STOCKING PRECINCT

a program in this school. He arose and in his best judicial manner asked the people to leave the building. They did so and when it was evacuated it was discovered that the floor had sunk several inches. Just a few days later the building burned. It was replaced by another frame structure which also burned. In 1913, the old part of the present Civic Center was built.

Old North Ward School -- Wahoo, Nebr.

   The North Ward School seems to have been developed a little later than the others, and has always been on the same site. The first school was a frame building which burned. While the building was being replaced with a small brick building, the children were housed in the Congregational Church. At that time there was a creek behind the church and the bank was so steep that a rail had to be built to keep the little ones from toppling in. The front portion of the present building was built in 1914. Another addition was built in 1936.

   A bond election in the amount of $225,000 was approved by the taxpayers on May 12, 1964, for an addition to West Ward Elementary school. All elementary pupils from the North Ward were transferred to the West Ward in the fall of 1971 and the North Ward building was designated as a "Middle School" housing the 6th, 7th, 8th grade students.

   Another bond election was presented to the tax-payers and approved on November 13, 1973, in the amount of $2,750,000 for the purpose of purchasing a site and constructing a building to house the Middle School and the High School.

Old Wahoo High School

   The building, occupied since the fall of 1976, was designed to house both the High School and Middle School. The plan permits separation of 6th to 8th grade students from those in high school; yet special areas such as homemaking, business, art, music, shop, gymnasium and cafeteria are used by both groups.

   In addition to general classrooms and special laboratories, the building provides modern library-media centers; physical education-athletic dressing and locker facilities, cafeteria, vocational and special education areas, gymnasium, all-weather track, athletic field, and a well-lighted parking lot.

   The Wahoo Middle School program is traditional in its approach to the basic studies including mathematics, social studies, language arts and science. Enrichment is provided in the areas of music, art, drama, homemaking, shop, physical education, gifted education, special education, reading and athletics. The special needs of emerging adolescents in transition from elementary school to secondary school are met through various activities. Among these are home room activities led by teachers trained to help children through the adolescent years.

   The Wahoo High School has a diversified program of course offerings in an attempt to meet the needs of the students who plan to further their education at a post secondary school or develop a skill and go directly to work. Aside from the basic courses such as English, mathematics, social studies, and science; there also are courses in auto mechanics, metals, woodworking, welding, carpentry, drafting, business preparation courses, honors math, science, English, and government courses, gifted programs, remedial programs, homemaking courses, vocal and instrumental music classes, and counseling services.

   During the 1982-83 school term, the school is staffed by 52 full and parttime teachers plus five administrators. Administrators include:

Charles Divis.................Principal, West Ward Elementary
Jack Tillman.........................Principal, Middle School
Clyde Childers...............Assistant, High School Principal
Ronald Hulse...........................Principal, High School
Willard Hunzeker...............................Superintendent

   The current Board of Education and its officers are:

Howard Pearson......................................President
Jane Johnson...................................Vice President
Ken Christensen..................................Board Member
Robert Cook......................................Board Member
Helen Hansen.....................................Board Member
Mary Ann Lattimer................................Board Member
Marlene Hansen...............Board Secretary (By Appointment)
Wayne Edgar..................Board Treasurer (By Appointment)

   Bishop Neumann Central High School is a Catholic diocesan co-educational, state-accredited high school located at 202 South Linden Street in Wahoo, Nebraska, and serving the students of ten parishes in the surrounding areas of Saunders and Lancaster Counties. The school is named after St. John Neumann, a Redemptorist priest, who, as bishop of Philadelphia, persuaded the American bishops at the First Baltimore Council in 1852 to establish a parochial school system.

   The purpose of Neumann High School is clearly stated in the first paragraph of its philosophy, which is as follows, "Bishop Neumann High School is a Catholic school. It is a community of administrators, faculty, staff and students who subscribe to the teaching of the Roman Catholic Church. This teaching underscores a belief in the Triune God, a belief that Jesus Christ is the Incarnate Son of God, a belief that the Catholic Church is His Mystical Presence in the world, a belief that human beings are sacred and inviolable because they are made to the image and likeness of God, and, a belief that Christian morality is absolutely necessary because of the Eternal Life God has intended for the human race."

Bishop Neumann High School, Wahoo, Nebr.

   The beginnings of Neumann High School go far back into the history of the Catholic Church in the Wahoo area. In June, 1959, Bishop James V. Casey strongly urged the pastors of the Wahoo Deanery to consider establishing a central high school to serve the area. On April 30, 1960, a letter was sent from the pastors to Bishop Casey expressing a commitment to initiate this program. The parishes involved were: St. Wenceslaus Parish, Wahoo; St. John's Parish, Prague; St. Vitus Parish, Touhy; St. Mary's Parish, Valparaiso; St. Joseph's Parish, Agnew; St. John's Parish, Weston; St. Mary's Parish, Cedar Bluffs; Ss. Cyril and Methodius Parish, Plasi; St. Mary's Parish, Ashland; St. Joseph's Parish, Colon; St. James Parish, Mead; St. Mary's Parish, Davey; and St. George's and Sacred Heart Parishes, Morse Bluff. The parishes of Ashland and Morse Bluff eventually withdrew from the program because of distance.

   Rev. Ivan Vap was appointed to oversee the building of the proposed school, and, under his direction, the new building was planned and construction begun. In June, 1964, Rev. John Zastrow was appointed Superintendent and under his direction construction was completed. Formal dedication was held December 20, 1964.

   When the school opened its doors in September, 1964, it had a student enrollment of 210. Five Notre Dame Sisters were part of the original staff, and that fall two Marian Sisters joined the teaching staff.

   Original construction included an unfinished north wing. From this area two classrooms were constructed in 1967, and in 1972, an Industrial Arts and Art Department were added.

   In June, 1976, Rev. John J. McCabe succeeded Father Zastrow as Superintendent. Today, Neumann has an enrollment of 188 students. The staff is made up of four Lincoln diocesan priests, three Notre Dame Sisters, two Marian Sisters, eight laywomen and seven laymen.

   The curriculum offered at Neumann High School is basically college preparatory, and, even though not all graduates attend a four-year college, most of them pursue some form of secondary education and/or training. Students graduating from Neumann should have the education and/or the skills needed for pursuing higher education and/or employment. Classes are offered in eleven departments: Business, English, Fine Arts, Foreign Language, Home Economics, Industrial Arts, Mathematics, Physical Education, Religion, Science and Social Studies.

   Much, not included in this summary, has happened at Neumann since those first days. There have been victories and losses in athletics; the band has brought home a multitude of trophies including numerous Superior ratings in the Pershing Marching Band contest; Neumann students have been selected to honor choirs and honor bands: and there have been moments of pride in drama and speech. Neumann students have been Conference and District Tournament runners-up in speech and drama, football Class C State Champions and Runners-up, District Boys Basketball Champions, and Girls Volleyball and Basketball Conference Champions and District Runners-up. Neumann students have qualified for boys and girls Junior Olympic Cross Country National Tournament qualifiers and have achieved team and individual successes in girls and boys track.

   Students and faculty are searching for ways to be

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of service to the community. However, most of all, efforts are made to try and prepare the students for happy and useful lives. It is the hope of the administration and staff that Neumann High will continue to work toward the goal of Christian education of the total person so clearly exemplified in the life of its patron, Bishop John Neumann.

St. Wenceslaus School Wahoo, Nebr.

   St. Wenceslaus School has served the community of Wahoo for over 70 years. Records, dated back to 1910, indicate that it was staffed by the Benedictine Sisters for 13 years. During the early years it encompassed grades one through ten. The Sisters lived in the school and the students were allowed to board there. In 1923, the Notre Dame Sisters from Omaha agreed to teach at St. Wenceslaus and have served us faithfully ever since. The first Marian Sisters came in 1967 and the first lay teacher began in 1956. The first lay principal was employed in 1973. Through the years the enrollment has gone from 91 students in 1933 to 298 in 1963 when it was a K-12 school.

   St. Wenceslaus School now contains grades K-8. Grades K-6 are self-contained while the Junior High is departmentalized.

   The Religion Department at St. Wenceslaus has continued to be active through the years. Students plan their daily Masses. All grades strive to bring Christian enjoyment to the people of the community. The students entertain at the Care Centers, visit the elderly, care for the young and a variety of other activities.

   1957 marked the year Jr. High sports were introduced at St. Wenceslaus. At the time only boys football and basketball were offered. Today, both boys and girls are offered a variety of athletic programs.

   Band has been a part of the curriculum since the first group was formed in 1958. Vocal music has recently been added to the program. The first musical took place in 1983.

   Presently, St. Wenceslaus School employs 2 Marian Sisters, 4 Notre Dame Sisters, and 6 lay faculty. Present enrollment for grade K-8 is 180 students.

   St. Wenceslaus School now serves the local Catholic parish and several surrounding parishes in its attempts to offer more children the alternative of a Catholic, God-centered education.

Pre-school Learning Center -- Clown Day Wahoo, Nebr.

   The pre-school Learning Center opened in the fall of 1975 at the home of Mrs. Mike McDonald. Classes were held from 9-ll o'clock on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings and from 1-3 p.m. each Monday, Wednesday, and Friday afternoons, plus a Tuesday-Thursday morning session from 9-11 a.m. A total of 24 youngsters were involved in a total program. The learning center was open for a total of 5 years. Maurene Johnston assisted with the programs on various outings and projects.

   Two pre-schools operating in Wahoo for 1982-83 are headed by: Mrs. Kevin (Judy) Stukenholtz and Mrs. Paul (Jill) Johnson.

   The first pre-school in Wahoo and Saunders County was opened in the fall of 1969 in the basement of the home of Jane Johnson (Mrs. Burton). Seeing a definite need for this type of education, Jane, ably assisted by Geeg Erickson (Mrs. E. Gerald), welcomed nine 4-year-olds to the Hickory Hill Pre-School, which met from 9-11 o'clock a.m. each Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings.

   The students who attended this pre-school that first year were Susan Wentz, Cathy Hohl, Natalie Fox, Karla Christensen, Melissa Olander, Mark Sutton, Stuart Oden, John Hansen, and David Detlefson.

   A few years later, Pat Bennett and Mary Likes opened a pre-school in the home of Mary Likes. Kay Ferguson opened a pre-school at the National Guard Armory in 1974.

Hickory Hill Pre-School -- 1969

Bob Wagner -- Sworn in Sr. Vice State Commander

   Wahoo, unlike must other Saunders County towns, was served by not one, but three railroads in the late 1890's and early 1900's. The Union Pacific, the Northwestern, and the Chicago, Burlington, & Quincy each maintained a depot to serve the community. Today only the Burlington depot remains. It was saved from destruction by citizens who wished to retain a visible link with the past. The depot has become a part of the Saunders County Historical Complex and has been restored at its original site.

   The building was constructed in 1886 and completed prior to the arrival of the trackage. It opened for business in early 1887 and closed its doors on June 22, 1972.

   The two-story frame structure has wooden floors, is 14 by 56 feet with an attached one-story freight house. The freight storage room is 24 by 34 feet and has plank floors. The total cost of the building was $3,475.

   There were two waiting rooms, a furnished agent's office with telegraph facilities, a small baggage room, and the freight room. The depot agent's family lived on the second floor. There are six rooms: two bedrooms, living room, dining room, kitchen with a pantry, and a small bathroom. There was also a small stockyard nearby that held the animals waiting to be shipped by rail.

   The construction of the tracks began at Ashland and the 18.93 miles to Wahoo was completed April 5, 1887. The rails continued on to Schuyler for another 31.10 miles and the track was ready for operation on October 24, 1887.

   Early records are not obtainable, but O.P. Lowery was depot agent in 1893; John Boumann in 1902; John Hohl, 1903-1907; Iva Edwards, 1907-1919; Joe Bowers, 1919-1953; Ed Steinbaugh, relief agent; Anton Swanda, 1953-1962; and Clark Butcher, 1962-1972.

   Longevity honors must go to Joe Bowers who served as Burlington agent for 34 years. It was his gift of his later home and the area surrounding it that helped make the Saunders County Historical Complex a reality.

   The role the railroads played in the development of the nation can not be understated for those first stations many times formed the nucleus of the town. Without a station to serve them, many towns would have disappeared; with a station many towns, like Wahoo grew into prosperous communities.

   In the early 1900's this railroad spur line from Ashland to Schuyler was the most productive fifty miles track on the Burlington system.

   Small railroad depots that once were an integral part of every town are fast disappearing. But the Burlington Depot in Wahoo gives testimony to the colorful age they represented.

Downtown Wahoo -- 1983

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