Howells Nebraska - Nebraska Directory

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Village · Colfax County · Population 561 (2020 census) · ZIP 68641 · Founded 1886 · Peak population 952 (1930)

About Howells

Howells is a village of 561 at the south edge of NE 91 in northern Colfax County, about 3 miles east of NE 15. It has Howells Senior High School of the Howells-Dodge district, Howells Community Catholic School, two clinics, the public library, the Howells Historical Society Museum and two parks with a pool and RV camping. The Howells Journal has been published here since 1888.

History

The Western Town Site Company platted Howells in 1886 on the Fremont, Elkhorn & Missouri Valley Railroad's branch west from Scribner. It was named for James Smith Howell, a local surveyor, farmer and teacher; the post office opened on November 20, 1886, and was spelled "Howell" until 1937. German and Czech settlers built separate Catholic parishes, Ss. Peter and Paul (1890) and St. John Nepomucene (1893), which share a priest but never merged. The 1887 Congregational church, the town's first church and first school, became the historical society's museum in 1977.

The population peaked at 952 in 1930. A June 1991 flood damaged the museum. The 1900 Baumert & Bogner hardware and furniture building on Center Street was listed on the National Register in 2022. Howells and Dodge consolidated their schools in 2012, with the high school in Howells. Brad Vering, a Howells High graduate, wrestled Greco-Roman for the United States at the 2004 and 2008 Olympics.

Highways and trails through Howells

Route	One way	Other way
NE 91Along the south edge of town; spur north into town	East to Dodge (about 6 mi) and Snyder	West to NE 15 (about 3 mi) and Clarkson (about 6 mi)

Nearby towns

Olean	about 3 mi east	NE 91
Tabor	about 4.5 mi south-southeast	County roads
Clarkson	about 6 mi west	NE 91
Dodge	about 6 mi east	NE 91
Heun	about 7 mi south-southwest	County roads
Leigh	about 12 mi west	NE 91
West Point	about 17 mi east-northeast	NE 91 and county roads
Schuyler	about 19 mi south	NE 15

Things to see

Howells Historical Society Museum, 212 E. Center St., in the 1887 Congregational church (by appointment and on Alumni Reunion day in June) · Baumert & Bogner building, 217 Center St. (1900; National Register) · Ss. Peter and Paul and St. John Nepomucene churches · Bohemian National Cemetery, ¾ mi west · Sacred Heart Church at Olean, about 3 mi east · Community Park, with RV camping ($20 a night) and the pool

Schools and health care

Schools: Howells-Dodge Consolidated Schools, 417 Center St.: Howells Senior High School (grades 7–12) and preschool; grades K–6 attend the district's elementary school in Dodge. Howells Community Catholic School (K–6), 114 N. 6th St.

Health care: CHI Health Howells Clinic, 121 S. 6th St. (Mondays); Franciscan Healthcare Howells, 119 S. 3rd St.; nearest hospitals in West Point (about 17 mi) and Schuyler (about 19 mi)

Sources: U.S. Census; Wikipedia; Andreas, History of the State of Nebraska (1882); Fitzpatrick, Nebraska Place-Names (1925); NEGenWeb Colfax County; History Nebraska; National Register of Historic Places; Nebraska Department of Transportation; Lower Elkhorn NRD; CHI Health. Distances marked "about" are estimates.