The Saunders County Historical Society was established in 1963 by 30 charter members who realized the importance of preserving history and artifacts.
"The purpose of the Saunders County Historical Society is to collect and preserve objects (artifacts) and information which illustrate the history of Saunders County, Nebraska and its people. These objects and information will be used to educate persons about the social, economic, cultural and political history of Saunders County." -Mission Statement
IN THE BEGINnING…
The first acquisition was actually not the main campus on Chestnut street, but rather the Howard Hanson House at 12th and Linden which was purchased from the City of Wahoo for $1.50. It served as the first SCHS meeting place. Over the years the Howard Hanson House has been extensively restored by the Wahoo Women’s Club until 2013, when the Historical Society resumed care of the house.
The museum complex houses over 25,000 objects from the 1870s-1980s ranging in size from small beads to large pieces of farm equipment. While the Historical Society was formed in 1963, the society didn’t start actively collecting the artifacts until 1976 when there was physical place to properly store and catalog them.
In 1994, the Anderson-Nelson addition created the front entrance and main exhibit area you see today. Along with that addition came a new basement storage for a variety of artifacts.
the gift of a lifetime
Joe Bowers worked as the Burlington depot agent at the Wahoo depot for thirty five years with his wife Nettie as his assistant.
In 1974, Joe and Nettie Bowers deeded their house and three acres purchased from the railroad to the SCHS as a location to build a current campus.
Joe and Nettie Bowers, wedding picture, August 11, 1909
““I was busy all the days of my life. I had no time or chance to spend money. I saved it and made careful investments. They paid off — grew and grew. Soon the investments were making more money than I was! We have no living children so I try to help people and organizations when a worthy cause comes up. We gave our land, home, and valuable personal collections to the people of the city of Wahoo for the wonderful life Wahoo gave to us, our job, our home, our friends.”