Joyce Schlick & Lucille Schliep

Joyce Schlick & Lucille Schliep

When it comes to history and memories, Joyce Schlick and Lucille Schliep are a wealth of knowledge, and they’re more than happy to share that knowledge with you.

Their dedication to keep history alive and sharing it with others is one of many reasons they were chosen as this year’s Clay County News’ Persons of the Year.

Before their names became staples in Clay County, they attended and graduated from Hastings High in 1955— Schlick having grown up in Hastings and Schliep growing up at Spring Ranch.

Except for a time when her husband was in the service, Schliep has always lived in the county, and has always had a love of history.

“I like old stuff,” she said. For Schlick, her love for history began before she married Bill Schlick in August 1961 and moved to the county.

“I lived across from the museum in Hastings,” she said, explaining how when she was in sixth grade she had a job of putting bumper stickers on the museum visitors’ cars.

“I got into it [the museum life] that way,” she added.

Their joint venture into Clay County’s history began with the Clay County Historical Society—which had started in 1927. They bought memberships for their family, and before they knew it, they had board positions.

Schliep explained how she was asked to come to a historical meeting by Nancy and Dean Godtel, and once at the meeting, was then asked if she wanted the spot of Doris Fitzke who had recently died.

Schlick said they’ve been a part of the historical society for more than 30 years, with Schlick having served as the president a couple of times and currently serves as the vice president. Schliep has always served as and is currently the secretary.

“I really like it [being on the board] and the old stuff,” Schliep said. “And you get to work with it.”

She then recalled an old photo of a group of people from Glenvil that was so old she couldn’t identify anyone in it, adding how they have files full of photos they’ve received.

The memories that come in are a fun and enjoyable part of their “job.”

They recalled a memory of consecutive years when Nebraska towns were celebrating a specific commemoration— though they couldn’t specifically remember what— and over those three years, they renovated buildings, had parades, and got together as a county.

Another memory centered around a history celebration at Spring Ranch, which featured bus tours and recreations of the infamous hangings.

In between reminiscing and getting to go through history that comes through the museum’s doors—and sometimes their own mailboxes, they’re keeping things as in order as possible.

“There’s a lot of behind-thescenes work,” Schlick said. “We answer a lot of questions, clean the museum, and people still do genealogy for their family and we get calls about that,” later adding, “It’s interesting the calls we get and from different states.”

Old Trusty is another event they’ve been heavily involved in over the years.

Each year, they contact people who’ve attended the previous year to see if they’ll be there the upcoming year; tags need to be made; letters need to be sent; and the vendors need organized.

There’s also a quilt show set up at the museum, which is helped immensely by volunteers.

“We enjoy it,” Schliep said, “but it can be nerve-wracking,” Schlick added.

But no matter how nerve-wracking or how much work it can be, the two agree it’s fun and getting to see the same people come back year after year is rewarding.

When Old Trusty is over in September, it’s time to prepare for the Christmas at the Museum event the first weekend in December.

Christmas trees need to be organized and people reached out to, to see if they’re going to decorate a tree again. Activities need to be determined, and, of course, if Father Time will make an appearance.

“We’re always busy, there’s always something coming up to prepare for,” Schliep said.

Even at the age of 87, the two don’t appear to be slowing down anytime soon with their involvement.

Along with their roles at the Clay County Museum and Old Trusty, Schliep has been a member of the Fairfield American Auxiliary with Extension clubs; and both served on election boards prior to Clay County moving to mail-in ballots.

In recent years, Schlick has been helping Ken Pavelka in renovating the Loucky Church near Deweese, having fixed and reshingled the roof and given it a paint job.

Over the years, they’ve kept busy and active not just in their respective towns but in Clay County, making sure history stays alive and welcoming anyone interested in learning a bit more about their home to visit the museum.

“We have a lot of fun,” Schliep said.