On Memorial Day, a memorial in honor of the Black settlers who were featured in the novel Hector's Bliss was dedicated at Valley View Cemetery, located in southern Holt County. Originally, the Black settlers were buried in a cemetery near Goose Lake, but the graves blew open during the 1920s and 30s. Caucasian neighbors moved the remains to Valley View.
Interest in the novel Hector's Bliss, by Plainview, Nebraska, resident Dennis Vossberg, prompted a movement by readers of the novel. Donations were sent, and with the help of Plainview Monument Company, the memorial became a reality.
During his research, Vossberg found descendent Eileen Watson of Selma, Alabama, who shared memories of her family, original homesteaders in the Goose Lake area. Watson was able to attend the dedication ceremony, along with her son, Dean, who lives in Lincoln.
