McCormick Hall
Hastings College campus, Hastings, NEThe idea for a college in Hastings, Nebraska was conceived by Mr. A. L. Wigton, editor of the "Hastings Journal", who published an editorial in his newspaper on August 19, 1873, expressing his desire that a college is located in the growing frontier community. The townspeople were soon very excited about the idea and presented a proposal to the Kearney, Nebraska Presbytery at the November 1873, meeting. There a planning committee was appointed, but nine years passed before definite steps could be taken. The delay was caused by the drought, grasshoppers, and economic problems of the time.
During the winter and spring of 1881-1882, 93 men contributed $11,050 to the fund to be used for the purchase of a site, construction of buildings, and cost of maintenance for the first year. A tract of 100 acres was acquired one mile east of the center of town; and since financial support was assured, the college was incorporated on May 10, 1882.
The college opened formally on September 13, 1882, with a chapel service in the 1st Presbyterian Church. This first year there was a student body of 44 and three full-time and two part-time faculty members. After the chapel services, the students went to their classes above the post office in downtown Hastings.
The ground was broken on April 25, 1883, for McCormick Hall, the first building erected on the campus. It was named after Cyrus H. McCormick who contributed the initial $5,000 for the building. Construction began in the summer of 1883 and the building was completed and dedicated in October 1884 at a total cost of $14, 703.00. It has remained in daily use since that time.
From 1884 to the mid-1950s, McCormick Hall was the principle classroom building with the departments of English, mathematics, speech, drama, and chemistry inhabiting the structure. & large room on the second floor, which originally housed the college chapel, was later converted into a little theatre. Today McCormick Hall is used by the English, journalism, and speech/ drama departments for their classrooms and offices.
Nearly every student who has attended Hastings College since 1884 has had at least one class in this building. Consequently, it is closely associated in the minds of former students, as well as the townspeople, and serves as a link to their pioneer forebearers on campus.
Local significance of the building:
During the winter and spring of 1881-1882, 93 men contributed $11,050 to the fund to be used for the purchase of a site, construction of buildings, and cost of maintenance for the first year. A tract of 100 acres was acquired one mile east of the center of town; and since financial support was assured, the college was incorporated on May 10, 1882.
The college opened formally on September 13, 1882, with a chapel service in the 1st Presbyterian Church. This first year there was a student body of 44 and three full-time and two part-time faculty members. After the chapel services, the students went to their classes above the post office in downtown Hastings.
The ground was broken on April 25, 1883, for McCormick Hall, the first building erected on the campus. It was named after Cyrus H. McCormick who contributed the initial $5,000 for the building. Construction began in the summer of 1883 and the building was completed and dedicated in October 1884 at a total cost of $14, 703.00. It has remained in daily use since that time.
From 1884 to the mid-1950s, McCormick Hall was the principle classroom building with the departments of English, mathematics, speech, drama, and chemistry inhabiting the structure. & large room on the second floor, which originally housed the college chapel, was later converted into a little theatre. Today McCormick Hall is used by the English, journalism, and speech/ drama departments for their classrooms and offices.
Nearly every student who has attended Hastings College since 1884 has had at least one class in this building. Consequently, it is closely associated in the minds of former students, as well as the townspeople, and serves as a link to their pioneer forebearers on campus.
Education; Architecture
Listed in National Register of Historic Places in 1975.
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.
The Pony Express, a mail delivery service that operated from 1860 to 1861, passed through Nebraska, carrying mail from Missouri to California.
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.