2025 Hometown HEROES Magazine LINCOLN DAILY NEWS June/July 2025 Page 9 Soon, Gass and her husband joined the Emden Historical Society. She said members of the Emden Historical Society care for the old Bethel School just outside of Emden and holds open houses in the society’s building on Emden’s main street. Every year, the fourth grade class from Emden Grade School also comes for a tour of the Emden Historical Society at the end of the year. At Christmas, Gass said they do cookie walks. She also tries to keep the windows decorated for the holidays. The Emden Historical Society meets the third Thursday of every month. They open the second Saturday of every month from 9 to 11:30. Gass said they need younger members since many of the members are in their 70s and 80s and a couple in their 90s. In 2020, Gass said the Emden Historical Society hosted a window decorating contest with judges from outside the community. When Emden celebrated 150 years in 2021, Gass and Lori Lessen co-chaired the Sesquicentennial celebration. Gass, Lessen and the rest of the committee planned many special activities for the celebration. Between her work with the Whistle Stop Library and the Emden Historical Society, Ladonna Gass is an asset to the community of Emden. [Angela Reiners]
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