Ithaca, Nebraska
Aerial View of Ithaca 1983
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Old Dist. 50 school house |
New Dist. 50 school house
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Dist. #50 with addition |
Some facts about District #50 – Ithaca School Located in Wahoo Precinct, Saunders County, Nebraska District #50 was organized in 1883. It was first located in the southeast quarter of Section 20. This would be across the road north of the later, permanent location, and across the road west. This put it on the very northwest edge of Ithaca. In 1907 the school was moved to its permanent location at 8th and Dech Streets. By 1915 there were 9 grades. The 10th grade was added by 1924. The last building was built in 1948. In 1968 the Methodist and Evangelical United Brethren churches merged. In Ithaca the smaller Methodist church was closed and the congregation used the larger, newer EUB building. In about 1987 the Methodist building was moved a block east and attached to the east end of the school to add an additional classroom. The school was closed in 2006. |
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Originally Ebenezer Evangelical, then Evangelical United Brethran, it became the Ithaca United Methodist in 1968. When this building was erected, Dad dug the basement out with his tumble bug. Dennis & I helped unload bricks that came by rail to the depot and had to be hauled by pick up to this site. |
Harry Markle's store sat north of the old elevator and south of Billy Gilbert's grocery store on the east side of the street.
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The Old Elevator sits on the north side of the railroad tracks (which are gone now). Ralph Treptow used it to store his seed corn during the 1940's and 1950's and maybe even longer before and after that.
In the 1980's it was purchased by Kenny Smith, who I remember as a little kid in our church but by this time was all grown up, married and had a family. He had started to do some repair and restoration work on it when he was killed in an accident on the job. His wife, Roma, and son, Heath, have taken on the job of continuing the restoration. Volunteers have met to do repairs and restoration every Fathers' Day weekend since 2003.
The Old Elevator is unique for the four peaks on its roof. It has been placed on the National Register of Historic Buildings.
One of Ralph Treptow's seed corn sacks. How many years did he raise seed corn?
Dad detasseled corn for him. My first paying job was working for him. I
detasseled a couple of years and then was straw-boss of the girls crew
one year. I remember wading through flood water to finish a field. The
money bought me a portable typewriter and my Mead High School class
ring. |
HAMMERING OUT HISTORY
Andy Heck tacks new flashing onto the south roof of the old Ithaca elevator.
The sign, donated by Paul and Sue Hailicka of Grand
Island, was a surprise for Roma and Heath Smith.
(click here for
article) |
Indian Mound Cemetery
The cemetery is located at the north end of town, on the east side. This photo has a good view of Grandpa's (Henry Robbins) barn on the acreage where he lived after he retired and moved off the farm. His place was between the cemetery and the school (Dist. 50).