76 Nebraskaland • March 2021
PORTRAITS FROM THE PAST
These are pictures of a canoe trip down the Niobrara River in
June 1989 — one of many we've taken over the years. We would
canoe down to Smith Falls and camp out on the land next to
the falls, then finish down at Rocky Ford the next day. This, of
course, was before Smith Falls was a state park, and before there
were any boardwalks or a bridge across the river.
One of the photos shows our kids crossing the river using the
hand-cranked cable car — I believe one of the landowners put
that up so his kids could cross the river to get to school.
Back then, when we camped there overnight, the landowner
would come down in the evening to collect a camping fee, then
sit around the fire and swap stories with all the campers.
– Monica Beck and John Oswald, Lincoln
Here is a picture of me, waving, and my best friend
Rhonda (Miller) Johnson paddle boating at Chadron
State Park in July 1980. Growing up, we were among
a group of families that went camping together. As
kids, we were always excited to go to state parks
that had activities for kids. We enjoyed the horse
trail rides, re-enactments at Fort Robinson, using our
imagination trying to fish with sticks and string, and
so much more. We have so many cherished memories
camping. My husband and I carried on the tradition
with our children.
– Chantel (Leu) Carlson, Pierce
