HOMETOWN CONNECTIONS
A newsletter from the Diller Community Foundation 2006 No.5
Diller's Quasquicentennial celebration is now only a memory. We hope many of you took time to attend at least some of the year long festivities. Circle the dates of July 6, 7 and 8 on your calendars. On those days, Diller will celebrate the 110th Annual Diller Picnic. The theme for this big event is "Let the Good Times Roll."
Diller Community Endowment: With the generous gift of $50,030 by Alan Svajgr of Cozad in honor of his parents Ed and Bessie Svajgr, the Diller Foundation Board created the Endowment Fund. A public campaign to build the present endowment to $200,000 by 2008 has been launched. Proceeds from a fund of that size would generate about $10,000 in interest annually. This money would be made available annually for grant-making purposes to fund community development efforts. Number one on the list is to invest in Diller's people, such as scholarships, both tradition and non-tradition, leadership development, and services for the elderly. Another project is the building and maintaining the assets of the community building, a library, park and public safety, such as fire and rescue. Maintain the heritage of Diller through the historic society and tourism promotion is another goal.
The growth of the endowment will be monitored by a large thermometer, which measures dollars not degrees. The design of the thermometer was done by Danielle Roelfs, an art major at Concordia College in Seward. Her grandfather, Norris Gold, constructed the sign, which is now located on the community building grounds.
The fund currently stands at $89,000 in gifts from Alan Svajgr, Dean and Beth Roelfs, Bryan and Janet Barnard, Sandman Foundation, Randy Sandman, a gift in memory of George and Margaret Regnier, LeRoy and Zona Scheele, Rev. Dr. Delmar and Phyllis Wiemers, Ila Wolters Johnson in memory of Edward and Eurene Walters, Jeanne Tinstman in memory of Tintsman and Gretzener families, Dell D. Wehling, Richard and Judy Weers, Jim and Marla Weichel, plus other anonymous donations.
No gift is too small to give to the endowment. Gifts can be made in honor or in memory of loved ones. Donors will be recognized publicly or remain anonymous if that is their wish. A complete Honor Roll of Donors to the Endowment Fund will be placed in the Diller Community Building. This will be a lasting tribute to those who help build this endowment. To help make a contribution to the endowment fund, and Endowment Pledge card is included with this mailing.
Diller is Glowing With the completion of the Main Street Lighting project, the main street of Diller is glowing. Thirty vintage style street lights were installed from the north edge of town to the south edge along Commercial Street. The lights were purchased through private gifts from individuals, families, and businesses. A plate has been attached to each lamp noting who it is given in honor or memory of.
"On the Trail to Good Reading" was the theme of the summer reading program. The 4 week program served 60 children from the area. They focused on daily tasks and experiences of a pioneer child. They churned butter, cooked applesauce and johnny cakes, learned pioneer games and enjoyed period songs.
Q 125 Celebration The grand kick off of the Quasquicentennial of Diller celebration began in March of 2005. The annual Fireman's Pancake Feed was held in the community building. Across the street in the Opera House, a musical concert was put on. Various school groups performed, as well as two dulcimer groups. A men's quartet from St. Paul's Lutheran Church also sang.
The Diller Alumni banquet was held during the Memorial Day weekend. The Diller Museum was open and folks were able to participate in a historical site tour.
The 109th Diller Picnic was held in July. A special stamp cancellation was held in the Diller Museum. People could also sample the birthday cake entries. A garden tour of local gardens was open to all. People could visit the gardens of Phyllis Engelman, Norris and Jan Gold, Ruth Horsky, Betty Lawrence, Virginia Lottman, and Carolyn Schultis.
In October a community church service was held in the park. A noon meal picnic, vintage games and ice cream were enjoyed by many town's people and guests. An historical site scavenger hunted provided a lot of excitement. A corn shucking contest was held at the Kevin Sasse Farm. Many folks tried their hand at this old method of harvesting. The Veteran's Memorial Park and the street lights were dedicated in the afternoon. The ground for the Memorial Park was donated by Art Jr. and Joyce Craig and Larry and Sandy Kotas. Landscaping was done by Larry Germer.
The Founder's Day Banquet was held on November 5th. A re-enactment of the town's founding was held near the banks of Indian Creek, and a toast was raised in honor of the occasion. Two hundred and twenty five people attended the catered meal at the Diller Elementary School. Those in attendance enjoyed dulcimer music provided by two Diller Elementary School. Those in attendance enjoyed dulcimer music provided by two local clubs, a historical oration by Mitch Zabrotksy, a song of blessing given by the St. Paul's Lutheran Choir, and a skit given by the Willard Nippert family entitled "No Smoking Please." Those sporting beards and moustaches took part in the whisker contest. The oldest living resident in Diller is Eunice Henriches, and the youngest is Tatum Schroeder, daughter of Chad and Amy Schroeder. The birthday contest winner was Minnie Koenig. Everyone was able to have a piece of birthday cake. The recipe is included in this paper.
The last event of the long year celebration was held with Santa Claus's annual visit to town. The annual turkey and ham drawing were a big success. So many ornaments had been donated that every child in attendance received one. Many enjoyed making old fashioned decorations for the huge Christmas tree.
Souvenir Items Still Available Our cookbooks A taste of Diller are still available. The cost is $8.00 and $3.00 extra for shipping and handling. The books are on sale around town or please contact the Diller Cookbook Committee, 71075 578th Avenue, Diller, NE 68342, with checks made out to Diller Cookbook Committee.
The following items are available from Beth Roelfs, 58095 HWY 8, Diller, NE 68342 or phone 402-793-5556. Checks should be made out to the Diller Development Teams People's Committee.
1. Only 150 BRASS Q-125 ornaments were produced and only 20 are still available. The ornaments are very unique displaying the logo and theme of the celebration. They are $12 plus $2.50 for shipping and handling if you want the ornament mailed to you.
2. Vintage postcards are $3.00 for a set of 6 different historical images of Diller. Photos include east and west images of main street, the old school, the orphanage, the Diller Picnic and a photo taken from the bell tower of the old school looking southeast.
3. A collection of Historical Articles was put together by Mildred Kotas. Recollections of the trails, businesses, organizations and post office provide a colorful images of the town's early years. The 80-page book includes photos, a summary of the book is $10.00.
4. A limited number of the books and postcard sets are available with the Diller Q-125 postal cancellations that was available only on July 9th, 2005. The rare cancellation makes these keepsakes of Diller even more of a collectable treasure. Books with the cancellations are $15.00 and a set of 6 postcards with the cancellation are $6.00
Recipe of Diller's Birthday Cake. The recipe was submitted by Minnie Koenig. The cake was baked for the celebration by Carmen Ragland of Sweet Creations.
Pumpkin Cake
2 cups sugar 2 cups flour 1 cup oil
2 tsp. cinnamon 4 eggs (beaten) 1/4 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking soda 2 tsp. baking powder 2 cups pumpkin
Mix all ingredients and put 9 x 13" pan. Bake for
30-35 minutes at 350 degrees. Frost while still warm. This cake can be made into
bars. Simply omit the baking powder. Dissolve the baking powder in 2 T. hot
water. Pour into 10 x 15" pan and bake for 20 minutes.
Icing
1 8 oz. pck. of cream cheese 2 tsp. vanilla 3 cups powdered sugar
chopped nuts (if desired) 1 stick margarine (melted)
Mix all ingredients and frost cake.
A Big Thank You Goes to Co-Chairpersons of the Q-125 Celebration. These ladies were Donna Crannell and Beth Roelfs. Many other volunteers helped make the celebrations a big success and "thank you" goes out to these people. They are too numerous to name.
Help Collect Diller's History. The Diller Museum committee has launched a project to collect the history of Diller through Pictures, interview and reminiscences. Throughout the Q-125 year, many visitors told stories of the school, sports, businesses, church groups, community organizations, the school fire resulting with school held all over town, and interesting town folk. These wonderful recollections are known only to a few. Please be willing to pass them down to the future. If you have photos or stories that you would share, they would be most welcome as they will provide a valuable personal side to the village's life. They can be brief single paragraphs or pages. Mail pictures with captions and stories to the Diller Community Foundation, PO Box 14, Diller, NE 68342 or email stories and scanned photos to info@diller.net.
Community Survey was completed in 2005. Members of the village and rural areas were asked to participate. A return rate of 88% gave a good picture of the goals and needs of the community. Key items identified were a desire to have a library or library services in town, remodel community building, housing, programming and facilities for youth. The Diller Development Team has organized committees to work on these goals.
Elementary Playground. A Diller Foundation granted the sum of $500.00 to add a 12' x 36" interlocking blcok border which allows for 12" of wood chips. Two basketball hoops and back board also were added. The children had 2 fundraisers, and Norris Public Power and Thrivent contributed to the funds used.
New Sign-- A new "Welcome to Diller" Sign will be built on the intersection of HWYS 103 & 8. The projected completion date is Diller Picnic Weekend of 2006. Financial support is needed. Funds can be sent to the Diller Foundation.
Diller is Recipient of 2 Awards, Diller received a 2005 NCIP Class 1 Special award in the Parks, Recreation and Forestry category for the Veteran's Memorial Park and Main Street Renovation. The Diller Community Foundation was presented the Endowment Building Award at a Nebraska Community Foundation banquet in November in Norfolk, Nebraska.
2005 Diller Community Foundation Membership, Without our members, the foundation would be nothing! The names underlined are members of the advisory Board. Members are: Kimberly Schultis Burhoop, Dan & Carol Barber, Tom & Joyce Carpenter, Leatha Christ, Diller Telephone Company, Loren and Marsha Duerksen, Maxine Nider Easley, Gordon Engelman, Elaine Erdmann, Herman & Evelyn Harding, Larry & Ruth Horsky, Lloyd Lamb, Lottman-Carpenter Construction, Courtney & Chad Lottman, Doug & Cindy Lottman, Harold & Virginia Lottman, Richard and Carolyn Meyer, Dr. Sharon & Donna Ocker, Julia D. O'Donnell, Opera House Social Club, Dean & Elizabeth Roelfs, Roelfs Transfer/Robbyn & Stan Roelfs, Ron Saathoff, Randy Sandman, Steve & Julie Sandman, William & Gladys Sandman, Karen Long Santos, Jona D. Ideus Simonson, Larry Svajgr, Dale & Lenora Weaver, Richard & Judy Weers, Jim & Marla Weichel, & Guilford & Adryce Wiemers.
A Big Thank You to the 2005 Donors to the Diller Foundation: Banahan, Eldean & Norma: Barber, Charles & Verneal; Barber, Esther/Barber Farms inc.: Barber, Dan & Carol; Barber, Kenneth & Loretta; Barnard, Bryan & Janet; Benzel, Carol; Behrends, Gary; Burhoop, Dr. Curtis & Kim (Schultis); Chambers, Larry & Janet; Countryside Cooperative; Dales Tintsman Foundation; Damrow, Frank and Betty; Diller American Legion; Diller Garden Tour; Diller Senior Citizens; Diller Telephone/Diode Employees; Diller Downtown Athletic Club; Dunlap's Utility Construction; Edwards, Joseph & Kay; End Zone Bar & Grill/Neal & Jody Roelfs; Germer, Larry & Sondra; Grone, Laura Mae; Hamel Brian & Sherri; Hatesohl, Pauline; Holtmeier Farms/ Joel & Linda Holtmeier; Janssen, Eunice; Knabe, Wilmer & Della; Koehn, Gayla: Lewis, Shirley; Lott, Gene & Malvery; Lottman, Chad & Courtney/C&C Processing; Lottman-Carpenter Construction/Bob Carpenter, Dave Lottman and Doug Lottman; McKenzie, Elizabeth (Green); Morgan, Margaret: Nippert, Williard (Memorial); Novotny, Greg & Sue; Ocker, Dr. Sharon & Donna; Oltman, Dale & Joyce; Peregrine, Larry & Patricia; Pfeifer, Jerry & Marilee, Pretzer, Dean & Jane; Pretzer, Verne & Irene; Roelfs, Dean & Beth, Roelfs Transfer/Stan & Robbyn Roelfs; Sandman Foundation; Sandman, Bill & Gladys, Sandman, Randy; Sasse, Martha; Schnuelle, Richard & Jean; Searcey, Eugene & Martha; Seevers, Dr. Thomas & Connie; Svajgr, Alan; Svajgr, Bessie; Svajgr, Larry & Cynthia; Thimm, Frank, Jr. & Sara; Tollinger, Faye (Garrels); Weers, Darrel & Nancy; Weers, Melvin & Jean; Weers, Richard & Judy; Weers, Robert & Angie; and Weers, Ronald & Leola.