History played out
The Nicodemus Annual Chautauqua presented a host of historical characters from Nicodemus’ not so distant past. The plot of the railroad and its colorful characters such as W.R. Hill railroad agent and town builder of Hill City and newspaper editor H.K. Lightfoot, enlightened the audience and kept them on the edge of their seats, while Banker Mc Phearson tried to persuade the audience to sympathize with him, as he explained to depositor and hotel owner, while he could pay her back. The audience really perked up to here how Emma Williams endured the first winter having had the first baby born in Nicodemus. Dr. Newth finished the Chautauqua with a heart wrenching story about the prairie fire of 1886. Musical interludes had people patting their feet, and some wanting to dance. A grant from the Hansen foundation supported the event as well as preserving stories from the community’s long-time residents.