History Of Axtell

       The Village of Axtell, Nebraska, was incorporated on December 14th, 1885.  It lies in the center of Mirage township in Kearney County. Residents of the new town quickly built homes and businesses.  Out on the wide open prairies there were no public utilities so each individual provided for their own water and waste facilities.
      Early pictures show a spectacular view on this treeless plain with a windmill at nearly every location.  Pioneers stated that there were 125 to 130 windmills between 1885 and the early 1900's.

      After two disastrous fires two weeks apart destroyed first the east side of Main Street followed by the west side, the Village provided fire fighting equipment.  Three large cisterns were dug on Main Street and were filled by a central windmill.  This one remaining windmill now stands at the east end of town at Windmill Manor.  Public utilities were the demise of Axtell's windmills.

submitted by Jean Roberts

credits:
Heroes Without Medals
by Roy T. Bang

A History of Axtell
by Emerald Olson