Franklin County, Nebraska

For Another Day

A wonderful story comes again in the mail from my e-mail friend Don Versaw, telling us about what life was like in Bloomington in the 1930's. He writes so well that I tell him he should be writing my column. I would like to share this story with you. Don Writes:

I have this postcard size print photo I made of the Methodist Parsonage in Bloomington. I am going to send it to you and trust you will see that it is properly preserved in the history of the county. It is not a great picture, but it is the only one I know about that was made when a preacher still resided there. I was only 14 or 15 years old when the picture was made, so it was most likely taken in l937. I used a post card size roll of film, #118, folding camera. I think I purchased it at Naden's Drug store in Franklin for less than $5.00. Because I had set the camera on a tripod, I could only guess at the framing. Somehow I missed the top of the house. It's kind of a washed out print because I didn't expose it quite enough.

It may be interesting to know that the film and print was processed in this same house. I used the second story, back bedroom for a dark room. Mother's laundry room, back of the lean to kitchen was my finishing room.

"You will best know this house as the last residence of Deke Roller. It no longer exists, but once stood directly west of Dorothy Paulson's residence. The Methodist church that had burned some years before was originally adjacent to it. My parents had lost their home in North Bloomington in 1937 to a mortgage foreclosure.

"Reverend Ransom, an elderly widower occupied the parsonage during that same period. His health was poor and he was unable to prepare his own meals and keep house without assistance. The folks made an agreement with the church board to move into the parsonage and manage the living needs of Rev. Ransom in exchange for rent. As far as I know, it was a most satisfactory deal.

I got my first and only bedroom (top floor, west front) space in the backroom, which was mostly storage, and it was only a two minutes dash to the schoolhouse. We lived there during my school years 1938-39 and beyond. It cramped the Reverend a little, I suppose. The front of the living room (east) was his bedroom. He shared the front living room as needed for his visitors and consultations. The dining room, behind it, was mother's domain. She served all meals there, did her mending, ironing, and listened to her soap operas on a very ancient radio. She loved "Helen Trent" and "Ma Perkins" and was also fond of the "Breakfast Club", a very early radio talk show.

The east bedroom on the second floor was the master bedroom and had a bathtub niche. It was the only home with a bath we ever had. The toilet however was still an outdoor type, located at the north on the church property.

At the end of the house is Rev. Ransom's car. It was a Whippet. I don't know what year and model it was, but it had to be early 1920's. I need to research more about that car, but it was historic and it was hysterical to see and ride in it. Particularly when my dad drove, which he did sometimes.

The Reverend let dad borrow it to take me to Holdrege to have Dr. Brewster remove my tonsils. I am not so sure the procedure was necessary, but I felt strongly it had to be done. I guess the famed flying doctor agreed, because he did it. Maybe the ride in the whippet was worth it, but I couldn't talk much afterwards and only ate Jell-o and ice cream for a few days. Dad let me drive the car part of the way too. I'm not sure I wasn't already better at it than he was, but neither of us was very good at it.

There is a garage in back for the car with vertically striped sides. Most of the time the Whippet was stored there. I'm glad it wasn't the day I took this picture. That old car makes me laugh every time I think about it. Then I remember the grand old gentleman that we shared a bit of our lives with. I had great respect for him. He was a man of God and was a driving influence in convincing the folks that I should go on to Nebraska Wesleyan University after graduating in 1938. That was a big corner to turn in my young life. His being and his needs were a salvation for my parents in many ways" Don Versaw.

This blue painted house in Bloomington was burned a couple of years ago one more residence gone. Gone, but not forgotten as long as people like Don and the Rollers have warm memories of its existence.

Don has written me another remembrance of the famous Shobel building of Bloomington. That is a story for Another Day.

I've learned—that you should never tell a child their dreams are unlikely or outlandish.
Few things are more humiliating, and what a tragedy it would be if they believed it.
I've learned—that two people can look at the exact same thing and see something totally different.
I've learned—that you shouldn't be so eager to find out a secret.
It could change your life forever.
The Internet.

Rena Donovan, For Another Day.

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