What's New

 

 

Thanks to the dedicated volunteers who helped over 120 folks receive items from the Lincoln Food Bank: Dale Henke, Sherri Scholl, Galen Crawford, Mike Hickman, Becky Hickman, Margaret Wertman, Steve Kroese, and Bob Wilhelm. 

 

 

It is with great sadness we said goodbye to Nola (West) Herman, long-time former Unadilla resident, and mom to Jodie, Karla, and Abby. She will be missed by so many.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Dick Cheney Otoe County Connection

By Cub Political Reporter, Bob Wilhelm

 

With the passage of former Vice President Dick Cheney, there has been considerable news coverage of his death, and his life in politics. It was reported that he was born at avLincoln hospital, but I recall several stories from some "old timers" that when he was born his family lived in Syracuse. This week I happened to stop in at Nitty Gritty Gas and Thrift, which is the fountain of knowledge and information for Unadilla. Russell Moss was there, and the discussion had turned to Cheney's death. Russell said that he had been told that Cheney's mother's family had lived in Burr. Their last name was Dickey. He said the story is that she had a brother, Vancel Dickey,  that died when he was 15, and was buried at Hopewell cemetery. I contacted our research department, and Barb was able to confirm the above information through Find A Grave on her magic machine. Of course, the family eventually left Otoe County and eventually landed in Wyoming. It is interesting when we think about the people that have hailed from our little county and the amazing and contributing lives that the have had.

 

 

 

HISTORY OF UNADILLA SCHOOLS / COMMUNTY CENTER

11/2025

Mid 1870’s Original frame school built on site of current Methodist Church at a cost of $1,000! It would later

Be sold to Sam Lyons for $101.65 and moved to the William Schwartman Farm. It served

As a voting place and courthouse until it was sold to Sam Lyons.

1882 W.F. Yeigh Built a new school at a cost of $2,627 on the current site of the gym. Enrollment in

School numbered 50 in 1882.

1914 A new two-story brick school was built in 1914 at a cost of $11,237.95. A $5,000 bond issue

was approved by 60 voters. W. A. Woods was the architect and J.T. Cameron was the contractor.

Assessed value of the school district was $334,000.

1915 The building was dedicated by Sam Avery, the Chancellor of the University of Nebraska. (He

later oversaw the building and dedication of Memorial Field at the University of Nebraska).

In the same year, the 11th grade was added to the curriculum. The old school was sold to Jesse

Van Horn for $375 and the lumber salvaged for his building.

1951 A $50,000 bond issue was passed to build a new gymnasium with a kitchen, stage and classroom

attached. West Bros. of Fairmont, NE got the contract and dedication was held in April of

1952.

1958 Last year of Unadilla High School. Marilyn McCormick, Ed Stubbendeck, Milton Leefers and

Robert Callaway were the four graduates.

1991 New elementary school (K-8) was erected at a cost of $450,000 and was completed in 1991. The

brick school built in 1914 was demolished at the same time, and the dirt leveled to make the

existing soccer field south of the gym.

2004 School Dist. #20 merged with Syracuse School Dist #27 and the last 8th grad class graduated

from Unadilla. Pre-School to 6th grade used the building & gym until the building was

purchased by the village of Unadilla.

2010 Building & Gym purchased by Village for $35,000, and the city clerk moved to an elementary

school room, its current location.

2025 The restoration drive for our community center started with request for donations with the

All-Fund Drive. Donors have pledged to match the first $200,000 of donations received by

6-30-2026 for the Community Restoration Project. This money will be used exclusively to upgrade our current community center. This includes the playground area, kitchen, bathroom, library, establishing rooms for daycare, and also infrastructure. The village is working in concert to itemize what updates are appropriate and cost effective. Enclose any suggestions you may have with your donation.

Thank you for sharing Bob Brandt!

 

 

 

 

 

BIRTHDAYS & ANNIVERSARIES

11-13   Olivia Lynn Rumery

11-14   Dale Isaacs, Madison Hillman

11-15   Linda Juilfs, Brody Hitzemann

11-16   Marvin Lucas, Christina Long, Steve Billington

11-17   Darren Donovan

11-18   Amber Kempkes

 

 

NEWS FROM 100 YEARS AGO

Friday, 11-13-1925, The Otoe Union:

Mr. & Mrs. Guy Taney celebrated their silver anniversary. Will Dorman was building a new barn. Lorenz Schriener was the first to finish corn husking. "George Brandt says that he has not used a team on his mail route for over 20 months, using his car everyday, which ought to be a pretty good record for a mail carrier."