The Templeton Courier

Volume 43 Templeton, Gage County, Nebraska, October 3, 1946 Number 39

Baseball coming to Templeton

Jack Crenshaw has loved baseball for as long as he could remember. He played for the Lincoln Links in the Nebraska State League from 1927 to 1936, prominently as right fielder. When his contract wasn't renewed, he began playing for the Oklahoma City Indians. He played there for three years when a stray pitch struck him in the side of the head. He was unconscious for more than twelve hours. When he awoke, his motor skills had suffered somehow. Doctors agreed that there might have been some sort of brain damage caused by the blow. Crenshaw was let go at the end of the season.

Crenshaw was recently selected to be the new manager of the Templeton Knights.

With the announcement from Midwest League fresh on everyone's minds, Templetonians wanted to know more about their team. Rumors began two weeks about the name of Templeton's new baseball team. Mr. Amiel, regional manager of Christen Supplies and local sponsor of the team, was very pleased to finally make an announcement. "We have talked to many upstanding members of the community," he said to a packed house at the Templeton High School auditorium. "So many people are eager to help, and I think that's great."

Mr. Amiel himself was smiling as the curtains on stage drew back. Large sketches were on display of the future ballpark. As Mr. Amiel tried to talk further, applause drowned out his voice. "We have big plans," he said, "Big plans." He pointed out different pages on stage. "We want nice stands, great grass, and we'll have a nice location close to businesses. Every Templetonian should feel proud to be a fan." He told the crowd that construction is to begin as soon as possible.

Mr. Amiel entertained some questions after his speech. Many of the local boys wanted to know if there would be public try outs for the Knights. "To be honest, I sure hope so. We want to get talented ball players, but I know that there is some real talent right here in Templeton. It would be shame if we didn't use it."

Mr. Amiel did not know who the Knights' manager was going to be. He said it was a decision being considered by Robert Taylor, commissioner of the Midwest League. "There will be an announcement as soon as the decision is made," Mr. Amiel answered. Rumors have already circulated that Jack Crenshaw is a top choice.

Templeton, Nebraska, was founded near the Missouri River in 1833 by English immigrant John Temple. It began as a fur trading post, and became a central point of trade amongst the local Awetauk Indian tribe and other settlers in the region.

Baptist missionaries arrived to convert the local Indian population. A Mission was built just south of the trading post in 1841. Some of the buildings that made up the mission still stand, almost one hundred years later.

The trading post became a popular stop during the California Gold Rush in the late 1840s. 

When Nebraska became a territory in 1854, the population of Templeton grew as more settlers entered the region.

Templeton did not see a large manufacturing boom during World War II. It was home to a small POW camp of German soldiers. In 1946, the medical company Christen Supplies selected Templeton as the location for their Midwest offices and manufacturing. The population of Templeton has grown over the last year to almost 15,000 people.