Small Town "Can Do" Spirit

Little Church of Keystone There may be more ornate churches in Nebraska, but none compare to the unique quality of the 'Little Church' in Keystone. The simple board-and-batten building, trimmed in white, served as a place of worship for two faiths. Opened in 1908 with a grand dedication, the church features a Lutheran lectern on one end and a Catholic altar on the other. The church pews are hinged, allowing congregants and parishioners to face the appropriate direction of the service. It is the only known combined church in the state. Kearney Goes to War During World War II, Kearney’s population surged as thousands of service members arrived to train at Kearney Army Air Field, a now-nearly forgotten base built in 1942. The influx permanently reshaped the city and marked Kearney as a key contributor to Nebraska’s wartime effort. The DeWitty Settlement DeWitty became the longest lasting black settlement in Nebraska. Founded in 1906, it was settled by black Canadian immigrants and formerly enslaved African Americans. As racial violence swept cities across the United States, DeWitty’s black settlers and the white residents of nearby Brownlee lived, worked and thrived together side-by-side. Meet descendants of both communities as they gather to remember their shared history. Unadilla Bill On the first Saturday of every February, Unadilla hosts Groundhog Day. The town’s population doubles as folks gather for some wintertime fun and to see if celebrated resident groundhog “Unadilla Bill” will see his shadow, predicting six more weeks of winter…. or whether spring is just around the corner.