Book Review: The Trolley Car Era in Lincoln by Richard L. Schmeling, Michael M. Bartels and James L. McKee

The Trolley Car Era in Lincoln: Streetcars in Nebraska’s Capital City, 1883-1945
by Richard L. Schmeling, Michael M. Bartels and James L. McKee (398.4 Sch)

This thin, 88-page volume is perfect for anyone curious about Lincoln, Nebraska history. Jam-packed with B&W photographs, it explores the history of streetcars (a.k.a. trolleys) in Lincoln, from the early days of horse-drawn trolleys to the introduction of powered public transportation, all the way through to the elimination of streetcars in favor of the buses that form the modern StarTran system.

 

Tapping into a veritable wealth of images, particularly those accumulated by the late Dick Rumbolz, as well as Rumbolz’ extensive collection of historical notes, the authors present a meandering look at the types of cars used in Lincoln’s streetcar system, the routes they followed, including out to the remote areas (at the time) of College View, Bethany and Havelock), and the workers who ran the streetcars for multiple decades.

 

Though there were multiple companies involved in providing early public transportation, ultimately, the streetcars were all consolidated under The Lincoln Traction Company. You’ll find various sidebars with interesting related topics scattered throughout this book. I also appreciated the reproduction of route maps, brochures, and newspaper articles from various eras. Having grown up in the University Place neighborhood, living on Walker Avenue, I remember seeing the remnants of trolley car tracks embedded in the old street surface in the brick street in front of my house in the late 1960s, before it was repaved — seeing the routes reproduced in this book reminds me of how much Lincoln history I missed out on, having been born in the 1960s.

 

Although full of fascinating information, you’ll probably still find The Trolley Car Era in Lincoln to be a fairly quick read, considering the wealth of photographs included.

 

(If you enjoy this, you may also wish to try Lincoln Memories: The Early Years, A Pictorial History, Lincoln Memories: The 1940s, 1950s and 1960s, A Pictorial History, Volume II and Lincoln Memories: The From the Early Years to the 1970s, A Pictorial History, Volume III all published by The Lincoln Journal Star.)

 

( publisher’s official The Trolley Car Era in Lincoln web site )

 

Recommended by Scott C.
Bennett Martin Public Library — Public Service

 

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Book Review: bread&cup (beyond simple food and drink) by Kevin Shinn

bread&cup (beyond simple food and drink)
by Kevin Shinn (Biography Shinn)

Though filled with recipes that will make fans of this late, lamented Haymarket restaurant pleased, this “cookbook” is not cataloged in the libraries’ culinary section (the 640s), but is rather classified as a biography.

This is wholly appropriate, as it is more a look back at the experiences of establishing and running a restaurant, told from Kevin Shinn’s point-of-view, than it is merely a collection of recipes. Shinn shares multiple entries directly from the “foodie” blog that he maintained over more than a decade, and supplements those blog posts with all-new essays. The book is filled with absolutely gorgeous photos of the foods served at bread&cup over its ten-year existence, as well as of the people who made it the memorable restaurant that it was.

And the section looking back at the cancer battle that Shinn’s wife Karen fought and ultimately lost, is heartbreaking.

Beautiful book. Beautiful writing. Beautiful memories. Captivating recipes. Read this for the personal story. Refer back to it for all the unforgettable dishes the Shinns served over the years!

[ Lincoln Journal Star newspaper article about this book’s release ]

Recommended by Scott C.
Bennett Martin Public Library — Public Service

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New reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide website. You can visit that page to see them all, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide Blog individually over the course of the entire month. Click the tag for the reviewer's name to see more of this reviewer’s recommendations!

Book Review: Wyuka Cemetery: A Driving and Walking Tour by Ed Zimmer

Wyuka Cemetery: A Driving and Walking Tour
by Ed Zimmer (978.229 Zim)

This handy little booklet was produced by Lincoln’s de facto city historian, Ed Zimmer (of the Planning Department), in 2009, as a guide to some of the more unusual, distinctive and historically noteworthy features inside Lincoln’s Wyuka Cemetery (located between “O” St. and Vine St., from approximately 36th St. to 42nd St.

As Zimmer says in his introduction, “Wyuka Cemetery was established by an act of the Nebraska Legislature in 1869, to provide a ‘Lincoln State Cemetery’ for the new state’s capital city, founded just two years before.” The cemetery has been expanded over the years, and this driving and walking tour booklet gives historical nuggets of information for more than 52 different “marked” stops within the grounds. You’ll learn about some of the interesting buildings and/or structures, including Rudge Memorial Chapel, mausoleums and receiving vaults, memorials to firefighters and 9/11, the funeral home, chapel and office, and the stables (now home to live Shakespearean performances). But the majority of this guide is information about significant gravestones and monuments scattered around the 140 acres of Wyuka’s grounds.

As we all employ “socially distancing” measures (this review is appearing during the COVID-19 pandemic), and you’re looking for something interesting to do that doesn’t involve gathering in large groups, perhaps you’ll consider checking out a copy of this handy guidebook and going on a drive or stroll through Wyuka’s tree-shaded landscaping, exploring some of Lincoln and Nebraska’s history through the marble and granite markers. You’ll find everyone from mass murderer Charles Starkweather (and some of his victims), to singer and movie star Gordon Macrae to former Governors like J.J. Exon. You can even do as visitors did over a hundred years ago — Wyuka followed the design ethics of other park-like cemeteries in the United States, encouraging families to bring picnic lunches and spend an afternoon surrounded by history. And if you’d rather not check out a library copy of this guidebook, it’s available as a free download in PDF format — load it onto your smartphone or tablet for convenience! Perfect if you're looking for a way to commemorate 2020's Memorial Day this coming Monday!

There’s a master map of the entire Wyuka layout at the back of the book, including an index to the location of 21 additional significant historical figures who are buried in Wyuka. Which, added to the 52 tour stops, gives you 73 identified landmarks to look for. Wyuka’s website has a grave locator, so if you’re searching for the location of any additional graves in the cemetery, and you have a name to search for, you may have even more luck.

[ official Wyuka Cemetery in Lincoln web site ] | [ official PDF reproduction of this booklet web site ]

See Scott C’s review of Hallowed Grounds: America’s Overseas Military Cemeteries on DVD, on BookGuide in April 2018
See Scott C’s review of A Cemetery Special on DVD, on BookGuide in April 2018

Recommended by Scott C.
Bennett Martin Public Library

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New reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide website. You can visit that page to see them all, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog individually over the course of the entire month. Click the tag for the reviewer's name to see more of this reviewer’s recommendations!

How the Lincoln Public Schools Were Named by Mike Callaghan and Kathi Friesen

How the Lincoln Public Schools Were Named
by Mike Callaghan and Kathi Friesen [R 371.61 Cal]

This fascinating little 28-page pamphlet is one of the rare jems in the Bennett Martin Public Library reference (non-circulating) collection. Published in 2000, this booklet, published by the Library Media Services department of the Lincoln Public Schools, compiles all the known history about the origin and naming of each Lincoln Public Schools facility (through 2000). Curious about where Lefler Middle School got its name? How about Cavett Elementary? When was there are College View Elementary? Or a Jackson High School? Filled with all sorts of fascinating trivia about Lincoln’s history, if you’re at all curious about how the many different LPS buildings got their names, I recommend stopping in at the downtown library and taking a look at this handy little guide!

[ official Lincoln Public Schools web site — each school has its own page, with some of the same history listed ]

Recommended by Scott C.
Bennett Martin Public Library

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New reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide website. You can visit that page to see them all, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog individually over the course of the entire month. Click the tag for the reviewer's name to see more of this reviewers recommendations!

SciFi Convention in Lincoln This Weekend!

Lincoln area science fiction and fantasy fans -- there's a regional sci-fi convention being held here in Lincoln this weekend, April 13-15, 2012!

ConStellationNE III is the third straight year for this small con, being held at the Guesthouse Inn & Suites at 5250 Cornhusker Highway. Their author guest of honor is Elizabeth Bear, winner of the John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer (2005), winner of the Theodore Sturgeon Award (2008), and two-time Hugo Award winner (2008, 2009); with artist guest of honor W.J. Hodgson (a painter and free-lance artist).

You can find out more information about ConStellationNE III at the convention's official website. They've also recently put out an online schedule of events, which you can check out at this link, to see if their programming might be of interest to you!

Tour de Lincoln: Artistic Bicycles Celebrating Lincoln's Unique Trails System

Tour de Lincoln: Artistic Bicycles Celebrating Lincoln's Unique Trails System
by The Lincoln Arts Council [739 Tou]

Remember the Tour de Lincoln public arts project from 2003? You know -- when 71 different variations on the same bicycle sculpture were scattered throughout Lincoln during an entire Spring and Summer, and then at the end of the event, most of them were auctioned off to support the arts in Lincoln? Well, this cute little book was released at the time that all 71 bikes were on display that year. Though it's a bit artsy-fartsy, and occasionally uses fonts and layouts that aren't very pleasing to the eye, the Tour de Lincoln book is none-the-less an excellent guide to all 71 of the bikes. After a general introduction to the background of the project as a whole, each bike then gets its own two-page spread, with photographs, bike title, artist and sponsor names, some brief information about how the design was chosen and created. An article in the November 27th, 2011 Lincoln Journal Star, about a local woman's quest to find all of the surviving indicated that 60 of the 71 bikes are still around (a few in other cities), in case (like me and my wife) you'd like to track them down all over again! [Note: I just wish a similar book had been published in conjunction with the Star Art public arts project that was a follow-up to Tour de Lincoln!] -- recommended by Scott C. - Bennett Martin Public Library


[ 11/27/11 Lincoln Journal Star article about bikes' locations as of 2011 ] | [ Collections of photos of the Tour de Lincoln bikes: Steve Adamson (Omaha) | Dietrich family (of Lincoln) | CannellFan (Flickr user) ]

Have you read this one? What did you think? Did you find this review helpful?

New reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide web site. You can visit that page to see them all, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog individually over the course of the entire month.

Blood Mary, Gentle Woman

Bloody Mary, Gentle Woman
by Frances Grace Reinehr [B P24865r]

In among the various regional "Bloody Mary" legends around the US is the story of Lincoln's own Mary Partington. This short history-biography was put together by a Lincoln teacher. Mary was the never-married eldest daughter of a wealthy and community-oriented Catholic family who, because of her independent streak and her avoidance of modern conveniences and fashions, came to be the subject of continual speculation and harrassment in her later years, when she was the sole remaining person in the once-grand family home on the north edge of town. Despite this, Mary persevered, and many people knew her as a kind and generous person, despite appearances and circumstances. Unfortunately, the "bloody" designation became appropriate when she shot an intruder one night, killing him, and also when she herself was shot by teenagers prowling around her yard. This should be a must-read for anyone who thinks they know the story. -- recommended by Becky W.C. - Walt Branch Library

[Also available: Frances Grace Reinehr reads from Bloody Mary, gentle woman, a program in the John H. Ames Reading Series, available in both DVD and VHS formats.]

Have you read this one? What did you think? Did you find this review helpful?

New reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide web site. You can visit that page to see them all, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog individually over the course of the entire month.

AnnaBelle, You Did What? An Epic Tale

AnnaBelle, You Did What? An Epic Tale
by Don Darnell [793.33 Dar]

I've met Don Darnell and enjoyed his company as a library customer several times, and enjoyed his descriptions of writing this book. Enough so that I decided to read it. I'm glad I did! AnnaBelle, You Did What? is a marvelously entertaining personal memoir, with a specific focus. Don explores his experiences learning to dance with his beloved wife, AnnaBelle, starting in their fifties. For anyone who has spent time at the PlaMor Ballroom, enjoying big band music, and wishing they had the skills and gumption to be out on the floor twirling around without embarrassing themselves. Don's writing style is light, and full of wonderful self-deprecating observations. The local nature of the events in the books should connect well with Lincoln readers, especially those with a few years under their belts. And on top of everything else, this is a passionate love story. For anyone who's watched the classical dances on Dancing With the Stars and wistfully wished they could take part, this book provides a glimpse of how enjoyable the world of amateur dancing can be. I also loved the reminiscing about the Big Band era musicians, such as the Bobby Layne Orchestra. Quite an enjoyable read. Congrats, Don! -- recommended by Scott C. - Bennett Martin Public Library


[ official PlaMor Ballroom web site ]

Have you read this one? What did you think? Did you find this review helpful?

New reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide web site. You can visit that page to see them all, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog individually over the course of the entire month.