Near Gothenburg in Custer County, Nebraska — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

Etna

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, August 6, 2021

1. Etna Marker

Inscription. The first Etna post office (1885-1895) was located three miles to the northwest. A new post office operated 1.5 miles east until 1921. In 1907 Etna saw the opening of a school, store, and telephone exchange. The store was enlarged by Andrew Ostergard in 1912 and later provided unofficial mail service until it closed in the early 1930s. The telephone exchange closed in 1933, the school in 1966. Automobiles and declining population reduced the need for services that such remote localities provided.

Erected 2017 by Custer County Historical Society; People of the Etna Community; and Nebraska State Historical Society. (Marker Number 530.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Education • Industry & Commerce • Roads & Vehicles • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Nebraska State Historical Society series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1885.

Location. 41° 8.436′ N, 100° 11.347′ W. Marker is near Gothenburg, Nebraska, in Custer County. It is on Etna Road just east of State Highway 47, on the left when traveling east. Touch for map.

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Marker is in this post office area: Gothenburg NE 69138, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the American Midwest,

in the Corn Belt,

and on the prairies.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Louisiana Purchase.

Other nearby markers. At least one other marker is within 12 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Swedish Crosses Cemetery (approx. 11.6 miles away).

Also see . . . Etna, Nebraska (Wikipedia). Etna (formerly Etha) is an unincorporated community in Custer County, Nebraska. Etna no longer exists, a simple roadside marker indicates the location of the former town. The school survived until 1966, but most other establishments (general store, post office, etc.) closed in 1931. (Submitted on September 14, 2021, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, August 6, 2021

2. Etna Marker

(looking north from Etna Road)

Etna Store, 1930 image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, August 6, 2021

3. Etna Store, 1930

(illustration mounted beside Nebraska Historical Marker)

Credits. This page was last revised on September 14, 2021. It was originally submitted on September 13, 2021, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 472 times since then and 43 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on September 13, 2021, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.