Nebraska Stories

Episode 1

All the Livelong Day and More

Thu, Feb 6, 2025

All the Livelong Day A lifelong train enthusiast, Sam Read is living his dream as a locomotive engineer for the Nebraska Central Railroad. On his daily treks moving freight along the scenic Loup River, Sam's made connections with folks throughout his route - especially a group of children who often greet Sam as he rolls by their home. Champions of Courage Neal Mosser is regarded as one of the greatest coaches in Nebraska high school history. During his tenure as Head Basketball Coach at Omaha Technical High School (1948-1968), Mosser openly challenged racial inequity by starting games with all-black athletes. In 1994, he was inducted into the Nebraska High School Sports Hall of Fame. Masquerade In the 1940s and 50s, Nebraska artist Doane Powell created a series of strange and wonderful masks. As a former cartoonist for the Omaha Bee, Powell eventually moved to New York City and shifted his focus from drawing faces to sculpting them with layers of craft paper and adhesive, creating exaggerated caricatures and realistic likenesses of famous figures. From Clark Gable to Mae West to Hitler, the masks range from playful to a bit spooky. After years of neglect, many of Powell's masks have been restored and are now in the collection of the History Nebraska Museum. Pint-Sized Justice Established in 1914 and operational until 1961, Arthur boasts what Ripley's "Believe it or Not" recognized as the smallest courthouse in the world. The 26 by 28-foot courthouse showcases distinctive artifacts dating back to the 1920s. A tiny jail was constructed a year later using two by fours, comprised of two rooms and a solitary confinement cell.