Harvard in Clay County, Nebraska — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

Harvard

Photographed by Mark Hilton, July 11, 2024

1. Harvard Marker

Inscription. Tracks of the Burlington and Missouri River Railroad reached Harvard on December 20, 1871. The town was surveyed in March 1872 and platted on a section of land pre-empted by Newman W. Brass, George Van Gilder, Elijah J. Stone, and Levi W. Mosher. They sold this land for $500 per quarter section to Charles F. Morse of the Eastern Land Association, a company which developed town sites along the railroad. Harvard was named by a railroad employee to follow Grafton as one of as series of towns on the line christened in alphabetical order.

Harvard was incorporated as a Village on July 1, 1873. It became a Second Class City in 1879, and W. J. Turner served as the first Mayor. Because the population was less than 1500, it returned to Village status in 1880, only to become a Second Class City again in 1886. During the 1870’s Harvard vied with other towns to become the county seat of Clay County. After several disputed elections, Clay Center was selected as the location of the Courthouse in 1879.

Erected by Nebraska State Historical Society, Harvard Bicentennial Committee. (Marker Number 191.)

Topics and series. This

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historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Railroads & Streetcars • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Nebraska State Historical Society series list. A significant historical month for this entry is March 1872.

Location. 40° 37.147′ N, 98° 5.493′ W. Marker is in Harvard, Nebraska, in Clay County. It is on East Walnut Street 0.1 miles west of Airport Road, on the right when traveling west. Located just to the west of the Harvard Public Pool. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 505 E Walnut St, Harvard NE 68944, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Smoky Hills

and in Eastern Nebraska. It is also 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 8 other markers are within 7 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Midair Collision of B-17 Bombers (approx. ¼ mile away); Harvard Army Air Field (approx. ¼ mile away); Harvard Veterans Memorial

Harvard Marker with city pool on right. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Hilton, July 11, 2024

2. Harvard Marker with city pool on right.

(approx. ¼ mile away); Harvard's 1915 Carnegie Library (approx. 0.3 miles away); Harvard Jail (approx. 0.3 miles away); Woodmen Hall (approx. 0.3 miles away); St. John’s Episcopal Church (approx. 0.4 miles away); Clay Center (approx. 6.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Harvard.

Also see . . . History of Harvard, Nebraska by A. T. Andreas. (Submitted on July 14, 2024, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.)

Credits. This page was last revised on July 14, 2024. It was originally submitted on July 14, 2024, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. This page has been viewed 329 times since then and 61 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 14, 2024, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.