Receding Lake McConaughy Water Levels Uncover Historic Nebraska Town of Old Lemoyne
Severe drought conditions have caused Lake McConaughy, Nebraska's largest reservoir, to drop below 23% capacity. This significant reduction in water levels has exposed the submerged ruins of Old Lemoyne, a historic pioneer town that was dismantled and flooded in 1941 to facilitate the construction of Kingsley Dam. The exposed lakebed has become a 'virtual time capsule,' revealing concrete foundations and other remnants of the former community. Local historian Calvin Berry, whose family has deep roots in the area dating back to 1907, highlights the personal connection to the past that these newly visible ruins provide. Old Lemoyne was once a bustling rail shipping town, crucial for ranchers transporting cattle to Omaha markets. While many structures were removed or relocated before the flooding, the exposed site offers a glimpse into the town's past, including the vault foundation of the first Adams Bank & Trust, known for a dramatic 1930s bank robbery where a safety trick involving poker chips prevented a ... 
