Antelope County's One-Room Schoolhouse Officially Opens

Sitting at an old wooden desk, her blue eyes suddenly begin to sparkle and her face gently breaks into a wide smile.

Gloria Christiansen of Neligh loves reminiscing about her days as a country school student.

With a faraway look in her eyes, she recalls being dropped off at her country school and racing inside with the other kids. The noisy coatroom is buzzing as kids talk to each other while taking off their coats and boots and put their lunch pails away.

As the students cross the threshold into the one-room schoolhouse, they quiet down and take their seats. They begin their school day by reciting the Pledge of Allegiance and singing a patriotic song. One by one, each student is then given a personal health check by their teacher, making sure there is no dirt on their hands, faces, clothing or shoes.

Papers begin to rustle as children take out their lessons. Kindergarten through eighth grade students all learning in one room, taught by one teacher.

These fond childhood memories are part of the reason Christiansen decided that—someday—she would open a one-room schoolhouse museum so its history could be preserved for generations to come.

“It’s been a life passion,” she said. “I started in a country school. I liked everything about country school. And when I went on, I’ve always had the dream of moving a country school in.”

Her dream has finally become a reality.

Antelope County District 70—a one-room schoolhouse which was originally located south of Clearwater—was moved to Neligh last year, was restored and is now a part of the Antelope County Museum complex.

And, it turned out even better than Christiansen had imagined.

“There are just no words, it’s just beautiful,” she said as tears welled in her eyes. “It’s like our forefathers are almost spirits that go around and around in here.”

Gazing around the one-room schoolhouse, there are blackboards on two facing walls, desks spanning about four decades, learning centers, a piano, book shelves, a bell, an American flag, a globe and much more. It looks as if school could be back in session at a moment’s notice.

And that’s a good thing, because Christiansen has already taught two classes there. Columbus sixth graders and Plainview second graders stopped by during their field trips last month.

“We had a test run,” she said. “I gave them small, chalkboard slates, and we did math problems, spelling, exercises and went to the media stations. The kids loved it. Some of them had never seen film before.”

The schoolhouse was opened to regular visitors over Memorial Day weekend and is now open for tours. Christiansen said those visiting the Antelope County Museum are also taken to the log cabin and the schoolhouse as part of their experience.

“We have a few things to finish up, but there was so much interest that we decided to let people come and see it anyway,” she said.

Although this isn’t the same building where Christiansen attended country school as a child, she said it was her vision to make it look similar to ones students attended during the 1940s-80s time period. This particular schoolhouse was moved from land owned by Merlin and Janice Bolling of rural Clearwater. Classes were held in this building from 1916 to 1973, with Joyce Klabenes serving as the teacher in the final school year.

Nearly a decade ago, Merlin Bolling had flippantly asked Jeri Anderson of Neligh if she knew anyone who wanted a schoolhouse. To his surprise, Anderson said she did. Christiansen had been collecting school items for years and had stored some of her items at Anderson’s business. In 2013, the Bollings gifted Christiansen the schoolhouse, as well as a box of its history, including the school’s attendance records, teacher contracts and meeting minutes.

Christiansen and Anderson became co-chairs of the one-room schoolhouse project. Other committee members included Gloria’s husband Brian Christiansen, Ray Ahrens, Cindy Hild, Carol Jessen and Levern Hauptmann.

The committee asked Kevin Hild and Darrell Steckelberg examine the building to determine if it was structurally sound.

“They both said it was worth saving,” Christiansen said.

Fundraising efforts began—the two most notable were dueling pianos event at the Neligh Legion and Cow Patty Bingo at the fairgrounds. These proceeds and other donations, combined with $40,000 in grants, helped them to surpass their goal of $125,000.

“We are so incredibly grateful for the local and statewide support this project has received,” she said.

The schoolhouse was moved from the Bolling property in February of 2018. Christiansen said moving permits determined the building’s route—a 9-mile trip— to its new location across from the Antelope County Museum in Neligh. The 24-foot by 42-foot schoolhouse is 26 feet high and was moved onto its new foundation by Williams Midwest House Movers of Hastings. Hild Construction, LLC became the contractor for the project. Many hours of work at the schoolhouse included replacing the roof, removing plaster walls, adding drywall, replacing broken out windows and more

Fortunately, coming up with items to fill the schoolhouse was the easy part.

Christiansen, who taught kindergarten and second grade in Clearwater for 13 years, had been collecting schoolhouse items since the 1970s. She later worked at ESU 8 as a media director and continued collecting.

“I saved memorabilia before I quit teaching at Clearwater,” Christiansen said. “As they started throwing books away and furniture away, I started collecting. I already knew at that time that this was something I wanted to do. We had three garages and a basement full of stuff I’d been saving throughout the years.”

Other donations have steadily poured in since people have heard about the schoolhouse project. Everything from books to desks have been given to the schoolhouse. Christiansen credits the media for spreading the word, far and wide.

“The one-room schoolhouse project received donations from 47 different towns and cities and 13 states, including Colorado, Kansas, Arizona, Texas, Iowa, Utah, California, South Dakota, Minnesota, New York, Illinois, Wisconsin and Nebraska,” she said.

A special donation came from one of the local committee members and her family. Carol Jessen and family donated the flag and flagpole outside the school in memory of the late Steve Jessen. Christiansen said it was a fitting memorial as Jessen taught at a country school in his first year of teaching, remained in education throughout his life and was a military veteran.

Christiansen said the one-room schoolhouse serves as a way for people to learn from the past.

“People need to know the value that country schools brought to this country,” she said. “The foundation of some of the best things of any community was the people that went to those country schools. I think that story needs to be told. This school is a way of letting that continue.”

Christiansen said some special programs and workshops—possibly her childhood favorite Christmas program—may be held at the schoolhouse in addition to the regular tours. Summer hours for the museum complex are from 1 to 5 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday. The Antelope County Museum may be reached by calling 402-887-5010. A special program celebrating the project’s completion will be held later this summer. Groups interested in a more detailed tour may contact Christiansen at 402-929-0330.

“I think it’s important keep the voices of the past alive,” she said. “Nebraska history needs to be told and retold. The people that traveled before us deserve their stories to be told. It defines who some of us are and where we are today.”