"There are only two or three human stories, and they go on repeating themselves as fiercely as if they had never happened before; like the larks in this country, that have been singing the same five notes over for thousands of years."
- O Pioneers!
Built in 1879 this is the house in Red Cloud, Nebraska in which Willa Cather lived from 1884 to 1890.
Due to school teacher Mrs. Bennett's early efforts, many of the Cather family belongings were saved. The house is restored as it was with many original pieces.
The dining room was open for lunch as a way to make extra money as there were no restaurants then in Red Cloud and Willa's mother's cooking was popular.
In the hallway Cather family caps and jackets hang as though it were 1890.
The Cather Foundation owns at least seven buildings and the old depot is one of them. For the tour I followed the guide around town in my car.
The old train depot was once a stop for passengers between Denver and Omaha. Young Willa had a glimpse of a larger world here and this place is recreated in her stories and novels.
The St. Juliana Falconieri Catholic Church now owned by the Foundation is also a feature in Cather's works.
Her neighbors, the Miners, were models for characters in her books. She became friends with all of the Miner children and dedicated My Antonia "To Carrie and Irene Miner, In memory of affections old and true".
Inside this home is the original parlor, a source of great pride to Mrs. Miner.
Stained glass windows donated by Cather after she became a member of the Episcopal Church.
A wonderfully restored old bank also figures in Cather's works. This was one of four banks in Red Cloud that all went bust during the Great Depression.
Cather at fourteen wore her hair short and signed herself Dr. Wm. Cather as she wanted to be a doctor.
Photo of Cather and friend out camping.
A Reading List.
"The history of every country begins in the heart of a man or a woman."
-Willa Cather
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