Saunders County NEGenWeb Project



Ceresco History Special Section, November 6, 1975. Page 7.


School District 54
At School District 54 in about 1906-07 were teacher Elizabeth Keane, Albert Olson, Wilmer Nelson, Ray Christensen, Charles Zimmerman, Carl Christensen, Joe Dillon and, bottom row, Joe McCaffery, John McCaffery, Edgar Nelson, Louis Christensen, Art Nelson, Hilmar Larson, and Edwin Larson.


   A directory of business firms located today in Ceresco would list the following:

   Blodgett's IGA Market, operated as the Meat Market in 1919 by Joe Blodgett, later joined by son Rance who purchased his father' interest and moved the store to its present location with the addition of locker plant; Roscoe Blodgett, Rance's brother, purchased store in 1947 and purchased grocery line from Ernie's in 1956.

   Pearson Parts and Service, owned by Leroy Pearson; begun in 1945 by Elmer Pearson who first worked for George Segrist in 1927 and joined in 1946 by Herman Pearson who first worked for Fritz Pearson in 1922 and joined Segrist in 1926; new building constructed in 1954.

   Cornhusker Oil Company, Virgil Anderson and Edwin Frasier owners since January 1, 1968; building constructed in 1926 by Arvid Swanson with Peter Carlson beginning work there and continuing until 1968; purchased in 1948 by Arthur Stewart.

Art Lindley and wife
Art Lindley and his wife stand in front of the Carlson and Co. hardware store.


   Cornhusker Cafe, owned by Virgil Anderson and Edwin Frasier since construction of building in 1972; operated by Mr. and Mrs. Richard Isaacson.

   Jurgens Plumbing and Heating, begun in 1954 by Wilbert Jurgens who first worked for Arvid Swanson in 1942 and later for John Burklund at the International franchise.

   Swanson Implement, began as Swanson and Martin in 1945 and remained that until 1958 with Russell V. Swanson J. Ronald Martin owners; now owned by Russell V. Swanson; head mechanic since 1947 is Harold Brodd.

   Paul's Laundromat and Carwash, Paul Pack owner since 1974; first begun as laundromat in 1963 by Mr. and Mrs. Don Fisher with the carwash added in 1964.

   Swanson Body Shop, begun in September 1965 by Darrel and Charles Swanson and moved to new building in 1966.

   Johnson Sundries, Mr. and Mrs. Earl R. Johnson owners since February of 1961; previously operated by druggist D. S. Alvord.

   Farmers Union Co-op Oil Assn., formerly Farmers Union Oil Company, began with truck service to farmers in 1929 and in 1930 acquired the former Sinclair station from Fritz Pearson; station manager is Ferd Radenslaben.

   Farmer in the Dell Drive In, built in 1962 by Mr. and Mrs. Charles Runty and sold to Mr. and Mrs. Larry Richter in 1967.

Johnson & Medlen Grain and Coal Company
The Johnson and Medlen Grain and Coal Company office and elevator
once stood along the street east of today's Village Hall.


   Nelson Hardware and Furniture, Joseph J. Nelson owner since 1938; previously owned by C. E. (Charles) Ericson who constructed the building in 1913; Nelson began working for Ericson who constructed the building in 1913; Nelson began working for Ericson in 1921.

   Nelson Funeral Home, Joseph J. Nelson owner since 1941; building remodeled in 1961; previous experience working with C E. Ericson.

   Swanson's Ford of Ceresco, Lester Swanson owner with the dealership, the first automobile dealership in Ceresco and among the first in Nebraska, being acquired by Lester and Roy Swanson's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Magnus Swanson, in 1909; Overland car dealership at one time sold to Magnus' nephew Arvid Swanson.

   Ernie's Store, begun in 1946 by Ernie and Margie Swanson as a one-room grocery; present 100,00 square foot home furnishings werehouse and showroom operation, known throughout the Midwest, began in 1950 with appliance sales; family ownership continues with Ernie Swanson as president, Dean Swanson as operational manager and Paul Pack as general manager.

   Farmers Co-op Assn., organized from 1915 to 1956 under the name of Farmer's, Union Co-op Assn.; existing concrete elevator completed in 1959; managers have been Shepard, Robb, Charles Lewis, Gustav Pellatz, Andrew Blomstrom 1920-1944, Wyette Moyer 1944-1955 and Leonard Palm since 1955.



Halloween fire
A spectacular Halloween fire at the Co-op's oil storage
tanks in 1932 sent smoke billowing into the air.





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