The Freeman School

Freeman School

The Freeman school is part of Homestead National Monument and is open to visitors 1-4pm all summer or any other time by request.

The school opened in 1872 and remained in operation until 1967. While the main purpose of the building was to be a school, it also served many other purposes such a a meeting place for the First Trinity Church, polling station for Blakely Township and a meeting area for clubs and organizations. The school was donated to the National Park Service in 1970 and it was restored to look like it would have in the late 1800's.

In many homesteading communities a school was built before permanent housing. Homesteader felt that education was important, plus school buildings could be used for many community gatherings.

 The school offers the chance to see 'virgin' prairie, since the land served a a playground for the school children it was never plowed. Another interesting fact associated with the Freeman school is a court case started by Daniel Freeman in 1899. Mr. Freeman was upset when he found out that the teacher at the school was reading from the bible to the school children. He asked the teacher to stop but she refused. The court case went all the way to the Nebraska Supreme Court, which sided with Daniel Freeman in 1902. The Nebraska Constitution stated "No sectarian instruction shall be allowed in any school or institution supported in whole or in part by funds set apart for educational purposes."

There is also some debate as to who the school may be named after, Daniel or Thomas Freeman. The two men were unrelated but both prominent in the school district. Thomas Freeman was also paid $100.15 for the brick he provided to build the school.

The school is very interesting and offers events like a spelling bee that takes place in September. You can find more information on the school and the monument at the monuments website.

150 years of the Homestead Act

The entire 4 pages of the Homestead Act of 1862

I arrived in Beatrice, Nebraska on May 19. On May 20th I drove from my hotel in town out to Homestead National Monument, which is about 4 miles west of town on state highway 4.

The monument had the entire 4 pages of the Homestead Act on display, it was the first time all 4 pages were displayed together.

Abraham Lincoln signed the Homestead Act into law on May 20th 1862 and Homestead National Monument is celebrating 150 years of the Homestead Act.

The Homestead Act allowed anyone over the age of 21 (or over 18 if they were married and the head of the house) to claim 160 acres of land in over 30 states. To keep the land the claimant had to 'prove up.' The proving period lasted 5 years and included requirements such as building a house and improving the land, however it was up to the local land office to decide the exact requirements. If the land office agreed that the land had been improved, then the claimant got the deed to the land for an $18 filing fee. The first homestead claim was in Beatrice, Nebraska, by Daniel Freeman. Myth has it that Daniel Freeman pulled his local land officer out of a new years party on January 1, 1863 to be the first to file a claim on the day the law went into effect. Homestead National Monument tells the stories of all homesteader, but is located on Daniel Freeman's land claim.

The Homestead Act was a very progressive piece of legislation in that it allowed not only men, but women, and immigrants to claim land. The Homestead act allowed women to own property 60 years before they were able to vote. The Homestead Act brought many people from western Europe and the east coast out to the great plains and the American west. Over 1.6 million people claimed 270 million acres during the time that the act was in place. Ellis Island was developed to help process all of the people coming form other countries to claim land through the homestead act.. 10% of all land in the United States was passed from the federal government to private citizen while the act was in effect. The Homestead Act remained in effect in the lower 48 until 1976 and in Alaska until 1986.

Heritage center and the prairie

Homestead National Monument has restored the land that was Daniel Freeman's land claim back to the tall grass prairie that would have been seen when people stated moving westward.

Dickcissel are very common birds on the prairie

The beginning of another journey

Paper Plate Award from FLCC's chapter of The
Wildlife Society- Most likely to be caught in
Nebraska

For anybody that knows me, you know that I am always up for an adventure. For those that do not know me, I spent the fall 2008 semester studying in Cyprus and traveling around Europe, including a stop in Egypt. I also spent a week in Costa Rica in 2003. I have been to Ontario, Canada a few times too. I have also traveled around the United States, with family, school and for work. I have been to many National Park Service sites including the Statue of Liberty, FDR's house, Bryce Canyon, Death Valley, Great Basin, Yosemite, Sequoia, Kings Canyon, Yellowstone, Devil's Tower, Mount Rushmore and Homestead National Monument.

I have decided to start this blog to share my current adventure.  I am currently interning with the Student Conservation Association (SCA, AmeriCorps) at Homestead National Monument of America in Beatrice, Nebraska. My post will be mostly about my current experience, but I may add in some post about interesting things I have done or places I have been in the past.