Housing Types in Webster County,Nebraska 1870–1920

Editor's Note: Due to the length of the article “Housing Types in Webster County, Nebraska 1870–1920,” and the decision by the editorial committee to publish it in its entirety, the introduction and section I & II are being printed in this issue. Part III and the conclusion will be printed in Vol. 8, Number 2, Fall 1982, of JIDER. We regret any inconvenience that this decision may bring to our readers.

The first settlers arrived in Webster County, Nebraska in the spring of 1870. In recent years due to the current recognition of the early writings of Willa Cather (1873–1947), Webster County has come to stand as the prototype of the pioneer settlement of the plains. However, a casual look by the traveler at other Nebraska locations indicates that housing in Webster County is typical of early housing in other parts of the state. The original study of Webster County housing was partially funded by the Nebraska State Historical Society, The Center for Great Plains Studies and the patrons of the Webster County Historical Museum.