A 3"x5" acetate negative, on-site photograph of Ernie Nozicka at his home near Bruno, Nebraska. He is wearing striped overalls, work shirt, shoes and jacket, standing with a cap in one hand and the other arm resting on top of his wagon-wheel fence. The wagon wheels outlined the driveway and highway frontage of his property near Bruno.
Thorpe Opera House Foundation/Boston Studio Project
Local Accession Number
0GG09110001
Source
Original format: 3"x5" acetate negative from the Boston Studio Project collection.
Historical Notes
Ernie was born near Bruno June 11, 1898, the son of Matej and Frances Smejkla Nozicka. He married Rose Krepcik and after she died in 1972, married Julia Strudl. He farmed northeast of Bruno for 60 years and his place was known as the "Wagon Wheel Farm". He had over 300 white wagon wheels with fencing lining both sides of the lane to his home and along the main road north of his farm. He started farming with six head of horses and never owned a tractor. In the 1930's and 1940's he broke horses for riding and farm work. He supplemented his income by working as the township overseer of Skull Creek. He was also a real estate broker and served on the Bruno School Board. He entertained people with his accordion music for over 75 years and often drove a team of horses or mules with a decorated buggy in local parades.
