Hall County Historical Society celebrates 100th anniversary

GRAND ISLAND, Neb. (KSNB) - The Hall County Historical Society held a centennial celebration at Stolley Park.

They chose that location because it’s home to one of Grand Island’s first settlers, William Stolley who arrived here in 1857. There was music and tours of the Stolley House.

HCHS Vice President Michelle Setlik is a seventh generation Hall County resident, making this celebration more than just a historic achievement.

“Just following in their shadow and helping preserve and protect our history and heritage of the community and to share that through research and education that we’re doing and sponsoring is just amazing,” said Setlik. “I mean this is this is this is a dream come true for me to be a part of this board.”

Setlik said she love community history and sharing it with everyone. She said as a part of their centennial celebration, 12 new markers will be placed throughout Hall County.

“The stories that we’re telling with our 12 new markers are about the World War One Red Cross Canteen that was here in Grand Island,” said Setlik. “About the 1967 flood that hit Hall County and the city of Grand Island. We’re talking about Fonner Park and the establishment of Fonner Park.”

Setlik said other markers will include the 1887 fire in Doniphan that destroyed the entire town, and the unique naming of all things in the city of Cairo. She also said knowing and understanding history is vital.

“The thing about history is if we don’t understand our own history and we don’t understand where we came from and the people that came before us, the sacrifices they made; we don’t appreciate were we are today; and unfortunately there are some things in our history that aren’t so pretty. History is not always pretty sometimes it’s ugly.”

Setlik said forgetting our history or not studying it will lead to making the same mistakes we did in our past.