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

Harvard Jail

Photographed by Jason Voigt, October 28, 2025

1. Harvard Jail Marker

Inscription.
The jail was inadvertently sold to Robert Pinckney, 16, in a delinquent tax sale in 1943. When the city refused to buy back the jail, sparking a legal battle that earned national publicity, Pinckney put the jail up for auction at a West Coast war bond drive. Charlie McCarthy, ventriloquist Edgar Bergen's puppet, "bought" the jail for $10,000 in war bonds and deeded it back to Harvard. Estimated to be over 130 years old, the jail was refurbished in 2008-10.

Erected 2012 by Harvard Community Foundation and the Nebraska State Historical Society.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Landmarks. In addition, it is included in the Nebraska State Historical Society series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1943.

Location. 40° 37.063′ N, 98° 5.874′ W. Marker is in Harvard, Nebraska, in Clay County. It can be reached from North Harvard Avenue south of West Oak Street. Marker is in front of the jail, which is off a small road with access to the Harvard Community Center. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 128 N Harvard Ave, 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: Woodmen Hall (here, next to this marker); Harvard Veterans Memorial (about 500 feet

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away, measured in a direct line); Harvard Army Air Field (about 500 feet away); Midair Collision of B-17 Bombers (about 500 feet away); Harvard's 1915 Carnegie Library (about 600 feet away); St. John’s Episcopal Church (approx. 0.2 miles away); Harvard (approx. 0.3 miles away); Clay Center (approx. 6.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Harvard.

Also see . . . Old-time Harvard jail has connection to famous ventriloquist (video, YouTube). From KOLN's (Lincoln, NE television station) YouTube channel), this short piece (3:18) about the jail was posted on October 13, 2025. (Submitted on November 3, 2025, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois.)

Photographed by Jason Voigt, October 28, 2025

2. Harvard Jail Marker

Edgar Bergen and his dummy, Charlie McCarthy image. Click for full size.

Unknown Photographer; Public Domain

3. Edgar Bergen and his dummy, Charlie McCarthy

Bergen (father of actress Candice Bergen) was a popular ventriloquist and comedian on radio and TV.

Credits. This page was last revised on November 3, 2025. It was originally submitted on November 3, 2025, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois. This page has been viewed 58 times since then and 26 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on November 3, 2025, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois.