Book Now
Legacy of the Plains Museum
2930 Old Oregon Trail
Gering, NE 69341
(308) 436-1989
info@legacyoftheplains.org
Legacy of the Plains Museum
  • Facebook
  • TripAdvisor
  • Instagram
  • Search ...
  • Home
  • Plan A Visit
    • Admission Prices
    • Exhibits
      • Indoor Exhibits
      • Outdoor Exhibits
      • Special Exhibits
    • Gift Barn
    • Tour Groups
    • Tour Western Nebraska
    • Hiking
    • Private Events
    • Testimonials
  • Events
    • Fundraisers
    • Japanese Hall Grand Opening
    • Oregon Trail Wagon Train
    • Oregon Trail Days
    • Halloween at the Museum
    • High Plains Christmas
    • Trees Along the Trail
    • Yuletide Lights on the Prairie
    • Harvest Festival
    • Bandana Benefit
    • Puzzles of the Past
    • Rug Hooking
    • Tractor Relay Across Nebraska
    • Pony Express Re-Ride
    • Draft Horse Driving Clinic
  • About Us
    • Our Mission
    • History
    • Our Future
    • LOTP Podcast – Voices on the Prairie Wind
    • Board of Directors/Staff
    • Our Partners
    • Blog & News
    • Contact Us
  • Our Collections
    • Donate to Our Collections
    • Library and Archive
      • Henderson Collection
      • Audiovisual Collections
      • Rare Publications
      • Archival Material
      • Farm Publications
  • Private Events
  • Support Us
    • Become a Member
    • Phase Two – Capital Campaign
    • Make A Donation
    • Volunteer
    • Attend a Fundraiser
      • Bandana Benefit
  • Japanese Hall

Lockwood Reunion

7 years ago

The Harvest Festival is now in its 21st year. Each year, the Harvest Festival cycles through different crops, and it was realized that this year’s featured crop is potatoes, which coincides with the 60th anniversary of Thorval J. Lockwood’s passing.

Thorval (or T.J. as he was called) was once an ambitious farmer dedicated to finding a way to help farmers of Nebraska better tend to their crops, especially potatoes. T.J. invented numerous machines for different crops and farming areas, always working to make each machine better. As the machinery spread across the region, new plants were built until soon, there were plants across the nation and into other countries. The impact he had on the Nebraska Panhandle was incredible.

Lockwood Corporation got its beginnings in 1935 just outside of Kimball, Nebraska. It wasn’t long before he outgrew his location, and by 1939, T.J. moved his business to Gering. He rented a back room in a building on 7th Street for $5 a month. From there, he purchased one building after another until he finally owned the entire block. By 1942, Lockwood Grader Co. had grossed $72,000 a year and was looking to continue expanding.

In addition to his time spent on his company, T.J. was active in the region’s Boy Scouts.

T. J. Lockwood

T. J. Lockwood, exact date unknown.

T. J. Lockwood passed from this world on his 44th birthday – August 7, 1957.

On September 15, 2017, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the museum, there will be a Lockwood employee reunion in which all of the former employees are invited to come in, talk about their memories of working for this incredible man. There will also be pictures and never before seen digitally restored film footage.

agricultureHarvest FestivalLegacy of the PlainsLegacy of the Plains MuseumLockwoodT. J. Lockwood

Share

  • Home
  • Plan A Visit
  • Events
  • About Us
  • Our Collections
  • Support Us

Archives

  • March 2025
  • February 2025
  • November 2024
  • July 2024
  • March 2024
  • November 2023
  • October 2023
  • September 2023
  • June 2023
  • November 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • September 2021
  • April 2021
  • December 2020
  • August 2020
  • June 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • December 2019
  • September 2019
  • July 2019
  • February 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • September 2015
  • June 2015
  • March 2015
  • August 2014
  • July 2014
  • June 2014
  • May 2014
  • March 2014

Hours of Operation

Monday 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Legacy of the Plains Museum
2930 Old Oregon Trail
Gering, NE 69341
(308) 436-1989
info@legacyoftheplains.org
  • Facebook
  • TripAdvisor
  • Instagram
  • Search ...


Copyright © 2025 Legacy of the Plains Museum
Produced in part by a grant from the Nebraska Tourism Commission
1-888-444-1867 www.VisitNebraska.com