Fw: Press Release: Otoe-Missouria Home Place at Barneston Workday Sept 14

Thu Sep 5 11:17:03 UTC 2013

From: Stephen & Lori McAlister 
Sent: Thursday, September 05, 2013 12:26 AM
To: 'Lori McAlister' 
Subject: Press Release: Otoe-Missouria Home Place at Barneston Workday Sept 14

PRESS RELEASE: IMMEDIATE

5 September 2013; Lori McAlister, Media Contact for The Otoe-Missouria Home Place at Barneston, 402-802-2099 or mcalisters at windstream.net

WORKDAY AT HISTORIC BUILDING IN BARNESTON

A workday is scheduled to winterize the historic transitional building associated with the Otoe-Missouria Indian Reservation in Barneston on Saturday, September 14 from 9:00 am to 12 noon. All interested persons are welcome to participate.

Between 1855 and 1881, the Big Blue Reservation in south Gage County was home to about 600 Otoe-Missouria. The central hub of the reservation was a trading post operated by Frances M. and Mary J. Barnes. After the tribal community removed to Red Rock, Oklahoma, the village of Barneston grew up around this enterprise. While the area was yet a reservation, sketches illustrate a mix of dwellings including of earth lodges, wikiups and wood frame buildings. 

One of the most notable structures was the 3-story Indian Mission School built in 1874-1875. It served as many as 30 pupils from as far away as six miles. The iconic, black and white photograph of the school remains the signature historic image associated with Barneston today.

Precisely what happened to this building remains somewhat of a mystery. There is another old image showing the building being dismantled, but there is some question as to whether it was taken down completely or whether a portion of it was actually converted into a private home. Local stories credit the now two-story building as all that remains of the Indian Mission School. It most certainly is a significant structure in the history of the area and as a transitional building associated with the mission school, it is one of the few physical links we have to the story of the Big Blue Reservation.

The building was saved from destruction by a group of local citizens in 1986 and moved from its original site to the corner it now occupies one block east of the Barneston Park. In 1999, the ownership of the building was assumed by the Gage County Heritage Preservation Group. Now, a newly formed independent non-profit organization, The Otoe-Missouria Home Place at Barneston, will take on stewardship of the building and the story it represents.

Matthew Jones, Lori McAlister, Kathy Paul and Laureen Riedesel make up the founding board. "This is a time for gathering partners and making plans with people from Barneston, from among the Otoe-Missouria and agencies like The Nebraska Commission on Indian Affairs and the Nebraska State Historical Society," said McAlister. "This slice of history belongs to native and white people alike."

The workday is designed to provide an opportunity for assessing the site as well as simple cleaning, securing loose siding and covering holes. A large scale repair of the structure is in the plans along with program development and fund-raising. Following the workday, participants are invited to continue the conversation over lunch at the Subway in Wymore. If you are interested in being part of this effort or would like to find out more, please contact board member, Lori McAlister at 402-802-2099 or mcalisters at windstream.net.

Lori & Stephen McAlister

1811 Sumner Street

Lincoln, NE 68502

Hm 402.742.0477

Lori cell 402.802.2099

Stephen cell 402.802.2133

mcalisters at windstream.net

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