the stone masons of table rock
photo 900
Stone was used for homes -- foundations or the entire house; barns -- foundations or the entire barn; schools; and elsewhere. This unique photo shows the stone being quarried and cut. No names are given. Perhaps they are members of the Foale or Fritch families, who are known to have constructed important buildings around Table Rock.
1862 - the table rock school, district 33
The first school house within the town of Table Rock was of stone. It stood to the east of the southeast corner of the Square.
In 1937, seniors Glen Binder and Dale Woods compiled a history of the schools of the town of Table Rock. According to their history, the first school house was a one-room structure built by Wm Griffing under the supervision of Peter Foale. |
1872 - the lindsley house
This structure is on the National Register of Historic Places. It has now fallen into an abysmal state of disrepair. It is located at 706 Luzerne, a couple of blocks west of the Square.
It was originally built as a hotel, and has been lived in by a variety of owners over the year, including Gordon Bethel, founder of the Table Rock Historical Society. |
1873 - the stone country school in district 32, also known as the pleasant valley school
According to a sign that was once posted over the door, the school was built in 1873. According to a history of the school district written by Nettie Stehlik in 1956 and published in serial parts in the Argus:
Eighty-three years ago, E. A. Hansen, Wes Kerns, Ephraim Wheeler, and Jim Fritch, Sr., erected the building out of native stone, about four miles southeast of Table Rock, overlooking the fertile Nemaha River Valley to the east. Thus the name of the school, Pleasant Valley.
1867- the foale home
Peter Foale built a fine stone home. Eventually it passed out of the family and fell into disrepair. It no longer exists.
circa late 1870S or early 1880s- the kubicek home, later the kozak home
This photo of the Kubicek family in front of their home was taken in the late 1800s.
According to a note that was probably written by Minnie Kubicek Klapka, it was the home of Havel and Barbora Kubicek, located on 160 acres that were homesteaded by them in 1873. They first lived in a “dug out” and later built the stone house." Havel died in 1900 and Barbora in 1904. Later -- but still over 100 years ago -- it became the Kozak family's home. The house is no longer habitable, but the stone ruins still stand. The old stone house still stands (1980) on a portion of land now owned by Charles Kozak. It is southeast of Table Rock.
According to a note that was probably written by Minnie Kubicek Klapka, it was the home of Havel and Barbora Kubicek, located on 160 acres that were homesteaded by them in 1873. They first lived in a “dug out” and later built the stone house." Havel died in 1900 and Barbora in 1904. Later -- but still over 100 years ago -- it became the Kozak family's home. The house is no longer habitable, but the stone ruins still stand. The old stone house still stands (1980) on a portion of land now owned by Charles Kozak. It is southeast of Table Rock.
In June 2016, the Kozak descendants -- Susan Kozak Kinsey & Ann Kozak Moss and some of their children took Sharla Cerra out to see the house. They weren't sure it was the same house, but it turned out it was. Here are some photos of the ruins, including not only the house but also the dug out that the Kubicek's originally lived in.
The wooden structue is long gone. In comparing the old photograph and the new, look to the configuration of the windows on the north side there.
The wooden structue is long gone. In comparing the old photograph and the new, look to the configuration of the windows on the north side there.
m. h. marble's farm home
He came here in 1870. He taught at the town school. He had a farm home built. It is difficult to see in this photo, but the lower story was built of stone.
He eventually moved to town, where he served as a justice of the peace and ran a real estate and insurance business. The age of this farm home is uncertain, but this photograph was taken in 1890. As of 2016, it no longer stands.
He eventually moved to town, where he served as a justice of the peace and ran a real estate and insurance business. The age of this farm home is uncertain, but this photograph was taken in 1890. As of 2016, it no longer stands.