A 2"x3" acetate negative, 1977 or 1978 copy of a photograph of Cabela's Hardware store in downtown Brainard, Nebraska, taken prior to 1911. The brick, corner building, features a large awning, corner entrance, corner pediment with "James Cabela", located on a tree-lined commercial street. Boardwalks surround the building on two sides along with the pool hall next door and project over the unpaved streets at the corner. Five people are loitering in front of the stores on the boardwalk. A horse is tied to the rail in front of the buildings and two horses in harnesses are tied to a railing on the adjoining side of the building.
Thorpe Opera House Foundation/Boston Studio Project
Local Accession Number
0XX00810001
Source
Original format: 2"x3" Acetate negative from the Boston Studio Project collection.
Historical Notes
Vaclav Cabela, who changed his name to James after immigrating to the U.S., came to Butler County in 1884. He farmed for 10 years, then worked in a lumber yard and clerked in a hardware store before opening a general store in 1900. He married Barbara Tuma, October 19, 1893. He served as mayor and chairman of the Brainard Village Board for many years, and also served on school and church boards. He died June 25, 1937.
