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Kin of mine live in Nebraska. On vacation to see them, I had landed in Lincoln, rented a car, and was heading west on I-80.

A state highway sign said "Beaver Crossing Ahead." Signs about railroads crossing a highway were common enough, but I didn't remember ever seeing one about beavers crossing a highway.

I had no schedule to meet. That gave me time to think about beavers crossing the road. Another mile down I-80 was another sign indicating an exit ramp for "Beaver Crossing." I figured I might as well see those beavers, so I exited the highway.

My mental picture had been that of a small stream with some beavers nearby. Doing whatever it is that beavers do, including crossing the road. At the exit's stop sign the road was there, but no stream and no beavers. Only farmland.

Maybe there was a local park nearby with beavers. So I turned south and drove on, but no park appeared.

I did see an old-fashioned country store. I have a beer can collection, so wherever I go I look for places that may have different cans to add to my collection.

I parked, went inside. It looked like it had all the groceries and goods that farms and folks would use. A couple women were behind the counter at the store's entrance. I nodded and headed to the store's back end where the refrigerators were. The women undoubtedly knew everyone within a radius of 20 miles. I was a stranger to them, so they kept an eye on me to make sure I didn't steal anything.

There were no beer cans that I didn't have. Walking back to the front, they asked if they could help me. I gave them the noncommittal answer that I was just passing through, went outside, got in my car, gave up on finding beavers, and returned to I-80.

So, where were the beavers?

150 years ago there was a creek with beavers. They were likely all trapped for their pelts. A Google search discloses that an early wagon train "feeder trail" from Fort Leavenworth to the Oregon Trail passed through the area. That feeder trail crossed Beaver Creek. That crossing was called "Beaver Crossing" for short. A community of that name grew there, but as with many rural small towns it has struggled. The 1910 census showed about 900 people, but the latest 2000 census showed only about 450.

I'll never forget Beaver Crossing.

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