Hotel News

December 5, 2009: Wheat Growers Hotel Receives Wheat Gift

Representatives of the National Association of Wheat Weavers (NAWW), Charmayne Cesal and Peggy Nelson, brought a wonderful surprise to the Wheat Growers Hotel. The ladies came to the Christmas at the Wheat Growers Hotel, bearing a large collection of woven wheat Christmas decorations for the Hotel tree. The ornaments are all very intricately made or woven with wheat. Some are made with wheat carefully split in half and woven or applied as decorations. Charmayne Cesal is from Potter. Peggy Nelson is a charter member of the NAWW, which was established in 1987.

In many cultures there is a history of harvest celebrations. In the 1500’s, in Great Britain there are accounts of sheaves decorated to represent the spirit of the harvest. Through history, straw was used for making hats, baskets and decorative items. Immigrants brought the skill of working with straw to this country. By the 1970’s, these skills had almost disappeared. But, a group of women from Kansas traveled to Herefordshire England to gain expertise and revive the craft of wheat weaving in the US. These ladies were instrumental in the founding of NAWW. The NAWW website is nawwstraw.org

: Christmas at the Wheat Growers Hotel is a Roof Raiser

A large number of residents turned out for the Christmas at the Wheat Growers Hotel, to help raise money for the new roof fund. Guests enjoyed refreshments provided by the Wheat Growers Hotel Preservation Foundation members, including hot chocolate, hot spiced cider, cookies, cheeses, nachos and freshly popped popcorn. There was wine tasting, with wine from the Prairie Vine Winery. Many people took part in the wagon rides. And, to add to the Christmas spirit, seasonal songs sang by the very pleasant voice of Tom O’Brien. As the evening went on, the group joined Tom in a sing along.

The Silent Auction was a large success, with over forty items up for bids. Local businesses and individuals all generously donated the items. After the festivities wrapped up, the evening was deemed a very nice success. And, the fundraising for the new roof, got off to a very good start.

The Foundation members would like to thank everyone who helped with Christmas at the Wheat Growers Hotel and so generously spent time, money or gave donations to the roof fund.





May 6, 2009: Infrastructure Stimulus Money

Thank you Senator Ken Shilz and Senator Heath Mello for mentioning the Wheat Growers Hotel (4 times) on the legislative floor during the debate for LB633 (which passed)!! It is a small matching grant (up to $10,000) for rural communities to complete projects.

Unfortunately, Nebraska has decided to put most of the Infrastructure Stimulus into existing programs which require matching funds (such as the Community Development Block Grant CDBG). The intent of the Infrastructure Stimulus money was to create jobs, stimulate the economy and be 100% funded (no matching funds required, which makes sense in this economy). Generating matching funds is tremendously difficult in this economic climate.

So, we will continue to pursue funds, grants, donations, etc. to get this renovation going. If you have ideas, people/corporations/organizations we should pursue, PLEASE let us know!!

Carpe Diem,
Sue

April 24, 2009: Nice Donation!!

Wheat Growers Hotel MatchbookReceived a wonderful gift yesterday . . . an old Wheat Growers Hotel matchbook cover. Thank you Dennis in Cheyenne, Wyoming!! It will make a great addition to the Hotel’s museum.

April 8, 2009: Newspaper Story . . .

MAUNETTE LOEKS, Staff Reporter for the Star Herald (in Scottsbluff, Nebraska) wrote a great article about the Hotel that was published March 31, 2009. Thanks Maunette!!
Check it out at:
http://www.starherald.com/articles/2009/03/31/news/pride_2009/doc49ceb81d56062795559360.txt

March 27, 2009: Public Hearing Info . . .

Well, the Public Hearing for the Appropriations Committee was interesting. Unfortunately, no one spoke on behalf of the Hotel or Historic Preservation. Materials did get in the Senators’ packets . . . so we will see.

Disappointing but we will move forward!!
Sue

March 26, 2009: Public Hearing with Appropriations Committee

We received a great e-mail from J.L. Schmidt the Executive Director of Heritage Nebraska. He and Senator Ken Schilz will be presenting how Historic Preservation helps the economy in Nebraska (which includes the Hotel) to the Committee in hopes of receiving funds from the Infrastructure Stimulus Plan (ARRA: American Recovery and Reinvestment Act). He also sent us a flyer that they worked on and put 1 in each Committee members’ packet!

american-recovery-and-reinvestment-act-march-263

March 24, 2009: Kansas City Fan . . .

We have noticed that someone in (or near) Kansas City keeps their eye on this site!!  Thanks, whoever you are, we appreciate your interest in the Wheat Growers Hotel!!  Drop us a line sometime!

Thanks again,

Sue

: Nice Post from Kansas . . .

We received a nice post from Elda in Orham, Kansas:

“Was I surprised to read about your hotel in our Wheat Weaving News. I lived in Kimball for
35 years. When I first came there I stayed in your hotel in about 1948 till I found a place to live. I am happy to see it restored. It was a grand hotel in its day with a lot of history. Good luck to all of you. I have been a wheat weaver for about 15 years now.”
Elda Heidemann Orham, Ks.

March 22, 2009: Website’s “Hits”!

We found this very interesting and exciting. The Wheat Growers Hotel website has had people from all over the world visiting!! The 22 countries (in no particular order) that have visited this website are:

United States, Canada, Mexico, Peru, Brazil, Argentina, Portugal, France, United Kingdom, Poland, Romania, Turkey, Russia, Finland, Pakistan, India, China, Indonesia, Australia, Philippines, Malaysia and Taiwan!!

People in 31 states have been to this website.

The most “hits” are from 3 states: California, Nebraska and Missouri.

Seconded by 6 other states: Wyoming, Colorado, Ohio, Illinois,Texas and New York.

22 other states that have checked into this website are: Alaska, Washington, Oregon, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, South Dakota, Indiana, Michigan, Maryland, Kansas, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Connecticut, North Carolina, Virginia, Louisiana and New Jersey.

So, with this many people from around the world being interested in this Hotel, we KNOW that ’she’ will be brought back to her original grandeur!

Carpe Diem,
Sue

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