COFFEE SIDING
Posted by: 
Biker Ozzy
N 42° 39.987 W 104° 02.048
13T E 579151 N 4724228
Coffee Siding Nebraska State Historical Marker
Waymark Code: WM40V2
Location: Nebraska, United States
Date Posted: 06/19/2008
Views: 25
This is about the only thing between Harrison and the Wyoming border.
The marker reads as follows:
Large pioneer ranches were established in this region of Nebraska in the 1870's and early 1880's. Charles F. Coffee was one of these pioneers, with ranch headquarters on Hat Creek in Nebraska and Rawhide Creek in Wyoming. By June, 1886, the Fremont, Elkhorn, and Missouri Valley Railroad (later the Chicago and North Western) reached the present site of Harrison. On August 15, Coffee shipped the first train load from Harrison to Chicago.
Coffee Siding, located here to avoid higher freight rates in Wyoming, became an important shipping point for Nebraskans. Wyoming ranchers also trailed herds here for shipment. Near the 1,023 footlong siding, Coffee built seven cattle pens. Cattle awaiting shipment were pastured on the Niobrara River south of here. As many as three cattle trains, each consisting of not less than fourteen cars, were sometimes shipped at a time.
Ranching continues as the major industry in Sioux County, but development of better roads and use of huge cattle trucks have reduced dependence on railroads. Sidings and pens used continuously through the 1940's were removed in 1958, and little remains to mark Coffee Siding and the pioneer ranching activity it represented.
Charles Franklin Coffee III
Bill Brown Coffee
Nebraska State Historical Society
U.S. Hwy. 20, west of Harrison, 1 mile east of Wyoming state line.
Sioux County
Marker 260
Marker Name: COFFEE SIDING
Roadside: yes
Web Address if available:: [Web Link]
City: Not Listed
Other: Not Listed
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Visit Instructions:
Post Pictures:
1. Close up of historical marker
2. Picture of surrounding area (would prefer to have the marker in the picture also). Thanks!