Broken Bow, NE

Broken Bow, Nebraska
By Joseph S. Bonsall

I hope the dear folks who reside in Central Nebraska will forgive me for calling today’s gig “the end of the universe” in a radio interview earlier.

The town we have spent a good part of the afternoon living in is actually Broken Bow, Nebraska. The gig is in Comstock, Nebraska, which is a good thirty miles from here.

We are leaving in an hour. Rascal Flatts’ bus just pulled out of the Gateway Motel parking lot, where our bus is gently idling away the 93-degrees afternoon. (Today, it is Sarah Evans and Colin Raye who will share the Windmill stage with the Boys.)

One is always leery of a motel whose rooms number one through twenty-five. I am in room Number 16 at this moment. However, even though the bed is a waterbed (huh?), and the decor and furniture are from 1967, it is clean. Hey, all a road warrior needs is a clean bathroom with a HOT shower and a place to plug in the laptop.

Anyhow, I walked for about two and a half hours today and covered about eight miles. I am going to either feel great tonight, or I may pass out. But right now I feel energized.

Broken Bow, in the heart of Custer County, Nebraska, is a wonderful little town. The surrounding farmlands are rich with beef cattle and corn, which is just starting to take hold. And the people who live here are friendly and outgoing.

I would love to see the machinery that rolls the hay here. The bales are twice the size of those at home in Tennessee. There is a big John Deere dealership about a mile away that sells the real stuff! You know, the Big Farm Boy stuff like combines and giant 9000 series tractors.

There is even a McDonalds, a PIZZA HUT, a Radio Shack, and a Subway. One really has to love the old Ben Franklin “5 and 10 Cent” store right off of Broadway. (Broadway??)

But what I really love is the old town square and train station. In the middle of the little park, which is complete with a gazebo (who invented the gazebo, anyway?), there stands a memorial to those young men from Broken Bow who gave all for our freedom. Too many names as usual. I spent some time there.

You see…… it’s towns like Broken Bow, Nebraska, that are truly the backbone and heart of America. It is NOT the end of the world.

Maybe they’ll build a Holiday Inn someday, but I kind of doubt it.

Let’s go SING!!!!!


	I wrote this piece two years ago when we were here for the Windmill Festival for the first time. As I read over this little essay on Americana, on this twelfth day of June, year of our Lord two thousand plus three, I find myself once again sitting in the Gateway Motel in beautiful Broken Bow, Nebraska. This time however, I dwell in room Number 6. They still have not built a Holiday Inn, or even a newer Mom and Pop motel. In fact, I am very happy to report that not one single thing has changed in this town since two years ago. No…… not one! For some reason…… this brings me comfort. (JSB) Broken Bow, Nebraska By Joseph S. Bonsall I hope the dear folks who reside in Central Nebraska will forgive me for calling today’s gig “the end of the universe” in a radio interview earlier. The town we have spent a good part of the afternoon living in is actually Broken Bow, Nebraska. The gig is in Comstock, Nebraska, which is a good thirty miles from here. We are leaving in an hour. Rascal Flatts’ bus just pulled out of the Gateway Motel parking lot, where our bus is gently idling away the 93-degrees afternoon. (Today, it is Sarah Evans and Colin Raye who will share the Windmill stage with the Boys.) One is always leery of a motel whose rooms number one through twenty-five. I am in room Number 16 at this moment. However, even though the bed is a waterbed (huh?), and the decor and furniture are from 1967, it is clean. Hey, all a road warrior needs is a clean bathroom with a HOT shower and a place to plug in the laptop. Anyhow, I walked for about two and a half hours today and covered about eight miles. I am going to either feel great tonight, or I may pass out. But right now I feel energized. Broken Bow, in the heart of Custer County, Nebraska, is a wonderful little town. The surrounding farmlands are rich with beef cattle and corn, which is just starting to take hold. And the people who live here are friendly and outgoing. I would love to see the machinery that rolls the hay here. The bales are twice the size of those at home in Tennessee. There is a big John Deere dealership about a mile away that sells the real stuff! You know, the Big Farm Boy stuff like combines and giant 9000 series tractors. There is even a McDonalds, a PIZZA HUT, a Radio Shack, and a Subway. One really has to love the old Ben Franklin “5 and 10 Cent” store right off of Broadway. (Broadway??) But what I really love is the old town square and train station. In the middle of the little park, which is complete with a gazebo (who invented the gazebo, anyway?), there stands a memorial to those young men from Broken Bow who gave all for our freedom. Too many names as usual. I spent some time there. You see…… it’s towns like Broken Bow, Nebraska, that are truly the backbone and heart of America. It is NOT the end of the world. Maybe they’ll build a Holiday Inn someday, but I kind of doubt it. Let’s go SING!!!!!