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Friend, a community of 1,100 people, is located on Route 6, 12 miles south of I80 in Southeast Nebraska's Saline County. Besides farming and livestock, Friend includes retail sales and manufacturing. A public 9-hole golf course and country club are located on the East side of town. There is also a hospital, long term care facility, K-12 school, and municipal pool. And many church denominations are represented. Welcome to Friend, Nebraska, where there are miles of smiles!
History
Friendville was founded in 1870 by Mr. Charles E. Friend. In 1869 he
left his home in Illinois and in the spring of 1870 he homesteaded the land
where Friend is now located. He worked in Lincoln as a store clerk but later
in 1870 he took an assortment of dry goods and returned to his hometown where
he established and operated a flourishing dry goods store for many years.
The Burlington and Missouri River Railroad reached Friend in 1871. The town at that time was no more than the homestead of Charles E. Friend. The government established a post office naming Mr. Friend as its first postmaster. He generously donated land for a school and church.
The year of 1873 was one of rapid growth. Work was completed on the railroad station and it was renamed "Friend" by the railroad. The town was surveyed and settlement began to take the shape of a frontier town. Fifty-six acres of Charles Friend's land was laid out on a square containing 16 square blocks. Trees were planted on most of the lots. Mr. Bigford opened a blacksmith shop, and flour mills were erected on Turkey Creek because of its water power. Late in 1873 Charles Fischer built a one-story hotel. The boom continued and the population increased. Several stores and a lumberyard were opened.
Friend received special honors in 1983 by being named a "Tree City, U.S.A." The community of Friend upholds a process of continuous improvement.
Community Center
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Wedding Dance/ Receptions Set up the night before |
$100 $ 25 additional |
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Auction Set up the day before |
$125 $ 50 additional |
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Meetings - hourly charge (up to 4 hours) |
$ 10 |
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Anniversaries, Graduations & all other Events Set up the night before |
$ 50 $ 25 additional |
A $100 deposit is required for everything.
Schedule events through the City Hall at (402) 947-2711.
Fire Protection
Fire protection is provided in the community by a 25-member volunteer fire department. This department has a reciprocal agreement with neighboring towns which includes the rural areas (approximately 100 square miles). Friend also has a 911 emergency system. For further information call the fire station at (402) 947-4222 or the fire chief at (402) 947-2721.
Law Enforcement
The city of Friend is equipped with a 911 emergency system. Equipment in the police department includes two police cruisers with radar, computers, and 24-hour communication as well as other standard equipment. For further information call (402) 947-5531.
The Gilbert Public Library, (402) 947-5081, activities include summer reading program and story hour. The library provides inter-library loan and has meeting rooms.
Education
Vocational courses offered in the high school include business, industrial technology, family and consumer sciences, and computer applications. Internet is available in the school. Adult education courses are available in the high school in conjunction with the Southeast Community College. Distance learning classes are available through Southeast Community College. Services are available for educable mentally and physically handicapped in the public school system. For more information view the Friend Public School's Web site or call the office at (402) 947-2781 or the superintendent at (402) 947-5291.
Educational Service Unit
Friend participates in the Educational Service Unit No. 6, which is headquartered in Milford. Consultant services are available for repair of media equipment, videotape library, speech therapy, resource teachers, psychological services, special education supervision, physical and occupational therapy, staff development, telecomputing, and cooperative federal project programs. Additional services include effective schools training, board workshops, test booklet loan, robotics, and Star Lab.
Government
Please contact these offices for further information:
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For further information, please contact: City of Friend |
Photos courtesy of De Bevoise & Assoc. unless otherwise specified
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