O'Neill Gift Center Stems
From Need, Great Pressure
By Mr*. N. I». Ickiv*
Ono of O’Neill's greatest gift
centers is tucked away in a most
obscure place with little hint of the
hidden t>eauty of one of the world's
best gift item seller, ceramics.
No arrow points to the attractive
display on table and shelf in the
large show room and work shop
combined that is known to only a
few who have learned of its loca
tion through a desire to try their
hand at creative art as expressed
through the manipulation of clay,
the painting and baking in special
kilns that produce the finished pro
duct known as ceramics.
Mrs. Gale Taylor began her
work under pressure of a friend’s
urging when she and her husband
operated a motel and filling station
at Elmcreek. Finally, after a lot
of coaxing she went to have a look
set1 just to please her friend and
was surprised to see how easy it
was to do, or !<x>ked to lx?, so she
returned and purchased the ma
terial for her first piece and to
satisfy herself that she did or did
not have talent in that direction.
Painting with the lady who own
ed the shop she discovered that,
for her at least, it was as easy to
paint a piece of ceramic as it was
to paint anything as ordinary as a
box.
Mrs. Taylor made ceramics, of
her own making, her gift item that
Christmas of 157 and she was
launched in the ceramics business.
Early in 1958 they sold the Red
Top motel and Texaco station and
purchased the Jim Earley ranch
14 miles northwest of O’Neill. The
first of March they moved there
and about the middle of the sum
mer she and Mrs Robert Gallag
her txuight a small kiln and began
work together. They organized a
class of the neighbor ladies and
worked on the Taylor front porch.
About the first of November they
opened their shop in the back room
of the Beauty Land building. They
found it necessary to buy a larger
and automatic kiln. Mrs. Gallag
her checked out of tjie business a
year later.
September 1 they opened a shop
at Atkinson and were there only
two days a week. Mrs. Don Scott
was proprietor on Saturdays and
Mrs. Taylor had the Wednesday
shift. At this time Mrs. Taylor has
lx>th days at Atkinson.
In the summertime she holds
classes for children, sometimes as
young as five years old but the
younger ones take a lot of super
vision. She also has a ladies class
and a Friday night class.
Once started on a project they
come in and work at their con
venience.
Her slip is purchased in Grand
Island or Kearney. Slip is the term
used for the clay from which the
ceramic is molded. She has an as
sortment of some 200 molds vary
ing in weight from one pound to
40 pounds. The slip weighs 18
pounds to the gallon so when you
have a 40 pound mold filled with
slip you have a heavy container to
handle.
Clear glaze is purchased by the
gallon Moulds are filled with slip
through a pour hole. When the slip
has set to the thickness of a half
dollar around the edges the surplus
is poured off and the hollow figure
results.
Kilns are loaded in layers. The
green painted clay figures are set
on a stilt so that no two pieces
touch or touch the kiln. Stilts are
set with wire {joints of nicrome
wire Care must be exercised in
loading the kiln to keep each layer
solid and stable and still crowd the
capacity to the limit. Loading is a
nerve wrecking ordeal.
The small kiln is not automatic
but has pyrometric cones that sit
at a slight angle. When it bends
and the [joint touches the base the
glaze is matured and it is time to
shut it off.
Then it takes about as long to
cool it before it can be opened.
Some pieces have to be fired at
least three times or 21 hours. When
kiln is loaded it takes 1V2 hours
before the lid may be closed. The
tem[)erature is kept at 1800 to 1900
degrees for seven hours. At such
a high temperature the ceramics
assume a look of transparency to a
marked degree.
22 carat gold and platinum is ap
plied in liquid form. Gold is expen
sive but it goes a long ways. Gold,
mother of pearl and luster ware
use a 1200 degree heat and are the
last step in the ornamentation of
the ceramic.
There is no charge made for
teaching the trade. Pupils only pay
for the materials they use.
Mrs. Taylor is finishing a family
tree for her mother, a most at
tractive piece of work. A pyrex
pie plate was used for the back
ground on which a gold tree was
painted with the family data in
black.
Mrs. Sylvia Lemmers of Atkin
son is making a set of ranch style
dinner ware and Mrs. Matt Beha is
finishing a set of stained dishes.
Little Cindy Brown is making a
dog, Bruce Ann McKamy is finish
ing a pair of bathroom plaques.
Jeanne Crabb finished a cookie jar.
Mrs. Taylor has a handsome
pair of pheasants in the making.
Other items are night and TV
lights, took ends, pitchers, tea
sets, ash trays, candy dishes,
clock cases, planters. The artist is
limited only by the scope of his im
agination.
An unusual Christmas tree fea
tures a single bulb in a hollow
tree with colored marbles set into
J the candle scones. This country is
i horse minded so many pieces fea
ture a horse. Linda Shelhamer has
| fashioned many lovely pieces.
Some of the clay is rolled out
like pie crust then a rubber mold
! is pressed into it. It is then draped
over a jar and shaped and set then
painted and baked for trays, fancy
dishes and various odd shaped
pieces.
Mrs. Taylor took a load of finish
ed items to Wichita, Kan., Tues
day to fill the orders she received
at ceramic parties she held three
weeks ago at Wichita, Stockton
and Phillipsburg, Kan., her old
home.
She has two parties 1 nicked this
week at Wichita and Phillipsburg.
| The parties are conducted in the
same manner as a Stanley party.
The cream of the crop are the
old fashioned imitation China head,
arms and legs dollies and suffed
bodies. These are dressed in mus
lin pantalets and dresses in the
fashion of sixty years ago and are
sure to appeal to grandmothers
and granddaughters alike.
Mrs. Taylor also has many oil
paintings. A 40 by 60 inch scene is
painted on a wall in her ranch
living room. The Taylors have sold
the ranch so the painting will be
come the prize picture in the
Skrdla home the first of March,
1961. The Taylors are undecided as
to their next move.
Mrs. Taylor’s daughter has a
like wall scene that she has given
the curtain frame treatment giving
the illusion of a picture window.
For most of us our education in
ceramics has been sadly neglected.
A visit to the Taylor shop will be
a pleasant and informative one.
Ewing News
By Mrs. Harold Harris
Thirteen Ewing high school sen
iors will receive diplomas at the
commencement exercses on Thurs
day, May 19, at 8:00 p.m. at the
auditorium of the Ewing public
school.
Dr. O. F. Moore, professor of
education, Wayne State Teacher’s
College will deliver the address,
“Lets Go Forward”. The Rev. W.W.
Elliott of the Ewing Methodist
church will give the invocation and
the benediction.
Members of the graduating class
arte: Evelyn Scholl, Leon Hahl
beck, Cor alee Schrniser, Tom Koe
nig, Ronald Cloyd, Harold Parks,
Lois Kaczor, Charlotte Wright,
James Jefferies, Gary Eacker, Bill
Bauer, Catherine Woslager and
James Miller
Miss Ina Bennett entertained the
fallowing guests at a one o’clock
dinner at her home on Sunday: Mr.
and Mrs. Wayne Shrader and fam
ily, Mr. and Mrs. Wilbur Bennett
all of Ewing, Mrs. Flora Young
and Wilmer and James Bennett,
all of Orchard.
Attending the American Legion
and Auxiliary county metting at
Page on Monday evening from San
ders Post No 214 were Comman
j der Robert Eppenbach, Jay But
ler, Mrs. Eula Eppenbach, Mrs.
R. H. Shain, president of Unit 214
and Mrs. C. C. Hahlbeck.
Mrs. Miltlren Tams attended the
picnic of the Royal public school
on Sunday attended by the patrons
of the school.
Mrs. Tams has taught the past
two years at Royal. She has ac
cepted a position in the Battle
Creek public school for the com
ing school year.
Mrs. Edna Lofquest accompanied
by her aunt, Mrs. Lillie Meyers at
Clearwater were guests on Mother’s
Day at the home of her daughter
and husband. Mr. and Mrs. Reu
ben Meyers at Clearwater.
Mr and Mrs Threnas Hutton and
family were honored guests at a
farewell party held Monday even
mg at the annex of the United
Presbyterian church Mr. Hutton
showed slides of the National Gla
cier Park where he and his fam
ily have spent several summer va
cations. A delicious lunch was
served by the ladies of the church.
Mr. Hutton has resigned his work
as coach and teacher in the Ewing
public school and has accepted a
position in a National Park,
The morning worship hour at the
| Unted Presbyterian church was in
charge of the youth group Sunday
1 monmng. The junior choir gave a
| special number. Sharon Johnston
1 read the scripture Miss Sandra
Shrader gave the prayer. Kay
Bergstrom read the sermonette
Douglas Shrader, Sharon Johnston
and Diana Shrader gave the morn
ing message in three parts.
Sunday, May 22, Floyd Butter
field will be in charge of the morn
j ing worship hour.
Mr. and Mrs Eldred Skidmore of
Rockey Point, Wyo. and Mrs. Vera
.Anson of Ewing were guests on
Sunday at the home of Mr. and
Mrs. Ray Butler. The Skidmores
also called on other friends and rel
atives in Ewing. They left Sunday
to spend some time visiting rel
atives in Iowa.
Mrs. Anna Savidge accompanied
her daughter and husband, Mr
and Mrs. Charles Bartak and fam
ily to Bartlett Tuesday evening
where they attended the gradua
tion exercises. Mnss Judy Bartak
who attends the Wayne State
Teacher’s College was also in at
tendance. Judy Bantak was a mem
ber of the graduation class.
Mrs. Kittie Fry spent Sunday
at the home of her daughter and
husband. Mr. and Mrs. Willie Shra
der and family.
Sunday guests at the home of
Mr. and Mrs. Eben Grafft were
Mr. and Mrs. Clifford Hadfield of
Belgrade. Mr. Hadfield is a bro
ther of Mrs. Grafft.
Mrs. Edna Lofquest accompanied
by Mrs. Alfred Doud of Ewing,
Mrs. Lillie Meyer and Mrs. Ben
nie of Clearwater were transact
ing business in Norfolk on Monday.
Mr. and Mrs. Robert Lofquest
and family spent the weekend vis
iting at the homes of William Lof
quest and family and Mrs. Edna
Lofquest in Ewing and at the Reu
u
ben Meyer home in Nehgh.
Sunday afternoon callers at the
home of Mrs Ed an Lofquest were
Mrs Lottie Lofquest, Mrs Charles
Munson. Mrs Ixiane Philbnck and
children, all of O'Neill
The poceeds of the Poppy Day
sale Saturday, May M in Ewing
were $47.00. Mrs H. R. Harris
chairman, wishes to thank the
members of the American Legion
Auxiliary for their help and also
the school girls who canvassed the
town and sold poppies cm main
street during the evening
Guests at the home of Mr. and
Mrs. George Jefferies on Friday
were Mrs Mark Muff of Spencer,
Miss Carolyn Muff of Omaha. Ste
vie. Mardie and Carmen Cuddy of
O'Neill. Mrs. Wilman Daniels and
Sherry of Ewing, Mr. and Mrs. V.
Cratty of Neligh
Mr and Mrs. Henry Meyer of
Clearwater visited on Monday at
the home of Mr. and Mrs George
Jefferies. Evening guests the same
day were Sp 4c and Mrs. Delbert
Carl jr. who had just arrived in
Ewing. Sp 4c Carl jr. has been
stationed at Fort Knox for several
month and onexpiratkm of a 30
day leave will be sent overseas
for service in the U. S. Army.
The eighth graders or the Ewing
public school accompanied by their
teacher Mrs. Beulah Black went to
O'Neill Saturday to spend the day.
Mr and Mrs. Ray Funk helped
to furnish transporatiion for the
group Their first stop was at the
O'Neill Photo Company where in
dividual pictures were taken. Din
ner was eaten at Slat’s Cafe and
at the bowling alley by the boys.
They visited the Independent of
fice. Shopping also took up a part
of their time at the county seat.
Members of the class are: Karen
Woeppel, Sandra Tellender, Sharon
Spangler, Judy Spangler, Joan
Spangler, Mary Karen Funk, Flor
ine Black, Billy Hobbs, Marilyn
Johnston, Larr*|y' Mlnarik, Kenny
Brion and Eddie Rotherham.
Dean Pofhal, manager of the
youth baseball teams in Ewing,
announces that the boys are in
need of more suits. Any player or
sponsor who may have a suit,
please contact Mr. Pofahl or take
it to him.
The American Legion team is al
so in need of suits for the season.
Mr Pofahl says these will cost ap
proximately $10.00, Anyone who
wish to donate funds for the par
chase of a suit or a suit carrying
advertisement would be much ap
preciated by the players as well
as the manager
Sunday afternoon, the Ewing Le
gion team beat O'Neill, score 3 to
0 The O’Neill Pony League beat
Ewing, score 1(M Jim Kropp was
the pitcher fan Ewing,
Capitol News •
Hospital Costs
Lower In State
Than Nationally
By Melvin Paul
Statehmise Correspondent
The Nebraska Press Association
LINCOLN—The average cost of
building hospitals and nursing
homes in Nebraska is below the
national level.
That's the report of Keith Beil
by, hospital construction and in
spection engineer for the State
Health Department. Beil by mea
sured costs on the basis of square
feet per bed totals.
Nationally, he says, it costs $20.37
to build nursing homes, as against
$18.65 for Nebraska. The average
per bod figure nationally is $9,402
compared with $7,718 in Nebraska.
For hospitals, the engineer noted,
Nebraska costs are $25.56 per
square foot and $14,594 per bed.
Nationally, the tab is $28.10 per
square foot and $19,956 per bed.
Beilby says that construction
costs in rural areas are below the
national average because of cheap
er labor and a functional design
that doesn't have “costly ginger
bread trimmings.”
Nebraska hospital building has
climbed considerably in the last
decade and health department-of
ficals say trend now is to modern
ization of and additions to exist
ing structures.
Because of the increasing num
ber of aged in Nebraska it is ex
pected that there will be more
nursing homes built in the state
in the next 10 years.
The general trend is to use reg
ular dwellings for such homes.
Blue Sky
Year after year many Nebras
kans are bilked out of thousands
of dollars by “blue sky” artists.
The phrase developed as a des
criptive one for persons who sold
people a "hunk of the sky" or
in other words, nothing then
skipped town with the money
In Nebraska blue sky complaints
are investigated by the Bureau of
Securities in the State Banking
Department.
The bureau was transferred to
the banking department in 1939 from
the Department of Insurance,
According to officials of the ag
ency, sale of securities by unli
censed persons lias increased ma
terially in recent years. The depart
ment makes inquiry and investiga
tions, then turns material over to
prosecuting authorities.
Harold Johnsoin has for many
years been lie ad of the bureau.
He says many people who lose
their savings or substantial amounts
of money do not report this lie
cause of the fear of embarrass
ment. In recent years much of the
s*»licitation for sale of securities
in Nebraska has come from Cana
da.
Johnson says whenever someone
is suspicious of a salesman want
ing to unload stock, a check with
| the bureau can determine if the
person is licensed to do business
in Nebraska.
His office registers securities
qualified for sale in Nebraska, as
well as registering brokers, deal
ers and salesmen, and investigates
securities violations and frauds.
It’s a full time job and the work
load became increasingly heavy
when Nebraskans began to have
more money to spend.
Nebraska lawmakers concerned
with fraudulent sale of stock as ear
ly as 1913 when the tinst "blue
sky" law was passed.
Enforcement at that time was
given to the Railway Oommision,
transferred to the Insurance De
partment in 1937 and then to the
Banking Department.
Highway Commissioner
There is a new member of the
Advisory State Highway Commis
sion.
He is Kirk Mendenhall, former
mayor of North Platte, named to
succeed the late Ray Ogier of North
Platte. This restores the full mem
bership of the seven member
group.
Other members of the commis
sion are J. R. McBride of Minden,
Thane Davis of Hyannis, C. R.
Watson of Mitchell. Chris Metzger
of Cedar Creek, Merle Kingsbury
jof Ponca and Jar Vowva of Om
aha.
Markin* An ’’X’’
The next session of the Legisla
ture wiU be asked to take up the
problem of votiivg on write-in can
didates in an election
At point will be a move by the
Republican party to eliminate the
requirement that an “X" lie mark
et! in the space provided after a
voter has written in the name of a
candidate.
In a recent opinion, the State
Supreme court held that a write
in vote would lie invalid unless
accompanied by a mark in the
box provided
Attomy Genera! C. S. Beck said
the 1963 Legislature required the
mark for clarificiation purposes to
determine if the voter actually
wanted to cast a ballot for the
name written in.
Another voting matter likely to
be taken tip is whether the cur
rent law on voting machines and
electronic counting devices should
be amended.
The Legislature provided that
counties which have large cities
could use such machines but there
now is equipment that tabulates
votes on ballots but the ballots
must be taken to where the ma
chine is
There is a question as to whether
present law would permit moving
erf ballots from precincts to a
central location.
Try the Frontier Want Ada.
Dr. H. D. GILDERSLEEVE
OITOMETRIST
Eyes Examined—< a hisses Kitted
Contact Lenses
Phone 167 — O’Neill. Nobr.
Ilnurs 8-fi—Mon. thru .Saturday
dosed Wednesday
Paul Shierk
INSURANCE AOENOV
O'NEILL. NEBR.
Insurance of All
Kinds
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