The Dawson Newsboy
E. W. Buser – Editor

  
    Only a few years have past and gone since the place where now thrives the little city of Dawson, was but a part of Nebraska’s unlimited prairies and settlers in this section of the country then (68) were very scarce.

   About three quarters of a mile south of town stands the mill from which our town derived its name.  This building was erected by Joshua Dawson in, 1868, who soon after its erection obtained a postal service and this post office was naturally known as the Dawson’s Mill post office.

    In 1871, the town was laid out by W. F. Draper, who then owned the town site as a farm. Dawson is not the real name of our little city although it is known by that name.  Its correct and original name is Noraville and its name has never been changed except by common calling of the people  - not legally changed.

   The first store and first building ever erected on the present town site was built by Wm. Till and the post office was soon moved to Mr. Till’s place of business.  Mr. Till was postmaster for some time and was succeeded by B. S. Chitenden, who was afterward succeeded by S. C. Barlow.  The post office is now at the corner of Third and Ridge streets, M. B. Ryan being the present postmaster.

   The first blacksmith shop was erected by Daniel Tigner, down on the Nemaha, but was soon after moved to our present town site.  He hammered away at his trade for several years, but has passed away and his smoky old shop still stands idle having fulfilled its mission.

   In 1878 a school was opened, with W. D. Jones teacher who was followed by others, all of their terms being short ones.  We now have a splendid graded school with about one hundred and twenty scholars enrolled.  The school work of the past year has been successful and under the supervision of R. L. Hoff our school has been second to none in the county.

    And now in 2004, after 126 years of educating many of southeast Nebraska’s finest scholars the school closes.  The town population of Noraville aka Dawsons Mills aka as Dawson grew and stabilized and now dwindles some.  Most of the pioneers who settled here are found resting in the Heim Cemetery northwest of town or in the Catholic Cemetery west of town.  As in all small mid western communities Dawson has seen its youth go elsewhere for employment opportunities thus leaving a void of students to enroll in its fine school.  One only wonders if in the distant future the area will again be populated by pioneers of a new generation that will rebuild and call this their home.  Those of us who have taken advantage of the hard work of the pioneers before us express our gratitude and thanks.  Hopefully a future Dawson Newsboy can report the building of a new society making this area hum again with vitality. Farewell Dawson School, I predict that history will repeat itself.

Written by Bob Williamson

1955 graduate of Dawson High School