Postcards from Richardson County Nebraska
Richardson County Nebraska: A Journey through it's Past
BRIDGES

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Rulo Bridge View I: Built 1938-39 by the Kansas City Bridge Company et al. The county opened bids on November 7, 1938. Of eleven proposals received, the board selected the joint venture of the Kansas City Bridge Company and the Missouri Valley Bridge and Iron Company, low bidders at just under $6,000,000. In an effort to provide local employment during the Depression, the county required the contractors to hire Richardson County residents whenever possible. Construction soon commenced and continued steadily through the bridge's completion in November 1939. Thirty years later the states of Nebraska and Missouri assumed joint ownership of the Rulo Bridge. Today it carries U.S. Highway 159, free of tolls.

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Rulo Bridge View II

CHURCHES

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Catholic Church, Falls City:  In 1870, the members of the Roman Church assisted by many citizens, who, while belonging to other denominations, were catholic, in the best and broadest sense of the word, erected a church building.

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Christian Church, Falls City

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Christian Church, Falls City: In 1876 a lot was purchased and a church edifice commenced. On the completion of the church at a cost of $2,500, in June 1877, it was formerly dedicated by Rev. J. B. Briney, of Marysville, Kan.

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Evangelical Church, Falls City

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Methodist Church, Falls City: The Methodist Episcopal Church of Falls City is the lineal descendant of the society organized at Archer in 1855 by Rev. David Hart, who was then traveling the circuit which embraced Richardson and part of what is now Pawnee County.

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Presbyterian Church, Falls City: The First Presbyterian Church of Falls City was organized in 1866, under the authority of the Highland Presbytery.

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St. Thomas Church, Falls City: This church building was commenced in 1867, under the pastorate of Rev. Thomas H. Betts, and is capable of seating nearly three hundred and fifty.

CITY HALLS & GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS

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City Hall, Falls City

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Community Hall, Falls City

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Courthouse, Falls City-View I

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Courthouse, Falls City-View II: On February 14, 1873, the Legislature passed an act enabling the precinct of Falls City to issue bonds for the building of a court house of stone and brick, not less than forty by seventy-five feet on the ground floor, nor more than forty-seven by eighty-five feet, and containing fire-proof vaults for the safe keeping of the county records.

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Courthouse, Falls City-View III

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Courthouse, Falls City-View IV

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Falls City Library

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Post Office, Falls City: The first post office was on Lot 21, in Block 70, near the public square, and none of the later places of holding the office have been more than a square from the same place. The second location was on Lot 22, in Block 68, the third in the old printing office where Tarpley & Co.'s store now stands, and the fourth in the store of Reavis & Cameron, Lot 12, in Block 9. Its subsequent locations have been in Judge J. J. Marvin's house, Lot 20, in Block 91; Lot 11, Block 58, and Lot 22, in Block 70, where it now occupies a small brick building of its own.

HOMES & FARMS

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Falls City Farm Scene, 1915

IMAGES BY JOHN FALTER
John Falter was born in Plattsmouth, Nebraska, in 1910. His family moved to Falls City in 1916, where his father established a clothing store. Many Saturday Evening Post covers did depict Falls City scenes, as the work of artist and illustrator John Falter, a Falls City native whose covers adorned more issues of the Post than those of any other artist except Norman Rockwell.
One of the favorites for Falls Cityans was the Christmas scene view of downtown Falls City in December of 1946, reproductions of which are in many local homes.

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Falls City at Christmas Time, Issue date 12/21/1946 Saturday Evening Post

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Lovers Lane, Falls City

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Steam Engine on the Missouri River 06/26/1946 Issue of Saturday Evening Post

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Water Tower in Falls City 5/24/1947 Issue date  Saturday Evening Post

INDUSTRY & BUSINESS

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Reuel Nims Store in Humboldt, built in 1867. The mercantile was the first store built in Humboldt.  In 1868 Mr. O. J. Tinker offered the firm the deed of ten acres of the new town on condition that they would build a store fronting the public square. Accepting the conditions, the Nims Brothers put up what is known to this day as the "stone store," on the southeast corner of Central street.

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Davies Jewelry Store, Falls City

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Farmers State Bank, Shubert, founded 1891

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Morehead State Bank, Barada

PARADES & FAIRS

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Campaign of Theodore Roosevelt

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Parade through Falls City

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Salem Fairgrounds, 1911

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Stella Parade, 1910

PARKS & SCENERY

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City Park, Falls City: John Hinton, proprietor, is situated upon the banks of the Nemaha River, about one and a half miles from Falls City. The original park consists of twelve acres of native forest, principally walnut. This Mr. Hinton has seeded to grass. In 1882, he added eighteen acres, on which he has built a half-mile track, with all necessary buildings.

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Falls City Park

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Stumbo Mills, Falls City

PEOPLE

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Farmer's wife in Falls City

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Farmer working on garden

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Meeting of Falls City Farmsteads

SCHOOLS

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Falls City High School, View I: The structure is one of the finest in the city, and stands two squares east of the main street, and about the same distance from the public square. It is of brick, with stone trimmings and basement, and is surmounted by a tower that serves to lighten the heavy effect common to all buildings of its size.

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Falls City High School, View II

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Humboldt High School, Humboldt

TOWNS & STREET SCENES

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Business District of Falls City

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Downtown Falls City

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Falls City Business District

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Falls City Street

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Humboldt Town Square

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Main Street, Verdon

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Panorama of Falls City

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Stone Street, Falls City

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West Main Street, Stella in 1908

TRAINS & DEPOTS

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Falls City Depot: Built in 1925, the brick structure attests to the fact that the town was an important rail center to the rail line.

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Humboldt Depot

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Humboldt Depot, CB&Q Railroad, 1918

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Railroad Shop at Falls City: In 1909, Falls City became a division point on the Missouri Pacific Railroad, now the Union Pacific.

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Shubert Depot

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Stella Depot

TRANSPORTATION

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Steamer, Bertram on Missouri River at Rulo