PEETZ:
"Biggest Town for it's Size in the State"
In the 1918 Gazette ran this banner when Frank Pulver was the editor and so it was in those pioneer days.
Situated on a plateau in the northeast corner of the Logan County, it rises some 250 feet above the valley and is flanked by hills on all sides. One of the best dry land farming areas in the county, it boasts of bumper wheat crops.
In 1900, the town was called Mercer by the Burlington Railroad which built a section house and depot here. The name was changed to Peetz in honor of Peter Peetz who homesteaded here in 1903, having forty acres to the west of the railroad was sold to the Lincoln land company and plotted for a town.
Peetz grew slowly till World War 1 brought better prices and the town grew to its highest population, 440. There were over 50 business ventures at that time.
The depression and a drought hit together in the thirties and banks closed. Many pioneers left, depleting the population, which never rose again.
Constant in the Peetz history is the school, starting in a one room school house, to the rooms over depot in 1903. In 1911, a large frame house was erected in the northeast part of town. In 1917, a three story brick with gym in the basement was built. This served as a house of learning until 1944, when it burned to the ground. In 1945, the present sprawling stucco plant was erected. Many additions have come about since that time. The present RE-5 District comprises 355 square miles.
Water and light were installed in the 1917, the phone system in 1918. Through the years of 1916-1960 their baseball teams were known throughout two states. Baseball was “King” of the table-land. The “farm boys” took on all corners, playing semi-pro teams, the Coors and Denver post teams from the mile high city.
In 1907, a prairie fire started at Kimball, Nebraska and burned to the Railroad tracks at Peetz. Another prairie fire threatened to wipe out the town in 1916.
Two churches were the adhesive that kept the town together through the years of feast and famine. In 1910, the Quarterly Conference from York organized to build a church. Bishop weakly was present for the dedication in E.U.B. Church united with the Methodist church.
The Beautiful small white church with its steeple and cross was built for the catholic community in 1914. Using volunteers, the church was enlarged and the basement dug in 1945. During Rev. Gilmanton’s ten years in Peetz, Bradi Barth of Switzerland painted the now famous windows in the church. Since that time, they have been as stained glass by Miss Barth. In 1964, the present brick structure was built, through the combined efforts of many people.
The town now has a population of less than 200. Its school is one of Logan County’s best. The business section includes the grain elevators, the service station, the Hot Spot, the telephone office and post Office. The best Wheat is still raised here. Church and school continue to hold the tiny town together.
Many people are from pioneer stock and have known hardship and troubled times, but they are remained steadfast in their belief that this town, their farms, ranches and business ventures are of the best in this place in time.
By Dolores Stewart Nelson
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