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History
of North Platte
Jeffers Pavillion Remembered
I'm sure the people of North Platte and the surrounding community
who grew up during the depression and World War II days have a special feeling
for Jeffer's Pavilion.
Many are the fond memories of the great times and dances of the 1930s, '40s
and the early '50s.
Located on the northeast corner of North Jeffers and West Seventh Street,
the pavilion opened in 1928 as an open area with cement floor for dances
and roller skating. In the early 1930s, it was enlarged and enclosed with
a wood structure that was stuccoed on the outside.
The dance floor was maple and was said to be the finest between Omaha and
Denver. It was built, owned and maintained by the Union Pacific Firemen
and Athletic Club.
To the south of the pavilion was a high board fence reaching to the south
line, then west for quite a distance. On the east side were bleachers and
in the southeast corner a grandstand was built for baseball games. The North
Platte Plainsmen had some pretty good teams in the 1930s and 40s.
The manager of the pavilion for many years was Tat Wilson, who still lives
here today.
As for dances in the 30s and 40s, they had local bands such as Lee Saltow
and bands that worked out of Grand Island, like Vern Wilson and Sammy Stevens.
After World War II, many of the most famous bands such as Tommy Dorsey,
Harry James, Benny Goodman, Jimmy Dorsey, Lawrence Welk, Tiny Hill, Russ
Morgan, Xavier Cugat, Glen Grey and almost all the others played at the
Jeffers.
The only one that I can think of that didn't play here was Glenn Miller.
Maybe that was because he never survived World War II, as he was lost over
the English Channel on a flight from England to Paris. I am quite sure that
he would have played here since this was his hometown for several years
while he was in school.
The crowds were so large they would open a gate west of the building and
park cars in the baseball outfield. The crowds were manageable because about
every 30 minutes the people who went out to their cars to have a drink would
come back in as the others were going out.
On Aug. 18, 1955, the grandstand, fence and bleachers were completely destroyed
by fire. This was the fifth fire in two months, so arson was suspected.
The pavilion lived on until the morning of June 30, 1956, when the fire
department was called at 1:11a.m. Although they arrived in less than five
minutes, the fire was out of control and the pavilion burned completely
to the ground.
So, another of North Platte's landmarks was destroyed and arson was suspected
once again, according to Deputy Fire Marshall Fred Otte and Fire Chief Les
Mills.
Other landmarks that have been lost for all time include Buffalo Bill's
Welcome Wigwam town house in the 1200 block of West Fourth Street, The North
Platte Arch on West Highway 30 in 1957, the Union Pacific Depot and World
War II Canteen in 1972, Joe's Supper Club on West Highway 30 and the 1930s
Senior High School. I will not include all the businesses between Jeffers
and Chestnut and between Front Street and East Sixth Street.
Isn't progress great? |
NPTSummer 2004 Issue
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