Powell Nebraska

Unincorporated community · Jefferson County · laid out about 1872

About Powell

Powell is an unincorporated community in Jefferson County, about 8 miles northwest of Fairbury on the old St. Joseph & Grand Island line. The District No. 10 School, a country school museum on the National Register, is about 3 miles west.

History

James D. and Reuben Powell and their families settled here in March 1865, and the town, named for them, was laid out about 1872 as the St. Joseph & Western Railroad built up the Little Blue valley, bypassing the older town of Meridian. A post office was open by the mid-1880s. In 1890 Powell was a station 9 miles from Fairbury with about 100 people, three general stores, a hardware and drug store and a blacksmith.

Things to see

The District No. 10 School, 717 Rd. and 559 Ave., about 3 mi west: a one-room schoolhouse of about 1900 with its coal shed and privies, used until 1960 and now a museum (National Register; 402-729-5131); the Oregon Trail ran just south, and a 1914 trail marker stands on the grounds · Alexandria Lakes, just northeast of the school