Historic Home

Our short jaunt from Kansas City had landed us in Brownville, Nebraska. This town of 140 residents has an extremely large number of historic sites. We joined Steve Woerth on his morning rounds of opening several museums. The Carson House is one that has been preserved in much the same fashion as it would have been in the late 1800s. The colorful Victorian styling made a picture-perfect setting for a morning excursion. The town’s founder, Richard Brown, had the original home constructed for his personal home. Due to a growing dislike by the town’s residents, he would sell it to banker John Carson prior to departing for Texas.

Well Preserved

Mr. Carson was one of the first bankers in Nebraska Territory. He, and his family, took up residence in the house in 1864. Entering the home, we found the interior to be a direct reflection of the outside. A few modern conveniences have been added, but for the most part, the home is in the same condition as it would have been for its past residents. Looking at the study, we could imagine the owners sitting beside the fire discussing the family’s budget or talking about current events around town.

Elegant Entertaining

This parlor would have certainly been reserved for adult use only. Imagine being on the guestlist for an afternoon tea party or an evening soiree. We are sure it would have been the talk of the town since this was the home of one of the most influential families in Brownville. By the time the Carson family had taken up residence, the silenced footsteps of the original owner were just a memory. They set about making the space a real home by adding on additional spaces for the family to expand.

Guided Tour

On a normal day, Steve Woerth would unlock the door and make sure the lights were on. The home would be open for self-tours by visitors from all over the Midwest. Brownville has a uniquely attractive appeal due to its numerous historic sites and homes. On this particular Saturday, he spent time showing us around the house. He shared his historical background on Brownville, which helped us piece together how the city developed. He helped us trace the silenced footsteps of the town’s past residents.

Trouble Brewing

As he led us into the formal dining room, we immediately knew that this would have been the site of many family dinners. I spent considerable time with my grandparents, during my youth. Seeing the layout of this room, I knew that the children likely received a fair share of sideways glances. It’s hard to imagine the number of times a scolding accompanied them. At least, that is what I remember from my childhood.

Different Times

We followed Steve upstairs to the bedrooms. The children’s room looked like a picture out of a museum. The beautifully hand-carved bed frames bespoke of the time period. The historical staff has done a great job at keeping the house as close to the original, as possible. They even remembered to include a chamber pot, which is a foreign idea to kids these days. Of course, it would beat heading out to the outhouse on a cold winter morning.

Startling Discovery

Exploring these types of attractions is interesting to us. While I enjoy learning all of the histories that are associated with the various time periods, Crystal loves the personal stories. Throughout our travels, we have had many chances to tour homes from the mid-1800s. Each of them brings a unique view, although few have so many period pieces like this one. It does remind us of one we viewed in New Orleans, but here we found a startling discovery. In a downstairs bathroom, Steve pointed out the lead tub that was used by the family. While I have not researched the health effects of such a device, it certainly seemed ominous.

Silenced Footsteps

As we wrapped up our tour, we looked back on our visit to this living time capsule. By preserving the home and contents, the Brownville Historical Society has made it possible for future generations to remember days gone by. Steve told us that they will often give tours to school-age children, which allows for some hands-on education. We wonder how many of them knew what the chamber pots were used for.

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First Impressions

The town of Brownville had escaped our discovery for years. Even as we were rolling up I-29 toward Omaha, we never seemed to spot their exit. Once we finally had it, I was able to do some research. What I discovered was a village filled with history and charm. We made our plans for a visit, but COVID put a halt to them. When the spring of 2021 arrived, we felt that it was time. Knowing the town had already gone through the vaccinations helped add a layer of safety. Rolling into town, we found Main Street to be a great place to begin our exploring.

Fueling Discovery

After meeting up with Steve Worth, our guide for the day, we decided that lunch would be needed. Not only would it offer us small-town tastes, but we could lay out the plan for the rest of our visit. Right in the heart of Main Street is The Lyceum. Housed in one of the many historic buildings in Brownville, this local eatery serves up simple dishes made with care. The three of us decided to make this a quick meal, so sandwiches were our choices. Dining at The Lyceum, you can feel the history in the very foundation of the building. It always amazes us when we find that the past has been so carefully preserved.

Small Town Tastes

With our hunger managed, it was time to enact our plans. The first step was to investigate some of the historic sites and museums found in Brownville, Nebraska. Being that the real tourism season doesn’t kick in until mid-may, we felt like we almost had the town to ourselves. With so many of the stops being concentrated in just a few square blocks, we decided to begin our excursion on foot. Later, we would drive around town as Steve pointed out some of the historic homes that make up the village.

Quaint Shops

After or walk through history, it was time to check out some of the boutique-style shops that dot the main road. Once again, we found ourselves in awe of the historic buildings that they have preserved and repurposed for today’s use. Just seeing it from the outside, we could imagine an old hotel and saloon serving customers just arriving on a nearby riverboat. Stepping indoors, we found that they have created a space filled with all of the conveniences of the modern age.

Local Life

Although the time for our morning coffee had passed, we still popped in the local coffee shop for a look-see. We were ecstatic to discover that it doubles as an ice cream shop. A steady stream of locals was buying up cups of java and scoops of creamy delight. This gave us an opportunity to chat with some of the regulars and learn more about their hometown. While time limitations prevented us from getting ice cream, for now, you know we made a mental note of their closing time.

Sweet Discovery

Continuing on our walk, we came to another row of small local businesses. The name Saltwater Taffy intrigued us, as did the promising sign outside. Popping in for a look, we found it to be another boutique shop for Crystal to peruse. While she checked out all of the goodies, I examined the aromatic candies that lined one wall. The two of us were really enjoying the small-town tastes that we found at every turn.

Rural Setting

After exploring the other nearby downtown stores, we bid our farewell to our guide. He directed us down the road to Whiskey Run Creek Winery. The 100-year old barn that the winery operates out of is not native to Brownville. It was moved here to add immediate charm to the operation. It certainly does the trick. Approaching the building, it looks like something out of a postcard of yesteryear.

Something for Later

We couldn’t wait to see it up close. Inside, we found other visitors sampling the various wines produced at Whiskey Run. We took our turn at sampling and picked a bottle of our favorite to enjoy during a summer picnic. Before leaving, we had to take in the view of the manmade creek that flows from the hillside. This would be a perfect setting for an evening of wine and relaxing on their deck.

Getting Our Just Desserts

Our time in Brownville was drawing to a close, but we hadn’t forgotten about Gospel Ice Cream. We hightailed it back downtown, but missed closing time by a couple of minutes. The owner caught sight of us and opened back up for us to get our cones. (One of the many good reasons to love small towns!) In fact, he even asked us if we would like to meet his dog Gospel, for whom the shop is named. You know we just had to and we even got a selfie to memorialize the event. We were so happy they saw us because we were loving our cones, but it appears that Gospel was wishing he had one for himself. Oh well, we are sure he gets plenty of love and treats, as well.

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Wagons West

For a town of around 140 people, Brownville is just dripping with historic sites. During a visit to Council Grove, Kansas, we were sure no place could have a higher per capita concentration of historic stops. Little did we realize there was a spot, just two hours north of our hometown, where the residents were embracing the past was just as much vigor. We met up with Steve Woerth, from the Brownville Historical Society, for a whirlwind tour of the town. To gain a good background, we have to travel back to the mid-1800s. Nebraska was only a territory and was considered the edge of the frontier. Right along Main Street, we spotted the Didier Cabin which has been reconstructed by the historical society. This was the first home in Brownville, but soon the wagons would begin arriving from the east. Being situated along the Missouri River made this town perfect for riverboat travel.

Nebraska’s Land Office

Brownville had the distinction of being the site of Nebraska Territory’s only land office during the implementation of the Homesteader Act of 1862. After President Lincoln signed this into law, it opened the floodgates for western migration. Those wanting to make land claims in Nebraska had to travel to the land office in Brownville to file their paperwork. For a nominal fee, homesteaders would receive 160 acres to settle. Of course, they had to live on the land for five straight years to gain complete ownership. As Steve told us the story of the first stakeclaimers, we could only imagine the hardships they faced out here on the wide-open prairie.

A Historic Assembly

We love finding exhibits that share a region’s rich history. During a stop at the Sage Museum, Steve introduced us to a display about the 1898 Indian Congress that took place in nearby Omaha. We had never heard of this assembly that included over 500 members from 35 different tribes. By 1898, there were many believing that this would be the last assembly of many different Indian nations. A large encampment was assembled to display life in the various Indian villages. The original idea was to help showcase the art, culture, and industries of the native peoples. During the expo, photographer Frank Rinehart took hundreds of portraits of the various Native Indian participants.

Life on the Border

Since Brownville lay on the eastern edge of Nebraska territory, it found itself on the border of the Civil War. To the south, Kansas-Missouri hostilities flared up in the Border War. As Kansas politicians debated the slavery issue, those in Nebraska waited with cautious apprehension. A cannon was procured to protect the western shoreline of the Missouri River from potential invaders. Although it was not needed, they still use it each year for local events. Talk about embracing the past for the good of a community.

Embracing the Past

When we first entered the downtown strip, we couldn’t help but notice a retro-designed Ford repair shop. Now that we were on our guided tour, we found out that this is the Chitwood Wheel Museum. The museum is housed in this old shop and they have meticulously restored the outside to replicate the original paint job. Inside we found an old Tin Lizzy just waiting for restoration. This is also the home of the Civil War-era cannon, carriages, and a collection of unusual farm implements.

River Economy

The Missouri River has always played a key role in Brownville’s history. In the early days, it brought the riverboats that supplied the territory with merchandise for the homesteaders. It was used to ferry immigrants westward for the expansion of our country. The river even served as a pathway to relocate Native Indians from Minnesota to the south. In more recent years, commercial fishing was a lucrative market in this region. The abundance of catfish drew throngs of sports fishers to Brownville. Many locals would cast their nets for a daily catch. Unfortunately, lawmakers chose to alter the regulations and caused the extinction of this industry.

Soak in Brownville’s History

Our excursion to Brownville, Nebraska opened our eyes to a village that is embracing the past as they builds its future. All of these historic sites are open to the public and FREE to visitors. A day trip to this quaint village is like a trip back in time to simpler days. The vast majority of the stops are within easy walking distance of each other. Of course, you will also want to drive around the area to check out a large number of historic homes in the community. This village is a great reminder of why we need to get off of the interstates and immerse ourselves in the stories of the towns that dot the landscape of America.

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