KEARNEY — The former District 23 ‘Sunflower’ schoolhouse made the third move in its history after being relocated to the Trails and Rails Museum in Kearney on Friday, March 1.
The school building has a unique history, said Broc Anderson, Community Engagement Director with the Buffalo County Historical Society (BCHS) and Trails and Rails Museum.
The one-room schoolhouse was originally located southwest of Pleasanton where it served as the place of learning for students in District 23, nicknamed “Sunflower.”
Linda Burchill, a BCHS volunteer, attended the Sunflower school in the early 1950s. She recalled her first day of kindergarten when the teacher assigned her a desk and handed her a piece of paper and a box of crayons to draw with.
Burchill said this was likely the first time she had ever used crayons.
In 1953, the building was moved into Pleasanton. Anderson said the school district moved several one-room schoolhouses into town to serve different purposes, the District 23 building served as the lunchroom.
Eventually, the Sunflower schoolhouse was moved from Pleasanton to the site of the Haven’s Chapel Methodist Church, around 10 miles north of Kearney.
Anderson said the building had been serving as the church’s community room until 2022 when the chapel was being resided. The church board had voted that the former schoolhouse be removed or demolished.
Jennifer Murrish, Executive Director of the BCHS and Trails and Rails Museum said Haven’s Chapel reached out to her to see if there was a possibility of the building being moved to the museum’s grounds.
Murrish said they already have a schoolhouse on the grounds, but the museum had been searching for a space to house a display and history of the Kearney Army Air Base.
Anderson added that they will highlight the history of the Sunflower School house, while its main purpose will be the air base display.
Murrish said the schoolhouse will be added to the grounds behind the log cabin, with the fence being moved to accommodate the new structure. She said it will provide a way to blend the pioneer-era buildings with the more modern buildings on the site.
Anderson said Murrish has, “been instrumental,” in organizing multiple different businesses and organizations to help make the move possible.
Murrish said, “So many people have stepped up and said they want to see (the schoolhouse) saved.”
When asked about the building being moved, Murrish said that she has been with the museum for 19 years and this is the first time for her that a building has been relocated to the site.
Anderson added that it is a great opportunity to preserve the physical history of Buffalo County.
Murrish said the foundation for the schoolhouse will be laid in the near future and the fence will be expanded at that time to accommodate the building being moved when the foundation is finished.
The Sunflower schoolhouse was moved on Friday, March 1 by Williams Midwest House Movers, based in Hastings, with Dawson Public Power District leading the way to help lift power lines when needed.
The schoolhouse would make a roughly 20-mile journey into Kearney to the Trails and Rails Museum, the third move in its lifetime and likely its last.
