Farrell Block
a.k.a. Stone Block
533--537 2nd St., and 112 Denver Ave., Hastings, NEThe Farrell Block, an 1880 commercial and office building, is historically significant to Hastings, Nebraska, through its associations with Thomas E. Farrell, an early settler in the community and an eminent citizen and local leader during Hastings' formative years. The building occupies a prominent corner in the community's business district and attains visual distinction as being the only 19th-century stone edifice in that area. Also, the Farrell Block is a viable reminder of the 1880s, a period of impressive population growth and financial prosperity in Hastings.
The 1870s had mostly been a period of raw growth for Hastings and Adams County, but by the beginning of the following decade, the atmosphere became calmer, although rapid expansion continued. The 1880s in Hastings was essentially a period of orderly development, with institutions being established and foundations laid (Creigh, Adams County: The Story, p. 19).
Thomas E. Farrell (1852-1902) arrived in Hastings in 1872 from Illinois and is counted as one of the town's pioneer residents (Hastings Daily Tribune, Obituary of Farrell, December 8, 1902, p. 1). He performed survey work for St. Joseph and Denver Railroad Company, was one of four men who laid out Hastings and was largely responsible for the completion of the rail between Hastings and Denver (Burton and Lewis, Past and Present of Adams County, p. 337).
Farrell became deeply involved in the development of Hastings and served the community in several public capacities: he was elected to the city council in 1874, 1875, and 1887; and was appointed County Surveyor in 1881, City Engineer in 1874 and 1875, Park Commissioner in 1886, and Street Commissioner in 1874. In addition, Farrell served on the Board of Directors of the Hastings Land, Loan, and Building Association, and in 1879 he was part of a committee that secured Hastings as the site of a four-year Presbyterian college. Farrell was also instrumental in having Hastings selected as the location for the Immaculate Conception Academy, a Roman Catholic school, donating ten acres for its campus. Prior to the construction of a Catholic church in Hastings, services were held in his residence.
Local significance of the building:
The 1870s had mostly been a period of raw growth for Hastings and Adams County, but by the beginning of the following decade, the atmosphere became calmer, although rapid expansion continued. The 1880s in Hastings was essentially a period of orderly development, with institutions being established and foundations laid (Creigh, Adams County: The Story, p. 19).
Thomas E. Farrell (1852-1902) arrived in Hastings in 1872 from Illinois and is counted as one of the town's pioneer residents (Hastings Daily Tribune, Obituary of Farrell, December 8, 1902, p. 1). He performed survey work for St. Joseph and Denver Railroad Company, was one of four men who laid out Hastings and was largely responsible for the completion of the rail between Hastings and Denver (Burton and Lewis, Past and Present of Adams County, p. 337).
Farrell became deeply involved in the development of Hastings and served the community in several public capacities: he was elected to the city council in 1874, 1875, and 1887; and was appointed County Surveyor in 1881, City Engineer in 1874 and 1875, Park Commissioner in 1886, and Street Commissioner in 1874. In addition, Farrell served on the Board of Directors of the Hastings Land, Loan, and Building Association, and in 1879 he was part of a committee that secured Hastings as the site of a four-year Presbyterian college. Farrell was also instrumental in having Hastings selected as the location for the Immaculate Conception Academy, a Roman Catholic school, donating ten acres for its campus. Prior to the construction of a Catholic church in Hastings, services were held in his residence.
Exploration/settlement; Politics/government; Architecture
Listed in National Register of Historic Places in 1979.
About National Register Listings
The National Register of Historic Places is the official list of the Nation’s historic places worthy of preservation. Authorized by the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the National Park Service’s National Register of Historic Places is part of a national program to coordinate and support public and private efforts to identify, evaluate, and protect America’s historic and archeological resources.
Nebraska has a unique unicameral legislature, which means it has only one house of representatives instead of the traditional two houses found in most states.
About Adams County
Adams County Timeline
Adams County, Nebraska, has a rich history dating back to its early settlement in the mid-19th century. The area was originally inhabited by indigenous tribes such as the Pawnee and Otoe-Missouria, who relied on the fertile land for agriculture and hunting. In the 1850s, European settlers began arriving, attracted by the promise of land and opportunities for farming.
The county was officially established on July 19, 1867, following the Homestead Act of 1862, which encouraged settlement in the west. It was named in honor of John Adams, the second President of the United States. The first recorded settlement in the county was made in 1863 by William McPherson and his family.
During this time, agriculture was the primary industry in Adams County, and settlers focused on establishing prosperous farms. The county's fertile soil and favorable climate made it an ideal location for growing crops such as corn, wheat, and soybeans. The arrival of the Burlington and Missouri River Railroad in 1872 further facilitated the growth of agriculture and connected the county to national markets.
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the county's population continued to grow steadily. Towns such as Hastings, the county seat, saw the development of schools, churches, and businesses, becoming vibrant communities. The county also witnessed advancements in transportation infrastructure, with the construction of paved roads and the implementation of the Lincoln Highway, one of the country's earliest transcontinental highways, in the early 20th century.
Today, Adams County continues to thrive as an agricultural powerhouse, with farming and agribusiness remaining vital to its economy. The county also boasts a diverse range of industries, including healthcare, manufacturing, education, and services. With a strong sense of community and a rich heritage, Adams County holds a unique place in Nebraska's history and continues to grow and evolve in the 21st century.
The county was officially established on July 19, 1867, following the Homestead Act of 1862, which encouraged settlement in the west. It was named in honor of John Adams, the second President of the United States. The first recorded settlement in the county was made in 1863 by William McPherson and his family.
During this time, agriculture was the primary industry in Adams County, and settlers focused on establishing prosperous farms. The county's fertile soil and favorable climate made it an ideal location for growing crops such as corn, wheat, and soybeans. The arrival of the Burlington and Missouri River Railroad in 1872 further facilitated the growth of agriculture and connected the county to national markets.
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the county's population continued to grow steadily. Towns such as Hastings, the county seat, saw the development of schools, churches, and businesses, becoming vibrant communities. The county also witnessed advancements in transportation infrastructure, with the construction of paved roads and the implementation of the Lincoln Highway, one of the country's earliest transcontinental highways, in the early 20th century.
Today, Adams County continues to thrive as an agricultural powerhouse, with farming and agribusiness remaining vital to its economy. The county also boasts a diverse range of industries, including healthcare, manufacturing, education, and services. With a strong sense of community and a rich heritage, Adams County holds a unique place in Nebraska's history and continues to grow and evolve in the 21st century.
Adams County Timeline
This timeline provides a concise overview of the key events in the history of Adams County, Nebraska.
- 1866 - Adams County is established.
- 1872 - The first post office is established in the county.
- 1873 - The county seat is established in the town of Hastings.
- 1880 - The population of Adams County reaches over 14,000.
- 1916 - The Adams County courthouse is built in Hastings.
- 1950 - The population of Adams County peaks at over 30,000.
- 1975 - The Adams County Historical Society is formed.
- 1995 - The Adams County Fairgrounds are renovated and expanded.
- 2010 - Adams County celebrates its 150th anniversary.