Page 7 - YB_1967

1 Sq. Mile
Blazing

Building

Progressing

1967
ALVIN 1876 MEAD 1880

ALVIN -1876 MEAD-1880 was originally named after Governor Alvin Saunders. Joseph
Strudevant was the first resident, station agent, and Postmaster. The Omaha, Republi-
can Valley Railroad ran from Valley, Nebraska, through Mead, to Wahoo, Nebraska
in December of 1876.
Early in 1877 C. T. Condit and Charles Ostenberg came from Fremont to build a gen-
eral store, the C. T. Condit residence, Charles Condit and Osten berg elevator, and
lumber yard. A hardware store was also established by William Becker.
On September 12, 1885 Ola Carlson and wife and L. Anderson donated what is known
as the Anderson and Carlson addition to Mead. C. W. Wilson also donated a track of
land known as the Wilson addition. Mead had changed during August, 1880 from the
name of Alvin to Mead. By this time Mead had grown from one business to nearly
thirty.

1910 - Mead was still a thriving town , even though the saloons of the early frontier
days had disappeared. The livery stables were replaced in 1913 by brick and concrete
garages. Telephones came in the early 1900's. In 1914 electric lights and running
water were taking over the lamps and wells. In 1928 the original volunteer Fire De-
partment was chartered.
1942 -During this year a government bomb assembly plant was in operation and brought
to Mead many new residents and thousands of workers from within a 50 mile radius of
Mead. Many buildings were converted to cafes to accommodate the influx of workers.
During the early to middle 50's the plant shut down and was turned over to the Air
Force and Army to be used as a Missile site. This site also shut down during the sum-
mer of 1965. Much of the land is now occupied by private individuals who purchased
the land and about 2, 000 acres are devoted to the University of Nebraska Field Labor a-
tory. Many of the buildings and homes now remain empty.

SCHOOL -The main concern in keeping with our Centennial year is, of course, our
school. In the early 1880's a building was moved into Mead on the present town park
site. In 1919 the present school building was completed.

Marching Band of Mead Public School marching for the Centennial parade

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