David City in Butler County, Nebraska — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

Built in 1900 as The Boston Studio

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, August 12, 2021

1. Built in 1900 as The Boston Studio Marker

Inscription. H. L. Boston
Edith Boston Proskovec
A. C. (Prof) Hurlbert
and families

Portrait Photographers
from 1893-1973

———
Norton Law Offices
1978-1991

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1900.

Location. 41° 15.266′ N, 97° 7.821′ W. Marker is in David City, Nebraska, in Butler County. It is on North 4th Street (State Highway 15) just north of E Street, on the left when traveling north. The marker is mounted at eye-level, directly on the subject building, on the left side of the east/front entrance. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 539 North 4th Street, David City NE 68632, 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 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: T. B. Myers Building (within

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shouting distance of this marker); Wolfe Building (within shouting distance of this marker); North Side of the Square (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); To the Pioneers of Butler County (about 500 feet away); Schweser's (about 600 feet away); Thorpe Opera House (about 700 feet away); Replica of the Statue of Liberty (approx. 0.6 miles away); Memorial Field (approx. 0.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in David City.

Also see . . . Boston Studio Project (Butler County Gallery).

Excerpt: The Boston Studio was a portrait photography studio established in downtown David City, Nebraska, in 1893 by Harvey L. Boston. In 1898, Boston purchased the negatives of the Keene Bros Studio when they closed. Mr. Boston ran the studio until his death in 1927. The business was later run by his daughter Edith Boston Proskovec and then by his son-in-law Audrey Hurlbert, before being sold to John and Fred McVay in 1973. Fred McVay continued to operate the Boston Studio until 1979, at which time the building and contents were sold at auction. The David City Area Foundation salvaged many of the negatives
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, August 12, 2021

2. The Boston Studio (east/front elevation)
The marker is mounted near the left edge of the front façade.
and the business ledgers from the Boston Studio and placed them in storage.
A Boston Studio Volunteer office was created at the Hruska Memorial Public Library in 2005 and the process of preserving and scanning the negatives began. A website was created to facilitate a connection between genealogists seeking information and the sale of images from the collection, which are used to fund the preservation of the collection. The Boston Studio Collection consists of over 68,000 negatives that include people and businesses in David City and around Butler County, Nebraska, from 1893 to 1979.

(Submitted on February 9, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

The Boston Studio (<i>northeast elevation</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, August 12, 2021

3. The Boston Studio (northeast elevation)

Credits. This page was last revised on February 9, 2025. It was originally submitted on February 6, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 155 times since then and 14 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on February 9, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.