Elmwood Nebraska - Nebraska Directory

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Village · Cass County · Population 654 (2020 census) · ZIP 68349 · Founded 1868 · Peak population 668 (2000)

About Elmwood

Elmwood is a village of 654 in western Cass County on NE 1, about 2 miles north of US 34. It is best known as the home of novelist Bess Streeter Aldrich, whose house, "The Elms," is a museum. Elmwood-Murdock Elementary and the Elmwood Public Library are here, and the MoPac Trail East runs through town.

History

The Elmwood post office opened in 1868; David McCaig, the first postmaster, named it for a grove of elm trees. S. E. Greenslate had a store here from 1874. Two railroad surveys missed the settlement, so five local men raised $1,200 and gave right-of-way and land, and the Missouri Pacific built its Weeping Water–Lincoln branch through in August 1886; the station was first called Stove Creek. By 1890 Elmwood had about 400 people, two banks, two elevators, two hotels and a newspaper, the Elmwood Echo.

Civil War veterans of the Grand Army of the Republic built their hall here in 1886; it is one of four G.A.R. halls left in Nebraska and is kept by American Legion Post 247. Bess Streeter Aldrich, whose novels include A Lantern in Her Hand, lived in Elmwood for many years and in the house at 204 E. F St. from 1922 to 1946; it was listed on the National Register in 1977. The railroad is gone, and its grade is the MoPac Trail East. Elmwood's population peaked at 668 in 2000.

Highways and trails through Elmwood

Route	One way	Other way
NE 1Through town as 4th St.	South to US 34 (about 2 mi)	North to the Murdock spur, then east past Manley and the fairgrounds to Murray
US 34About 2 mi south of town	West to Eagle and Lincoln	East to Avoca, Nehawka and Union

Nearby towns

Wabash	about 3.6 mi northeast	County roads
Alvo	about 5 mi west-northwest	County roads
Murdock	about 6 mi north	NE 1
Eagle	about 7 mi west-southwest	US 34
Weeping Water	about 8 mi east-northeast	NE 1
Avoca	about 10 mi east-southeast	US 34
Manley	about 9 mi northeast	NE 1
Louisville	about 13 mi north-northeast	NE 1 and NE 50
Greenwood	about 11 mi northwest	County roads
Lincoln	about 21 mi west	US 34

Things to see

Bess Streeter Aldrich House, 204 E. F St. (May–October Wed, Thu, Sat and Sun 1–4; November–April Sat–Sun 1–4; adults $5), and the Aldrich museum, 124 W. D St., by appointment · Elmwood G.A.R. Hall Veterans Museum, 124 E. D St. (Memorial Day, Veterans Day and by appointment) · Elmwood Public Library, 124 W. D St. · the MoPac Trail East, west to Eagle and Lincoln and east to Wabash · Grandpa's Woods Golf Course, 9 holes on 310th St. toward Murdock · Journey Into Christmas at the Aldrich House, weekends from late November

Schools and health care

Schools: Elmwood-Murdock Public Schools: Elmwood-Murdock Elementary, 400 W. F St. (PK–6); grades 7–12 attend Elmwood-Murdock Jr/Sr High in Murdock

Health care: No hospital in Elmwood; the nearest are in Lincoln

Sources: U.S. Census; Wikipedia; Andreas, History of the State of Nebraska (1882); History Nebraska; National Register of Historic Places; Nebraska Game and Parks; Nebraska Department of Transportation; Cass County and village websites; school district, library and museum websites. Distances marked "about" are straight-line estimates.