Franklin County, Nebraska

For Another Day

I have assumed one time too many. I have learned from a friend that the Janitor’s quarters in the courthouse were in a different place than reported by me in the March 5 article. In the article I was viewing the Franklin Courthouse from the year 2001. I need to step back in time to the 1940’s and see it from a different angle. It was an honest mistake but I must tell it like it was and correct my error.

I stated the living quarters were in the present location as the sheriff’s office. But I have found out from my friends, Janea Pease and Keith Lantis where the home of the Janitor was. Janea told me her grandfather; Tony Janssen was the janitor in the 1940’s. According to Janea there was a door on the south side of the courthouse towards the west end. A person entered into the Janitor’s home from that door and went into a short hallway. Once inside, the kitchen was to the west of the entry door and the living room to the east. Today this would be the office of the driver license examiner. I probably don’t need to tell most of the driver license examiner. I probably don’t need to tell most of you this, for you already know. Since I didn’t come to Franklin County until 1971 this is all news to me.

Since I have been writing for the Chronicle I have met so many nice people such as Carol Britton of Grayling, MI. Carol is relation to the Garretts that lived in Franklin County many years ago She is a very nice lady whom I have never met face to face, only corresponding via email.

Carol Transcribes for individuals and has done so much to help Patti Richter Simpson, formally of Naponee, with her web page. Patti is a historian and constantly works to give Franklin County to the world via her web site. I sent copies of the Chronicle containing my articles to Carol Britton to Transcribe for placement on Patti’s home page. Carol has completed some of these articles and they are up and running on Patti’s site. Carol is working on the rest.

Recently a package arrived for me in the mail from Carol. I just love it when that happens. While I had a hard time getting the blue and white box open I tried to guess what was inside. I thought she was sending back the newspapers, even though I had told her I didn’t want them back. No, the box didn’t contain the newspapers. Inside I found a nice scrapbook with my articles already cut out and pasted inside the thick book. Also included in the box was the computer printed pages of the transcribed articles. So all I have to do is put them in page covers and I will have a book full of my writings. I asked Carol why she does all this transcribing for Franklin County. She said, “When I type these old records I look for my ancestors among the pages and it helps me feel closer to the Franklin area.” So when we get down on rural life with its small problems, don’t forget there are those who would just love to live here and can’t.

This scrapbook was a lovely surprise given out of the goodness of Carol’s heart. I would have never got this done my self. How nice of Carol to do this for me. As much transcribing as she does I don’t know how she got it done. Remember, sometimes all we need to do is simply say ‘Thank you.’

Arise and meet the daylight, Be strong and do your best, with an honest heart
And a child like trust that God will do the rest. Margaret Sangster

Rena Donovan, For Another Day.

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