Antioch is a ghost town in Sheridan County, Nebraska, United States. Located approximately 15 miles (24 km) east of Alliance on Nebraska Highway 2, the town was once nicknamed "the potash capital of Nebraska."[2] The town took its name from Antioch, Ohio.[3] There are now only a handful of houses, fewer than 25 residents, and a trash dump.
Antioch is located in the sparsely-populated Sandhills region of western Nebraska. According to one historian, the year before the United States became involved in World War I, the town only had one schoolhouse, a church, and a store.
In 1917, scientists at the University of Nebraska introduced a method of distilling potash from the water of alkaline lakes which dotted the Sandhills.[4][5][6] Potash had been primarily imported from Germany prior to World War I.[7] German potash had sold for around $8 to $10 per ton, but scarcity during the war drove the price of potash to $150 a ton.[7]
Antioch's proximity to several major alkaline lakes made it the logical home of five potash reduction factories: the American, Nebraska, Alliance, National, and Western potash companies.[4] All these companies were major suppliers of potash during World War I. With the factories came work, and by the spring of 1918, Antioch had grown into a small city with a population of over 5,000 people.[5][6]
The potash from Antioch was used during the war in the production of fertilizer, Epsom Salts, soda, and other products.[6] The land on which the factories in Antioch had been built were state-owned, and the government's leasing them to private companies attracted public scrutiny.[7] To combat the rumors of favoritism, the Nebraska Secretary of State and Nebraska State Land Commissioner issued a press release claiming that they had leased the land privately rather than publicly to avoid delay because "our country needs the product for munitions."[7] Potash was not used in munitions, but the public generally accepted the falsehood as fact.[7]
Antioch potash historical marker
When Germany and France resumed trade with the United States in 1921, the potash trade was decimated.[6] German and French potash was cheaper to produce than Nebraska potash and thus destroyed the market for American-made potash.[6] The factories immediately closed.[2] The machinery was sold for scrap; the factories were demolished for the salvage value of the building materials; and the company housing was torn down or moved. Only the foundations of the factories and of some of the larger houses remained.[8] Today, Antioch has fewer than 25 residents.
In 1979, the remains of Antioch's potash plants were added to the National Register of Historic Places,[9] and a historical marker can be found west of what remains of Antioch commemorating the factories and boomtown.[6][7]
^ abGeographic Names Information System Feature Detail Report. Geographic Names Information System. 2000-01-01. Retrieved 2010-10-03.
^ abHickey, Donald R.; Wunder, Susan A.; Wunder, John R. (2007). Nebraska Moments. U of Nebraska Press. p. 165. ISBN978-0-8032-1572-6.
^Federal Writers' Project (1938). Origin of Nebraska place names. Lincoln, NE: Works Progress Administration. p. 5.
^ ab"The Great WWI Potash Industry of Southern Sheridan County, Nebraska" 2011-07-16 at the Wayback Machine Sheridan County Historical Society. p. 2. Retrieved Sept. 25, 2010.
^ ab(1919) The American Missionary. Volume 73. Congregational Home Missionary Society, American Missionary Association.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Antioch, Nebraska.
Sheridan County Historical Society.
"Antioch, Nebraska" on Ghosttowns.com
Antioch Graveyard photo from NebraskaGravestonres.org
January 01, 1970
antioch, nebraska, antioch, ghost, town, sheridan, county, nebraska, united, states, located, approximately, miles, east, alliance, nebraska, highway, town, once, nicknamed, potash, capital, nebraska, town, took, name, from, antioch, ohio, there, only, handful. Antioch is a ghost town in Sheridan County Nebraska United States Located approximately 15 miles 24 km east of Alliance on Nebraska Highway 2 the town was once nicknamed the potash capital of Nebraska 2 The town took its name from Antioch Ohio 3 There are now only a handful of houses fewer than 25 residents and a trash dump Antioch NebraskaGhost townRuins of potash plant near Antioch April 2011Antioch NebraskaLocation within the state of NebraskaShow map of NebraskaAntioch NebraskaLocation within the United StatesShow map of the United StatesCoordinates 42 04 06 N 102 34 56 W 42 06833 N 102 58222 W 42 06833 102 58222 1 CountryUnited StatesStateNebraskaCountySheridanElevation 1 3 881 ft 1 183 m Time zoneUTC 6 MST Summer DST MSTArea code308GNIS feature ID834979 Contents 1 History 2 See also 3 References 4 External linksHistory editAntioch is located in the sparsely populated Sandhills region of western Nebraska According to one historian the year before the United States became involved in World War I the town only had one schoolhouse a church and a store In 1917 scientists at the University of Nebraska introduced a method of distilling potash from the water of alkaline lakes which dotted the Sandhills 4 5 6 Potash had been primarily imported from Germany prior to World War I 7 German potash had sold for around 8 to 10 per ton but scarcity during the war drove the price of potash to 150 a ton 7 Antioch s proximity to several major alkaline lakes made it the logical home of five potash reduction factories the American Nebraska Alliance National and Western potash companies 4 All these companies were major suppliers of potash during World War I With the factories came work and by the spring of 1918 Antioch had grown into a small city with a population of over 5 000 people 5 6 The potash from Antioch was used during the war in the production of fertilizer Epsom Salts soda and other products 6 The land on which the factories in Antioch had been built were state owned and the government s leasing them to private companies attracted public scrutiny 7 To combat the rumors of favoritism the Nebraska Secretary of State and Nebraska State Land Commissioner issued a press release claiming that they had leased the land privately rather than publicly to avoid delay because our country needs the product for munitions 7 Potash was not used in munitions but the public generally accepted the falsehood as fact 7 nbsp Antioch potash historical marker When Germany and France resumed trade with the United States in 1921 the potash trade was decimated 6 German and French potash was cheaper to produce than Nebraska potash and thus destroyed the market for American made potash 6 The factories immediately closed 2 The machinery was sold for scrap the factories were demolished for the salvage value of the building materials and the company housing was torn down or moved Only the foundations of the factories and of some of the larger houses remained 8 Today Antioch has fewer than 25 residents In 1979 the remains of Antioch s potash plants were added to the National Register of Historic Places 9 and a historical marker can be found west of what remains of Antioch commemorating the factories and boomtown 6 7 See also edit nbsp Nebraska portal List of ghost towns in NebraskaReferences edit a b Geographic Names Information System Feature Detail Report Geographic Names Information System 2000 01 01 Retrieved 2010 10 03 a b Hickey Donald R Wunder Susan A Wunder John R 2007 Nebraska Moments U of Nebraska Press p 165 ISBN 978 0 8032 1572 6 Federal Writers Project 1938 Origin of Nebraska place names Lincoln NE Works Progress Administration p 5 a b The Great WWI Potash Industry of Southern Sheridan County Nebraska Archived 2011 07 16 at the Wayback Machine Sheridan County Historical Society p 2 Retrieved Sept 25 2010 a b 1919 The American Missionary Volume 73 Congregational Home Missionary Society American Missionary Association a b c d e f Antioch Potash boom town usurped Nebraska State Historical Society Retrieved Sept 25 2010 a b c d e f The Ruins along Highway 2 History Nebraska Retrieved October 19 2018 Jensen Richard E National Register of Historic Places Inventory Nomination Form Antioch Potash Plants usurped Nebraska State Historical Society usurped Retrieved 2013 10 18 Nebraska National Register Sites in Sheridan County usurped Nebraska State Historical Society usurped Retrieved 2013 10 18 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Antioch Nebraska The Great WWI Potash Industry of Southern Sheridan County Nebraska Sheridan County Historical Society Antioch Nebraska on Ghosttowns com Antioch Graveyard photo from NebraskaGravestonres org Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Antioch Nebraska amp oldid 1216961495, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
