Kearney Public Library and UNK-History Department welcome you to the History Brown Bag lunch series Wednesday, November 9 from noon-1:00 pm. Dr. Nathan Tye will present “The Kearney Street Railway”
Kearney residents at the turn of the century crossed town swiftly aboard the trolleys of the Kearney Electric Company. First horse-drawn and later electrified, Kearney’s street railways brought a feeling of modernity and innovation to our booming country town. Economic depression, poor management, and service problems doomed the endeavor. Yet, if you know where to look, hints at the street railway’s existence remain in town.
Dr. Nathan Tye, is the Assistant Professor of Nebraska and American West History, where he has taught since 2019. He received his PhD from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and his research focuses on lives of migrant laborers, better known as hobos, and their efforts to survive on society’s margins. Dr. Tye is deeply interested in local and community history, particularly those histories that are marginalized, overlooked, or little known. His research is published in Nebraska History and the Annals of Iowa, and he appeared this summer on NBC’s celebrity genealogy program, Who Do You Think You Are?
This program is free and open to the public so bring your lunch and learn! This collaborative program is presented by UNK-History Department, and the Kearney Public Library. Mark your calendars for this ongoing series on December 14.