The mission of the Gage County Historical Society is to preserve, enhance, and showcase the unique history of Gage County by connecting our stories to develop appreciation throughout the wider community.
Memorial for John L. Fiala.
https://www.foxfuneralhome.net/obituaries/John-L-Fiala?obId=49114951
Give to the John L. Fiala Memorial Fund.
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| The Blind Reader Information Video |
Keep an eye out for our summer exhibit:
Join us for our 2nd annual quilt show:
Help Restore the Historic 1906 CB&Q Burlington Depot
The last major masonry work on the 1906 CB&Q Burlington Depot was completed in the 1990s. Since then, decades of Nebraska weather have taken their toll. To preserve the historical integrity of this treasured landmark—and to prevent further deterioration and rising repair costs—critical masonry repairs are now urgently needed.
Scope of Repairs Needed:
Brick Repairs:
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Restore brick columns at the east canopy and above the east garage door.
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Address various brick issues on the west side, including above the window lintel.
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Repair brick at the southwest pier.
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Remove failing caulking at brick step joints in the northeast corner and replace with mortar.
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Repair the concrete threshold at the northeast doors.
Limestone Repairs:
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Repair four limestone base blocks at the east canopy.
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Restore damaged stonework on the east, west, and north elevations.
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Includes two major repairs to west side base stones.
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All stone repairs will use specialized limestone mortar from Cathedral Stone Products.
Repointing:
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Repoint the north wall of the main east entry and the east canopy columns.
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Additional repointing work around the building’s perimeter.
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All repointing will use historical Type O mortar to ensure historical accuracy.
Additional Work:
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Wash down of brick surfaces.
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Scaffolding, cleanup, and protection of existing architectural features included.
Funding Needs:
The total cost for this restoration project is $37,304.
Thanks to generous support from the 2024 Year-End Appeal and the Gage County Settler’s Fundraiser in March, we’ve raised $4,959.76 so far. Although we applied for a grant from the Nebraska State Historical Preservation Office, we were not selected this cycle.
How You Can Help:
We are now reaching out directly to the community for support. Your contribution will help us preserve this piece of Nebraska’s railroad and architectural heritage for future generations. Every dollar brings us closer to protecting this historic landmark.
Help Us Preserve a Landmark: Filley Stone Barn Needs You
Thanks to the incredible generosity of our community, we’ve made major strides in restoring the Filley Stone Barn, one of Gage County’s most iconic and historically significant structures. With your help, we raised $8,014 through Big Give Gage 2022, and an additional $16,149 from memorial gifts, local businesses, and private donors. These funds allowed us to:
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Rebuild damaged window wells
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Repair the barn door tracks
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Add a protective eave to keep rain out
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Give the barn a much-needed fresh coat of paint
- First round of Masonry work
But during our first round of masonry work, our contractor uncovered more damage than expected—hidden structural issues that threaten the long-term integrity of the barn. A new quote for the next phase of repairs came in at $24,813.
We’ve already begun raising funds through our Filley Stone Barn Chocolate Bar fundraiser and private donations, but we need your help to close the gap. So far, we’ve raised $456.07 toward this urgent goal.
We have also identified that the Filley Barn needs a new roof. This is of extreme importance as the roof provides protection to the interior as well as the foundation of the barn.
This barn is more than just a building—it’s a physical link to our agricultural past, and a gathering place for our future. With your support, we can preserve it for generations to come.
👉 Here’s how you can help:
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Donate to the Filley Stone Barn.
or by mail. -
Share this campaign with family and friends.
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Support our fundraising events throughout the summer- see our event calendar for more details.
Every dollar brings us closer to saving this piece of Gage County history.
Donate today—your gift makes a lasting difference.
Buy merchandise in our Gift Shop.
