A community comes back: Winside's Old Settlers Reunion makes its return

WINSIDE, Neb. – Winside’s Old Settlers Reunion first began over a century ago, and after a year off due to the coronavirus pandemic, the event came back in a big way this weekend.

Showing off the town’s history and welcoming back Winside graduates, Old Settlers was first held in the northeast Nebraska town in 1915.

Hundreds of people converged on the small town – population: 500 – over the three-day event. Among the festivities were a parade, a street dance, a classic car and tractor show, and a Winside Museum open house showing off many of the community’s artifacts.

The event was organized by Winside P.R.I.D.E., which focuses on modernizing the town’s park and recreation areas, promoting industry in the town, and promoting education and service in the community.

According to Bill Burris of the Winside Museum, Winside was incorporated in 1890, defeating an already established town named Northside for the plat of land that became the current town. Dr. R.B. Crawford named the town “Winside”, touting that it would “win” over Northside, which it did.