Old Courthouse in Broken Bow. Burned Down January 13th, 1910.

Broken Bow, like most prairie towns, has had an interesting history. In 1879, settlers began taking open lands up and down Muddy Creek Valley, which is where two old buffalo trails intersected. These trails were later followed by gold seekers going from Kearney to the Black Hills.

Custer County itself was organized on June 17, 1877, ten years after Nebraska was adopted as a state.

How Broken Bow got its name

In spring of 1879, Wilson Hewitt had a dugout on the North bank of Muddy Creek. The site was South of what is now Melham Medical Center. Wilson's sons, Fred and Edwin, had been wandering down the creek. They found 5 pieces of an old discarded Pawnee Indian bow, along with a broken arrow. Wilson was looking for a name for a new post office. He had already submitted two names (one of which was "Pleasant Valley"), which had been rejected. On September 24, a petition was submitted requesting the name "Broken Bow". On November 4, 1880 the new Broken Bow post office was officially opened in Mr. Hewitt's dugout.

The last known piece of the original bow is still on display at the Custer County Historical Society museum located at the corner of South 9th Street and Highway 2 in Broken Bow. This last fragment is 7 1/2 inches by 1 1/2 inches. It has survived much itself. It was rescued from a fireplace by Mrs. C.U. Pelham. It seems a cleaning lady thought it was just a piece of scrap wood and threw it in the fire. The Hewitts had presented this piece to her themselves. After its fiery brush, it remained in the family until after Mrs. Pelham passed away in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Her daughter, Edith Bock, offered the fragment to Emerson Purcell, Sr., editor of the "Custer County Chief" newspaper. The Purcell family had it in their possession for the next 50 years, until it was given to the Custer County Historical Society on July 17, 1979.

Historic"Firsts" for Broken Bow

Our first post office, as previously mentioned above, was opened in 1880 in the Hewitt's dugout. Many of the first buildings here (homes, businesses, and even churches) were either dugouts or "soddys".

The first baby born here was named Ida Lewis. She came into this world on June 14, 1881.

The first death in town was Mrs. Eliza Graham.

The first church open was the Baptist Church, organized on July 5, 1881. It was opened in the sod house of Mr. and Mrs. Charles D. Pelham.

The first Custer County fair was held in 1883 in Westerville.

The first Broken Bow fire department was organized in 1889.

In 1890, the first commencement from Broken Bow High School took place. The ceremony was held on May 29, with 350-400 people attending. It contained a program featuring music and orations. When the speaker (S.C. Beebe), a local newsman, rose to speak, a terrible wind and hail storm began, drowning out his entire speech. Hundreds of people threw flowers on the stage as Broken Bow's one graduate, Willis Talbot, was presented.

In 1892, the Ringling Brother's World's Greatest Shows (said to be the 2nd biggest circus in the world) was here for the first time. It is reported that 8,000 people enjoyed the circus. There were 1,000 people in the staff.

On April 22, 1892, the first issue of the "The Custer Chief" was printed by brothers William G. and Emerson R. Purcell, Sr. They had previously printed a fine paper in Merna, where their father George had homesteaded. The Purcell family had moved here from Springfield, IL, where they lived across the street from the Abraham Lincoln family.

In 1901, Broken Bow moved into the modern age with the first automobile in town. It was owned by Frank Young. He raced his horseless carriage against Dr. Will R. Pennington's horses on a special 1/2 mile track. The horses bolted.

In 1908, Broken Bow High School played its first official football season.

Settling Broken Bow

In 1882, James P. Gandy platted and laid out the town, including the city square, and offered free land to anyone who would agree to build a home or business on the ground.

In April of 1882, 70 covered wagons were counted surrounding the square one day. They all contained people wanting to locate here.

In 1884, the village board was installed and functioned here for the first time.

The Union Block building was built in 1887. It still stands on the East side of the square. It was made to have four businesses on the ground floor, and apartments upstairs. The store on the South side of the building today houses the Broken Bow Chamber of Commerce office.

In 1894, Broken Bow was booming! There were 3 flour mills (some running 24 hours a day), 3 banks, 1 daily newspaper, 3 weekly newspapers, 5 hotels, 7 boarding houses, 6 livery and feed stables, 7 churches, and the 7 room South Ward Grade School.

By 1902, most of the soddys had been abandoned. The last Thanksgiving Day service to be held in the old sod United Brethren Church was held this year. The new frame church was under construction at that time.

On June 16th, 1921, the first brick pavement was laid South of the park and around the square. Most of the cobblestone streets are still intact today.

Broken Bow Happenings

In 1887, an unidentified man from Mexico with a wagon load of stolen guns and saddles was surprised by a posse North of Tappan Valley. He was shot to death and buried in an unmarked grave.

1888 saw the worst flood in Broken Bow's history. On September 20th, Fritz Miller's wife and two kids nearly drowned.

In 1889, the new courthouse was built. Construction began in January. It was a castle-like structure with vaults and rounded corner towers. It had 15 ornate rooms and should serve the county for 60 to 75 years.

On May 23, 1891, the only legal execution to take place in Custer County was held on the South side of the new courthouse. Albert Hauenstine, from West of Callaway, hanged for shooting 2 men over missing items from a schoolhouse. Sheriff J.B. Jones had to hang him twice. The rope had been cut by unknown parties to assure justice. He had killed 2 men, so he would hang twice.

1894 also saw the worst drought in the recorded history of Broken Bow. It added to the financial panic and grave living conditions. The newspaper said most families reported having Jack Rabbit as the main dish for Thanksgiving dinner that year.

On September 28, 1901, Clifford Lomax, age 11, had his foot entangled in the ropes of a huge balloon. The balloon finally landed two miles west of the city square. Clifford was found unharmed.

On September 1, 1902, there was a terrible train wreck. It claimed one life and injured several when a passenger train hit a freight train.

In 1904, the worst train wreck in the history of Broken Bow occurred on January 28. Four men were killed when two freight trains collided on the West edge of town.

On January 13, 1910, the Custer County courthouse burned to the ground. Two men were released from the jail as firemen struggled valiantly to control the fire. The building and its contents were lost, but the corner vaults preserved most of the priceless records held within. The only records lost were those of the school Superintendent and Sheriff.

In 1911, the new three story courthouse was constructed. Its cost: $55,087. This courthouse was to be fireproof, and still stands today.