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Royal , Nebraska - Reminiscence by Helen Hering Meuwissen .
Photo by Larry Dean
Royal Memories ; by Helen Hering Meuwissen .
My first memories of Royal , from the early 1920's , are those of shopping trips from Hering's Mill. I recall
visits to Fannon's Store, Punteney's Drug Store , Holm's Meat Market , the bank , lumber yard , blacksmith
shop , and the cream station. (One can of our cream didn't make it to market; it stood in a cool pantry in
front of shelves of groceries and an inaccessible cookie jar. When I stepped on the can to reach the cookies,
the lid tipped sideways and the only treat I got was a cream-filled shoe and stocking.)
Rundquist's Store Pictured In 1958 : Photo by Larry Dean .
There were also visits
to the depot and to Uncle Arthur and Aunt Stella Sparks' hotel and garage and at the home of Uncle Hub Field,
who was postmaster at that time. Our most frequent trips were to Rundquist's Store, where I wishfully gazed
at the jars and compartments of bulk candies and cookies and also loved visiting the shoe department and
inspecting in amazement the high-topped pointed-toed ladies' dress shoes.The first movie I saw was at the
Royal Theater , a silent film , featuring Marie Dressier and Wallace Beery. How exciting it was when the lights
went down, the theater grew quiet except for the whirring and clicking of the projector, and then came the
miracle of images moving on the screen.Everyone clapped loudly.
After the loss of the mill in 1929, we moved to Royal. Life was never dull at our house, with my father doing
carpentry and cabinet-making; Mother writing news and taking pictures for her feature stories of the pioneers,
teaching drama and coaching plays; and a few years later, brothers Bob and Joe being occupied with their
dance band, Bob Hering and His Sardines, occasionally competing in "battle" dances with other bands.
Grandma Brown lived with us and later Uncle Hub came to stay also.
It was good to live in a town where the whole community supported local activities: baseball team; community
programs and plays; school athletics, programs, picnics and the band and chorus which annually entered
district contest summer band concerts led by Leonard Sawyer, and the eagerly anticipated "Free Days."
Other highlights were baseball games and dances and camping at Dikeman's Park, free outdoor movies, the
traveling talent shows whose only remuneration was the loose change tossed on the stage by onlookers,
and perhaps the biggest event of all — the appearance of the Lawrence Welk Band at Ike's pavilion.
One sad memory is that of the many destitute people during the depression who traveled Highway 20, some
of them on foot, others in dilapidated vehicles, heading west in search of work and a place to call home.
They often stopped at our house to ask for help or for some task for which they could be paid. Mother
often contacted the county Red Cross for assistance for the needy.
In later years, when we returned to Royal to visit my parents, our children (Celeste, Jeff, Pam
and Greg) also enjoyed the outdoor movies, cake walks, and entertainments; and they,
too, have fond memories for "good old Royal."
