Oshkosh in Garden County, Nebraska — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

Williams Hotel and Original Garden County Courthouse

— Old Town Historical Plaque —

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, August 13, 2023

1. Williams Hotel and Original Garden County Courthouse Marker

Inscription.
In 1905, Fred and Hannah Williams moved from Ovid, Colorado where he farmed, to Oshkosh and built the hotel. The family operated it as the Williams Hotel. In 1907, he traded the hotel plus $4,000 to A. C. McCoy for property northeast of Lewellen. Mr. McCoy also owned a hotel in Lewellen and ran both hotels for a period of three years and then leased the building to James Caslin and later to Leo Fox.

In 1909, what was then Deuel County, by election, was separated into two counties and this became Garden County. An Improvement Company was formed and finding a need for a courthouse they bought the hotel and rented out the ground floor to Garden County. The second floor continued to be used as a rooming house. This building was used as a courthouse until construction of a new courthouse was completed in 1922.

The ground floor continued to be used as offices, law offices, a café and other businesses. Mr. P.O. McCormac had a jewelry and dime store in the front of the building and made his residence in the back part of the building. The second floor continued to be used as a rooming house.

In 1944, when the hotel was vacant, Robert

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Hehnke purchased the building. He had a grocery store in the Corner Store and had plans to move it to the hotel but it was too difficult to do and he decided to tear down the hotel and build a new building. He moved his store to the new building in 1945 and continued in business until 1951. After being in business for 17 years, in 1951 Hehnkes sold the store to Don and Florence Rounsborg who operated a grocery store for 24 years. In 1974, the Rounsborgs sold the grocery business to Myron “Punk” and Glennie Batt and Bob and Ardene McCord. It was then known as the Oshkosh Superette. They later moved their store to a building on the corner of Highway 26 and Main Street.

In 1990, Batts sold the building to Cathy Mikolocyk and Bina Schwartz where they had a T-shirt store, and sold collectibles, clothing and jewelry. In 1995, Bina sold our her share to Cathy. In 1999, the Mikolocyks sold the building to Orvin and Carol Lake for use as a real estate office and a T-shirt store, and it remains so today.

Erected 2014 by Old Town Project and 2010 Garden County Centennial Planning Committee.

Topics. This historical marker is listed

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, August 13, 2023

2. Williams Hotel and Original Garden County Courthouse Marker

The marker is on the left side of the southwest corner entrance.

in these topic lists: Government & Politics • Industry & Commerce • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1905.

Location. 41° 24.299′ N, 102° 20.655′ W. Marker is in Oshkosh, Nebraska, in Garden County. It is at the intersection of Main Street and East Avenue C (Robinson Avenue), on the left when traveling south on Main Street. The marker is mounted directly on the subject building, on the left side of the southwest corner entrance. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 200 East Avenue C, Oshkosh NE 69154, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Nebraska Panhandle.

It is also in the American Midwest,

in the Corn Belt,

on the prairies,

on the Great Plains,

and specifically on the High Plains.

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: Consumers Public Power Building (a few steps from this marker); Morris Hotel (within

Williams Hotel and Original Garden County Courthouse (<i>southwest elevation</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, August 13, 2023

3. Williams Hotel and Original Garden County Courthouse (southwest elevation)

shouting distance of this marker); Chase Hardware (within shouting distance of this marker); Nebraska State Bank (within shouting distance of this marker); Bar and Pool Hall (within shouting distance of this marker); Masonic Lodge (within shouting distance of this marker); The Corner Store (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Garden County News (about 300 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Oshkosh.

Also see . . . Garden County, Nebraska (Wikipedia).

Excerpt: Garden County was formed in 1909 by popular vote. Voters in the general election of November 2, 1909, approved making the northern part of Deuel County into its own county. It is said the county was so named in the hope that this land should become the garden of the West or with allusion to the “Garden of Eden.” (Submitted on October 29, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

Credits. This page was last revised on October 29, 2026. It was originally submitted on October 27, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 7 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on October 29, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.