History - Brainard, Nebraska

In 1865, James D. Brown settled three miles southeast of present day Brainard and later established a post office called Urban. In 1878, Brown's son-in-law, Thomas Logan, established the town of Brainard near the Union Pacific Railroad. Named in honor of David Brainerd, a missionary to the Indians, the town quickly grew with original settlers of German and English origin. Soon, there was a large influx of Czech pioneers from Bohemia and Moravia. The population varied from 61 in 1880, to 468 in 1920, to 351 today.

The Community Club has 16 historic videos for sale which cover early events and oral history interviews with senior citizens. In addition to the historic videos, Brainard Through the Seasons, Q125 Highlights - 2003, the Q125 Parade on July 2, 2003, and copies of unedited footage of the entire Q125 celebration are available. For further information, contact Carolyn Dvorak, (402) 545-4261, or Sharon Bruner, (402) 545-3901.

City Hall has a display of historic pictures of early Brainard which may be viewed during visiting hours or by appointment. There are also many scrapbooks of town and community history that may be viewed. Information, stories, and photographs are being collected for files on Brainard history which will be stored in the City Hall for research and preservation. Scrapbooks of community events, NCIP entries, the Q125 celebration, and previous home town festivals are available for viewing. For further information, call (402) 545-2701 or (402) 545-3901.

Actor, Lyle Talbot (1902-1996) grew up in Brainard, living in the Talbot Hotel where his grandmother was the proprietress. He started his movie career in 1932, in the dawn of the talkie era, making over 150 films. He was the original Commissioner Gordon in the serial "Batman and Robin" (1949). He appeared in many TV shows; best known for playing Joe Randolph, the next door neighbor in "The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet." He had fond memories of living and going to school in Brainard and enjoyed corresponding with many longtime acquaintances from Brainard.

James Cabela (1869-1937), grandfather of Jim and Dick Cabela, co-founders of Cabela's World's Foremost Outfitters in Sidney, Neb., immigrated to Brainard in 1884. James operated several businesses in Brainard and served on the Village Board. The Cabela family left Brainard in 1932 and established a furniture store in Chappell, Neb.

Adam and Nannie Bozarth Hall homesteaded southeast of Brainard. Their three grandsons pooled their money and opened the Norfolk Post Card Company in about 1907. In 1910, they started selling greeting cards in Kansas City. They named it Hall Brothers which later became the Hallmark Company. For more information, view the following websites: http://pressroom.hallmark.com/joyce_c__hall.html and http://www.emotionscards.com/museum/joycehall.htm.

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