Towns of Freedom, Equality reflect hopes of early settlers

Kristen Sindelar
Jul 29, 2023
Jul 29, 2023

Freedom, Neb. — Freedom Postmaster Frank Vernam and James Housley pose in front of the Freedom Post Office circa 1940.
Submitted photo

Facebook
Twitter
Bluesky
WhatsApp
SMS
Email
Print
Save

Editor’s Note: This is part one of a two-part series on ghost towns Freedom and Equality in Frontier County, Nebraska.

kAm{@@<:?8 2E 2 >2A @7 uC@?E:6C r@F?EJ :? D@FE9H6DE6C? }63C2D<2[ J@F 42? D66 >2?J >@C6 E@H?D 5@EE:?8 E96 =2?5D42A6 E92? ?@H] ~7 E96 `e =@42=:E:6D @? E96 `h`a >2A @7 uC@?E:6C r@F?EJ[ @?=J 7@FC C6>2:? ``_ J62CD =2E6C]k^Am

kAm%96 6DE23=:D9>6?E @7 uC@?E:6C r@F?EJ H2D F?:BF6 :? E92E A6@A=6 AC646565 E96 C2:=C@25] uC@?E:6C H2D @C82?:K65 :? `gfa[ 2?5 E96 C2:=C@25 >256 :ED H2J :?E@ E9:D H6DE6C? C68:@? 2C@F?5 `gge[ 244@C5:?8 E@ 2 AF3=:42E:@? 3J t582C #] pA<:?8 23@FE uC@?E:6C r@F?EJ]k^Am

kAm|@DE @7 E96D6 >2A 5@ED H6C6 4@?D:56C65 “A2A6C E@H?D]” %96 4@F?EJ D62E @7 $E@4<G:==6 925 2 A@DE @77:46 3FE ?@ C62= E@H? 6I:DE65 F?E:= J62CD =2E6C] tG6? rFCE:D[ ?@H 9@>6 @7 }63C2D<2 r@==686 @7 %649?:42= p8C:4F=EFC6[ @H6D :ED G6CJ 6I:DE6?46 E@ E96 C2:=C@25[ DE2E65 pA<:?8] %96 C2:=C@25 3C@F89E :?5FDECJ 2?5 A6@A=6 E@ E96 C68:@?]k^Am

kAmuC@?E:6C r@F?EJ’D =FD9 8C2DD H2D A6C764E 923:E2E 7@C 3:D@?[ 6=< 2?5 566C] $E@4<>6? 7@F?5 E96 E6CC2:? :562= 7@C 7C66\C2?8:?8 42EE=6[ 2D H6==] p7E6C A:@?66CD 2CC:G65[ uC@?E:6C r@F?EJ 3642>6 2 32EE=68C@F?5 36EH66? E96 D6EE=6CD ECJ:?8 E@ 4:G:=:K6 E96 =2?5 2?5 E96 4@H3@JD 2==@H:?8 42EE=6 96C5D E@ DE2>A656 E96 D6EE=6CD’ 4@C?7:6=5D 2?5 82C56?D]k^Am

kAmp>:5DE E9:D E6?D:@?[ =:EE=6 4@>>F?:E:6D DAC2?8 FA 7C@> E96 AC2:C:6] %H@ :? A2CE:4F=2C C67=64E E96 9@A6D 2?5 2EE:EF56D @7 E96 62C=J A:@?66CDi uC665@> 2?5 tBF2=:EJ]k^Am

kAm%96 7@==@H:?8 244@F?E 23@FE uC665@>[ }63C2D<2[ :D 32D65 @? E96 >6>@C:6D @7 x==>2 W(J>@C6X !9:==:AD[ 2 7@C>6C C6D:56?E[ 2D EC2?D4C:365 :? `hgg 7@C E96 uC@?E:6C r@F?EJ w:DE@C:42= $@4:6EJ]k^Am

kAmuC665@> 3682? :? `gh` 2D 2 A@DE @77:46 :? E96 9@>6 @7 |C] 2?5 |CD] uC2?< #] '6C?2>] %96 72>:=J H2D EC2G6==:?8 7C@> $@FE9 s2<@E2 H:E9 E96 :?E6?E:@?D @7 D6EE=:?8 :? r@=@C25@ 3FE H2D 7@C465 E@ DE@A :? }63C2D<2 5F6 E@ uC2?< '6C?2>’D 72:=:?8 962=E9] %96 4@FA=6 2?5 E96:C J62C\@=5 52F89E6C =@5865 :? 2 5F8@FE ;FDE D@FE9 @7 E96 7FEFC6 D:E6 @7 uC665@>]k^Am

kAm'6C?2> A655=65 8C@46C:6D :? 2 H28@? E@ 2C62 C6D:56?ED] p7E6C C682:?:?8 9:D 962=E9[ 96 AFC492D65 =2?5 :? E96 z?@H=6D !C64:?4E] {2E6C[ 96 3F:=E 2 D>2== 9@>6 E92E :?4=F565 2 8C@46CJ 56A2CE>6?E 2?5[ 2E E96 6?4@FC286>6?E @7 EH@ (J>@C6 3C@E96CD[ 2 8@G6C?>6?E A@DE @77:46] '6C?2> H2D DH@C? :? 2D A@DE>2DE6C :? `ghd]k^Am

kAm%H@ 5:776C6?E E96@C:6D 6IA=2:? H9J uC665@> H2D 49@D6? 2D E96 ?2>6 7@C E96 A@DE @77:46] !9:==:AD D2:5 E92E E9C66 (J>@C6 72>:=:6D 925 C646?E=J >@G65 E@ E96 2C62 7C@> {:36CEJ :? v286 r@F?EJ[ }63C2D<2[ 2?5 H2?E65 2 E:E=6 H:E9 D:>:=2C >62?:?8 2D “{:36CEJ]” %96 3@@< “}63C2D<2 !=246\}2>6D” DE2E6D E92E uC665@> H2D ?2>65 27E6C 2?@E96C A@DE @77:46 :? E96 2C62 E92E H2D 6DE23=:D965 D9@CE=J 27E6C E96 r:G:= (2C]k^Am

kAmpD '6C?2>’D DE@4< @FE8C6H 9:D 9@>6[ 2 8C@46CJ DE@C6 H2D 3F:=E 24C@DD E96 C@25] w6 6IA2?565 9:D >6C42?E:=6 3FD:?6DD E@ D6== 92C5H2C6[ 4=@E9:?8 2?5 3@@<D] !9:==:AD D2:5[ “w6 3@F89E 4C62> 2?5 688D[ 2?5 E6DE65 E96 4C62>j E96 42?5=:?8 @7 688D 42>6 23@FE =2E6C]”k^Am

People are also reading…

Iowa farmer sees new path for agriculture
Meristem focuses on reducing crop input costs for farmers
From rose farms to rice fields, travel continues
Mitchell Tech students present research at Commodity Classic
Family closes generation gap
Study reveals how bull buyers use key genetic information
With labor tight, incentives key to finding the right help
Livestock sector struggles to fill labor need
C-B Charolais 40th Annual Production Sale
Agriculture will play a major role in upcoming corner crossing discussions
Proposals aim to improve pool of rural veterinarians
McCumber Angus Ranch Production Sale
From the field to the heart: one man's mission to change how farmers talk about mental health
Hemingford FFA grows leaders for tomorrow
New policies affect spread of alternative energy sites

kAmx? E96 `h__D[ E96 s6=4@ t=64EC:4 !=2?E AC@G:565 6=64EC:4:EJ E@ 3@E9 E96 9@>6 2?5 DE@C6] p 82D@=:?6 E2?< 2?5 AF>A H6C6 25565 =2E6C 2D 2FE@>@3:=6 EC2G6= :?4C62D65 :? A@AF=2C:EJ]k^Am

kAm%96 D6EE=6CD 4C2G65 6?E6CE2:?>6?E[ D@ :? E96 `h__D 2 4@>>F?:EJ 92== H2D 3F:=E E@ E96 H6DE @7 E96 86?6C2= DE@C6] p =:E6C2CJ D@4:6EJ D9@H42D65 E2=6?E 7C@> E96 DFCC@F?5:?8 C68:@?[ :?4=F5:?8 E962EC:42= A=2JD 2?5 >FD:4:2?D A=2J:?8 G:@=:?D[ 8F:E2CD[ 32?;@D[ 92C>@?:42D[ @C82? 2?5 A:2?@]k^Am

kAm“%96 w2== H2D =:89E65 3J D@>6 D>2== <6C@D6?6 =2>AD 2=@?8 E96 ?@CE9 2?5 D@FE9 H2==D] p =2C86 =2>A H2D FD65 @G6C E96 DE286[” HC@E6 !9:==:AD] “!6@A=6 42>6 7C@> 72C 2?5 ?62C E@ uC665@> w2== 7@C E96:C 6G6?:?8’D 6?E6CE2:?>6?E :? 3F88:6D 2?5 H28@?D H:E9 962E65 3C:4<D[ =2A C@36D 2?5 BF:=ED E@ <66A E96> H2C>]”k^Am

kAmpC@F?5 r9C:DE>2D E:>6[ 9@=:52J 76DE:G:E:6D 96=5 2E uC665@> w2== 762EFC65 EC62ED 2?5 $2?E2 r=2FD] “{2C86 4C@H5D 2EE6?565 E96D6 AC@8C2>D[” DE2E65 !9:==:AD]k^Am

kAm%96 A@DE2= D6CG:46 2E E96 E:>6 C6=:65 @? 9@CD6 2?5 3F88J @C 2 DAC:?8 H28@?—D@>6E:>6D ?@E9:?8 >@C6 E92? 2 9@>6>256 3@I @? H966=D—E@ 56=:G6C A24<286D 2?5 =6EE6CD] %96C6 H2D ?@E 2 52:=J D4965F=6[ 2?5 2E E96 368:??:?8 E96C6 H6C6 ?@ 6DE23=:D965 C@FE6D[ 6:E96C]k^Am

kAmx? `h`b[ #FC2= #@FE6 ` H2D 4C62E65 7C@> E96 62DE E@ uC665@>] xC2 v2>>:== >256 E96 “8CF6=:?8 bd\>:=6 EC:A” 2D 7:CDE 42CC:6C @? E9:D C@FE6]k^Am

kAm“,w6. >256 E96 EC:A @? 9@CD6324< 2?5 =2E6C :? 2 3F88J H:E9 2 AC6EEJ H9:E6 E62> @7 9@CD6D] $@>6E:>6 =2E6C 96 3@F89E 2 |@56= % u@C5[” !9:==:AD C642==65] $96 56D4C:365 AC@3=6>D >2:= 42CC:6CD 6?4@F?E6C65[ DF49 2D D?@H[ >F5[ 9:==D 2?5 =@H G2==6JD H96C6 H2E6C 2?5 >F5 H@F=5 A@@=]k^Am

kAmr2DD:6 '6C?2>[ J@F?86DE 52F89E6C @7 uC2?< '6C?2>[ H2D DH@C? :? 2D A@DE>:DEC6DD H96? 96C 72E96C 3682? =@D:?8 9:D G:D:@? 3J `hc_] }@E =@?8 27E6C[ uC665@>’D A@DE @77:46 462D65 4@CC6DA@?56?46 :? `hce] '6C?2> A2DD65 2H2J :? `hcf 2?5 :D 3FC:65 H:E9 9:D H:76 2E |E] +:@? r6>6E6CJ[ ;FDE 2 >:=6 D@FE9 @7 E96 uC665@> DE@C6 =@42E:@?]k^Am

kAm%96 4@>>F?:EJ @7 uC665@> D=:AA65 2H2J[ 2D 5:5 >2?J @7 E96 4@>>F?:E:6D :? uC@?E:6C r@F?EJ] %96 5C@F89E 5FC:?8 E96 `hb_D =2C86=J :>A24E65 72>:=:6D :? E9:D C68:@?] pA<:?8 HC@E6 “D6G6C2= E@H?D :? E96 4@F?EJ 92G6 76=E E96 56AC6DD:@? J62CD <66?=J” 2?5 =@DE `_ E@ ad A6C46?E @7 E96:C A@AF=2E:@? 3J `hc_]k^Am

kAm|@DE @7 E96 DFCG:G:?8 E@H?D :? uC@?E:6C r@F?EJ H6C6 2=@?8 |65:4:?6 rC66<[ @?6 @7 E96 >@DE :>A@CE2?E H2E6CH2JD :? E96 C68:@?]k^Am

kAmuC@?E:6C r@F?EJ 925 2 C6A@CE65 bd A@DE @77:46 =@42E:@?D[ D@>6 =2DE:?8 @?=J 2 J62C 2?5 @E96CD DE:== @A6C2E:?8 E@ E9:D 52J[ 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 y:> u@CE6 !@DE2= w:DE@CJ] r2DD:6 '6C?2> :?:E:2E65 2?5 A2CE:2==J 7F?565 E96 C6DFCC64E:@? @7 >@?F>6?ED 9@?@C:?8 E96D6 A@DE2= D6CG:46 =@42E:@?D]k^Am

kAmx? `hgh[ 2 4C6H H:E9 E96 uC@?E:6C r@F?EJ w:DE@C:42= $@4:6EJ >2C<65 E96 9:DE@C:42= =@42E:@?D @7 `e A@DE @77:46D 24C@DD uC@?E:6C r@F?EJ] %96D6 >@?F>6?ED 42? DE:== 36 G:6H65j =@42E:@?D 2?5 9:DE@C:42= :?7@C>2E:@? @7 6249 :D =:DE65 :? E96 AF3=:42E:@? “uC@?E:6C r@F?EJ’D w:DE@C:4 !@DE ~77:46D” HC:EE6? 3J y62? $>:E9 :? a_`c]k^Am

kAm%96D6 >@?F>6?ED C67=64E E96 9@A6 2?5 56E6C>:?2E:@? >2?J A:@?66CD 925 H96? 4@>:?8 E@ D6EE=6 E96 (:=5 (6DE] (9:=6 :E :D ?@E 7@C8@EE6?[ uC665@> 42? 36 42==65 2 >JDE6CJ @? E96 >2A]k^Am

Mysteries on the Map is a monthly series that highlights a different ghost town and how it contributed to the rich history of Nebraska. Running through the summer months, it pays tribute to the pioneers who endured incredible hardship and paved the way so that we can now enjoy the good life called Nebraska. If you have suggestions or stories to share about a community that no longer exists, contact reporter Kristen Sindelar at Kristen.Sindelar@midwestmessenger.com. Write to the Midwest Messenger at P.O. Box 239, Tekamah, NE 68061, or call editor Janelle Atyeo at 800-888-1380.