As has occurred in various Nebraska communities, Clarkson got here into existence, then, solely months later, picked up every little thing and moved to be on the railroad, a sure path to the surface world and success.
Not like some villages, when the railroad left, though it misplaced inhabitants, it didn’t revert to plowed floor and lives on as a small, profitable neighborhood.
In 1869 Platte County was divided into three, creating Colfax County, which was named for U.S. Vice President Schuyler Colfax, establishing one of many few U. S. places which make the most of each the primary and final names of a person.
In January of 1881, a bit over a mile from at present’s Clarkson, Joseph Rudersdorf constructed a retailer, constructing a longtime a put up workplace named Clarkson in thanks for the assistance of Schuyler’s postmaster and later postmaster of Omaha, T. S. Clarkson.
The Fremont, Elkhorn & Missouri Valley Railroad started development to Colfax County in 1884 however at nearly the identical time, it was acquired by the Chicago & North Western Railroad. When the railroad pushed via Colfax County, lacking Rudersdorf’s website, he merely put wheels beneath the village’s sole constructing and moved it to be adjoining to the railroad.
It was stated that the transfer was so gradual, Rudersdorf was capable of proceed doing enterprise in the course of the journey. On its arrival on the new website, the constructing served, not solely as a retailer and put up workplace, but additionally held the Maple Valley Home lodge.
The positioning of “new” Clarkson was on land bought by the Pioneer Townsite Firm from W. G. Mefferd, then platted and developed by the Western City Lot Firm in 1886.
Seemingly earlier than the ink was even dry in town’s creation, the Clarkson State Financial institution opened, constructing a brand new brick constructing in 1901 and working till it closed within the Nice Despair, solely to then reorganize and once more reopen. That December the depot was accomplished, and the primary prepare arrived.
The Czech fraternal group Z.C.B J. fashioned in Omaha in 1897 however as a result of it admitted girls to membership, it turned the biggest Czech group in Nebraska. When the Z.C.B.J. arrived in Clarkson, they met within the C.S.P.S. Corridor. Because the corridor turned too small, round 1888, the 2 teams merged, later changing into the Western Bohemian Fraternal Affiliation.
Because the affiliation prospered, a brand new corridor for his or her use mixed with an opera home was conceived and, in 1913, tons had been bought at Fourth and Pine streets on the south finish of the enterprise district.
The cornerstone was laid in September of 1915. The $20,000, brick, two-story over daylight basement, constructing was 50 by 125 toes. The constructing had two figuring out stones, one as Z.C.B.J. close to the roof and Opera Home above the doorway. The second ground’s 48-by-78-foot auditorium seated over 800 with a balcony on the east and stage with a 15-foot proscenium to the west. The stage featured a immediate field and entice door.
By the First World Warfare the auditorium hosted silent motion pictures, dances and fraternal conferences. Within the Twenties the auditorium hosted highschool basketball video games, and in 1928 they claimed to have held a dance with over 1,000 in attendance. 1931 noticed the primary speaking motion pictures and a “cooling system” added. Though a brand new projection system was put in in 1936 as vehicles allowed individuals to go to close by cities, attendance fell and in 1958 the constructing was leased to the Lions’ Membership, nonetheless serving as a neighborhood auditorium.
In 1916 native blacksmith Frank Richtig invented a metal tempering course of which produced a knife able to reducing via a crowbar and even an car axle, nonetheless holding an edge which may shave paper. The person and idea had been featured in Ripley’s “Consider it or Not,” placing Clarkson on the map. Clarkson’s peak inhabitants of 918 was reached in 1930 and within the late Forties the final prepare ran via city.
In 1958 Harlan Hamernick purchased Joseph Jindra’s home and nursery, including an ever-expanding greenhouse in Might of 1960. Bluebird Nursery turned an unlimited operation attracting guests from surrounding states and delivery nationwide.
Clarkson’s inhabitants was 641 in 2020 and whereas it could or could not have the widest fundamental road in Nebraska it does have a superb historic museum in an 1899 two-story, brick constructing at 221 Pine St. which is properly value a go to.
