Nebraska History posts materials online for your personal use. Please remember that the contents of History are copyrighted by the Nebraska State Historical Society (except for materials credited to other institutions). The NSHS retains its copyrights even to materials it posts on the web.

For permission to re-use materials or for photo ordering information, please see: http://www.nebraskahistory.org/magazine/permission.htm

Nebraska State Historical Society members receive four issues of Nebraska History and four issues of Nebraska History News annually. For membership information, see: http://nebraskahistory.org/admin/members/index.htm

Article Title: Niobrara, Nebraska: the Town Too Tough to Stay Put!

Full Citation: John E Carter, “Niobrara, Nebraska: the Town Too Tough to Stay Put!” Nebraska History 72 (1991): 144-149.

URL of article: http://www.nebraskahistory.org/publish/publicat/history/full-text/NH1991Niobrara_Tough.pdf Date: 6/1/2011

Article Summary: Niobrara was established in the spring of 1857 along the about a mile southeast of its confluence with the Niobrara River. The location was chosen to provide easy access to steamboat traffic. However, its location was moved after the great flood at the end of the winter of 1881. The town was moved a second time in 1971 when ground water rose due to the creation of the Fort Randall Dam and later the which created the . The relocation of Niobrara in 1881-82 cost an estimated $40,000; the 1970s relocation cost an estimated $14.5 million.

Cataloging Information:

Names: Edwin E Fry, B Y Shelley, J C Santee, Alvin Saunders, C H Van Wyck, E K Valentine

Place Names: Niobrara, Nebraska; Niobrara River; Fort Randall Dam; Lewis and Clark Lake, Gavins Point Dam, Missouri River

Keywords: Omaha [Steamer], 1800 census, great flood, “stickers”, Niobrara Pioneer; The B’Hoys; Knox County News, Stein Hall, Army Corps of Engineers, State Historic Preservation Office, Nebraska State Historical Society, Historic American Building Survey

Photographs / Images: Flooded Niobrara [3 photos]; Buildings in Niobrara being moved in the spring of 1881 [four photos taken by William R Cross]; post card from Niobrara in 1911 showing the town’s commercial center; Summer afternoon in Niobrara; original town site of Niobrara in section ten showing area currently underwater.

NIOBRARA, NEBRASKA: THE TOWN TOO TOUGH TO STAY PUT!

By John E. Carter Niobrara

Ne braska is a state noted for colossal the marooned began. Livestock and [and] two newspapers" was formid­ natural disasters. Prairie and timber small animals, too, had been stranded able.9 fires blacken thousands of acres. Tor­ by the sudden torrent, and by midday Judging from reports in the local nadoes level whole communities in on March 29, they had been ferried to newspapers, the discussions regarding minutes. Blizzards, notably the ones in high ground. S moving were rancorous, and many peo­ 1888 and 1949, bring the entire state to The water remained high for two ple simply chose not to wait for concen­ a standstill. days, but by Thursday, March 31, it sus. 10 By April 22, 1881, the buildings Nebraskans respond to these adver­ began to fall, and people slowly began were creeping up the grade to their sities with stoicism. They clean up, dig to clean the ice and debris from their new, drier location. I I Benchland a mile out, and rebuild. In 1881 the town of homes and businesses. On Friday, an~ a half to the south and west of the Niobrara, Nebraska, faced such a however, a telegram warning of flood­ old townsite was surveyed and trauma - a flood - which deluged the ing upstream, convinced most of the platted. town under three to six feet of water for townspeople to gather their belongings There is some evidence suggesting more than a week. What was the re­ and move to higher ground. 6 that moving the town was not entirely sponse of the citizens of Niobrara? There were those die-hards, motivated by the flooding. Edwin A. They picked up the town and moved it a however, who chose to remain in town. Fry, editor of The Niobrara Pioneer, mile and a half uphill! Known as "stickers," this group ofthir­ no~ed in March 1882 that Niobrara resi­ Niobrara was established in the teen young men took up residence in depts had grown tired of subsidizing spring of 1857 along the Missouri River the second story of a store. To alleviate streets and other improvements that about a mile southeast of its con­ the boredom the young men occupied increased the value of undeveloped fluence with the Niobrara River. The the offices of the Niobrara Pioneer and property being held for speculative town had been situated to provide easy published a tongue-in-cheek tabloid purposes.J2 The flood provided an access to steamboat traffic, and on entitled The B 'Hoys. In it they opportunity for Niobrara to rebuild on June 29, 1857, the steamer Omaha bemoaned the lack of food, the absence a ~ew site, leaving behind the burden of landed a steam sawmill. The optimistic of women, and the general abundance ummproved town lots. B. Y. Shelley, citizens built a new, three-story hotel. of water. They also agreed to forswear founder and twenty-five-year resident With a $10,000 price tag, it was then the the consumption of beans until such of Niobrara (who probably owned some largest and costliest in the state.1 This time as more private quarters could be ofthe unimproved lots), became so dis­ dizzying optimism was a hallmark of found for sleeping.7 gusted with the plan to relocate the the community, and it grew steadily. April 1881 continued wet. By the town thathe left Niobrara and returned The 1880 census reported a population twentieth of that month the river had to his native Pennsylvania. \3 of nearly 850 people.2 flooded three times; washed out Teamsters, armed with house jacks, The great flood occurred as the town bridges, mill dams, and railroad lines; winches and capstans, block-and­ was shaking off the winter of 1881. On and caused thousands of dollars in tackles, beams, poles, oxen, mules, and March 28 the river had been running damage.s While this flood was the first horses began raising, bracing, and haul­ high, but had fallen several feet by in the town's twenty-four-year history, ing building after building to the new day's end. But choked with winter ice, its effect had been chilling enough to N1 brara townsite. By January of 1882, the river was unpredictable.3 convince the citizens to move to all1 of the commercial buildings and At midnight an alarm sounded that higher ground. m .st of the houses had been moved.14 an ice gorge had broken. River water But the decision to move was by no All that remained were some houses and ice poured into the town, and means unanimous. The land currently whose condition prevented their being within half an hour had covered it with owned by people in the river bottoms moved, the county courthouse, and the up to six feet of water, stranding its would be substantially devalued by post office. IS hapless citizens in the second floors of such a move, and the land on higher The complications in removing the houses and stores.4 ground where the proposed relocation government structures were bureau­ With the onset of morning boats was to take place would inflate in value. cr~tic and political. The courthouse were located and the task of rescuing The move would separate the town was forced to remain due to a statute from the steamboat landing by about a which stipulated the manner in which a John E. Carter is curator ofphotographs at mile, and the technological difficulty of survey had to be made before a the Nebraska State Historical Society. moving a town of "three general stores, cohrthouse could be located. The sur­ two drug stores, two hardware stores, a vey of the new townsite did not comply Periodic flooding by the Missouri River was harness shop, two blacksmiths, five with this law and had to be rectified always a threat to Niobrara. (NSHS-K74­ hotels, two livery stables, three before removal could take place.16 Dle5) physicians, a schoolhouse, ... a church, !I'he relocation of the post office was I 145 Nebraska History - Fall 1991

J

-- -. .... '. ;-:.. -.t : .. NSHS-K74-0/D5

, NSHS-K4-0/5/ Niobrara

. .- . ... . HUBBARD HOUSE .

I - --­

NSHS-K74-0 IG5 NSHS-K74-0 IFS

-. • r ...... -r-'". ­ ... 1 ,. t t

Buildings in Niobrara were moued after a Missouri Riuer flood in the spring of 1881 . The photos here and the one on page 144 were taken by William R. Cross, whose career as photographer spanned fifty years in Nebraska and .

NSHS-K74-01 H5 147 Nebraska History - Fall 1991

A post card written [rom Niobrara September 4, 1911, depicted the town's commercial center. (NSHS -K74 -0/ B4). .. (inset) Summer afternoon in Niobrara. (NSHS-K74­ O/C4) a political issue. Edwin A. Fry, editor of to the removal. l g fatal to Fry's career as postmaster. In a the Niobrara Pioneer, was appointed Apparently, those who opposed the terse note in the Niobrara Pioneer of postmaster of Niobrara in September move caught the congressman's ear February 10, 1882, he observed, "The ofl881, replacingJ. C. Santee, who had and blocked approval of the move. 19 [NiobraraJ News folks gave a dance at held the position for about five years, During the month of December 1881 Stein's hall last Saturday night, about and who edited the Knox County News, Fry wrote three letters pleading with 30 couples being present. The occasion the Pioneer's competition. 17 the postmaster-general to allow reloca­ was in honor of Mr. Santee's being On September 28 Postmaster Fry tion. In one he noted that if it was not reinstated to the postoffice."22 wrote to the postmaster general, moved, a great inconvenience would In all, the relocation of the town cost requesting approval of the move, as result because the building in which the nearly $40,000_ With it completed, the required by law_ The request was post office was located was scheduled citizens of Niobrara settled down in ignored for nearly five months. Finally, for removal and there was no other their new location, confident of their Fry resorted to contacting Senators space available. 20 security from flood.2J Alvin Saunders and C. H. Van Wyck to One can imagine the delight that In the May 6, 1881, issue of the Nio­ ask their intercession. Ultimately, the Fry's rival, Santee, enjoyed at Fry's brara Pioneer, a tongue-in-cheek article post office replied that the request had dilemma_ When, in desperation, Fry entitled "New Niobrara" detailed tall been delayed because the courthouse circulated a petition in support of tale plans for moving the town: remained at the old location and more removal, Santee was one of two men The lates t scheme to be reported is one which is 2 1 based upon the knowledge of the geological for­ importantly, because Congressman E . who declined to sign it. mations of the present townsite. The sub­ K. Valentine had spoken in opposition The situation may well have proved stratum is claimed to be quicksand saturated 148 Niobrara

with water and it is proposed to build a dam NOTES across the Missouri near the mouth of Bazile 'Niobrara Centennial 1856-1956 (updated by creek. This will cause the water to back up, and, Niobrara Bicentennial Committee, 1976),6. The penetrating the quicksand, will float our present article notes, " In 1867 the Episcopal Mission townsite and raise it up to the required height. purchased this hotel from the Niobrara Townsite Then props are to be placed underneath, and the Co. and moved it to Santee for a church and Mis­ water allowed to run in the old channel again. sion school. A tornado demolished it and a fin er Failing in this it is proposed to anchor the town structure succeeded it only to be completely and then overflow it and keep it under water until wiped out by fire. " ahout four feet of sediment is deposited all over 2Niobrara Pioneer, Mar. 3 1, 1882, 1. the flat, when the dam will be torn down and we "J. C. Santee, "Fearful Floods: The Big Muddy will have a town still at least four feet higher than Gets on a Tear and Floods the Surrounding at present. Country," Knox County News, Apr. 7, 1881, re­ printed in Niobrara Centennial, 17. The article was prophetic. When in 4Ibid.; "History of Niobrara," Niobrara 1952 the gates were closed on the Fort Pioneer, Mar. 31 , 1882, 1. %id. Randall Dam, upstream from Nio­ "Ibid. brara, the periodic flooding which 'The BRays (Niobrara, Neb.), Apr. 4, 1881. eliminated sediment buildup at the 'Niobrara Pioneer, Apr. 22, 1881,2. "Knox County News, Apr. 7, 1881, reprinted in juncture of the Missouri and Niobrara Niobrara Centennial 1856-1956, 17. rivers was ended. Then in 1956, the IO" Town Tumblings: The New Location Now The original townsite of .Viobrara in Talked of by Many Citizens," Niobrara Pioneer, Gavins Point Dam was completed, section ten is now underwater. The June 10, 1881, 1; ibid., "Niobrara Drainage," June creating Lewis and Clark Lake. The second site (indicated by cross hatch­3, 1881,8. town of Niobrara, resting midway be­ ing) is directly north of th e present "Niobrara Pioneer, Apr. 22, 1881,2. tween the two dams, once again faced lown. Lewis and Clark Lake is at "Ibid., Mar. 3 1, 1882. upper right. From General Highway "Ibid., Oct. 7, 1881. I4"There are only about thirty buildings left in rising water due to the buildup of sedi­ Map ofKnox County, Nebraska, 1980. ment at the mouth of the Niobrara the old town now, and if the weather continues Department of Roads. favorable many of those will reach the bench River. 24 before the new year." "Building Notes," Nio­ The ground water rose an average of brara Piolleer, Dec. 2, 1881, 8; ibid., " Post Office Removal," Jan. 6, 1882, I. just under one-half foot a year until in IS"Post Office Removal." 1972 it reached a level of 1,219.2 feet. I·Ibid. The town of Niobrara was located ""The Post Office," Niobrara Pioneer, Sept. 2, 1881, 4. Santee had been appointed postmaster about 1,225 feet above sea level, which cajoled the residents, and eventually a in February of 1876 and held the post until he was meant that most basements filled with trickle of people began to move. removed for not being "in proper sympathy with between six inches and three feet of Inspired by the show of confidence, the the administration." A. T. Andreas, History ofthe State of Nebraska (Chicago: The Western His­ water.2~ trickle became a flood, and the new torical Company), 1882, 103 1. In 1971 the townspeople faced three town of Niobrara was dedicated on July ""Post-Office Removal," Niobrara Pioll eer, 27 J an. 6, 1882. I. choices. They could sell their property 4, 1977. The population was I9'This is probably hecause form er postmaster to the Army Corps of Engineers and estimated at nearly 400, compared with .John C. Santee, a staunch Hepublican, nominated move to other communities, abandon­ 600 in 1970. 28 In contrast to the E. K. Valentine for Congress. Andreas, History, 1031. ing Niobrara altogether. They could estimated $40,000 cost of the relocation lONiobrara Pioneer, ,Jan. 6, 1882, 1. build a system of levees and pumping of Niobrara in 1881-82, the project in 2lIbid. stations in an attempt to lower the the 1970s cost an estimated $14.5 22Sa ntee was reappointed on Jan. 12, 1882. His­ tory of the State of:Vebraska, 103 1. water table. Or they could move the million. 29 llIbid., 1030. town.26 As the end of the old town neared, H "Ground Water Problem at Niobrara, Ne­ braska and the ," draft report In a poll held that year, ninety per­ the State Historic Preservation Office, by the C.S. Army Corps of Engineers District, cent of the citizens voted to move the a department of the Nebraska State Omaha, May 1972. Nebraska State Historic Pre­ town. The plan called for the govern­ Historical Society, collaborated with servation Office Site File KX08, Nebraska State Historical Society. ment to acquire the real estate in the the Historic American Building Survey lSIbid.,5. old town, providing the residents with and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 26"G round Water Problem," 17-23; " Niobrara the capital to build their new homes to document the town, record its Relocation Featured in Magazine," Niobrara Tribune, :\>tar. 3, 1977, 1. and businesses. But what if only some buildings, and salvage artifacts. By the 27Gordon E. Printz, "Relocation Passes Four­ of the residents moved? What would spring of 1978, nothing remained year Mark," Niobrara Tribune, ,Ia n. 13, 1977, I; ibid., "2000 Attend "lew Town Dedication happen to the value of property in the standing in the second "old town" of Ceremonies," .July 7, 1977, I; ibid., Oct. 27, 1971; new town if none of the businesses Niobrara. 30 With its series of moves, Nov. 24, 1976. chose to relocate there? Over the Niobrara is both one of the oldest 28Niobrara Tribune, Nov. 24, 1976. '"Ibid., Mar. 3, 1977. course of four and one-half years the towns in Nebraska, and one of the ,"'''Town of Niobrara Relocation Project," The organizers of the project coaxed and newest. Cornerstone, Nov./Dec. 1977, 1. 149