A few miles east of Wood River, pioneer John G. Schaupp once operated a grist mill. At that location, the Schauppsville School District was formed.

The district provided a two-year high school to area children between 1905 and 1940. Six students were enrolled in the ninth and 10th grades during school year 1938-39, according to teacher Clara Schuebel.

G.I. enters the ice business

The City of Grand Island started an ice department in 1921.

The new ice plant, located behind the Pine Street power plant, was financed with bonds totaling $50,000. Private ice suppliers in the city had been charging 70 cents for 100 pounds. When the city entered the market, its ice was priced at 50 cents per 100 pounds.

In 1926 the city purchased the old G.I. Brewery Co. building, property and machinery at public auction for $23,000. The Pine Street ice equipment was moved to the old brewery on West North Front at Lincoln Street.

The equipment of the two plants was combined, making it possible to produce 30 tons of ice every 24 hours.

A new plant, a new product

Nebraska Gov. Frank Morrison was one of the state and local officials who welcomed New Holland to Grand Island at an announcement breakfast on June 5, 1965.

Later that day, ground was broken and construction on the plant was already under way.

Five months later, New Holland marked a major milestone in its entry into the North American combine business at 3:15 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 22. That's when the company's first combine produced at Grand Island made its debut.

Robert Taylor and sheep

During the mid-1890s, Robert Taylor purchased a ranch near Grand Island. Here he fed his ewes and wethers. He then started feedlots near McCook.

At the peak of his operations, his commercial flock contained about 100,000 ewes and 75,000 wethers.

-- Compiled by Gene Budde, Hall County historian