One of the first postmasters was Fred Nelson. The old livery barn was built by Frank Hyde and was one of the oldest buildings in Potter outside the section house and depot. He dug a well, the first in Potter and put up a tank and windmill, and even went so far as to pipe water to some of the buildings and houses, installing the first water system in the town, though it is primitive, and of simple construction.
Civic advancement began in real earnest in 1885, when the first hotel was built just west of Thornburg's building, O. L. Erickson being the proprietor. By 1889 Potter was thriv-
HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA
ing, it had two grocery stores, two hardware stores, a newspaper called the Potter Press, one hotel, one restaurant, one blacksmith shop, a furniture store and a feed store. About this time the Lutheran church was built in practically its present form except for the tower and some interior changes. Mr. D. Shultz was one of the prominent men in its organization. The Potter Press was short lived and within a couple of years Potter was without a paper. Later the Potter Review was started but was likewise abandoned. A third attempt was made when H. Stevens was hired by some enterprising men to reestablish the Review and has been published ever since under that name.
By 1890 the farmers who had settled around Potter began to raise grains, mostly wheat and oats and as 1892 was a good year, Potter had to build grain storage houses but not of the type used today. Everything seemed bright for the young village of Potter but the droughts of 1893 to 1895 made great changes. Many settlers left the country and the small country towns suffered from the migration and hard times.