On the morning of the 15th, from Wakeeney, KS, it was obvious that the severe-weather risk today was too marginal and too far to the south and southeast. It was an easy decision to blow today off, as the setup for the 16th in central and eastern Nebraska was looking really good. So, we had a nice and easy reposition day from northwestern Kansas to Loup City, Nebraska.
Our first stop was in Norton, where we had hunkered down the evening prior as severe storms raked the area. The images below show the bank where we sought refuge, pieces of roofing material which flew off one of the town’s taller structures, and broken trees in the yard of the Norton County courthouse.
On the previous day’s chase, on our way from Smith Center to Norton, tour guest Eric Meola spotted a large, isolated and somewhat spooky-looking house in the waning light on the north side of Highway 36. It was on the top of a hill west of Phillipsburg, with a windmill right next to it, so it should be easy to find again for a brief photography stop. We found the old stone structure right about where Eric thought it would be, but the windmill was no longer standing — it was blown to the ground by the extreme northwest winds about 12 hours earlier! Eric was likely the last person to see the windmill standing prominently next to the house!
As we surrounded the place with our cameras, we found that part of the house was falling apart badly and that it was not a good idea to venture inside. This would be a cool place to photograph in better light around sunset.
Eric’s interest in abandoned schoolhouses led us to Amherst, Nebraska. Locals in and around town directed us to a lonely schoolhouse along the Loup River in northwestern Buffalo County. This one had not been used since the 1980s, and it was not likely going to be used again, at least for school!
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