Rock Creek (Nebraska)

Rock Creek is a stream that flows south of Wisner, Nebraska and Beemer, Nebraska, and it is the primary tributary of the Elkhorn River in the region. The village of Beemer was originally named "Rock Creek" before it was incorporated.

History

It was the site of an unincorporated collection of German farmers in the late 1800s who felt shunned by area communities, particularly Wisner and Beemer, because they spoke very little English, and because they were farmers, laborers and field hands. Two churches were formed in this region to serve the overwhelming immigrant German Lutheran Rock Creek population--Zion Lutheran, and St. John's Lutheran.

Zion and St. John Lutheran Churches

The two churches that were formed from the Rock Creek community started with the founding of St. John's Lutheran in 1876, while Zion Lutheran Church was formed in 1882. Both churches were spun off from other churches that proved to be too far away from the Rock Creek farms. Both churches started their own parochial school, and hired teachers to staff the schools.

Because they were fairly close geographically, a friendly rivalry between the churches formed, although both churches pooled their resources for a variety of projects. A Rock Creek local, Emil Rathke, earned national recognition when he was recognized by the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod for his daily ringing of the St. John Church bell. Rathke ran the bell daily for thirty-five years (1917-1952), never missing a church service, wedding or funeral until his death.

Beginning in 1958, both churches shared the same minister because of dwindling membership, and in 1960, the two schools were consolidated, with the new school based at Zions, which had a larger and newer school building.

Finally, in 1969 the two churches voted to merge, and formed Zion-St. John's Lutheran Church. The two church buildings were used until it was agreed to use only the Zion's facilities because of their greater size and capacity. The St. John's facilities were torn down in 1974. Both churches' cemeteries are maintained, and the old bell from St. John's is mounted on display at the old church cemetery, where it is sounded for burials.

The "Rock Creek Tigers"

As a means of competition and gaining respect, the men of the Rock Creek valley formed a baseball team that became well known throughout Nebraska and Iowa, and was known for drawing large crowds to its games. They played on a variety of pastures and fields provided by players and area farmers. Over the years, the "farm boys" would prove to be one of the most competitive teams among the state's town teams. However, for many years the Wisner teams refused to play Rock Creek, as the rivalry was bitter. However, this soon passed, and Rock Creek/Wisner games soon became legendary.

The "Rock Creek Tigers" played until the mid-1950s, due to rising costs in funding the team. Its remaining players began playing for, ironically enough, Wisner and the West Point, Nebraska Bombers town team.

The Rock Creek Marching Band

The St. John and Zion Lutheran Churches had a marching band that was formed in the early 1920s. The group performed at church activities as well as marching in parades. It disbanded at the onset of World War II, and lack of interest led to its demise after the war's conclusion.

Rock Creek Today

Only two physical reminders of the Rock Creek era remains--one is a pioneer cemetery located southwest of Beemer that is known simply as "Rock Creek Cemetery". Established in 1868, it is well maintained, and still has occasional burials for families with roots in the region. The other is the original Rock Creek post office, which is now part of a farmhouse near the St. John's cemetery.

External Sources

* [http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~marcha5/ Rock Creek Cemetery Website]
* [http://www.rootsweb.com/%7enecuming/stjohncem.html St. John's Cemetery Website]
* [http://www.rootsweb.com/%7enecuming/zionwisnercem.html Zion's Cemetery Website]

References

* "A Great Past, A Greater Future--A History of Wisner, Nebraska". Wisner "News-Chronicle"; 1971.
* "History of St. John, Zion, and Zion-St. John Churches". Self-published; 1992.