Mythbusting in Lincoln
Lately I have been watching some old episodes of Mythbusters in the evenings. That has got me wondering about Lincoln’s biggest myths. Which myths dog Lincoln and Lincolnites?
I propose that one of the most prominent myths is the notion that City government and LPS are somehow related. The myth comes in various forms, but the gist is that City leaders—the Mayor, the City Council—have some control over what LPS does or how it spends its money. In fact, the City of Lincoln and LPS are two entirely different animals. LPS is by far the biggest user of local property tax dollars and the City has zero say over that.
What other local myths can you think of? Are there any things that are perceived as myths but which are, in fact, true?
The Comments
Lincolnite says RE: Mythbusting in Lincoln March 8, 2010 at 9:13am
I don’t know if it’s a myth or not, but are there really “powers that be” in this community that somehow can truly shape how public money is spent? I see that phrase ("powers that be") all the time from many elderly people and always wondered…
jwiltshire says Perhaps a little more basic, March 8, 2010 at 12:20pm
Perhaps a little more basic, but I remember from elementary school stories of Supernintendo Phil Schoo was from Alaska, and that’s why he never cancelled school for snow, or that he had a heated driveway/front lawn, and that’s why he never cancelled school, and so forth…
Wisco says Robber's Cave March 8, 2010 at 1:58pm
Shortly after moving to Lincoln 5 years ago I started hearing stories about Robber’s Cave.
They say it was used to smuggle slaves on the underground railroad, it used by Jesse James as a hideout, it was a brewery and best of all it was haunted by Pawnee Indians.
Some say you can still find a secret entrance by the grain elevators.
Myth or Fact to any or all?
Mr. Wilson says RE: Robber's Cave March 8, 2010 at 2:07pm
The entrance to the cave has been sealed for many years now. I can’t say whether or not Jesse James used it, but I can say Robbers Cave made a damn nice birthday party location back in the day.
hbrogan57 says RE: Robber's Cave March 11, 2010 at 10:37am
I think that the Jesse James story was proven to be fiction. As for the Brewery, from my understanding it was used as a storage facility for that purpose and NOT an actual brewery operation. This was due to the cool conditions that are there.
Never did understand the one about the “secret” entrance.
dig dug says tunnels March 8, 2010 at 2:01pm
That there are tunnels connecting several homes in the Country Club neighborhood. Myth was that the tunnels were created as a result of fears from the Charles Lindberg baby abduction.
Mr. Wilson says RE: tunnels March 8, 2010 at 2:08pm
Hmm, I’ve never heard that one.
All you Country Club residents: report in at once!
Scott T says RE: tunnels March 8, 2010 at 6:29pm
I don’t know about tunnels but I can confirm there are bomb shelters under many of those homes below the basement level.
Stacy says Robbers Cave was an interesting March 8, 2010 at 4:37pm
Robbers Cave was an interesting place
I went right before it was shut down.
Did you know that there is a tunnel under Capital Parkway that connect Lincoln High School to the maintenance building?
Not Sure says That's per capita March 9, 2010 at 12:23am
Grade school folklore (c. 1980’s) 60 miles or so up the Interstate claimed that Lincoln had the second highest population, per capita, of a particular demographic. Not that there’s anything wrong with that, but it certaintly can’t be true.
Not Sure says An astute reader, which I March 9, 2010 at 12:36am
An astute reader, which I am not, will note that this has been covered quite recently. My apologies.
JT says No tunnels around my CC March 9, 2010 at 9:31am
No tunnels around my CC house.
I really wish there was a way to make some money off Robbers’ Cave so we could get that thing reopened, I never went in it as a kid.
Any Hobbitsville myths still floating around?
Stacy says RE: No tunnels around my CC March 10, 2010 at 9:58am
The house over on Sheridan?
hbrogan57 says RE: No tunnels around my CC March 11, 2010 at 10:35am
I believe it was just off of Sheridan and South streets. I heard that one when I first moved to Lincoln way back in 1969. No telling how long it has been floating around.
Mr. Wilson says RE: No tunnels around my CC March 11, 2010 at 10:43am
I’ve come up with a couple different versions of this story, both citing a house near Sheridan & Park:
One: “The ghost of a little girl who drowned in a pool here is said to haunt the backyard. There is now a concrete fence around the yard to keep other children away from the pool, and some say it also keeps the ghost from leaving.”
Two: “Hobbitsville is well known amongst highschool kids as an urban legend about a witch that buried her sons in the backyard under “hobbit-like” statues.”
hbrogan57 says RE: No tunnels around my CC March 11, 2010 at 9:59pm
forgot about the third one.....that’s the one about how the small statues, on certain nights, come alive and wander the property. That’s the supposed reason for the stone wall and iron gates......
Blaine says Robbers cave is for sale March 10, 2010 at 6:05pm
http://www.loopnet.com/Listing/14532756/S-10th-St-and-High-St-Lincoln-NE/
Note that “Building or parking on top of the cave is cost prohibitive.”