[1] tributary of the Elkhorn River that flows south of Wisner, Nebraska and to the west of Beemer. The railway water stop and original plats where the village of Beemer is now located were named "Rock Creek" before Beemer was incorporated as a village in 1886.

Creek about six feet wide, flowing through fields
Rock Creek near Beemer

History

Rock Creek was so named from its rocky river bed.[2]

It was the site of an unincorporated collection of German farmers in the late 1800s who felt shunned by area communities, particularly Wisner and Beemer, because they spoke very little English, and because they were farmers, laborers and field hands. Two churches were formed in this region to serve the overwhelming immigrant German Lutheran Rock Creek population—Zion Lutheran, and St. John's Lutheran.

Rock Creek Mill

Rock Creek Mill, or Lambrecht's combined saw and grist mill, driven by water power, was built in August 1865 by August Lambrecht. The mill stood about two miles northwest of the present-day Elkhorn River bridge, on the south side of the river and approximately 1000 feet southwest of the present-day 'Rock Creek Bridge' (41°54'53.91"N x 96°51'11.62"W). Lambrecht built an earth and brush dam to channel the water for the mill. Customers brought grain to the mill from as far away as the Platte River, some 200 miles, to be ground into flour.[3] In 1891, Mr. Henry Lambrecht moved the flour and grinding mill to Beemer.[4]

Rock Creek Railroad Station

When the Fremont, Elkhorn and Missouri Valley Railroad line was extended from West Point to Wisner in 1871, the water stop and telegraph station nearest to Rock Creek was named Rock Creek and used the call letters "R C" for telegraphs. The railroad company changed the station's name to Beemer in 1886.[5] However, the rural farmland residents southwest of Beemer and south of Wisner continue to refer to themselves as Rock Creek, though they never incorporated as a village.

Zion and St. John Lutheran Churches

The two churches that were formed from the Rock Creek community started with the founding of St. John's Lutheran in 1876, while Zion Lutheran Church was formed in 1882. Both churches were spun off from other churches that proved to be too far away from the Rock Creek farms. Both churches started their own parochial school, and hired teachers to staff the schools.

Because they were fairly close geographically, a friendly rivalry between the churches formed, although both churches pooled their resources for a variety of projects. A Rock Creek local, Emil Rathke, earned national recognition when he was recognized by the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod for his daily ringing of the St. John Church bell. Rathke ran the bell daily for thirty-five years (1917–1952), never missing a church service, wedding or funeral until his death.

Beginning in 1958, both churches shared the same minister because of dwindling membership, and in 1960, the two schools were consolidated, with the new school based at Zions, which had a larger and newer school building.

Finally, in 1969 the two churches voted to merge, and formed Zion-St. John's Lutheran Church. The two church buildings were used until it was agreed to use only the Zion's facilities because of their greater size and capacity. The St. John's facilities were torn down in 1974. Both churches' cemeteries are maintained, and the old bell from St. John's is mounted on display at the old church cemetery, where it is sounded for burials.

Rock Creek Tigers

As a means of competition and gaining respect, the men of the Rock Creek valley formed a baseball team that became well known throughout Nebraska and Iowa, and was known for drawing large crowds to its games. They played on a variety of pastures and fields provided by players and area farmers. Over the years, the "farm boys" would prove to be one of the most competitive teams among the state's town teams. However, for many years the Wisner teams refused to play Rock Creek, as the rivalry was bitter. However, this soon passed, and Rock Creek/Wisner games soon became legendary.

The Rock Creek Tigers played until the mid-1950s, due to rising costs in funding the team. Its remaining players began playing for, ironically enough, Wisner and the West Point Bombers town team.

The Rock Creek Marching Band

The St. John and Zion Lutheran Churches had a marching band that was formed in the early 1920s. The group performed at church activities as well as marching in parades. It disbanded at the onset of World War II, and lack of interest led to its demise after the war's conclusion.

Rock Creek today

Only two physical reminders of the Rock Creek era remains—one is a pioneer cemetery located southwest of Beemer that is known simply as "Rock Creek Cemetery".

Rock Creek Cemetery
Rock Creek Cemetery

Established in 1868, it is well maintained, and still has occasional burials for families with roots in the region. The other is the original Rock Creek post office, which is now part of a farmhouse near the St. John's cemetery.

See also

External sources

References

  1. ↑ U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline data. The National Map, accessed March 30, 2011
  2. ↑ Company, Chicago and North Western Railway (1908). A History of the Origin of the Place Names Connected with the Chicago & North Western and Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Railways. p. 43.
  3. ↑ West Point Republican, June 24, 1937
  4. ↑ Beemer Times, Friday, July 17, 1891
  5. ↑ Beemer Times, April 15, 1886

External links

Coordinates: 41°55′41″N 096°49′57″W / 41.92806°N 96.83250°W / 41.92806; -96.83250

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