Beatrice in Gage County, Nebraska — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

The Star Hack and Livery

Main Street Beatrice

Photographed by Jason Voigt, October 27, 2025

1. The Star Hack and Livery Marker

Inscription.
The Star Hack and Livery was located at the northeast corner of Eighth and Court Streets. It was run by Thomas Floyd from 1906 to 1920. A livery stable had been located on this corner since 1890. Thomas Floyd added a Ford taxi cab to his business in 1915, the first in Nebraska. In 1925 the Sinclair Refining Company built the twelfth filling station in Beatrice on this corner site. Livery stables were often located on the edge of town. In early Beatrice, the businesses on this block marked the edge of the downtown area. This block was the first site selected for the Gage County Courthouse and the source of the name Court Street. When the Gage County Board of Supervisors selected the alternate site that is actually the location of both the 1870 and 1891 Courthouses, no immediate decision was made about the disposition of this designated, undeveloped block. Daniel Freeman claimed it as abandoned property, fenced it, and built a structure on it. He was successfully able to defend his claim of this block through adverse possession. Although it is in the Original Town Plat, its legal description is now Freeman's Subdivision.

Erected by Main Street Beatrice.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1906.

Location.

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40° 15.964′ N, 96° 44.638′ W. Marker is in Beatrice, Nebraska, in Gage County. It is at the intersection of North 8th Street and Court Street (U.S. 136), on the right when traveling north on North 8th Street. Marker is outside USA Smoke Shop. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 722 Court St, Beatrice NE 68310, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is 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 walking distance of this marker: Gage County Veterans Memorial (approx. 0.3 miles away); Civil War and Spanish War Memorial (approx. 0.4 miles away); Homesteading: The Cry was Free Land!!! (approx. 0.4 miles away); Railroads: Union Pacific & Burlington Northern (approx. 0.4 miles away); The De Roin & Oregon Trails (approx. 0.4 miles away); River Town Development (approx. 0.4 miles away); Founding of Beatrice, Nebraska Territory (approx. half a mile away); Replica of the Statue of Liberty (approx. half a mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Beatrice.

Photographed by Jason Voigt, October 27, 2025

2. The Star Hack and Livery Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on November 7, 2025. It was originally submitted on November 7, 2025, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois. This page has been viewed 51 times since then and 20 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on November 7, 2025, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois.