RICHLAND PRECINCT

town did not thrive during these years.

   The town has had a park since 1929 when it purchased 5 ½ acres from the Township Site Company for a park and a baseball field. In 1968, Ceresco commemorated the Nebraska and Ceresco Centennial, at which time a large picnic shelter was built by the Booster Club. Five years later, playground equipment was added.

   Highway 77 was first laid from Lincoln to Wahoo to 1937. This affected Ceresco because the previous route between the two cities passed through Ceresco's business district. When the new highway was routed it missed the town.

   Through the years, new buildings have replaced the old. In 1948, the American Legion Memorial Building was built.

   Haul-type garbage collection system was instituted in 1951. The lagoon sewage system was constructed in 1954 at a cost of $51,000, and the next year a new village well was drilled.

   When electricity use began to increase in 1944, REA current was brought into Ceresco. The entire electric system was sold to Omaha Public Power District in September 1965.

   A lighted park, featuring shelters, picnic tables, rest rooms, playground equipment and a new backstop and bleachers was completed in 1973.

   A new Community Building housing the Fire Department, Library, Village Offices, Senior Citizens room plus a large fellowship hall was completed in 1979.

   The Ceresco water system was updated in 1978 when a new supply tank was erected on the hill east of Ceresco. To take care of the increase of sewer, a new Sewage Disposal plant was erected near the old lagoon site.

   In late 1991, the last Chicago and Northwestern freight train passed through Ceresco to pick up the last lone boxcar. It was a sad reminder of the changes in transportation as now semi-trucks are hauling grain from the elevator and other needed supplies into our town.

   The Farmers Co-op expanded their storage facilities in the fall of 1982 by building a large steel bin on the site of the old Railroad property.

   In the fall of 1982, the Farmers and Merchants Bank broke ground on the southeast corner of Second and Elm streets for a new facility. It will be ready for occupancy in the spring of 1983.

   Many residents have moved into our town to live in a growing and progressive community and also to send their children to an aggressive school. Ceresco now has a population of 820 residents.

Ceresco Water Tower 3 crosses left of tower

   The Ceresco Village Board of Trustees consists of 5 members, with the Chairman of the Board selected at the organizational meeting in June. Trustees are elected in the May primary for the term of four years, alternating each 2 years, 3 members and 2 members.

   The 1980 census showed an 875 population and prompted an election to remain as a Village classification and Village form of government. The Village Board meets on the 3rd Monday of each month. Serving the 1983 year are Bonnie J. Finley, Chairman of the Board Larry Harms, Ronald Limbeck, Charles Wech and Wendell Patzloff.

   Appointed are Clerk/Treasurer, Arlyce Smith CMC; Utility Supt., Donald Newsham; Attorney, Steven Burns, Lincoln; Recreation Director, Lawrence Kaiser; Planning Commission Chairman, Paul Spjut; Fire Chief, Lynn Maxson; Rescue Squad Chief, Phyllis Mostrom, Civil Defense Director, Wayne Sabatka; Librarian, Josephine Hedlund; and Engineers, Olsson Associates, Lincoln. The Village Electricity is supplied by O.P.P.D and the actual valuation is $3,491,403.00.

   Nothing legitimizes a town more than establishing a Post Office. In the early days in Nebraska, mail was received from carriers on horseback and distributed out of private homes. Often a Post Office was part of a store.

Ceresco Post Office

   All of this was true for Ceresco, with its first Post Office located at the Ira Nelson farm in 1869. After that the mail was distributed from several different business places, but there are no reliable records on just where.

   In the 1920's the U.S. Post Office was located in the building north of the Farmers and Merchants Bank. This building later became the Bendz and Weller Grocery Store. Roy Beaman was druggist there and Charles Anderson was Postmaster. Dr. F.T. Wright had his office in the rear of the building. Dr. R.D. Bush had an office there around 1913.

   The next Post Office was located a bit further north on that same street in the building which was Alvord Drug store, later Johnson Sundries and now Ernie's Store (314 S. 2nd St.). Clarence Lincoln was druggist and Charles Anderson continued as Postmaster.

   Later, a new Post Office was built north of the Bendz Grocery. Four Postmasters served there: Theodore Nordgen, Augusta Nordgren, Gus Johnson and Joe Brown. This building is now the south part of Ernie's Store at 318 S. 2nd Street.

   The next move was to the building which now has a Beauty Shop on the southeast corner of 2nd and Elm Streets. Originally it was the Union State Bank, 401 S. 2nd. Joe Brown and Ila Norman were Postmasters there. In 1971 a new post office was built at 313 S. 2nd Street where Ila Norman completed her tenure as Postmaster until her retirement in 1976.

   Cecile R. Johnson was appointed Officer in Charge March 12, 1976, Elbert Adams appointed Postmaster on July 29, 1977, John Bruner, Officer in Charge, December 26, 1980, and Kathleen Siefken appointed May 1, 1981 is presently serving as Postmaster. The First Rural Free Delivery Service of Ceresco Post Office was established 2-1-1902. U.S. Postmaster General James A. Farley, appointed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1933, visited Ceresco briefly in 1937, pausing only long enough to shake a few hands.

   Postmasters serving since August, 1869 have been Ira R. Nelson, Ashel Andrus, Dayton Andrus, Ashel Andrus, William T. March, Thomas W. Riddle, John Barton, Harnet B. Barton, Simeon Decker, Joseph Teacham, Arthur C. Crossman, James M. Bell, Joseph Teacham, Horace Andrus, James A. Bellew, John Ressel, Andrew J. Doran, William F. March, John Burge, James S. Sivesay, Soren Ringlund, Darius P. Turney, Charles Anderson, Theodore Nordgren, Augusta Nordgren, Gus Johnson, Joe R. Brown, Ila M. Norman, Elbert Adams, Kathleen Siefken. Sent by Margie Swanson

   The initiative for a library for Ceresco came in the summer of 1976 from Mary Belle Beach of rural Ceresco, who worked with a group of volunteers to establish Reading, Inc. The goal of this privately financed organization was to get the library started and then disband.

   The first "library" was a van, a mobile unit rented from the Nebraska Library Commission. It was parked in town and open several days a week for a year. The van was filled with books given to Reading, Inc., or purchased with donated funds. Grants of $900 and $1,000 were given to the group, which spent most of it for materials.

page 110

   On April 10, 1978, the Ceresco Village Board adopted an ordinance authorizing the creation of a Library Board and thus began its assumption of responsibility for the library. The Village put $2,000 into its 1977-78 budget for the library and appointed the following supervisory Board: Lola Baird, Chairman, Bonnie Nelson, Joan Spjut, Sylvia Hellerich, and Beverly Swanson.

   The library was moved into Ceresco's new Community Building and officially opened for business on April 18, 1978.

   Ethyle Jo Isaacson, a former school librarian, was an early and able volunteer with Reading, Inc. She catalogued all of the books and supervised the preparation of the books for shelving and made cards for the catalog file. When the library became a tax-supported entity, Mrs. Isaacson was hired as its first librarian and only paid employee. Her time at the library was supplemented by volunteers at the checkout desk and as helpers with special programs and services.

   Librarian at Ceresco since May, 1979 has been Jo Hedlund. She is assisted by five regular volunteers.

   The library's membership in the Metropolitan Library Network, partially funded by the Saunders County Supervisors, entitles it to periodic visits by the Nebraska Library Commission Metro-Van. This library-on-wheels brings current books to Ceresco for a month to be loaned out locally.

   In 1982, the library had a circulation of over 4,000 items. It borrowed some 500 books from the Metro-Van and acquired about 180 films and filmstrips for lending.

   Friends of the Library, a support group for the library, was organized in 1981. The volunteer group was organized to help expand and promote library programs, raise funds for books and equipment, and receive and disburse gifts and grants to the library. Friends also sponsor programs for the library, including the Summer Reading program for children and preschool Story Hour.

Nelson Funeral Home Ceresco, Nebraska

   Joseph Nelson, Mortician, opened Nelson Funeral Home in 1938. It is now located in a former home, remodeled in 1941 and 1960 to accommodate the business.

   In 1909, only six years after Henry Ford organized Ford Motor Company, Magnus and Anna Swanson of rural Ceresco, pioneered in the automobile business, the first in Ceresco, and among the first in the state of Nebraska.

   Magnus was a farmer for six years. During the years which he farmed he was very interested in machinery. He and his brother, Hans, bought and operated the first traction steam engine and did threshing of grain for hire for other farmers. Mr. Swanson's first experience with the auto business was selling cars for Otto Tegelberg of Wahoo. He also sold the Overland car and was associated with his brother, Hans, in the farm implement business for a short time in Ceresco.

   Mrs. Swanson, with the help of a nephew, did the farm chores and helped keep the farm work going while her husband was busy establishing their new business venture in Ceresco. Magnus came home every night and worked on the farm, until they decided to go completely into the auto business. Magnus and Anna had a farm sale in March of 1912 and moved into Ceresco, where they worked and lived the balance of their lives. Magnus decided to turn the implement business over to his brother, Hans, and later turned the Overland franchise over to his nephew, Arvid Swanson, son of Hans.

50th Anniversary Celebration -- 1960 Swanson Ford Ceresco, Nebraska

Lester Swanson, Mrs. Magnus (Anna) Swanson, owner, Roy Swanson, Ernie Swanson, Russell V. Swanson, Evelyn (Mrs. Willard) Johnson

   The business, known as the "Ford Garage," was operated by Magnus until his death in 1943, after which Mrs. Swanson continued ownership of the company, and it was operated by her sons, Roy and Russell. The firm name was then changed to "Magnus Swanson Sons." Another son, Lester, joined the firm in 1949 when Russell left to devote full time to the John Deere Implement Company in Ceresco.

   Mrs. Swanson died on July 4, 1971, after which the business was purchased by Lester Swanson in January, 1972, and since that time has been called "Swanson Ford." Roy retired at that time, after having been with the dealership 45 years.

   At the present time, "Swanson Ford" is the oldest Ford dealership in Nebraska, and the eighth oldest in the United States with a continuous ownership in the same family.

   Ernie's Store Inc. is located at 318 South 2nd Street in Ceresco, Nebraska. It is currently recognized in 1983, as one of the largest total home furnishings centers in the Midwest selling furniture, carpeting, appliances, color television, pool tables, and other popular items for the home. Ernie's in Ceresco was started in 1946 as an IGA Grocery business by Mr. and Mrs. Ernest W. Swanson.

   A devoted salesperson, Ernie started selling newspapers as a young boy in Ceresco. Later he sold popcorn to earn his way through college. In 1950 Ernie's Store changed its merchandising direction and entered the home furnishings field. Since that time Ernie's has expanded through the years to a physical plant of 100,000 square feet of warehouse and showrooms and a staff often including over 40 employees.

   Ernie sold the grocery to Roscoe Blodgett in 1956 to devote full energies to home furnishings. Through the years it has continued to expand its product line as new technology brought about improved innovations to the furnishings industry. Included in Ernie's long list of items for the house are Kinetico non-electric water softening systems, advance energy efficient microwave ovens and much more.

   Ernie's in Ceresco is a closed family Corporation with Ernest W. Swanson, Margie M. Swanson, Mary Swanson Pack, and Dean W. Swanson as officers of the Corporation.

   Dean Swanson, Ernie's son, entered the management team of the Store after graduating from Nebraska Wesleyan University with a degree in Business and Economics.

   Ernie's Store has experienced wonderful dedication from its employees with many serving the company over 20 years. Ernie is often seen in the store kitchen cooking for his employees, customers and friends. Ernie still serves free popcorn and the fireplace still welcomes the many repeated customers to the warm atmosphere which has made "Ernie's" a household word for all these years.

Ernie's Store Warehouse Ceresco, Wahoo Fire, April 1978

   Originally called the Swedish Mission Church, this Congregation was formed on January 1, 1906, when a group of Swedish citizens met at the Herman Nyquist home to discuss plans for a place where they could worship God.

   A committee was appointed as Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer. The old Presbyterian church building, now a remodeled home at 604 South 2nd

page 111