A house made up of two original settler's cabins...

In the summer of 1857, 37 men, women and one child arrived in the area that became the first settlement in Hall County, Nebraska. Peter Stuhr's first house was  built during the first winter of 1857,  and was located just east of what would become Grand Island, Nebraska.

Peter Stuhr claimed the land under squatter's rights during the Nebraska Territorial period. He would not gain legal title to the property in Section 14 of Washington Township, Hall county until 1869. 

The original settlement cabins were described in a diary written by another one of the first settlers - Heinrich Egge -  as being constructed of local cottonwood timbers and measured approximately 33 by 14 feet with two rooms and a center hallway between the rooms.  A further description of the cabins by Peter's son, Leo states that part of the house was built of cottonwood boards, up and down, with battens over the joints. The sills are of native elm, hewn out with an adz and broad axe. The walls are insulated width hand made, sun dried adobe brick.

Sometime in the mid to late 1870s, Stuhr decided to make a larger house and brought two of the original settlement cabins, his own and one other,  and joined them to become one house. Evidence of the vertical boards, adobe bricks and the joining of two structures can be seen in the attic area of the home.

The 1880 picture of the house  was very likely taken just shortly after the two homes were joined together and trimmed out. Everything looks fresh and new, the land area around the house looks like a fresh layer of dirt. There is a covered porch on the front of the house, a large covered porch on the back just off the kitchen area and shutters on most of the windows. There are at least three different undetermined colors of paint used on the house. Two chimneys remain on the front part of the house, with one room used as a parlor and the other as a bedroom. The back cabin may or may not have retained its center hallway, one wall possibly being sacrificed to make a larger kitchen area.

Two of the three Stuhr children were born in the home, Only Leo was born elsewhere, at Davenport, Iowa -  possibly during a visit with the families of his parents. The Stuhrs would remain in the home on the family farm until 1887, when Peter moved them into Grand Island in order to take advantage of the public schools there. Peter would die two years later, but his widow, Anna,  retained the farm property, renting it out to caretakers.

One image shows the house around 1900 from what was then the west side. There is a long porch on tall piers and an unidentified woman pumping water at an outdoor pump. The back stairs are recessed into the porch area instead of being outside of it, making a nice covered area even when descending the stairs. Shuttered windows and a door can also be seen along the side. The house also retains its front porch overhang at this time and a cellar entrance under the front portion of the home also on the west side.

Leo Stuhr was away in California working for the beet sugar industry for a while and returned to Nebraska in 1908. He found that the farm and house had fallen into disrepair and immediately took charge. He made a great deal of effort to clean up the house, the land and restore its fertility.

There are a number of images showing the house in the 1920s, prior to its relocation in 1932 that allows for comparison through time. The west side trees in the 1900 image and the 1920s images match up, so we know that the house had not yet been moved when they were taken. The house is now shown on a concrete block foundation instead of the red brick seen in the earlier pictures. The front porch cover, long west porch, one of the front chimneys and all the shutters are now gone. The house is now totally white in color. A view of the back of the house shows a door in the attic area with a window.

In 1932, the City of Grand Island decided to build an outfall sewer ditch from the city to the Wood River to the east. The house was located in the path of the ditch, and the city was forced to relocate the house on the Stuhr property. The house was picked up  and turned to face west and moved next to a road on the west side of the property. This road would eventually be named Stuhr road.

Sometime after 1932, once the house was settled on a new concrete block foundation, an addition was placed on the south side of the house that allowed for an indoor bathroom and a new back entry to the house and basement. We have one picture showing this addition.

In 1923, Leo Stuhr was among the members who had helped to form the Hall County Historical Society. He was always avidly interested in local history and was eager to create a history dedicated to the pioneer settlers of the area. In 1960, he offered to donate money and the Stuhr farm for the establishment of a county museum if certain funds were raised and voters approved a levy providing for the museum. Both conditions were met and plans for the museum moved forward and the county created the first museum board in 1961. Their first meeting was in May of 1961, but unfortunately, Leo Stuhr died shortly after that first meeting.

Initial construction of the main building of the museum had begun on the Stuhr property, but a new development - the nearby location of a meat packing plant - caused the museum board to rethink the first location. A new site, closer to highway 281 was chosen and plans to build on the Stuhr property were scrapped. The Stuhr house was intended to be a part of a living history village at the original site, but it was not moved to the new location at that time.

In 2010 the Swift Company wanted to expand their parking area due to a growing workforce.  Stuhr Museum was called to take a look at the house.  There were clues to the house's early beginnings in many areas - attic, main floor and basement, but no funds for endowing the house - a condition for accepting a structure at the museum. The house was accepted by the Hall County Historical Society and moved to a temporary location owned by the City of Grand Island.

In 2012, funds and other services were donated  making the move of the house to the Stuhr Museum location possible. It arrived on the museum grounds on December 6th and was settled on its new foundation a couple days later.

The fall of 2013 saw some exterior work begin with removal on two sides of vinyl siding, thus the restoration process began... and continues.

All Pictures are Property of the Stuhr Museum.

House History Timeline

2 cabins, joined as 1 on a new brick foundation, most likely in the late 1870s.  A front and back porch were added when the cabins were joined. A door can be seen along the side of the front cabin that was access to a cellar under the house. Shutters were added at the same time.

Sometime after 1900, the front porch cover was removed, the back porch floor was trimmed to just the door area, while the overhang remained. An enclosed area at the back was extended down to make a new cellar entrance with a door facing out. The house was placed on a concrete block foundation. The shutters were removed and the house was painted white. One of the chimneys on the front half of the house was removed, signalling the removal of the wall and central hallway in this area.

In 1932, the city of Grand Island forced the move of the house in order to create an open sewer ditch. The house was picked up and moved to a different area of the Stuhr property, turning it to face the city (west). It formerly faced the south.

In 1962 a county museum was planned to be located on the Stuhr property. The house was to be included in a living history village at the museum.  Shortly after the museum was announced, the construction of the Swift Meat packing plant was announced to be located just south of the museum location. Another location was chosento locate the museum, closer to Highway 281. The house remained at the original site.

In 2010 Swift needed to expand parking and donated the house to the Hall County Historical Society. It is moved to a city holding lot.

In December 2012 the house is moved to a lot in Railroad Town on the Stuhr Museum grounds.

2013 - Removal of exterior modern elements begins.

February 2014 - Interior removal of modern elements begins.

Spring 2014 - foundation work completed.

Summer 2014 - Exterior siding and window work begins.

2015 - Exterior siding and window work continues.

7 October 2015 - 1850s Bottle found.

November 2015 - Exterior siding and window work completed. Porch construction begins.

December 2015 - Front porch completed.

2 April 2016 - Concealed shoe found.

April 2016 - South side access ramp and porch completed. North porch completed. work on kitchen chimney replacement begins, as well as the addition of a faux chimney on front half of the house.

May 2016 - Chimney work completed.

November 2016 - Roof Replacement begins.

Early December 2016 - Roof replacement complete.

December 2016 - Interior work begins.

Interior work proceeds over the winter and into the spring of 2017. Interior work completed in early May 2017.

16 May 2017 Concrete poured for front walkways. Museum board tours house.