Brainard - (Pop 351 – 475.3 miles)In May of 1865, James D Brown, his wife, Phoebe Crowley, their 13 children and others came here in a wagon train. They settled near Oak Creek three miles southeast of what is now the town of Brainard. These early settlers were mostly English and German.

When a branch of the Union Pacific Railroad came through Butler County in 1878, the town site was moved to its present location. It was named Brainard for a celebrated New England Indian missionary.

In the 1870's Czech Catholic pioneers came to this area. The first Catholic Church was built in 1888 and the present Holy Trinity Church in 1906. The Methodist Church was established in 1887.

ROOT BEER FLOATSBROWNIE SUNDAES

HOME MADE BAKERY Friday 11 until 4

Sponsored by the Legion Auxiliary and the Hilltoppers 4-H Club

Est. 1979 - Rich & Jody Gans Owners105 E Washington Street • Brainard • across the street south of American Legion Building

Friday Lunch Special

Friday Nite Special - Husker Bar II Fish Fry - 5pm to 10pm

Breakfast Starting at 4:30am Saturday

Grilled Chicken Breast SandwichTopped with Shaved Ham & Swiss Cheese

Served with Macaroni Salad and Baby Wedges - Coffee or Tea

Serving Fresh Walleye, Carp, Cod, Catfish & Jumbo ShrimpDinners come with Homemade Macaroni Salad or Chips, Coleslaw & Fresh Baked Rye Bread

Great Times, Good Food, Cold Drinks All in a Friendly AtmosphereTo Go Orders Welcome!! • 402-545-2881 • ATM Available for Our Customers

HUSKER BAR II

CTF Service, Inc.

112 N. Madison

Brainard, NE 68626

The Fire Department was chartered in 1923. The Fire Hall was constructed in 1979 by volunteer labor and donations. The American Legion Rejda Post #273 constructed the present building in 1954 and built an addition in 1982. A monument to WW I, WW II, Korean War and Viet Nam War veterans stands in front of the building.

The Farmers Elevator Company was formed in 1915. The name was changed to Frontier Cooperative in 1990 and includes operations, storage and gas station facilities in Brainard, Bellwood, Yanka/David City, Dwight, Garrison, Mead, Schuyler, Weston, North Bend, Silver Creek and Ceresco.

The Bank of Brainard was founded in 1886 and changed to the First Nebraska Bank in 1986. In 1967 the bank was moved to its present location and a drive-up window was added in 1982.

The Brainard School District was created in 1881. The original portion of the present building was built in 1935 and six additions have been constructed since then. The consolidated East Butler School District was formed in 1961.

In town be sure and visit:Dwayne 'Oley' Raske's Car Collection – This one rivals the Classic Car Museum in Kearney. Plus he has a multitude of classic motorcycles.Oak Creek Trail – This is a 13 mile crushed limestone trail between Brainard and Valparaiso. The trail meanders through scenic hills and oak woodlands, cuts 6 miles off the day and is downhill. Skinny tires should test drive it a little bit Friday. Around mile 2-3 watch out for some possible badger holes.

Cabela's World's Foremost Outfitters has its family roots in Brainard. The company began in the 1960's in Chappell, NE where Dick and Jim Cabela started a mail order business selling fishing lures. Their grandfather, James Cabela came to Brainard in 1884 and was a well-respected businessman here.

Actor Lyle Talbot (1902-1996) grew up in Brainard. Lyle (Lisle Henderson) starred in more than 150 movies and countless TV, stage and radio shows. He pursued Mae West in one and was told to do what? He liked biking (?) so much he became a founding member of SAG. This caused heads to turn and he was promptly demoted to low budget B movies – one of which could have been used in 2010's Movie Quiz.

Adam and Nannie Bozarth Hall homesteaded southeast of Brainard. Their three grandsons pooled their money and opened the Norfolk Post Card Company in about 1907. In 1910, they started selling greeting cards in Kansas City. They named their business Hall Brothers which later became the Hallmark Company.

Join us in the Park for Lunch

Sandwich & Potato Bar 11-3

Working with the FFA

Serving our Community & You

We are a small farm winery in BrainardWe offer a flight of 5-1oz tastings for $5

Open Friday & Saturdays 1-9p.m.Sundays 1-6p.m.