This digital story recording was created in conjunction with the Smithsonian's Museum on Main Street program and its Stories from Main Street student documentary initiative, called "Coming Home." The project encourages students and their mentors to research and record stories about small-towns and rural neighborhoods, waterways, personal memories, cultural traditions, work histories, as well as thoughts about American democracy. These documentaries are then shared on Smithsonian websites and social media.
Bill Longnecker (00:13): I'm Bill Longnecker and I own Longnecker Jewelry here at 314 Norris Avenue in McCook. I was born and raised here and my family's been here since 1872. We've been a long time family here and I moved away for a while and came back to open a Jewelry store here in McCook.
Linda Taylor (00:29): My name is Linda Taylor and I have lived in McCook all of my life. When I was in high school and went to college, I was just sure I was going to end up in Denver Colorado. Through the years ended up here, never expecting to be in retail, but as it turned out, it's been one of the very best decisions I have made.
Pat Farrell (00:50): Hi, I'm Pat Farrell. I own Farrell's Pharmacy in McCook, Nebraska. It's a retail pharmacy. We also have a Hallmark card and gifts store.
Matt Sehnert (01:00): My name is Matt Sehnert. I'm owner operator of Sehnert's Bakery and Bieroc Cafe. Sehnert Bakery is a longtime family business, so we've been here since 1957, but I'm the fourth generation in the United States and our family history goes back to 1521, so that's our 500th anniversary in 2021.
Bill Longnecker (01:25): We are celebrating our 25th year this year. We do retail, service work, we sell diamond jewelry and stuff like Gemstones. We do a lot of custom design and everybody on my team is a craftsman or an artist.
Linda Taylor (01:38): Retail electronics began about 40 years ago and we began in the castle up on the hill, and we have done three moves since then and have expanded our business into not only electronics, but grills, bedding, furniture, refrigerators, stoves, freezers and soft water heaters. So we just keep growing.
Pat Farrell (02:01): We have been in McCook since "68". We have been at it over 50 years. The mission's always been the same "Take care of the customer", worry about the little things, the details later.
Matt Sehnert (02:15): We have been here a long time. We are big part of the community, we believe that being a part of the community is really important and so we are basically a bakery hangout place, a coffee shop, a sandwich shop, music venue, catering. We do a lot of different things in a small town to make living. We are the only James Beard Award-winning business in Nebraska.
Bill Longnecker (02:43): There is a lot of different things that come into mind when you have a small town business. You are doing business with friends and family and neighbors. That is a big difference because I have sold in the city. Your clientele, you don't know who they are, you don't know what they do but in a small town like McCook you know almost everybody. At least you recognize them and you even know a little bit about their family and who they are connected to and you feel like you are doing business with friends and family as opposed to just trying to make money. I have had thoughts about moving my business to the city, thoughts because I could make literally five to seven times more money in my business than I could here just cause of clientele but I would also give up the quality of life, the connection to family and friends and a quieter life.
Asset ID: 2022.26.01
Find a complete transcription on www.museumonmainstreet.org
