Recently, I took a drive to Fontanelle, Nebraska in Washington County.
On my way there, I thought about
all the history that may be there. I was right. When I arrived, I came across a
rock with a nameplate on it. The nameplate read “This native boulder marks the
site, 225 feet south and 110 feet west of the first college in Nebraska. Now
Doane College, charted by the first territorial legislature in 1855.”
As I drove around, I stopped and
talked to a Nancy Spahn, who has been a resident in Fontanelle since 1995. She
told me that Fontanelle was originally a finalist to be the state capital in
Nebraska, but lost the bid to Omaha at the time. I did some more research when
I got home and found that what she told me was true. It’s pretty remarkable
that a town that is now unincorporated could have been the capital of our great
state.
During my time there, I also drove by
the Salem Lutheran Church on the east side of town. It’s the oldest Lutheran
Church in Nebraska. It was formed in 1860, and celebrated its 150th
anniversary in 2010. It is a beautiful
church and still has a very active congregation.
Fontanelle, Nebraska in Washington
County is a unique community that everyone should pass through if they are on
Highway 91 near Fremont.
