Arnold Moving forward!
Est. 1883, current population 570
The community of Arnold is rich in ag land for crop and livestock production. Settled in 1883 at the intersection of Hwys 92 and 40, travelers often just stop because the town is so inviting.
In 1875, George Arnold settled in the vicinity of the future Village of Arnold. By 1877, he had become cattle business partners with Sam Richie.
Richard Eliada (R.E.) Allen made his appearance in the area during the last days of 1880. On March 21, 1881, R.E. Allen was named the postmaster and, for a time, he offered to have the post office in a small corner of his kitchen. Also, Allen established the first store in his home in 1882, proved up in 1883, and platted the original town (now known as Arnold) on the famed South Loup Valley. Richard followed up by platting R.E. Allen’s addition in 1884.
One of the first businesses erected in Arnold was Blum Brothers General Store. A request for naming the post office “Arnold” was sent to the Postal Department in Washington and was accepted. In 1883, it seemed that the post office name “Arnold” was also the best choice for the name of the town.
The population had grown to around 150 by 1891. An old village record book was found in 1936 by George Lance. The book listed the names of 112 voters for the 1883 election. (The list was known to have some names listed more than once.)
At that time Arnold was known as the “Thirteenth Precinct of Custer County.” Officers elected in 1883 were R.E. Allen (Supervisor), Nathan English (Assessor), S.H. Kinney and J.D. Sherwood (Justices of the Peace), J.D. Haskell (Treasurer), A.H. Needham (Clerk), and S.H. Tubbs and G.A. VanBuren (Constables). There are streets in Arnold named after these early
members of the board. By the time the trains came in 1912, the population had reached 350 with forty-two businesses. Early Arnold was also home to the Methodist and Christian Churches and to nine fraternal organizations. Phone service began in
1900 and streetlights graced the town by October of 1916. On May 20, 1947, Arnold received its first firetruck that had been on order for a year. Looking back to 1888, the editor of the “Bugle Call” was correct in stating, “We believe Arnold is destined to become a magnificent city!”
Community celebrations are important to Arnold. The town’s most notable celebration is the Sandhills Open Road Challenge (SORC). This year, 2023, will mark the event’s 23rd year. In the beginning it had only 34 cars; now there are 140 with close to
200 people submitting entries.
Joe Shown, one of original SORC organizers, moved to the area in 1978. He calls himself a “gearhead.” The first time he drove on the Arnold/Dunning Road, it reminded him of a race in Scotland that he had read about on a road similar to the Arnold/Dunning Road. When he purchased his first Corvette and drove the road, he started putting the wheels in motion, calling local people and figuring out how to start a race. It would have been impossible to see then the success SORC has now brought to the Arnold area.
The main SORC events take place in Arnold. It takes many volunteers from Custer County and surrounding areas to give the drivers and spectators a good reason to keep coming back to the area. If you like cars, think about putting SORC on your list of local celebrations to check out in August.
The first Arnold schoolhouse was built in 1887. Today the Arnold school is still educating the students of the area and many see the value of returning to the community after earning a higher education.
A successful community thrives on having a quality school system for the education of the local children. A unique program to the Arnold Public School is their School House Graphic Products (SHGP). Evolving from an industrial arts class, SHGP has become a profitable business for the students. The class instills confidence in the students, and helps them carry learning life lessons on to higher education and into the business world.
Taking the idea to another level is the School House Garden. “We have an incredible science teacher,” Joel Morgan, Arnold School Superintendent, said. “We have added four science courses in the last few years and will be building a 30x60 foot green house that will keep us going year-round, offering science and agriculture courses for the students.”
Arnold Public School also has a strong dual credit program partnering with Mid-Plains Community College. “Many of our seniors graduate with at least 12 credits. The juniors will exceed that in the coming years,” Morgan went on to say.
The elementary school is also strong, starting a preschool program two years ago. “The biggest thing I see about the community is their willingness to provide for the kids of the district,” Morgan said.
In 2023, looking to the south down Walnut Street, one of the main business streets, you will see thriving businesses. A bank, grocery store, movie theatre, insurance office, coffee house, physical therapist and massage service line the street along with other boutique businesses. Not far from Walnut Street are other thriving businesses - an auto mechanic, hardware store, restaurant and bar, hair salons and gas stations just to name a few.
One business along Walnut Street that has made an impact is BrewBakers Coffee House and Gifts. The building was purchased in 2016 with renovations taking two winters as the Carlsons did needed renovations between farming seasons.
This quaint early 1900s historic building opened as T.L. Jones Mercantile in the early 1900s. It was in desperate need of restoration.
Owner Jodi Carlson stated, “The plan is that this business will serve the local and neighboring communities with an inviting place to keep our everyday lives brightened by the simple
pleasure of each other’s company over a cup of coffee in an inviting atmosphere and to do our best to enhance the community by operating a respectful establishment.”
Carlson had a home-based baking business that was outgrowing and taking a toll on her home kitchen. This led to her exploring outside options and making a decision that resulted in the opening of BrewBakers Coffee House and Gifts. Adding updates necessary for the business. Carlson restored and maintained the building’s historic integrity and character - wood floor, tin ceiling and skylight.
Carlson said, “Everyone has come to know the special gifts that can be purchased locally as well as the much-needed specialty coffee drinks and baked goods. BrewBakers is a gathering place for locals and for those along the highways to stop for a visit.”
Andrew Tickle, a native to the county, and part of the all-important Mills Hardware business in Arnold, said he sees Arnold as “progressive, trying to stay on top of things, and sustaining itself.” He embraces how the community has gotten where they are today and still looking forward. “If we go down, we will go down with a fight,” Tickle stated.
Returning to the county so his children could be closer to family was important to Tickle. Both he and wife, April, along with their four children are invested in the community.
Tickle also knows the importance of volunteering to serve in economic development and gives of his time as a fire chief and EMT. April has operated a massage therapy business for the past several years.
When a long-existing car dealership pulled out of the community of Arnold, the town did not take it lightly. People saw the potential in the community and began making sure vacant store fronts went back to being occupied. The Tickles are some of the those individuals who have turned an empty building into a thriving business with Touch of Grace Massage Therapy and Spa along with Oakbrook Physical Therapy
With the Arnold Medical Clinic in need of updates, the Callaway District Hospital and medical clinics of Callaway and Arnold will soon be breaking ground on a new facility. The hospital is working on a software upgrade which allows for better patient care and communication between the facilities. The building of the new clinic will be a primary focus, once the new program is up and running.
While honoring their past and allowing visitors and locals to look forward, anyone can take the opportunity to enjoy a self-guided tour of Arnold and learn more about the community’s history. There are 45 Rotary plaques placed around the town. These historical signs provide a glimpse back in time while showing Arnold as a community that believes in looking forward.
The forward thinking will soon be illustrated by Arnold’s next visionary
project. A newly established historical society is purchasing the old Archie’s Cafe, formerly the 1914 Farmer’s State Bank, to create the Arnold Area Historical Museum to tell the story of our area. Stay tuned as this cornerstone building on Arnold’s Historic Walnut Street is given new life.
Arnold is rich in recreation. You can enjoy nine holes of golf at the Arnold Golf Course which crosses a small creek four times, contains many trees and spans approximately 75 acres. Arnold Lake, Campground and Recreation Area gives campers a quiet place to enjoy the outdoors with 29 camp sites supplying electrical/water hookups, a playground and shower house. The lake offers fishing and is stocked by Nebraska Game and Parks. Besides the outdoor recreation, you can enjoy bowling or catch a movie at the Rialto Theater.
The businesses and the community members in Arnold take pride of their area. Visitors can feel like they are in a special community. A quote posted on the wall at BrewBakers Coffee House comes from G.K. Chesterton: “The man that lives in a small community lives in a much larger world.”
“That sums up small-town living in Arnold in a nutshell,” Carlson said. “Everyone who has the privilege of living in any small town will get the meaning to its core, Arnold is not only a small town but a community family.” She added, “Yes, we can occasionally bicker but, when the chips are down, you will not find a more generous, helpful, caring community family.”
Arnold’s website is arnoldne.org.