Fontanelle, Nebraska

Infobox Settlement |official_name = Fontanelle, Nebraska
image_

|pushpin_

pushpin_label_position =left
pushpin_map_caption =Location within the state of Nebraska
pushpin_mapsize =

|map_caption =
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_name1 = Nebraska
subdivision_name2 = Washington
leader_title =
leader_name =
area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 =
area_total_sq_mi =
area_land_km2 =
area_land_sq_mi =
area_water_km2 =
area_water_sq_mi =
elevation_ft = 1085
elevation_m =
population_as_of =
population_footnotes =
population_total =
population_metro =
population_density_km2 =
population_density_sq_mi =
timezone =
utc_offset =
latd = 41
latm = 24
lats = 23
latNS = N
longd = 95
longm = 59
longs = 47
longEW = W
footnotes =

Fontanelle is an unincorporated community in Washington County, Nebraska, United States. The site of repeated incursions by the neighboring Pawnee tribe, Fontanelle was an early Nebraska Territory boom town that rescinded in importance after failing to secure a railroad connection in the late 1800s. The 1860 Federal Census showed the town having dozens of residents, including farmers, carpenters, blacksmiths, clergymen, lawyers, and other professions. [ [http://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/ne/state/census/1860/f0012.txt 1860 Federal Census of Fontanelle, Nebraska Territory] . Retrieved 3/26/08.] The town dwindled from a population of 500 to a few dozen after an early university left in the 1870s. [Olson, J.C. and Naugle, R.C. (1997) "History of Nebraska." University of Nebraska Press. p 99.]

History

An misspelling of the name of Logan Fontenelle, this town was named in honor of the Omaha Tribe leader who died near here. The town was originally organized by the Nebraska Colonization Company, which in turn was organized in Quincy, Illinois in 1854. The goal of founding the town was to develop "a literary institution which shall be known as the Nebraska University." In spring 1855 a prospecting party chose the site about twelve miles from the present city of Fremont.

Fontanelle was the original seat of the Dodge County, but later became a part of Washington County. It was originally intended to be the territorial capital, but lost to Omaha City to the south. [ [http://www.nebraskahistory.org/lib-arch/research/manuscripts/business/neb-colonize.htm "Nebraska Colonization Company"] , Nebraska State Historical Society. Retrieved 3/25/08.] It had one of the first churches in the Nebraska Territory. [Sheldon, A.E. [http://www.olden-times.com/oldtimenebraska/n-csnyder/nbstory/nbstory5.html "Nebraska as a Territory"] , "History and Stories of Nebraska". Retrieved 3/26/08.] The Nebraska Territory Legislature awarded a charter to the Nebraska University, also called Fontanelle University, in 1855, and the first building was erected in 1856. Operated by the Congregational Church the University flourished for several years. When Fontanelle lost the county seat leaders decided to move the University, and Doane College was organized in Crete, Nebraska in 1872. [Federal Writers' Project. (1939) "Nebraska: A Guide to the Cornhusker State." p 283.]

The townsite was next to the Elkhorn River, and was the location of several raids by the Pawnee in its early years. In 1855 the United States Army established a post in the town to protect it, and a standing militia protected it for several years after. [ [http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9F00E2DC103DE034BC4151DFBE66838E649FDE "The Indians of Nebraska--Tranquility Restored"] , "New York Times." August 29, 1855. Retrieved 3/25/08.] The "New York Times" sent a correspondent late in that year to confirm the safety of settlers to the Nebraska Territory. [ [http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9B02E3DB103DE034BC4053DFB667838E649FDE "From Nebraska--Affaire on the Frontier"] , "New York Times." October 8, 1855. Retrieved 3/25/08.] In 1859 the Pawnee were encamped across the river during the Pawnee War. [ [http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9B0DE2DA1F31EE34BC4851DFB1668382649FDE "Indian Troubles in Nebraska--History of the Pawnee War"] , "New York Times." Retrieved 3/25/08.]

Voters in the town held their first annual meeting in 1884, and in 1896 they approved the construction of a one-story brick hall called the Fontanelle Township Hall to serve as a meeting hall and polling place. It stands today, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. [ [http://www.newashcohist.org/landmarks.asp "National Register of Historic Places"] , Washington County Historical Society. Retrieved 3/25/08.]

Failure to secure a railroad connection, depression, and other reverses led the town to fold in the 1890s. Today it is an unincorporated community.

Geography

Fontanelle is located just northeast of Fremont, Nebraska along Nebraska Highway 91. It is approximately 2 miles east of U.S. 77/U.S. 275.

References