The Beginning of Clearwater

"The Railroad opened the West"

This Friday night, the Antelope County Museum will celebrate their annual Night at the Museum. This year we will showcasing the village of Clearwater! 

Clearwater Depot built in 1880

Clearwater was named for the pure, sparkling, and clear water found in the creek that flows south and east of the town. It was founded in 1881 as a railroad stop for the Fremont, Elkhorn, and Missouri Valley Railroad-- known as the Clearwater Station. The land was previously owned by Francis M. Snider. 

By 1879 the railroad had built their line to the Norfolk area, and people in the Elkhorn valley were anxious to keep the railroad moving west. Various petitions and grants allowed the railroad to continue moving westward. on May 31st, 1881 the first passenger train passed through the Clearwater Station on its way to O'Neill. The track workers and early settlers stayed in tents until they later built homes and businesses in the area. 

Clearwater was first settled as a town in 1880-1881 and the G. H. McGee sawmill was located a short distance from the Clearwater Creek, which was built in 1871. The mill cut out of the lumber for the area. By 1880 the post office opened and a depot provided housing for the event and telegraph operator on the 2nd floor. One of the first business owners in Clearwater was E. A. Knievel, who opened a General Store one block west of Main Street. 

By 1886 a flour mill began operating on Clearwater Creek about a mile south of town. Ran by It produced 25 carrels of flour a day. However, it was located a bit too far from the railroad, and the mill was abandoned. 

1888 was a good year for Clearwater, as it was known as a "boom town." During this time multiple businesses opened and Main Street was soon filled. The sudden busyness was credited to a heading in the Clearwater Messenge Newspaper from January 1888 that read "Every indication points to the building of a cross railroad from Sioux City to Denver next season crossing the Elkhorn just northeast of Clearwater and running through our western limits, giving us unparalleled railroad facilities for the shipment of all surplus products from our already famous producer's market". Although the railroad was never built, its influence boosted Clearwater's population and businesses. 

Main Street looking south

Since Clearwater's beginning in the 1880s the village has seen many changes. The arrival of the Fremont, Elkhorn, and Missouri Valley Railroad changed the way of life in the west. In its years the town has faced many hardships, like multiple fires of local businesses, but created a strong community. 

In the words of Walter Patras, who did extensive research on the history of Clearwater for the Clearwater Centennial, "the early settlers of Clearwater gave their best to insure that we would have a village to be proud of in later years."

For more pictures and information regarding Clearwater's history-- please join us this Friday, July 3rd from 5:00-8:00 for our Night at the Museum! 

All information was obtained from the Clearwater Centennial.