Rock Bluff, Nebraska facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Rock Bluff, Nebraska
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Rock Bluff School, formerly the Naomi Institute
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 Rock Bluff, Nebraska
Location in Nebraska
Rock Bluff, Nebraska
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Nebraska |
| County | Cass |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
Rock Bluff is a ghost town in Cass County, Nebraska. It is located about three miles east of Murray. Rock Bluff was once home to an important school called the Naomi Institute. It also played a big part in the 1866 vote that helped Nebraska become a state.
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History of Rock Bluff
Rock Bluff started as a place where pioneers could cross the Missouri River. A German man named Benedict Spires settled it in 1854. In the 1850s, Rock Bluff became a key spot for people to get supplies. They needed these supplies to cross the plains with their goods.
By 1877, nearly 200 people lived there. The town had a Methodist Church and a post office. It also had a mayor and hosted the county fair. There was a meeting hall for groups like the Masons. Many businesses were in town, including three stores and two blacksmith shops. There were also two saloons and a billiard hall. Near the steamboat landing, there was a race track. A coal mine was located south of the town. Rock Bluff even tried to become the county seat of Cass County, competing with Plattsmouth.
How Nebraska Became a State
In 1866, the members of the Territorial Legislature were very important. They were going to choose Nebraska's first two state senators. At that time, the state House had 17 Republicans and 17 Democrats. The state Senate had six Democrats and five Republicans. The votes from Cass County still needed to be counted.
In Cass County, 107 votes were cast for Democrats and 47 for Republicans. However, some people said there was voter fraud. This means they thought people cheated with the votes. Because of this, the state clerk decided to throw out Cass County's votes. The county office then went to a Republican. This party was against slavery in the new state. When the Legislature became Republican, Nebraska was allowed to join the United States as a state.
Why Rock Bluff Became a Ghost Town
After a railroad bridge was built in Omaha in the 1870s, Rock Bluff lost its importance. Things got even worse when the closest railroad tracks were built ten miles to the west. This meant trains no longer came close to the town. The post office closed in 1904. By the 1940s, the town was completely empty and abandoned.
The Naomi Institute: A Famous School
Rock Bluff was home to a famous school called the Naomi Institute. Professor J.D. Patterson started it in 1870. Many people thought it was one of the best schools in Nebraska. It was also the first higher education school in Cass County. The school closed in 1872 because it could not get enough support. The building later became the Rock Bluff School.
Famous People from Rock Bluff
Perry Ivan "Ivia" Graves was born, grew up, and died in Rock Bluff. He was a professional boxer. In 1912, he became the Boxing Welterweight Champion of the World. He traveled all over the United States and the world. He earned and defended his championship title. His boxing career lasted for 15 years, from 1910 to 1925.
