Rock Creek (Nebraska)
Encyclopedia
Rock Creek is a 19.1 miles (30.7 km) tributary of the Elkhorn River
that flows south of Wisner, Nebraska
and to the west of Beemer
. The railway water stop
and original plat
s where the village of Beemer
is now located were named "Rock Creek" before Beemer, was incorporated as a village in 1886.
, some 200 miles, to be ground into flour. In 1891, Mr. Henry Lambrecht moved the flour and grinding mill to Beemer.
line was extended from West Point to Wisner in 1871, the water stop
and telegraph
station nearest to Rock Creek was named Rock Creek and used the call letters "R C" for telegraphs. The railroad company changed the station's name to Beemer in 1886.
, and hired teachers to staff the schools.
Because they were fairly close geographically, a friendly rivalry between the churches formed, although both churches pooled their resources for a variety of projects. A Rock Creek local, Emil Rathke, earned national recognition when he was recognized by the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod for his daily ringing of the St. John Church bell. Rathke ran the bell daily for thirty-five years (1917–1952), never missing a church service, wedding or funeral until his death.
Beginning in 1958, both churches shared the same minister because of dwindling membership, and in 1960, the two schools were consolidated, with the new school based at Zions, which had a larger and newer school building.
Finally, in 1969 the two churches voted to merge, and formed Zion-St. John's Lutheran Church. The two church buildings were used until it was agreed to use only the Zion's facilities because of their greater size and capacity. The St. John's facilities were torn down in 1974. Both churches' cemeteries are maintained, and the old bell from St. John's is mounted on display at the old church cemetery, where it is sounded for burials.
The "Rock Creek Tigers" played until the mid-1950s, due to rising costs in funding the team. Its remaining players began playing for, ironically enough, Wisner and the West Point Bombers town team.
Elkhorn River
The Elkhorn River originates in the eastern Sandhills of Nebraska and is one of the largest tributaries of the Platte River, flowing and joining the Platte just southwest of Omaha, approximately 1 mile south and 3 miles west of Gretna.Located in northeast and north-central Nebraska, the Elkhorn...
that flows south of Wisner, Nebraska
Wisner, Nebraska
Wisner is a city in Cuming County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 1,270 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Wisner is located at ....
and to the west of Beemer
Beemer, Nebraska
Beemer is a village in Cuming County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 773 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Beemer is located at on the table lands adjoining the Elkhorn River bottoms, 84 miles from Omaha and nine miles northwest of West Point, near the geographic center of Cuming County...
. The railway water stop
Water stop
A water stop or water station on a railroad is a place where trains stop to replenish water. The stopping of the train itself is also referred to as "water stop". The term originates from the times of steam engines, when large amounts of water were essential...
and original plat
Plat
A plat in the U.S. is a map, drawn to scale, showing the divisions of a piece of land. Other English-speaking countries generally call such documents a cadastral map or plan....
s where the village of Beemer
Beemer, Nebraska
Beemer is a village in Cuming County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 773 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Beemer is located at on the table lands adjoining the Elkhorn River bottoms, 84 miles from Omaha and nine miles northwest of West Point, near the geographic center of Cuming County...
is now located were named "Rock Creek" before Beemer, was incorporated as a village in 1886.
History
It was the site of an unincorporated collection of German farmers in the late 1800s who felt shunned by area communities, particularly Wisner and Beemer, because they spoke very little English, and because they were farmers, laborers and field hands. Two churches were formed in this region to serve the overwhelming immigrant German Lutheran Rock Creek population—Zion Lutheran, and St. John's Lutheran.Rock Creek Mill
Rock Creek Mill, or Lambrecht's combined saw and grist mill, driven by water power, was built in August 1865 by August Lambrecht. The mill stood about two miles northwest of the present-day Elkhorn River bridge, on the south side of the river and approximately 1000 feet southwest of the present-day 'Rock Creek Bridge' (41°54'53.91"N x 96°51'11.62"W). Lambrecht built an earth and brush dam to channel the water for the mill. Customers brought grain to the mill from as far away as the Platte RiverPlatte River
The Platte River is a major river in the state of Nebraska and is about long. Measured to its farthest source via its tributary the North Platte River, it flows for over . The Platte River is a tributary of the Missouri River, which in turn is a tributary of the Mississippi River which flows to...
, some 200 miles, to be ground into flour. In 1891, Mr. Henry Lambrecht moved the flour and grinding mill to Beemer.
Rock Creek Railroad Station
When the Fremont, Elkhorn and Missouri Valley RailroadFremont, Elkhorn and Missouri Valley Railroad
The Fremont, Elkhorn and Missouri Valley Railroad , sometimes called "the Elkhorn," was an American railroad established in 1869 in Nebraska.-About:...
line was extended from West Point to Wisner in 1871, the water stop
Water stop
A water stop or water station on a railroad is a place where trains stop to replenish water. The stopping of the train itself is also referred to as "water stop". The term originates from the times of steam engines, when large amounts of water were essential...
and telegraph
Telegraphy
Telegraphy is the long-distance transmission of messages via some form of signalling technology. Telegraphy requires messages to be converted to a code which is known to both sender and receiver...
station nearest to Rock Creek was named Rock Creek and used the call letters "R C" for telegraphs. The railroad company changed the station's name to Beemer in 1886.
Zion and St. John Lutheran Churches
The two churches that were formed from the Rock Creek community started with the founding of St. John's Lutheran in 1876, while Zion Lutheran Church was formed in 1882. Both churches were spun off from other churches that proved to be too far away from the Rock Creek farms. Both churches started their own parochial schoolParochial school
A parochial school is a school that provides religious education in addition to conventional education. In a narrower sense, a parochial school is a Christian grammar school or high school which is part of, and run by, a parish.-United Kingdom:...
, and hired teachers to staff the schools.
Because they were fairly close geographically, a friendly rivalry between the churches formed, although both churches pooled their resources for a variety of projects. A Rock Creek local, Emil Rathke, earned national recognition when he was recognized by the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod for his daily ringing of the St. John Church bell. Rathke ran the bell daily for thirty-five years (1917–1952), never missing a church service, wedding or funeral until his death.
Beginning in 1958, both churches shared the same minister because of dwindling membership, and in 1960, the two schools were consolidated, with the new school based at Zions, which had a larger and newer school building.
Finally, in 1969 the two churches voted to merge, and formed Zion-St. John's Lutheran Church. The two church buildings were used until it was agreed to use only the Zion's facilities because of their greater size and capacity. The St. John's facilities were torn down in 1974. Both churches' cemeteries are maintained, and the old bell from St. John's is mounted on display at the old church cemetery, where it is sounded for burials.
The "Rock Creek Tigers"
As a means of competition and gaining respect, the men of the Rock Creek valley formed a baseball team that became well known throughout Nebraska and Iowa, and was known for drawing large crowds to its games. They played on a variety of pastures and fields provided by players and area farmers. Over the years, the "farm boys" would prove to be one of the most competitive teams among the state's town teams. However, for many years the Wisner teams refused to play Rock Creek, as the rivalry was bitter. However, this soon passed, and Rock Creek/Wisner games soon became legendary.The "Rock Creek Tigers" played until the mid-1950s, due to rising costs in funding the team. Its remaining players began playing for, ironically enough, Wisner and the West Point Bombers town team.