Blair High School - Tattler Yearbook (Blair, NE)

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9 f I-IN J -H lx I ,-'T . f .. WW - N ' s., - - ...Jill ' V ,E a 0 t ss. . . ' 31 -0 - ' Q ' ,.,, tq iffi -filf T Y - ' ...--- .1--.S:w. 'f., I A -. ,r6iif3!ii75?35?'2i1-fp wi-aiaiiiwx-.iv.sf-fi .,.,..,,1 Blair-When sinh nm NE HUNDRED years ago, on the spot where the city of Blair now stands, Indian tribes limited a11d warred. The Omahas were the last great tribe to occupy this part of the country, but it is certain that at various times the Otoes, Sioux, Pawnees, and Delawares have lived in this region. Between 1827 a11d 1832 the Pawnees, living north of the Platte river were visited with an epidemic of small-pox. Thinking the land was cursed, they moved into what is now NVashington County. They were then attacked by tl1e Sioux and driven back across the river to where the city of Fremont is now located. Big Elk, a great chief of the Omahas, was buried near Ft. Calhoun i11 1854. For many years the Omahas made pilgrimages to his grave, bringing gifts. Ilugh Glass, the scout wl1o has been immortalized by Neihardt, came to Fort Atkinson after the end of l1is famous crawl. This fort was one of the first established in this region and was near the present town of Ft. Calhoun. All these things happened in the vicinity of Blair. Instead of the comfort- able homes which IIOXV stand in our city, there were India11 tepees. Instead of the whistle of trains, the Indian war-whoop was heard. Indians-wild and free, hunting, fighting, loving, and warring. Blair-in 1825. Then the white men came, the pioneers. Slowly, the land was claimed and brought under cultivation. The settlers battled with heat, drought, prairie fires, hailstorms, and blizzards. Towns sprang up, ugly little frontier towns where the farmers traded. - Among these villages was Blair. It was plotted by John I. Blair who was prominent in the affairs of the Sioux City and Pacific railroad. The town was lltlllltdd for him. The land wl1icl1 was chosen for the town-site was owned by Jacob, Alexander and T. M. Carter who had claimed it in 1855. Blair was not organized until 1872, although it had had considerable growth before that time. In 1869 it had been made the county seat. Many buildings were moved here from the towns of De Soto and Cunning City. The first school was established in 1869. and was taught by Miss Sarah Kibby. So we have the second picture-of 1875-fifty years ago. The Indians have disappeared, and the land has been brought under cultivation. Blair is a rude little town, only a few years old. Now we come to the Blair that we know. lt is a city of 3000 people. Its schools represent the investment of over two hundred thousand dollars. It is a modern city-with all modern improvements. A prosperous little city, too, and a beautiful one, with wide paved streets and many stately trees. Its peo- ple are happy and prosperous. In short, it is just one of the many quiet, pros- perons, beautiful, little cities that dot the plains of the Middle West, but to us, naturally, it seems better than any other city, because it is our home town. This is Blair-our Blair-of 1925. J. R. me een St eiff' wznay 7108 .. .... . . . 7'?E':1t gi Qfffyff ' i

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54 Book I-Facult la E',,..f.p. u-5-1