1947 Black Face Minstrel Show in Fairfield

Sign of the times, 1947.

The folks of Fairfield performed a black face minstrel show at the Fairfield Auditorium in 1947. Such performances were common and seen as a form of comedy. 

My country school, District #16, did a black face minstrel show as a Christmas program when I was in kindergarten. The youngest of us in the school sang "Mammy's Little Baby Loves Shortin' Bread"

That was 1948. It was a sign of the times, and the place. It is one of my few memories from being five years old. I like to think it was the awkwardness of the situation, at least, that imbedded the memory.

1932 Burlington Rail Pass Found Blowing Around Town

This 1932 Burlington rail pass was found in a plastic zip-lock bag blown up against the fence of a dog run in Sutton this week (early April 2022). 

Among the fun consequences of being associated with a local historical society is that this kind of thing finds its way to our attention. Our learned,  and developed curiosity then kicks into gear.

William Chandler was born in Smith County, Kansas on 24 Oct 1904 and died in Harvard on 27 Nov 1969. He is buried in the Harvard cemetery.

William Joseph Chandler appears in the 1920 census as the 16-year old son of Vern and Rosa Chandler in Clay Center. He was in Harvard in 1940 with his wife Lottie and two children. He identified himself as an assistant welder for the Burlington railroad. 

The rail pass has been well preserved and from all appearances, has been kept for almost 90 years as some kind of memorabilia. So how did it come to be blowing loose on the streets of Sutton in 2022?

I dunno. Contact us if you lost this item, or have information about how or why it is still around.

Sutton School Rescue Trophies Project

Trophies! Trophies! Trophies!   We got dozens and dozens of Trophies. 

Did you ever wonder what happened to the trophy you won when you were in school? How would you like to have that thing to add a little credibility to the stories you tell your grandkids?

Or, maybe your dad, mom, grandpa, or great-grandpa told a story - you might get to hold, and keep some memorabilia from whatever that was.

The Sutton Museum unexpectedly became the home of several dozens of trophies from the Sutton schools dating from the early 1930s and into the '00s. We can't, and won't provide permanent storage for these, so...

The collection, be it priceless or worthless will be on display, and distribution at the Sutton Museum during Dugout Days, Friday and Saturday (July 2 & 3) afternoons from at least 1 to 5 p.m. If you have questions about the trophy collection, call me at 402-773-0222 or email jjhnsn31@gmail.com. See the following posts for details sorted by decade - links below. This effort will not conclude on the third, we'll entertain contacts and offers to relieve us of these gems - they, deserve a home, rather than where recently destined. 

We've cleaned up most, repaired a few, dropped one, and found the rightful home for another - the 1934-35 SNAC Co-Champ trophy listing M. Kohler as team captain. This gem is now the possession of the Morrie Kohler family. Whoopie! Even if nothing more comes of this project, we can declare victory, a satisfying victory. 

I think we've identified the right guys here: M. Kohler – Captain (Morris), V. Kohler (Vic), R. Mehlhaf (Richard), L. Unterseher (Lester), J. Heinz (John), D. Sparks (Donald), R. Sparks (Robert), P. Schwarz (Paul).

I'm guessing S.N.A.C. was the Southern Nebraska Athletic Conference. Nicht wahr? 

The early trophies were before the era of plastic and are hefty constructs. And, hey, the plates with the inscriptions can be peeled of and replaced with new ones of your choosing. Isn't there something you wish you would/could have done? Now you can prove that your the grandkids. Right? I won't tell.

1990's and 2000's Trophies available

1980's Trophies

1970's Trophies

1960's Trophies

1950's Trophies

1940's Trophies

1930's Trophies

Sutton High Trophies from the 70's

These are the "excess" trophies from the 1970s that your Sutton Museum found on the doorstep.

Check them out and see if you'd like to relieve us of one or two or (?). 

Hey, Runner-up and even 3rd place trophies deserve love too.

We'll likely post some more pics shortly... watch this space.

1970 Boys Basketball 2^nd Henderson Inv

 

1971 Boys Basketball 2^nd Henderson Inv

 

1971 Boys Basketball 2^nd Wood River Holiday Inv

 

1974 Boys SNAC 2 Mile Relay

 

1976 Boys BB So. NE Conf Tournament Runner-up

 

1976 Boys BB 1^st Sutton Holiday Tourney

 

1976 1^st Boys Harvard Track Inv

 

1976 April 15 Clay Center Girls Track Classic 440 relay winner

 

1976 April 15 Clay Center Girls Track Classic 880 relay winner

 

1977 Boys BB 3^rd Place Henderson 9^th Grade Tourney

 

1977 1^st Place Highway Safety Fair, Clay Co Highway/traffic Safety Commission

 

1978 Girls 2^nd Place Sutton Commercial Club Holiday Tourney

 

1979 Boys BB 2^nd Place Sutton Commercial Club Holiday Tourney

Sutton High Trophies from the 1950's

We have a few trophies from the 1950's - list below. 

The '50's group

This one is the 1950 football trophy for co-champs of the Southern Six conference

The set of four:

1950 Boys BB District Runner-up Class B

 

1953 Boys BB District Runner-up Class C

 

1954-1955 Boys BB Southern Six Co-Champions

 

1958 Boys Football Southern Six Co-Champions

Come & Get 'em.

Sutton High Trophies from the 1940's

This is the 1940's edition of our rescue trophy project. There are seven from that decade listed below. Do you recognize any that someone you know might have been involved with? If so, or if you're interested for some other reason, visit the Sutton Museum on the afternoon of either July 2 or 3 during Dugout Days and liberate your choice(s). 

1942 Football CCSA Champs Tie

 

1944 BB York District Runner-up Class B

 

1945 BB Sutton District Runner-up Class B

 

1949 BB Big Nine Champions

 

1949 BB Trans-Nebraska Division Champions

 

1949 BB CCSA Champs

 

1949 Track CCSA Champs

 

 

Cleaned up, mostly; patched up, mostly; these seven Sutton High trophies from the 1940s are currently homeless.