History of Pierce
Pierce was originally founded by Germans from Wisconsin in 1869. Three years later the town grew to include many different nationalities. On May 4, 1871, a plat was filed with the Pierce County Register of Deeds laying out a 56-block area. At the time of the platting, streets were given names, some of which were named after persons who purchased the land or made additions to the city, such as Brown, Lucas and Gibson.
• 1870 – Pierce Post Office Established.
• 1871 – First Courthouse built at a cost of $4,000.
• February 14, 1871 – City of Pierce Established
• 1877 – First newspaper published in Pierce County known as The Pierce County Call. It was a leading Republican paper owned by Ed Fry and the editor was Jacob Sharot. In 1891, A.L. Brande became owner until 1948 when the Call was purchased by the Leader.
• 1878 – First church in town established was the Congregational Church. A country church, St. John’s Lutheran Church, was located just east of town existing since 1871. Both churches still exist with four other churches added since.
• 1878 – The original dam for the mill was built and constructed out of brick. This was destroyed by a flood in 1924 and rebuilt in 1936.
• 1880 – The Pierce Milling Company was built. During full operation the mill shipped as much as 1,300 sacks of flour to Omaha, Nebraska, at one time and was making regular shipments to Glasgow, Scotland. In 1908, mill was destroyed by fire and later rebuilt in 1913.
• 1882 – Woods Cones opened the first bank in Pierce. Later he found a partnership with William Spence and the bank operated as Pierce County Bank. With another change of partners it became First National Bank. In 1897 the name changed to Cones State Bank. Then in 1999 a new building was built and the bank became Midwest Bank, N.A.
• May 24, 1883 – Village of Pierce officially incorporated.
• 1889 – Established second newspaper. The Leader was the only Democratic paper in Pierce County and was edited by Douglas Hewitt. Today, we provide area residents with one locally printed newsprint called the Pierce County Leader.
• 1890 – Second courthouse replaced original structure one block north as a cost of $25,000.
• 1902 – First Fire Department started with equipment consisting of only a single-hose cart. We now provide protection to 168 square miles with 3 pumpers, 3 tankers, 2 rescue, 1 brush rig, 1 equipment truck, a fire and rescue truck and a new ambulance.
• 1920 – First paving in the City of Pierce.
• 1964 – Dike around Pierce built by Core of Engineers due to floods in 1960 and 1962.
• 1964 – Nine hole golf course completed.
• 1970 – New lake built in memory of Bill Cox, former editor of the Pierce County Leader. The lake is located in Gilman Park. The park provides swimming, picnic areas, camping, fishing, an elaborate museum and newly planted arboretum complete with walking path.
• 1976 – Historical Museum opened and Legion Memorial dediated at Gilman Park.
• 1984 – New firehall built.
• 1984 – Willow Lake State Recreational Area completed.
• 1992 – Expansion of Golf Course.
• 1992 – New athletic complex including football field, soccer fields, asphalt track and grandstand.
• 1993 – New City office building, attached to firehall.
• 1994 – New municipal swimming pool.
• 1994 – Installation of 911 service.
• 1994 – Passage of bond issue for new JR-SR High School.
• 1994 – December 17th Cuthills Vineyards – Nebraska’s first Winery opened.
• 1995 – May 28th Pierce County Veterans Memorial dedicated.
• 1995 – New Club house erected for Golf Course.
• 1996 – Pierce Quasquicentennial “Pride in 125″.
• 1996 – Completion of new JR-SR High School.
• 1996 – Restoration of 1st gasoline powered Fire Truck.
• 1999 – 10 housing lots were annexed into city limits known as the Willow Ridge Phase I subdivision.
• 2000 – A new building is constructed within the Museum complex in Gilman Park.
• 2001 – A new playground structure was erected in Gilman Park with the help of a grant from the Kiewit Foundation.
• 2002 – 34 blocks of paving were completed within the southwest part of town.
• 2002 – The Lied Pierce Public Library was constructed.
• 2002 – 3 housing lots were annexed into city limits known as the Willow Wood Subdivision along with several 2.5 acre lots.
• 2003 – 13 potential housing lots were annexed into city limits known as the Five Star Subdivision.
• 2003 – 7 housing lots were annexed into city limits known as the Willow Ridge Phase II Subdivision along with several rural 2.5 acre lots.
• 2005 – Opening of Tuscan Villa & Gift, Bed & Breakfast.
• 2005 – A multi-purpose room was added on to the Jr-Sr Highschool.
• 2008 – 12 Unit (Independent Living) “Marshall Grove Apartment Complex” was constructed.
• 2009 – Elevator at Pierce County Courthouse is completed.
• 2010 – E911 System is operational.
• 2011 – New Shelter House constructed at Gilman Park.
• 2011 – New Pavilion constructed at Pierce County Fairgrounds.
• 2012 – New Elkhorn Valley Bank building constructed.
• 2012 – S. 549 Ave. from Main Street to H&N Blvd., and the Pierce/Neligh Road west of Pierce was paved.
• 2013 – The Lambrecht Chevrolet Auction was held in September attracting thousands of visitors from all over the country to the Pierce area.
• 2014 – The former Lumber Yard/Flower Shop building was converted into a motel.
• 2015 – A new rescue unit was purchased.
• 2015 – Pierce “Safe Routes to School” project completed – Construction of new 5 ft. wide sidewalk from Highway #13 west to elementary school, and from elementary school west to high school. The project was 100% funded by federal funds.
• 2015 – W. Main Street and N. 549 Ave. south and west of the Pierce High School was paved along with seven other blocks throughout town.
• 2015 – A four-unit senior living apartment complex was constructed.
• 2017 – A new medical clinic and pharmacy were constructed along Main Street.
• 2018 – A new city well was installed replacing the city well south of the courthouse. 20% of the project was paid for through the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality State Revolving Loan Fund.
• 2019 – A new Pumper/Tanker Fire Truck was purchased.
• March 2019 – Flood waters significantly effect the Pierce community damaging several homes and destroying bridges and roads throughout Pierce County. In terms of financial damages, state wide, it was the worst flooding in the history of Nebraska.
• 2020 – A new Rescue Air Boat was purchased.
• 2020 – A world-wide pandemic known as COVID-19 effected Pierce residents and businesses.
• 2020 – New grain bins and a new elevator leg were constructed at the J.E. Meuret Grain Company.