The Wauneta School Timeline:
1887-
A small building was relocated to higher ground and used as the town school. (The location is where the present day school is located.) Miss Geddie Madoraiz of Beverly was hired on December 8, 1887, to teach the first term of school. The term lasted 3 or 4 months and had no more than 12 pupils.
1888-
The School District #31 was formally organized. A portion of land was purchased from and also donated by W.S. Fisher and The Lincoln Land Company to be used for school property.
1889-
9th grade was added to the school. Three students graduated from Wauneta, Nellie Dick, Blanch Wise and Jennie Frazell.
1891-
The school quickly became crowded and was moved into a building on the second floor owned by J.J. Doty located in downtown Wauneta. Classes were instructed by Professor Quiggle in the Doty building for several years.
1893-
In May, 1893 the board approved a new school to be built for $2,000. The structure was two stories and 36 by 40 feet. The school was built from bricks burned in Wauneta by the A.J. Dick Company. The lower level had two large classrooms and the upstairs level was used for town gatherings and a library hall until 1904 when more rooms were needed for classes.
1904-
10th grade was added to the school.
1907-
High school became accredited through 10th grade.
1913-
11th grade was added to the school.
1917-
12th grade was added to the school.
1920’s-
The old school was razed and a bigger school was built, estimated to cost around $20,000.
1926-
An addition was built to the east part of the building. The upper two floors contained classrooms while the basement level contained an auditorium.
1929-
Fire damaged a portion of the old school on December 26, 1929. The fire burned the locker room ceiling and damaged the room above it. Damages amounted to $2,000 and were covered by the schools insurance.
1932-
Exactly four years later - December 26, 1932 a fire completely destroyed the elementary located on the west half of the school. The addition constructed in 1926 was saved from the flames and used for the remainder of the school year. A new building was completed during the summer of 1933 in time for the new school year.
1955-
A new gymnasium was completed. It was said to be the largest structure in floor space and seating in out-state Nebraska.
1968-
Wauneta and Hamlet schools consolidated. Students in grades 6-8 attended classes in Hamlet for a number of years before the school decided to sell the building to the Village and have classes only in Wauneta.
1973-
Voters defeated a bond to build a new grade school and shortly thereafter the board voted to build a new vocational shop near the football field.
1990-91-
Wauneta and Palisade Schools cooperated together for high school classes and sports, but still issued separate diplomas.
1992-93-
The class of 1993 was the first to have a “Wauneta-Palisade Diploma.”
Pictures Below have been scanned from "The Wauneta Breeze" news paper, Centennial Edition Section Three.
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Photo (1)
After outgrowing the first school, Wauneta built a new building in 1893. It was built with brick made in Wauneta's own brick yard and was located on the same spot as the school sits today. It was later torn down and a new school built. (Photo from Thos. Stock Collection)
Photo (2)
Fire destroyed the grade school in 1932. It was the portion of the school left of the pole in this picture. The portion of the school right of this picture is still in use today.
Photo (3)
The new gymnasium begins to take shape during its construction in 1953. (Pennington Photo)
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The Palisade School Timeline:
1884-
District #9 was formed. The first school in Palisade is believed to have been located east of Bobtail Creek where the original settlement was. The school was called the Beigh School and was used also by the Methodist church.
1889-
The “Red Front” building was also used as a school until 1889 when the 64J district was formed.
1892-
A two story building was constructed.
1906-
1st class graduated from Palisade and consisted of one student named Grace Seydell Pettit.
1909-
A brick school building was built from red brick. All three school buildings were in use at the same time.
1914-
Two classes graduated in one year from the Palisade High School because the board decided to discontinue the 11th grade.
1916-
The 1914 decision to discontinue the 11th grade was altered and a 12th grade was also added to the school. Some graduated students from Palisade even returned to the school for additional classes, and therefore graduated twice!
1924-
Football was introduced to the school.
1925-
The brick building was replaced with a three story brick building in order to have enough space for all the students to attend.
1925-
Basketball was introduced to the school along with a glee club, 12 girls participated in the state glee club competition in Lincoln and won 3rd place. The 1st Panther yearbook was created.
1926-
A shop was added to the new school as an addition.
1927-
The football team members were the Frenchman Valley Champions. Track meets were held on the school grounds and boarding highway. Field events were on the school ground while the track events took place on the gravelled DLD, passing motorists stopped to watch the races as they waited for the track to clear.
1954-
The present auditorium was built.
1990-91-
Palisade and Wauneta Schools cooperated together for high school classes and sports, but still issued separate diplomas.
1992-93-
The class of 1993 was the first to have a “Wauneta-Palisade Diploma.”
Pictures Below have been scanned from the Palisade Library book “Palisade Nebraska 1887-1987”
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Photo (1)
The school built in 1892
Photo (2)
First brick school built in 1900
Photo (3)
New brick building built in 1925 to replace the one built in 1909.
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