Special election in 1889 approved bond issue for construction of courthouse

Though not yet a town, Nelson was selected as the county seat of Nuckolls County by a vote of the people in October, 1872. Two other towns were in the running, Elkton and Vernon, both in Elk precinct, The voters apparently picked the soon to be town for its central location and best accessibility from all parts of the county. The county offices moved to Nelson in 1873.

The town was surveyed and laid out early in 1873 by A. R Buttolph, surveyor for the original proprietors, Horatio Nelson Wheeler and wife of Peoria, Illinois. It was named in honor of Mr. Wheeler.

The original proprietors of Nelson donated and deeded to the county every alternate lot in the original plat. The lots were sold from time to time, as the county commissioners deemed best. In the summer of 1873, the first courthouse, four or five residences, a hotel and two business rooms were erected. Thus began the new town and county seat. At this time, the county was sparsely settled, and people were compelled to go 35 or 40 miles east to railroads for lumber, provisions and farm implements or to market their produce.

Unfortunately for Nelson's growth and development, for the first 13 years of its existence, the town was without a railroad. Consequently, the trade of the surrounding area was largely building up other towns.

The first railroad came in 1886 and the second in 1887. Construction of the current courthouse was approved in 1889.

Nelson was incorporated as a village in 1883. The year 1887, after the coming of the second railroad, seems to have been a boom year for Nelson. A number of brick business blocks, two large halls for benevolent societies, an opera house, a number of residences and a church were built that year.

Immediately prior to the construction of the current courthouse, county business was conducted in rented rooms located in the Nelson Opera House building.

Before the courthouse was located in Nelson, the county offices were located in the D.W. Montgomery home in Elk Precinct. When the county offices first moved to Nelson, they were located in a frame building one block south of the current courthouse. It is thought that building was remodelled and used for a number of years as the Nelson Library. It still stands.

When the opera house was built, the county offices moved to that building.

By the 1880s, there was considerable unhappiness associated with the location of the county offices. The rooms were hot and stuffy in the summer and perhaps cold in the winter. They were noisy and lacked privacy. The space was rented from the opera house owner and some county residents objected to tax dollars being paid out in rent. And there was a contingent who thought the courthouse should be located in Superior, the county's largest town. Three times the question of building a new courthouse was submitted to the voters. The first two proposals were turned down. Those elections were held in 1884 and 1886. The proponents for a new courthouse didn't give up and the third time was the charm.

A special election was held July 30, 1889, to consider construction of an appropriate courthouse. Voters were asked to approve the issuance of bonds in the amount $35,000 to build and furnish a courthouse. Prior to the vote, in 1889, eight Nebraska counties had held bond elections for a courthouse and seven of the plans were approved. One of those approved called for a courthouse to be built of sod with walls three-feet thick to serve McPherson County.

Based on the number miles of track in Nuckolls County, supporters of the bond issued said the railroads would pay one third of the cost and the Scully Estates owners another large share. But those arguments failed to consider the tax money coming from the railroads and the Scully family could be used for other county expenses.

The bond issued carried by 135 votes and there was jubilation in Nelson.

In June of 1890, the courthouse cornerstone was laid. Thousands of people were expected to attend and the festive day's plan included roasting five oxen. Nebraska Gov. Thayer was one of the program speakers. News reports indicated 5,000 people marched from the courthouse to the grove for the free meal provided by the people of Nelson.

On Nov. 6, a Nelson newspaper reported the courthouse was beginning to look as though it was nearly finished. The paper reported "It is going to be as fine a building as graces a county anywhere in the state."

Though work was still underway, on Thursday. Nov. 27, it was reported court would be held in the new court house for first time on the following Tuesday.

That same newspaper article reported thus on the appearance of the building, The exterior of the building is brick, of course, and its architectural appearance we have not room to describe. It must be seen to be appreciated. The dome of the building is really fine and contains symbolic images surmounting the dome with the Scale of Justice suspended between them.

The main entrance is from the east, which the outside door is surmounted with a fine portico or porch which also surmounts the other doors.

The building is about 114 feet by 70 and has two halls cutting the building through the center and running the entire length and width respectively. As you go in from the main entrance on the east, the county clerk's office is on the right with a private office back of it.

On the left of this entrance is the county treasurer's room with his private office back of it.

From the entrance to the south you find the county attorney office on the right and a jury room on the left which may be changed to that of county superintendent to suit the convenience of all.

On gaining entrance from the west, the room to the right is that of register of deeds with a private office back of which that will not be needed for a while yet. To the left of this entrance, we find the county judge's office and private office or jury room.

On gaining your entrance from the north, you find the county judge's room on the right which is the largest of the offices and the county commissioners on the left.

There are two flights of stairs leading to the rooms on the second floor, The stairs lead to the court room from either side. The courtroom is in the center of the building with the judge's desk on the west end and facing east. The court room and bar department are all furnished with the finest of benches and furniture.

In the northwest corner from the courtroom is the office of the clerk of the district court.

On the southwest corner is the attorney's cloak room and back of this is the judge's private room.

On the north east corner from the court room is the sheriff's office and private apartment.

On the southeast corner is a county surveyor's room and back of this, is the county superintendent's room.

The coroner's room is in the basement as well as several large vaults for the storage of old volumes of records not in actual use.

The building inside, is all finished in hard pine and oil. The banisters and railings of the stairways are of red oak, as well as the railing surrounding in the courtroom which is finished in hard oil.

We have been unable to confirm where the brick was made for the courthouse but the newspaper articles confirm it was supplied by a local firm. Likely the bricks were made in Nelson and like those being made in Superior at the time, were soft.

By 1926, the courthouse was looking rather long in the tooth and substantial work was needed to preserve the building.

The Aug. 13, 1926, Nuckolls County Herald reported the county commissioners had set Sept. 21 as the day they would receive bids for the work of remodeling and sealing the court house. The commissioners had levied a tax of .04 of mill with which to make the improvements. When the bids were reviewed, it was decided to apply a white stucco with marble chip dash coat in a green and white combination. Edgar Collins got the stucco bid at $1.80 per square yard.

While the stucco work was underway, it was suggested it would be a good time to remove the cupola which had seen better days and added nothing in the way of beauty or service, According to the newspaper, the cupola was a detriment to the building.

The courthouse was one of several Nelson buildings to which stucco was applied in the 1920s with the hope the work would make them more water tight and weather proof.

In the 1960s another major remodeling was undertaken with ceilings lowered and walls panelled.

Now in 2024 the courthouse is again at a crossroads and the topic of public discussion.

The county commissioners have been holding meetings and sounding out public opinion. Should thousands, perhaps millions of dollars be used to correct problems associated with the 134-year-old building or should a new one be built. Some folks want the history filled building preserved. Others believe it is time to stop pouring money into the old building and construct a new one. As currently proposed the new building would a metal structure with all offices on the same floor for handicapped accessibility. It would be located in the current parking lot and a new lot built.

The hearing and cooling systems are not working as desired, the electrical system is in adequate, the basement is full of mold, there are bats in attic, the building has handicapped accessibility problems...

But it is the county's symbol, an object of pride. A new building will not spark the same feelings.

What do the people of Nuckolls County want?