Kearney in Buffalo County, Nebraska — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

Loup River Freighter Hotel

Photographed by Charles T. Harrell, June 29, 2011

1. Loup River Freighter Hotel Marker

Inscription. Loup River Freighters Hotel was built in 1884 by Jerome Lalone, a house painter and wallpaper hanger from Kearney. Mr. Lolone purchased land in the northwestern corner of Buffalo County along the South Loup river in 1883. he built the house along a wagon road between Kearney and Broken Bow. Lolone built extra bedrooms to rent to freight wagon drivers who stopped overnight. These freighters were carrying supplies between Kearney and Broken Bow before railroad lines were completed.

The house originally had a wing behind the kitchen. This wing contained a dining room on the main floor, two bedrooms on the second floor for freighters, and a cellar. The freighter used the room to the right of the front door as a parlor and the Lolone family used the room to th left of the front door as a parlor. Mr. Lalone lost the house and property in a sheriff’s sale in 1893. It was purchased by Felix and Flavia Eckhout. Four generations of Eckhout family lived in the house until they donated it to the Trails and Rails Museum of the Buffalo County Historical Society in 1983.

Erected 1983 by Buffalo County Historical Society.

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This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Buildings. A significant historical year for this entry is 1884.

Location. 40° 41.081′ N, 99° 5.548′ W. Marker is in Kearney, Nebraska, in Buffalo County. It can be reached from West 11th Street. Marker is behind the Depot. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Kearney NE 68845, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Central Nebraska and in the Platte River Valley.

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: Baldwin Engine 481 (a few steps from this marker); German Baptist Church of the Brethren (within shouting distance of this marker); Shelton Union Pacific Depot (within shouting distance of this marker); Boyd House (within shouting distance of this marker); Historic Kearney (about 600 feet away, measured in a direct line); Kearney

Loup River Freighter Hotel image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Charles T. Harrell, June 29, 2011

2. Loup River Freighter Hotel

(approx. 0.8 miles away); Site of Bauer Drug (approx. 0.8 miles away); Old Oregon Trail (approx. 0.9 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Kearney.

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on August 2, 2011, by Charles T. Harrell of Woodford, Virginia. This page has been viewed 1,161 times since then and 23 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 2, 2011, by Charles T. Harrell of Woodford, Virginia. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.