H I S T O R Y
As the years went by, The Fremont & Elkhorn Valley Railroad would merge with the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad in 1903. Then in 1942, the line was abandoned and the rails were removed. As a result, came the end of the prosperity of cattle and grain to the area.
GRESHAM DEPOT
CHICAGO & NORTHWESTERN LOCOMOTIVE
Settlers of the area were mainly a mix of German and Scandinavian descent. From dugout and sod homes to framed houses and businesses, Gresham grew to 492 in 1920.
Business sprung to life along Main Street. A cement block factory was busy supplying building blocks, three lumber yards supplied the wood, transitioning the dugout and sod homes to modern homes and businesses. Grocery stores, butcher houses, an opera house, taverns and cafes, a drug store, department store, bank, and filling stations lined downtown Main Street. And if citizens broke the law, a small jail cell, located at the Village Shop, housed two inmates.
Situated in the northeast corner of York County Nebraska, the Village of "Poston" was founded in 1887 by the Pioneer Town Site Company, in anticipation of the Fremont & Elkhorn Valley Railroad coming through the County. The depot was given the name "Poston" in honor of Judge George W. Post of the Fourth Judicial District of York. When it was discovered that there was another town in Nebraska named Poston, the name "Gresham" was chosen after Judge Walter Quinton Gresham, Secretary of State under President Grover Cleveland.
JUDGE WALTER QUINTON GRESHAM
With any small Village, religion is a vital part of any community. The first church to be established was in 1871 at "Palo", so most of Gresham's earliest homesteader's names can be read on the tombstones in its cemetery.
In 1887 the Methodist Episcopal Church (1887-1975) was organized. Records from 1901-1962 are at Methodist Historical Center in Lincoln.
After the Village was platted in 1887, it became obvious that it needed a schoolhouse soon. In 1888, the school district built its first schoolhouse on the present location of land, which it did not own. Three years later, for $61, the land was purchased from George W. Post and the Pioneer Town Site Company.
EARLY VIEW OF MAIN STREET LOOKING WEST
MAIN STREET CIRCA 1986
AERIAL VIEW OF THE CEMENT FACTORY
CLEM'S OPERA HOUSE
POST OFFICE - FORMERLY NELLIE'S CAFE
METHODIST CHURCH (1887-1975)
The Presbyterian Church, 1887-present, previously called Blue Ridge Presbyterian Church, records are kept at the church.
In 1909, St. Peter's Lutheran Church was organized. A parochial school was established at the church from 1914-1918. Records for the church and graveyard are kept at the church.
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH (1887-PRESENT)
ST. PETER'S LUTHERAN CHURCH (1909-PRESENT)
BRICK SCHOOL 1916
The first senior class graduated in 1892, having 5 students, Celia Marvel, Anna Davidson, Dolly Lanphere, A.T. Waltz, and Alex Downey.
Soon after graduation, a fire broke out and burned the schoolhouse down on May 6, 1892. A new wooden building was built and used until the present brick and concrete building was constructed in 1916 and later, a new gymnasium was built in the spring of 1948.
District #54 served Gresham students for more than 91 years, until 1983 when the school board was faced with less than 25 students enrolled in high school. State law at that time permitted a high school for 3 consecutive years to operate with less than 25 students. On March 14, 1983, the school board voted unanimously to close the high school. High school students had the option to go to surrounding schools, tuition-free. Grades K-8 remained in Gresham until February 21, 1986, when the school finally merged with Utica Centennial.
The last class of 1983 had 11 students, Mike Dey, Judi Richter, Kathy Wilcox, Polly Cain, Terry Umshler, Todd Epke, Doug Tonniges, Dale Rhodes, Mindy Schultze, Becky George, and Martina Haase.
FIRST SCHOOL 1888