Hebron in Thayer County, Nebraska — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

World's Largest Porch Swing

Is It A Swing And Miss Or A Home Run Record?

— Story by Jordy McGowen, The ADviser, Hebron, NE —

World's Largest Porch Swing Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., April 1, 2012

1. World's Largest Porch Swing Marker

Inscription.

World's Largest Porch Swing. Is It A Swing And Miss Or A Home Run Record?. , Tell me it ain't so, Joe. This reporter's smile crumpled to the floor as I scanned the Guinness website to find the world's largest porch swing listing. It doesn't exist. The only category I could fin[d] that even came close was the world's longest swing. [S]o, is the Hebron Porch Swing still the largest in the world? Well, as a former boss of mine is prone to say..."My ball, my rules...I win!" So, I guess the answer is yes. Until somebody comes forward with proof that a bigger one exists, I think that we still hold the record for the World's Largest Porch Swing.

So, how's your history knowledge...? Do you know how this swing came to be built? Who was behind it? How much did it cost? Well, read on.

The scene was a smoke filled back room...the Hebron crowd was forming a plot to unseat Seward as Nebraska's Fourth of July city. During the course of the night, many an idea was floated, but one of the best came from Joyce Ortman.

She had been in Kansas City recently, and was amazed to see folks lined up for a couple city blocks just to have a chance to swing on an old fashioned four seater porch swing.

Tim O'Callaghan, prompted by a couple of others, including Don Vostrez, realized that if a four seater drew that kind of a crowd, then a sixteen seater ought to be the real deal.

Tim's dad, Paul teamed up with Reinke Engineering Vice-President, John Davis, to design and what was to become "The World's Largest Porch Swing".

Paul worked on the initial design and did the wood working on the seats, while John, utilizing donated Reinke Irrigation System components, came up with the design for "Super Swing" skeleton. Tim claims that the whole deal was done for a couple of hundred bucks of hard money and lots of volunteer time from folks all over the community.

Tim points out that it really brought the community together. The pride, camaraderie and the spirit of working towards a common goal were big dividends paid by the project.

For just plain, wholesome fun, it's hard to beat the big swing...and there have been a few not so...ahh, I don't think I'll go there, suffice it to say that there has been plenty of friskin' around on that ol swing over the years.

The main point is that right now we own the title of the World's Biggest [Largest] Porch Swing, even if the boys at Guinness have lost the information, and it'll be up to a challenger, not to us, to prove differently. ,

, , , , , , , , , , , , . , A little known fact: The overhead span of the swing is actually a sub-component of the Reinke CornerGator, which was one of the most unique corner watering systems ever deployed. It was designed to telescope out in the corner of a field instead of steering a tower over a buried wire, as today's modern designs do. , , , , , , , , , , , , , . , Original Site: Hebron CC Camp , Original Paint: Red, White, and Blue , Originally Buil[t]: 1985 , Moved to present site: 1991 , Estimated Capacity: 16 Adults, 24 Children , Sources: Omaha World Herald, Guinness World Record webpage, interviews.

Tell me it ain't so, Joe. This reporter's smile crumpled to the floor as I scanned the Guinness website to find the world's largest porch swing listing. It doesn't exist. The only category I could fin[d] that even came close was the world's longest swing. [S]o, is the Hebron Porch Swing still the largest in the world? Well, as a former boss of mine is prone to say..."My ball, my rules...I win!" So, I guess the answer is yes. Until somebody comes forward with proof that a bigger one exists, I think that we still hold the record for the World's Largest Porch Swing.

So, how's your history knowledge...? Do you know how this swing came to be built? Who was behind it? How much did it cost? Well, read on.

She had been in Kansas City recently, and was amazed to see folks lined up for a couple city blocks just to have a chance to swing on an old fashioned four seater porch swing.

Tim O'Callaghan, prompted by a couple of others, including Don Vostrez, realized that if a four seater drew that kind of a crowd, then a sixteen seater ought to be the real deal.

Tim's dad, Paul teamed up with

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Reinke Engineering Vice-President, John Davis, to design and what was to become "The World's Largest Porch Swing".

Tim points out that it really brought the community together. The pride, camaraderie and the spirit of working towards a common goal were big dividends paid by the project.

————————————
A little known fact: The overhead span of the swing is actually a sub-component of the Reinke CornerGator, which was one of the most unique corner watering systems ever deployed. It was designed

World's Largest Porch Swing and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., April 1, 2012

2. World's Largest Porch Swing and Marker

to telescope out in the corner of a field instead of steering a tower over a buried wire, as today's modern designs do.
————————————
Original Site: Hebron CC Camp
Original Paint: Red, White, and Blue
Originally Buil[t]: 1985
Moved to present site: 1991
Estimated Capacity: 16 Adults, 24 Children
Sources: Omaha World Herald, Guinness World Record webpage, interviews.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Charity & Public Work • Entertainment • Parks & Recreational Areas • Sports. A significant historical year for this entry is 1985.

Location. 40° 9.934′ N, 97° 35.351′ W. Marker is in Hebron, Nebraska, in Thayer County. Marker is at the intersection of Jefferson Avenue and 5th Street, on the right when traveling west on Jefferson Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: Roosevelt Park, Hebron NE 68370, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 10 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. A Tribute To Hebron, Its People and Its Schools (within shouting distance of this marker); Veterans Memorial (approx. 0.2 miles away); Thayer County (approx. ¼ mile away); The Hebron CCC And POW Camps (approx. 0.4 miles away); Oregon Trail

Sue and BannerB Enjoy The World's Largest Porch Swing image. Click for full size.

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., April 1, 2012

3. Sue and BannerB Enjoy The World's Largest Porch Swing

(approx. 2.9 miles away); Friedensau (approx. 5.4 miles away); The Forty-Niner Trail (approx. 6.4 miles away); Bank Building (approx. 9.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Hebron.

Also see . . .
1. Hebron, Nebraska: World's (2nd?) Largest Porch Swing. (Submitted on December 25, 2014, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
2. Hebron, Nebraska, Official Website. (Submitted on December 25, 2014, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)

Credits. This page was last revised on November 30, 2020. It was originally submitted on December 25, 2014, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 701 times since then and 26 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on December 25, 2014, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.