The farmer said he hadn't even known
it was there.
He was also impressed with
Springgate's navigational skills.
"'This county has been in a drought
for two years and somehow, son, you
found the only mud puddle in the
county,' he said to me," Springgate
related . "After feeling mad and
embarrassed, and getting covered in
mud, his humor made getting back on
the road a lot less stressful."
He still has a mud spot on his gear
that he couldn't wash out.
"That clay is real permanent,"
Springgate said.
But the Webster County farmer
isn't the only one who doesn't know
about the history in his backyard.
Springgate hopes to use his hobby to
encourage others to get out and explore
JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2017 • NEBRASKALAND 57
Historical markers are located in all corners of the state, including this one in Papillion.
Springgate uses a map of Nebraska to pinpoint each historical marker location, and the more than 500 he has visited, statewide.
"To anyone who might hear my story, I would urge them to, if at all possible,
visit the markers and not just read about them on their phones," Springgate said.
"Nebraska history comes to life when you are reading the marker story while
standing on the actual location of the historical event."
Historical markers are located in all corners of the state, including this one in Papillion.
PHOTO
BY
ALEX
WILES
