Nemaha County Historical Society

Introduction

Museum Sketch The Nemaha County Historical Society is at home in what was the The Nemaha County Jail and Sheriff’s residence. This building had served as the Nemaha County Jail since it was constructed in 1879 and was the longest in use county Jail in Kansas. In the year 1976 Nemaha County constructed a new law enforcement center and this building was purchased by the Nemaha County Historical Society. This building located is the southwest corner of the intersection of North Sixth and Nemaha streets of Seneca Two additional buildings were added to the east of this building to house the artifacts of the Historical Society. This came about through the generosity of Harry C. M. Burger and these buildings are now known as the Harry Burger Memorial Annex.

Seneca Grade School Cornerstone Donated

Superintendent Brian Harris notified the Nemaha County Historical Society that the USD 442 Board of Education had voted to donate the cornerstone from the original Seneca Grade School building built in 1938 to the Historical Museum. The stone was delivered on Weds. October 21st, weighed over 500 pounds and took USD 442 equipment and labor to move it to the museum. This stone lists the boards of education members at the time and the architect for the building. The Board voted on the belief that the Historical Society would be the appropriate recipient of this stone and that NCHS will display and preserve this historical artifact for generations to come.

Tax Credits Sold

Ron Johnson, President of the Community National Bank of Seneca, hands a check for $4,805 to Dean Rial, Financial Officer of the Nemaha County Historical Society, Inc. on Monday, December 21, 2009. Community National Bank purchased State Rehabilitation Tax Credits from the Nemaha County Historical Society which were for the Front Porch Heritage Trust Fund project and is 30% of qualifying expenses. NCHS’s share of the qualifying expenses on the project was $16,016.66 and that amount, verified by the Kansas Department of Revenue, was approved for public sale to individuals and/or corporations by the Board at their November meeting. Community National Bank purchased 100% of the tax credit value. These tax credits may be used to pay 2009 and future Kansas Tax bills. NCHS appreciates the support that CNB gives to the historical society and local historic preservation projects.

NCHS Mission Statement

The mission of the Nemaha County Historical Society, Inc. is to discover and collect any material which may help to establish or illustrate the history of the area; its exploration, settlement, development, and activities in peace and in war; its progress in population, wealth, education, arts, science, agriculture, manufactures, trade and transportation. It will provide for the preservation of such material and for its accessibility and to undertake preservation by marking historical buildings, sites, and trails, holding meetings with pageants, addresses, lectures, papers and discussion.

Mission Statement