View all hotels near lincoln county historical museum on tripadvisor. Hotels in north platte ne best western plus north platte inn. When the greatest generation passed through north platte, nebraska during wwii, they got a hug and a handshake, homemade cakes and cookies, and a. Why not seize those tenminute stops to encourage those american soldiers. See more ideas about north platte, canteen and wwii. Once upon a town, the miracle of the north platte canteen bob greene isbn 0060081961 during wwii, people in north platte and neighboring towns in nebraska and colorado took it upon themselves to show their appreciation to the soldiers on troop trains that passed. The story of the north platte canteen interpretations. The north platte canteen experience visit north platte. The accommodation offers 3star accommodations with a hot tub and sun terrace. At first, baskets of food were prepared at cody hotel across the street from the depot. Aug 07, 2014 once upon a town the miracle of the north platte canteen, by bob greene. Experience the incredible hospitality of the north platte world war ii canteen. Ramada by wyndham north platte, north platte updated na.
Robert howard mason, 86, of north platte, died monday, nov. At this bustling nebraska railroad hub, volunteers mostly women greeted and fed about 6 million soldiers. After a long wait, a troop train rumbled into the station a unit from the kansas national guard. Clarion hotels in north platte, ne by choice hotels. The people of north platte made those ten minutes count. Throughout your stay, take advantage of our thoughtful amenities including free breakfast, wifi, and parking, along with an indoor pool and hot tub. A father, his son, and the man who won the war william morrow, 2000 half about his relationship with his father, half on paul w.
This is the true story of how the north platte canteen was. At the canteen experience you have the opportunity to look through the database that is filled with names of the soldiers that signed the guest book when the train stopped in north platte. The miracle of the north platte canteen, by bob greene 2014 one book one nebraska discussion questions about the author bob greene is a journalist. When the train arrived, it was a kansas national guard troop, but they shared their gifts. Throughout your stay, take advantage of our thoughtful amenities including free breakfast, wifi, and parking, along with an indoor pool and. The index has over 6,000 names out of the 6 millions service men and women who stopped during world war ii. Ramada by wyndham north platte also provides a business centre and guests can check the newspapers, use the fax machine and photocopier or use the onsite atm machine at the hotel. In this nonfiction story, bestselling author and awardwinning journalist bob greene goes out in search of. This new edition features a new cover and a new foreword detailing recent events regarding the canteen. My cousin, jim sent me an email the other day and said he receive a second copy of the book, once upon a town, by bob greene and was wondering what he would do with it.
Aug 26, 2007 during wwii, a movement of compassion took place in north platte, nebraska. Every day, from 3,000 to 5,000 soldiers, sailors and marines visited the north platte canteen in the union pacific station. As it happened is a limitededition collectors book featuring daytoday reporting on north platte s wartime trooptrain oasis by the telegraph and the original. Ramada by wyndham north platte, north platte updated 2020. The miracle of the north platte canteen 9780060081973. The museum endeavors to reach the broadest range of the public to educate about the historical significance of west central nebraska and the platte river valley. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Bob greene, like his fellow chicagoan, studs turkel, knows how to write about people. With free wifi and a business center, youll stay connected during your visit.
The hardcover book includes chapters on the world war i red cross canteen the birthplace of north plattes ongoing canteen spirit in july. And the taste of those home front meals was a comfort to troops on the battlefield. Omaha john piskorski, 75, of omaha, brother of marty piskorski of north platte, died may 5, 2008, in omaha. Earn choice privileges points on your eligible stay. I thoroughly enjoyed the time i spent with her reporting on the north platte canteen and chatting a little about other things. There are many railroad tales in nebraska, but the most moving story of all is the inspiring and patriotic deeds of those female volunteers at the north platte canteen. She was so moved by the display at the depot that she suggested the people of north platte should make a permanent canteen there to greet every single train of soldiers that rolled through. The north platte canteen also known as the service mens canteen in the union pacific railroad station at north platte was a railroad stop manned by local citizens of north platte, nebraska, united states that operated from christmas day 1941 to april 1, 1946. The miracle of the north platte canteen hardcover may 28, 2002. Americas 20th century veterans memorial and rivers edge golf club are worth checking out if an activity is on the agenda, while those wishing to experience the areas natural beauty can explore lake maloney state recreation area and cody park. War ii, american soldiers from every city and walk of life rolled through north platte, nebraska. The miracle of the north platte canteen bob greene, author. The story of the north platte, nebraska canteen is heartwarming.
The miracle of the north platte canteen by journalist bob greene, i discovered that north platte became famous among american soldiers, families pulled together to serve, a little boy sold his shirt to raise money, a lifelong marriage began with a popcornball connection, and decades later many of those. After more than 50 years the spirit of the canteen returns to north platte. Every day of the year, every day of the war, the canteen staffed and funded entirely by local volunteerswas open from five a. An estimated 500 friends, family, and community members lined up along the tracks at the north platte depot, their arms full of gifts for the soldiers like candy, food, and. This was the beginning of the north platte canteen. On one day, in 1943, 15,500 soldiers were noted in the canteen guest book.
During a 10minute stop, they were supplied with coffee, sandwiches and cigarettes, given a handful of current magazines and sent on their way, warmed not only by the hot coffee but by the smiles and friendly greetings of. Canteen workers provided sandwiches, cakes, cookies, hard. The birth of canteen dreams colleen coble, dream book, first. The salt at this bustling nebraska railroad hub, volunteers mostly women greeted and fed about 6 million soldiers. Learn about the areas history with a visit to the lincoln county historical museum or the 19thcentury home of showman william f.
Jul 23, 2016 one of the people at the depot that day was 26yearold rae wilson, a shop girl who had expected to see her brother on that train. The book recounts the story of north platte, nebraska, during world war ii. In search of the best america there ever was, bestselling author and awardwinning journalist bob greene finds it in a small nebraska town few people pass through todaya town where greene discovers the echoes of the most touching love story imaginable. Robert was born may 14, 1922, at anselmo, to robert charles and edna. Lincoln county historical museum north platte 2020 all. The north platte canteen was one of the largest volunteer efforts of world war ii. For the duration of the war, the canteen in north platte, nebraska routinely fed 3,500 to 5,500 soldiers every single day. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading once upon a town. North platte canteen, an account of heartland hospitality. Unlikely heroes from on the road with charles kuralt by charles kuralt. The miracle of the north platte canteen by bob greene.
Then their bellies and hearts were filled in north platte. The canteen spirit chronicles the story of the world war ii north platte canteen, which made history when residents of 125 communities from across the state greeted millions of soldiers over a nearly fiveyear period, as their trains made a tenminute stop at the north platte depot. The miracle of the north platte canteen greene brings out the humanity of a small, almost forgotten town in the flats of nebraska. North platte has a variety of attractions and activities for guests of all ages. With great amenities and our best internet rate guarantee, book your hotel in north platte today. The north platte canteen was one of the largest volunteer efforts of world. There are few train pictures in this book, it is mostly about the people of the time and shows the locals and the troops getting together for a short time during world war two. Dec 07, 2016 at this bustling nebraska railroad hub, volunteers mostly women greeted and fed about 6 million soldiers. Many of these servicemen had never heard of the town when they arrived, but they would never forget it when they left. The timeline of the book is chronological, from the canteen s beginning to its closure. Once upon a town is the true story of the north platte canteen. Canteen cultural event center, north platte, nebraska unl digital. The 10 minutes they spent in the north platte canteen became a memory those soldiers treasured for the rest of their lives.
Well, on december 25, 1941, just 18 days after pearl harbor, the women of north platte realized that many troop trains were stopping through their nebraska town crossing over to the pacific side of the u. North platte s red cross had done it in world war i, and she believed it could be done again. The book centers around the small town of north platte, iowa, that accomplished an extraordinary feat. Across the world, america was fighting in a war, and in america, men were kissing girlfriends and hugging parents goodbye. North platte, nebraska, was a town of 12,000 located on a rail line. Were just five miles from north platte regional airport lbf, buffalo bill ranch state historical park, and golden spike tower. The north platte television station nbc begins it broadcast day with what. The story of the north platte, nebraska canteen is. Over 6 million service personnel stopped at the north platte canteen and found out that someone cared. Jul 31, 2018 for the duration of the war, the canteen in north platte, nebraska routinely fed 3,500 to 5,500 soldiers every single day. North platte hotels ramada by wyndham north platte. Residents of north platte got word that a train full of nebraska army national guard members would be rolling through town on its way to camp joseph t. This website is designed to introduce you to our rich history.
The north platte canteen was just another of the ways that americans found to serve in the war effort. When the greatest generation passed through north platte, nebraska during wwii, they got a hug and a handshake, homemade cakes and cookies, and a moment of respite and prayer provided by. Veteran chicago tribune columnist greene duty, 2000, etc. From 1941 until 1946 more than 6 million servicemen and women who traveled through nebraska during world war ii fondly remember the hospitality of the north platte canteen. The miracle of the north platte canteen kindle edition by greene, bob.
The 10 minutes they spent in the north platte canteen became a. Nadine heath, 89, of north platte, passed away september 15, 2019 at linden court with her family by her side. The tiny town, wanting to offer the servicemen warmth and support, transformed its modest railroad depot into the north platte canteen. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. The miracle of the north platte canteen by bob greene is nebraskas reading choice for the 2014 one book one nebraska statewide reading program. Gradually, word of what was happening in north platte spread from serviceman to serviceman during the war, and on the long train rides across the country the soldiers came to know that, out there on the nebraska flatlands, the north platte canteen was waiting for them.
It began on december 17, 1941 when the families and friends of the local nebraska national guard unit company d came to the north platte depot to give them their christmas presents. May 23, 2015 and what was the impact of those ten minutes. During almost 50 years as a reporter at the north platte telegraph, sharron hollen wrote many stories on the canteen, including dozens of interviews with world war ii veterans who wrote letters of thanks to the town decades later. Soon, those with living memories of north platte s world war ii canteen will be gone. Family members and friends hurried to the depot with cookies, candy, cakes and gifts. Ramada north platte, ne 2102 s jeffers st north platte, ne. Theirs was a service was in the form of midwestern, small town hospitality and it was fondly remembered by those who went through there on there way to war during those difficult and trying years. The miracle of the north platte canteen greene, bob on. Chestnut or at the golden spike tower, the north plattelincoln county visitors bureau and the lincoln county historical museum.
Nov 26, 2012 just ten days after pearl harbor, north platte, nebraska, residents learned through the grapevine that their own company d, nebraska national guard was going to pass through the city by troop train. Send flowers opens send flowers url in a new window. The nearest airport is north platte regional airport, 6. The north platte canteen met its first troop train on december 25, 1941. Ramada by wyndham north platte also provides a business center and guests can check the newspapers, use the fax machine and photocopier or use the onsite atm machine at the hotel. Wake up to a hot buffet breakfast fresh coffee, waffles, pastries and healthy choices. The north platte canteen lincoln county historical museum. We are conveniently located off us highway 83, just five miles from north platte regional airport lbf, making our hotel easy to reach. During wwii, the north platte canteen was a hopping place as troop trains stopped in that small nebraska town on their way across the country. North platte canteen highlights what still persists as one of the most endearing examples of gratitude expressed toward those who have served in americas defense.
Citizens were given ration books that included stamps that allowed. Once upon a town the miracle of the north platte canteen. The north platte canteen will continue to operate up to ten months following victory day. The miracle of the north platte canteen william morrow, 2002 isbn 0060081961. See all 12 formats and editions hide other formats and editions. Welcome to the lincoln county historical museum website. A tradition of the north platte canteen, begun in 1942, was to give every serviceman celebrating a birthday on the day that heshe visited the canteen a birthday cake. Buffalo bill cody at buffalo bill ranch state historical park.