Pierce County, Nebraska Historic Buildings Survey Nebraska State Historical Society Lincoln, Nebraska www.nebraskahistory.org .............. ENGINEERS............... .. ....... ARCHITECTS SCIENTISTS --,-- PLANNERS August 2001 Acknowledgments Mead & Hunt would like to thank the following state and local organizations and individuals for assisting us with this study: the Nebraska State Historic Preservation Office; the Nebraska State Historical Society Library; Todd and Natalie Wragge; Don and Millie Zimmer; Dick Hemmingsen; Earl Foster; Bill and Joan Chilvers; Lyndon and Vickie DeLong; Maynard and Jacque Abler; Letha Sminerka; Shannon Reinke; and the people of Pierce County. The Nebraska Historic Buildings Survey (NeHBS) projects are administered by the Nebraska State Historic Preservation Office (NeSHPO) with the cooperation of the Nebraska State Historical Society (NSHS). The NeHBS is funded in part with the assistance of a federal grant from the US. Department of the Interior, National Park Service. However, the contents and opinions expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the US. Department of the Interior. Regulations of the US. Department of the Interior strictly prohibit unlawful discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, or handicap. Any person who believes he or she has been discriminated against in any program, activity, or facility operated by a recipient of federal assistance should write to: Director, Equal Opportunity Program, US. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, P.O. Box 37127, Washington, D.C. 20013-7 127. The paper used in this publication meets the minimum requirements of the American National Standard for Information Sciences-permanence of paper for printed Library Materials (ANSI 239-48-1984). Historic photographs within the report are used courtesy of the Pierce County Historical Society (PCHS) and the NSHS. All other images are 2000 survey photographs of properties taken by Mead & Hunt. Photographs on the front cover include: Band shell at City Park, Plainview, c. 1940 (top left) Pierce Independent Filling Station, c. 1919 (top right) Main Street, Plainview, c. 1900 (bottom) 'Fable of contents Chapter I.Preservation in Nebraska Introduction ............................................................................................ Page 1 Nebraska Historic Buildings Survey ........................................................ Page 1 National Register of Historic Places ....................................................... Page 2 Certified Local Governments.................................................................. Page 3 Preservation Tax Incentives ..............................................................Page 3 Federal Project Review ........................................................................... Page 4 Public Outreach and Education .........................................................Page 5 Organization ........................................................................................... Page 6 Introduction.......................................................................................... Page 1 1 Landscape and Settlement ...............................................................Page 11 Community Development.............................................................. Page 12 FE & MV Communities: Hada~;Pierce. Foster and Plainview Great Northern Communities: McLean. Osmond and Breslau Former Townsites Research Design ...............................................................................Page 19 Limitations and Biases of the Survey ..................................................Page 21 Survey Results ................................................................................... Page 21 Significant Historic Contexts .............................................................Page 21 Numerical Summary of Survey Results ...............................................Page 24 Clrqpter 4: Th6 Heridiarr Highwmy Clr fierce County Introduction.........................................................................................Page 27 Early Road Development in Nebraska .................................................Page 27 Beginnings of the Meridian Highway.................................................. Page 28 Meridian Highway in Pierce County ................................................Page 29 Conclusion......................................................................................Page 32 Future Survey and Research Needs ....................................................Page 37 National Register Properties .................................................................Page 37 1 Bibliography 2 Glossary of Architectural Terms Preservat in Nebra Throughout most of Nebraska's history, historic The Nebraska Historic Buildings Survey (NeHBS) preservation was the province of dedicated individu- was begun in 1974. The survey is conducted on als and organizations working alone in their local a county-by-county basis and currently includes over communities. Since the passage of the National 70,000 properties that reflect the rich architectural Historic Preservation Act of 1966, however, the Gov- and historic heritage of Nebraska. The survey is . ernor of each state has been required to appoint a conducted by researchers who drive every rural and State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO) to oversee urban public road in a county and record each preservation efforts mandated by the 1966 act. In property that meets certain historic requirements. i Nebraska, the Director of the Nebraska State Histori- Surveyors never enter private property without per- cal Society (NSHS) serves as SHPO. The staff of mission. In addition to this fieldwork, surveyors the NSHS' Historic Preservation Division forms the research the history of the area in order to better Nebraska State Historic Preservation Office (NeSHPO). understand their subject. The NeHBS often includes pag thematic subjects that may be unique to a certain The NeSHPO administers a wide range of pres- county, such as an historic highway or type of ervation programs. The duties of the NeSHPO relat- industry. ing to programs called for by the National Historic Preservation Act include: The purpose of the NeHBS is to help local pres- ervation advocates, elected officials, land-use plan- Conducting and maintaining a statewide historic ners, economic development coordinators, and tour- building survey. ism promoters understand the wealth of historic Administering the National Register of Historic properties in their community. Properties included Places (NRHP) program. in the survey have no use restrictions placed on them, nor does the survey require any level of Assisting local governments in the development maintenance or accessibility by property owners. of local historic preservation programs and certi- Rather, the survey provides a foundation for identify- fication of qualifying governments. ing properties that may be worthy of preservation, Administering a federal tax incentives program promotion, and recognition within a community. for the preservation of historic buildings. Assisting federal agencies in their responsibility to identify and protect historic properties that may be affected by their projects. Providing preservation education, training, and technical assistance to individuals and groups and local, state, and federal agencies. What follows is a brief description of NeSHPO programs, followed by a staff guide with telephone numbers. Though described separately, it is impor- Main Street in Plainview c. I900 (PCHS) tant to remember that NeSHPO programs often act in concert, and should be considered elements of the NeSHPO mission and a part of the mission of the NSHS. The NeHBS provides a basis for preservation Properties need not be as "historic" as Mt. and planning at all levels of government and Vernon or architecturally spectacular as the Nebraska for individual groups or citizens. Generally, the State Capitol to be listed on the NRHP. Local prop- NeHBS includes properties that convey a sense erties that retain their physical integrity and convey of architectural significance. When possible and local historic significance may also be listed. known, NeHBS also describes properties that have historical significance. The survey is not intended It is important to note what listing a property to be a comprehensive history of a county, on the NRHP means or, perhaps more importantly, but a detailed "first look" at historic properties. what it does not mean. Additionally, as the NeHBS is in part federally funded, the NeSHPO must use federal guidelines The NRHP does not: when evaluating and identifying historic properties. In short, the NeHBS is not an end in itself, but a Restrict, in any way, a private property owner's beginning for public planners and individuals who ability to alter, manage, or dispose of a property. value their community's history. Require that properties be maintained, repaired, For more information, please call the Public Pro- or restored. grams Program Associate or the NeHBS Coordinator. Invoke special zoning or local landmark designation. Allow the listing of individual private property One of the goals of the NeHBS is to help over an owner's objection. identify properties that may be eligible for listing on the NRHP. The NRHP is our nation's official Allow the listing of historic districts over a list of significant historic properties. Created by the majority of property