MARIETTA PRECINCT

including L.F. Dewhirst, the U.P. station agent. Because of some previous fire department experience, he was elected as Mead's first fire chief. On July 16, 1928, the MVFD Constitution and By-laws were approved, and Ettner Oakeson was elected chief to replace Mr. Dewhirst who had been transferred. E. Oakeson remained chief for 15 years, and was succeeded by D.O. Robinson, who was chief for 8 years. Today Mr. Robinson is the only charter member left on the department, having served for 49 years.

   In Sept., 1946, tbe town board purchased the Flodman store property, and built a cement block building to house the new pumper, the Model "A", and to provide a place for meetings. The building also included a small office and the town's jail facilities. After the department's move to the new Centennial Building in 1967, this building was converted to the present city library.

   In March, 1955, the current Mead Rural Fire District No.8 was formed. The original district was composed of 56 sections (five precincts), and governed by a rural board composed of a member from each precinct. The first board members were: Ben Widman, Bill Hannan, Clarence Seely, Kenneth Anderson, and August Behrens. Later some sections were transferred to other Fire Districts to assist in their development. After acquiring 6 sections in the Ordnance Plant area in the early 1960's, the District now contains 55 sections.

   In Sept. of 1964, the first Rescue unit (a 1957 Chevy van) was obtained from the Valparaiso Fire Dept. for $1800. The first chief of the Rescue unit was Robert Hogg, who pioneered and persisted until he had trained all the fire department members in the immediate and temporary care to be given the victim of an accident or injury. At the present time, there are 2 rescue unit vehicles -- a 1970 Chev. van and a Cadillac ambulance.

   In 1967 the fire department and all vehicles and equipment moved into the new Centennial (community) building. The fire department had spear-headed the drive for this building and had also donated labor and funds toward making a dream come true -- that of a new fire station and community center. Today the old fire bell rests in front of this building.

   It appears that originally all of Marietta Precinct with the exception of 4 sections in the northwest corner, was in school District 22. The schoolhouse was centrally located in the southwest corner of Sect. 15. During 1871 and 1872, 4½ sections in the north area formed a part of District 57, over 7 sections of the west and southwest portion formed District 67, and 2 sections on the northeast became a part of District 35. This left District 22 consisting of the central and southeast sections of the precinct.

   The consolidation law of 1915 allowed Class I districts to merge with a high school. Mead's frame building had been condemned by the State Fire Department. The school board headed by W.R. Mitchell met with Co. Supt. F.E. Alder. These meetings resulted in the consolidation of Districts 22 (Adams), 67 (Crinklaw), and 95 (Mead) on May 3, 1919. On June 7, 1919, District 89 (Hallner) also joined. This was the beginning of District 72.

   The six men elected to the school board were: D.H. Thompson, moderator, Fred Behrens, Henry Ostenberg, A.E. Swanson, F.J. Swanson, and Harry Nigh. Before the new school was built, this board saw fit to contact the State Director of Vocational Education as to how Dist. 72 could take advantage of the then recently passed Smith Hughes Act. The Director recommended 10 acres be purchased, and an acreage on the hill northwest of town was acquired for $4430.

   While the school building and garage were being built at a cost of $195,000 one Reo bus transported high school students to Mead, and the grade students attended their former schools. The new building was ready for the 1921-1922 term.

   The centrally located gym-auditorium reached above the rest of the building, and was surrounded on three sides with 2 stories of classrooms, office space, and rest rooms. At that time it was probably the finest school in Saunders County. Elm trees lined the curved driveway and sidewalk that led toward town. Most of the trees died when Dutch Elm disease swept the country in the late 1960's.

   There were eight teachers, including F.E. Alder as Supt.; Paul E. Seidel, Smith-Hughes instructor and later Supt.; Willa McReynolds, Home Economics; Blanche Wyant, vocal music; and four grade schoolteachers. Others who will be remembered are Supts. Walter French, F.H. Brokaw, K.V. Anderson, Lloyd Texley, and Jim Hummel; and teachers Edna McCabe, Elaine Huff, Jen Jenkins, Crystal Anderson, Irene Odell, Delphia Carlson, and Mildred Schneider.

Mead Elementary 1921-1983

   The influx of people in the community during the building and operation of the Nebraska Ordnance Plant in the 1940's had a great impact upon the school. Classrooms were crowded. The turn-over rate of students was high, many of them being in school only a few weeks or months before moving. But with the patience and ingenuity of those in charge, the students received a good education. The tax base had been cut a great deal by the government's purchase of many acres of land in the district for the plant. However, there was some reimbursement by the government through various fiscal programs.

   In 1959, because of overcrowding conditions, part of the garage was converted to a music room and Vo-Ag rooms, and a new garage built to house the buses. A new library was completed under the gym in 1966. Cataloging of books in the library had begun in 1938.

   Hoping to broaden the course offerings without hiring more teachers, a program was initiated (on a temporary basis) in 1961 whereby Mead and Yutan students were bused between schools so they could take advantage of courses not offered in their own school. However, the program was dropped in 1966 because of time spent in transportation and for lack of support by the State Dept. of Education.

Jr.-Sr. High School 1973-1983

   At various times the boundaries of Dist. 72 were changed by the addition of all or part of the following districts: 6, 16, 35, 37, 42, 46, 55, 57, 66, 82, 102, and 114. With increased enrollment, more room was needed. At a special election in May 1972, approval was granted to build a new Junior-Senior High building. The old building would be used as the elementary school. A 36-acre site was purchased in Nov.1972 for $1500/acre. The day, Feb. 6, 1974, arrived for grades 7 through 12 to move into the new $970,000 facility on the north edge of Mead. The entire move was made with voluntary labor and equipment. Students carried their own school books and equipment to the new classrooms and lockers.

   In the center of the one-story, red brick building is a commons area used for a study hall, dining hall, and various programs. North of this area is the library (including reading and audio-visual rooms), classrooms and science labs, the Home Economics unit, rest rooms, and lockers. South of the commons area is the gym-auditorium. A stage with back drops on a track can be made to face either the commons area or the auditorium. To the east of the gym and commons area are the kitchen, custodial, and Vo-Ag units. The administrative area (including offices, first aid room, supply unit, and teachers' lounge), the music unit, and the physical education units are to the west of the gym and commons area. Most of the building is carpeted and air-conditioned. East of the building is a lighted football field. Landscaping of the school grounds was done by a nursery, but the actual planting and sodding was by volunteer labor of the students.

   Thus in 1874, because there was no school building in southeast Marietta precinct, Peter Gibson and two friends were granted permission from the County Superintendent to hire H.N. Rogers to teach 10 children in the Gibson's summer kitchen. The Gibson home was in the southwest corner of section 27 (1½ miles west of Mead). Then in early 1875, sections 25, 26, 27, 34, 35 (now Mead), and 36 were organized into Dist. 95. Sixteen legal voters met at the Gibson home. John Sward, F.G. Sandblad, P. Kallqvist, and others decided to accept the one acre donated by J.M.S. Williams in the north central part of Section 35 (just northwest of the present Mead city limits). G.E. Hubbard, Peter Gibson, and Charles Johnson were on the school board.

   Teachers were often paid $25 a month for the summer term (April through June) and $30 a month for the winter term (Sept. through Jan.). They contracted to teach, sweep the floor, supervise recess, and build fires (with corn on the cob and coal for fuel).

   On Oct. 1, 1884 the school board rented Union Hall on Fourth and Elm in Mead for $10 a month. A teacher for older students, and three grade teachers were hired, and the first nine-month term began.

   In 1886 a two-story building was completed on a site north of First Street (the present-day citypark grounds). The building faced south and had the primary and intermediate rooms (with long cloak rooms adjacent) on first floor. The grammar and high school rooms (also with cloak rooms), a recitation room, and the library were on second floor. In the 1900's a science room was added. Each room had a stove until a furnace was installed in 1904.

   A bored well was sunk south of the school. The concrete sidewalks (the first in Mend) provided a place for playing jackstones at recess. Trees bordered the large grounds, and a few of the ash trees still survive.

   There was one teacher per classroom. In the fall of 1898 the eleventh grade was added, and the twelfth grade in the fall of 1913. Before this students wanting eleventh and twelfth grade went to Wahoo or Fremont. By 1919 there were four high school teachers, two grammar teachers, and one teacher in each of the lower rooms. Subjects were much like those of today, though not as varied in courses. German was taught until the time of World War I, and Normal Training (a course to train students to teach school upon graduation from high school) was popular. Some of the teachers during this period were Addie Mills, Edna Thomas, Elizabeth Ruff, Eloise Gilchrist, and Supts. A. Hargett, R.R. Miller, and F.E. Morrow.

   The first class to graduate from Mead School was the class of 1890, consisting of 5 graduates. Their cards announced "Mead Public Schools' First Annual Commencement; Monday evening June 16, 1890 at the Swedish Lutheran Church."

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Alma Lutheran

   The Alma Evangelical Swedish Lutheran Church was formally organized on Wed., Jan. 5, 1870. On that day, seven years before the coming of the railroad, or the village of Alvin (Mead), a group of eighteen adults and five children met in the home of Mr. and Mrs. John A. Allmen. Others present were: Pastor S.G. Larson, Mr. and Mrs. John Swenson, Ferdinand Allmen, Mr. and Mrs. John Hult and child, Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Larson and child, John Matson, Mr. and Mrs. August Nygren and three children, Andrew Hallner, Charles Monteen, Otto Hecklander, Nels Berggren, John Gibson and Sven Hedenskog. Two months later the congregation numbered 55 communicants and 16 children, all considered charter members.

   Alma was the second of six Swedish congregations in Nebr. which Pastor Larson was to establish. He was an emigrant (1858 Illinois), a homesteader in his own right (two miles south of Mead in early 1869), and a true pioneer and a missionary of his church (Augustana Swedish Lutheran). He believed the homesteading Swedes should locate in groups so that schools and churches could be organized to better serve their needs.

   Alma called S.G. Larson to be their first pastor. The congregation, recognizing his other responsibilities asked him to conduct only one service a month.

   The first church was started in 1871 in the northeast corner of Sec. 4-14-8 on land generously donated by John Clauson where the Alma cemetery is still located. Severe economic conditions prevented completion of the building until 1874. By that time the congregation numbered well over 200 adults and children.

   A parsonage was built in 1879 on 40 acres of land purchased from the railroad and located across the road east of the church. This property was sold in 1884 when the congregation decided to relocate in the new village of Mead. The new parsonage was built on a block of land kindly donated by Lars Anderson. Two years later (1886), a new church (at a cost of $7000), still in use today, was built on the same block. A basement was added in 1920. The first church was sold and moved to a farm one mile east of Mead. Horse barns were then built south of the new parsonage. Those who used them paid a fee for an assigned stall.

   During the first 45 years the language used at services of the congregation was Swedish. During the decade 1915-1925, the change was gradually made to English. On Jan. 1, 1963 Augustana Synod (and this congregation) became part of the Lutheran Church in America.

   The Alma congregation, now 113 years old, is today being served by its fifteenth pastor, Keith M. McKay. Nine sons of the congregation have entered the ministry: Franz Sard, Frank Anderson, David Vikner, Rudolph Samuelson, Roy Carlson, Carl Samuelson, Kenneth Dale, Stanley Ecklund and Roy Lund.

   On Feb. 2, 1889, eighteen members of the Estina Swedish Baptist Church who lived in the Mead area, met at the Methodist church to organize what became known as the First Swedish Baptist Church of Mead. The charter members were: Mr. and Mrs. Bengt Johnson, Mr. and Mrs. B.A. Peterson, Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Wicklund, Mr. and Mrs. L.E. Lund, Mr. and Mrs. A.F. Anderson, Mr. and Mrs. C.P. Johnson, Sophia Johnson, Ida Johnson, Edla Johnson, Albert Peterson, John O. Anderson and Hulda Swanson.

   On Feb. 5, 1889, at the first business meeting a decision to erect a church building 24'x40'x14' at 2nd and Vine was made; and in Sept. of 1889 the church was completed and dedicated. Rev. Hayland from Weston supplied the pulpit twice a month, and prayer meetings and Sunday School began. The Mission Circle (Ladies Aid) also organized in 1889 and continued through the years of the ministry of the church.

   The parsonage was built just north of the church in the spring of 1892. Rev. John Olander was pastor at this time. About 1908 this parsonage was sold and a larger one purchased. Because it was not satisfactory, it was torn down and a modern home built. It remains today in the same location, 119 S. Elm.

   In the early 1900's a new problem began to emerge. Some of the new members were not Swedish, so the question arose as to which language to use, especially in Sunday School. For a few years both languages were used, until finally all services were in English.

   The church building no longer provided the room needed, and a decision was made to remodel. Early in 1914 the work began. On Mar. 13, 1916, the building, valued at $13,500, was dedicated. Rev. C.R. Osbeck was pastor.

   When the U.S. Government appropriated the land south of Mead for the Ordnance Plant in 1941, many of the members of the church relocated in other areas, making it difficult for the remaining members to support a church. They decided to disband in 1947, and their building was sold to the Mission Covenant Church in 1948. Many of the remaining members of the Baptist Church united with the Covenant Church. During these years, C.N. Thomas, R.C. Butler, and Dwight Neville served as pastors.

Emanuel Baptist Church

   The first church building was dedicated on December 4, 1887; but records show that prior to this, Baptist beginnings in our community antedate the present organization about fifteen years.

   The following group: Alanson Smith and family, Millard Shires and wife, Z.B. Smith, Ralph C. Johnson and wife, Charley Nigh, W.T. Johnson and Eldrie Tyson met on May 9, 1887, in the home of Alanson Smith to reorganize and to start plans for building a house of worship. The present site was selected.

   The original church was 22 feet by 40 feet, with a steeple. The interior setting was simple. There were heating stoves and chimney lamps. The building was dedicated on December 4, 1887, costing $2700.00. Mr. Millard Shires was baptized and became a leader, loved by all, serving his Master.

   In the early 1900's, the church shared pastorates with the Wahoo or Pohocco Baptist Churches. In the fall of 1931, Laura E. Johnson, a member, sailed for Burma as a missionary. In January 1933 the building burned. Our new building was dedicated, without debt, on September 10, 1933.

   One of our former church members, Betta (Mayer) Funk, went to Bible College to become a Missionary. She and her husband, Les, are in Manila at this time serving the church.

   On December 6, 1953 the church held its 66th Anniversary. Honorary recognition was given to Mrs. G.E. Neff (mother of Mrs. Ora Heald), the only remaining charter member. Mrs. Neff, age 93, gave her testimony and sang two numbers.

   On February 17, 1974, a "Day of Appreciation" was held at the church honoring our wonderful Senior members. First was the church service followed by a dinner and program. They all brought photos of their early days.

   Carlos Shires was given recognition on June 1976, for having perfect attendance in Sunday School for 75 years. A Plaque made by Karyl Martens and a pin was presented to him by Rev. Curtis Bean.

   Through the years prior to 1921 there were twenty-one who pastored or supplied our pulpit. The ministers who have served since then are: D.L. Fraser, Wm. Overturf, F.K. Allen, E.E. Neiderhuth, Harold Sweezy, R.M. Bailey, F. Russell Pitman, Samuel English, Percy Bruns, Cecil Kent, Curtis Bean, and at present time, we have Rev. John Nelson from Omaha as our supply minister. Submitted by Elaine Martens, Church Clerk

   The origin of the Covenant Church is traceable as far back as 1874. Many of the founders of the church were members of Lutheran churches in Sweden, but found their church leaders unsympathetic to some of their convictions and beliefs. When they came to America, they began meeting in their homes for services, with Rev. A.N. Hallner preaching.

   On May 3, 1876, with the help of Pastor John Peterson, they organized the Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Mission Church, Saron, with 20 charter members. They were: Carl Jacob Carlson, Carl John Edoff, Mr. and Mrs. Adolph Johnson, Mr. and Mrs. Knut Lundgren, Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Nilson, Mr. and Mrs. Christoffer Gustafson, Mr. and Mrs. John Olson, Mr. and Mrs. J.E. Sabelman, Erika Sabelman, N. Peter Sabelman, Carl Alfred Olson, Nils Swenson, and John and Frederick Sabelman.

   In 1877 while Rev. A.A. Sweders was pastor, the first church was built two miles south of Mead in Sec. 2 of Wahoo precinct on land donated by Frederick Sabelman. In 1891 during the ministry of Rev. A.N. Bloomstrand, a new church was built at the northeast corner of Seventh and Vine Streets in Mead. Much of the material was hauled from Fremont, and some of the labor was donated. The old church was moved into Mead and became the parsonage. Today that building is part of the home at 420 S. Cedar. A new parsonage was completed at 619 S. Cedar in 1917.

   Swedish was the official language of the church. For several years prior to 1930 both Swedish and English were used; and in 1930, during the pastorage of Rev. A.H. Jacobson, the decision to have all services in English was made.

   In 1948 when the First Baptist Church decided to disband, the Covenant congregation bought the Baptist church building at the corner of Second and Vine for $7500 and remodeled the interior. Rev. Albin Nelson was pastor. In 1965 the church was remodeled by adding a new front entrance.

   The name has changed several times: from the original name to Saron Evangelical Mission Church in 1891, then in 1931 to Mission Covenant Church, and in 1969 to Evangelical Covenant Church of Mead.

   In 1976 the church celebrated its Centennial with a weekend celebration including a piano and organ recital by a former pastor, Rev. Fred Jacobson, a banquet, and Sunday morning and afternoon services. Will Updegrove is the present pastor.

   The Sunday School was organized simultaneously with the church; and the first ladies' organization, known as the "Sewing Society," was started in 1879. The church has been affiliated with the Evangelical Covenant Church of America since 1891.

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   The Marietta Presbyterian Church was organized Sept. 3, 1871, by Rev. M.P. Ormsby of Minink, Illinois, with the following charter members -- Mr. and Mrs. Walter Crinklaw, Mr. and Mrs. A.P. Kempton, Mr. and Mrs. W.D. McCord, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Sorenberger, Mrs. Anna Ellison, Mrs. Marie Schoffield, Mrs. Aline Mowers, Mrs. Irene Storm and James Crinklaw.

   When weather permitted, the first meetings were held in the Adams School (Dist. #22) and later Lothair school. In 1880 a church building was erected. Its erection had meant real sacrifice and labor. Much of the material had been hauled across country from Fremont. It was destined to stand only a short time. On Sunday, June 25, 1882 a violent storm demolished the church. The members arrived as usual for services to find the church a wreck. The women and children cried, thinking it could never be rebuilt. The minister emerged from the ruins holding the pulpit Bible untouched by the wreckage, telling them "The grass withereth, the flower fadeth, but the word of God endureth forever." From this they took heart and within a year the church was rebuilt.

   The church celebrated its 90th anniversary in 1961 with Walter Millet as the Pastor. The board of Elders included: Wilmer Ellison, Wallace Anderson, Lloyd Brown, Floyd McClay, Tom Berg, and Robert Riddle. The Trustees were: Axel Alm, Emil Johnson and Leroy Luers.

   Because of lack of membership, the church closed its doors in 1964. On Sept. 3, 1971, one hundred years since its organization, the church building found a new home on the Kennedy College campus in Wahoo, where it served as a Chapel.

   Mead was formerly included in the Platteville circuit of the Methodist Episcopal Church, which was established in 1872, and included all the northern part of Saunders County, known as the Gregory Mission. A class of this faith was organized in Mead in a very early day.

   In 1880 this old circuit was divided and a second established, called the Mead Circuit, with the principal station at Mead.

   In 1885, the Methodist Episcopal Church was constructed and was located at the southwest corner of the intersection of 1st and Elm Streets, in the northwest part of town. The building faced east, and had a belfry and a bell. The parsonage was across the street east of the church, and is still in use today at 102 S. Elm. In about 1913 the church was sold at auction, and for many years has been the home of the Fred Swanson's at the east edge of Mead.

   The first regular pastor to occupy the pulpit was J.M. Willis. Other pastors were T.C. Clark, J.D. Day, D.Y. Black, W.K. Williams, E.B. Crippen, W.H. Turrell, David Fetz, Samuel Keiser, E.K. Adrance, H.P. Young, P.U. Lawson, I.W. Kennagy, A. Partch, M.E. Gilbert, and Mr. Birmingham.

   The first official board of the church was composed of five members: Levi Wells, Fletcher Gregory, A.W. Wells, S.P. Robinson, and I.B. Lemar. Some of the other family names were: Parrish, Pinkerton, Thompson, Gray, Williams, Fetz, Vance, Mills, Eggleston, Primley, Wells, and Adams.

   Because they wanted to worship God in their native Swedish language, the first Swedish Baptist Church in Saunders County was organized on Sept. 3, 1870, in the Estina community, some five miles northeast of what is now Mead. There were 17 charter members and Pastor Axling, an itinerant preacher, was chairman of the organizational meeting. P.O. Yeltman, (Grandfather of Verna Moser, Agnes Karlson, and Elsie Williams, all living at Mead today), was elected elder. On many occasions afterwards he served as minister and preacher when no regular preacher was to be had. A. Edquist and Ben Johnson were also leaders.

   In 1878, Rev. G. Peterson was called as pastor. Because they wanted a permanent place to worship rather than the schoolhouse and homes, C. Uppman deeded land in the northeast quarter of Sec. 12 of Marietta Precinct to the church on July 8, 1878; and the Estina Baptist Church was completed in 1879.

   Many of the members lived a long distance from the church; and in 1889, 18 members of the Estina Church left their mother church and formed the First Baptist Church of Mead.

   Those remaining at the Estina Church continued holding services for about 25 more years until the decision to disband was made. On Sept.17, 1920, the land was deeded to Charley Nelson and the buildings were moved to the Nelson farm. The church became a blacksmith shop, and the parsonage was used as a work shed and for storage.

   On Sept. 3, 1932, a memorial service of the Estina Swedish Baptist Church was held at the place where the church originally stood, and a memorial stone was unveiled. That stone is still there today.

   Before there was a town of Mead, Catholic families had been homesteading just to the east of the townsite. In 1883, they were able to build a church in Mead, known as St. James Catholic Church.

   The William Phelan, Fenton Phelan, John Holden and Patrick McCarty families came as a group in 1867 in their covered wagons from Springfield, Illinois. Other families joined them from time to time. The Xavier Forgette, Hawkinson, James Kane, Ragoos and Dwyer families were some.

   In the early days their spiritual needs were tended by traveling Mission priests. In 1877, churches were built in Fremont and Elkhorn and they were able to attend those at times. That was quite a trip as there were miles of prairie to cross, rivers to ford, bluffs to get up and down, and travel was slow.

   The Mission priests would come to the people and say Mass in one of their homes. After a sod schoolhouse was built, it was sometimes used on Sunday. Even after the Mead church was built it was a mission church and Mass was offered approximately every two weeks. Father Turgin was living at Colon and was trying to take care of the Catholics at Sandcreek, Cedar Bluffs, Estina and Mead. St. James continued as a mission church for many years; at times attached to Wahoo, sometimes to Colon.

   The first baby baptized in the church in 1883 was Lydia Ostenberg and she is living today with her sister Stella in their apartment in Houston, Texas.

   The church has been raised on its foundation and a basement put under it. It stands today, well kept and a church in its own right.

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