Happy Jack Chalk Mine Grand Re-opening Tour
After two years of volunteer efforts to re-open the Happy Jack chalk mine for public/recreational use, a grand opening was held in 1997. The room and pillar chalk mine not only served economic purposes, but was and underground playground for several generations of Scotia, Nebraska residents. It was closed in the 1970's by the State of Nebraska, who deemed it unsafe. After rehab and evaluation it was once again opened. Charles Bebee, son of a former mine owner/operator provides a guided tour of the mine and demonstrates the use of original tools he used as a child, while helping his father. The Chalk Mine is now open for visitors and is located near Scotia, Nebraska.
Happy Jack Chalk Mine Project History Scotia
Happy Jack Peak and the locally famous chalk mines beneath it have been a touchstone for the lives of area residents. When the mines became inactive after WWII, they became an underground playground for area youth, until they were closed to the public for safety reasons in the 1970's. A group of area residents worked to re-open the mines to recreation in 1997. after a 20 year closure. This is the story
The Ballad of Happy Jack Swearingen
This song recounts one aspect of the Happy Jack story as described in an early account in the Diaries of John Gregory Bourke Volume 3: June 1, 1878--June 22, 1880.
“Happy Jack” Swearingen, was a hunter, fisher, trapper and guide who help lead settlers into the area of the North Loup River Valley in Nebraska. Early settlers dubbed him happy Jack because of his humorous ways and natural delight at seeing people in this remote area. With the establishment of Fort Hartsuff near Elyria Nebraska the border wars between the Sioux and upon the Pawnee Indians were under better control. More and more people came to the area. Happy Jack who had established his settlement in the side of the tallest chalk overlooking present-day Scotia Nebraska, grew less welcoming to the many newcomers. He was known to run off curious by passers with the shotgun by the early 1880s. Happy Jack Peak, the tallest of the chalk Hills overlooking the North Loup River Valley was named after him.
For many years chalk from the Hill was mined for use in foundations, chicken feed, paint, and to fill burlap bags for bombing practice during the war. The massive excavations left behind have been a local touchstone for residents who have used the area for recreational purposes for many years. In the 1970's the chalk mine was sealed off by the state of Nebraska for safety reasons but it was reopened in 1997 through the efforts of local residents and with the help of mining experts. It has been rehabilitated into the recreational area found today.
News 5 at 6 - End of an era for North Loup-Scotia High School / May 19, 2014
It's one of the oldest consolidated schools in the area, but it's the end of an era at North Loup-Scotia. Students will pack up their bags and attend Greeley-Wolbach next year.
North Loup-Scotia High School will be torn to the ground in less than a month. Built in 1920, the school is a landmark to the Scotia community.
Speech and drama and music and even the sports.. all those are big memories.
Annice Marlow was born and raised in Scotia... after college she came right back to her hometown to teach and later.. become a principle at the school.
I was raised here all my life and went to school here and it has been.. its an emotional time... we have a lot of memories here.
Two years ago the North Loup Scotia district held a feasibility study. The results found the school had shrinking class sizes and the building was in need of repairs.
People are moving away from the rural areas, they can't find jobs.
So, the districts decided to consolidate.
To provide the same academics and the offerings for the students we need to be in a larger setting. Our school board and our community felt. We looked at several options that gave our kids more chance to have some more academic competition within the classroom as well as maintain the curriculum that we felt that was necessary for them.
Next fall, students between 7th and 12th grades will now be attending school in Greeley as the Central Valley Cougars.
During last week's primary elections, residents from Greeley and Wolbach voted in favor of a 5.8 million dollar bond issue. The money will be used for an expansion onto the school in Greeley.
This will allow more students to attend.
There will be more room.
And while many will miss the memories they have at the high school in Scotia, they are looking forward to what lies ahead in the future.
I think its a good thing. Its good for our kids that are coming up. We had to do something the ceilings are starting to fall as we took down the ceiling tiles, plaster.
A 3.45 million-dollar elementary school will be built in the old high school in Scotia.
An auction will be held tomorrow at 4 PM to sell the remaining items from the school.
Scotia Memories From Dottie Poppe
Dottie Poppe/Leisenring was born in Scotia Nebraska in the 1920's. In 1998 she was living in a retirement home in Florida and corresponded with this producer, who later set her story to historical photgraphs depicting the era during which she lived. These photos are from a collection which belonged to long time Scotia newspaper editor, George Urick. Urick also led this producer on a modern day tour, identifying many of the locales referenced by her. As a result, some pictures were added depicting further referenced locations. Copies of Urick's photos are now in the collection of the Nebraska Historical Society in Lincoln. This production is forshortened by a few minutes because of length restrictions posed by Youtube.
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