Centennial Hall

Nebraska · United States · School

The oldest standing school building in Nebraska. In 1944 a schoolgirl died, and local lore holds that her clarinet reed had been poisoned.

Centennial Hall at Valentine, Nebraska is the oldest standing school building in the state and is on the National Register of Historic Places. It is a museum now, open to visitors from late spring through early autumn.

In 1944 a schoolgirl died of a heart attack brought on by poisoning. What local lore holds, and what has kept the building's reputation, is that the poison was on her clarinet reed.

Several former teachers have spoken about what they experienced in the building.

A poisoned reed is a very specific method and an unusual claim for a small town to have invented, which is what makes this one difficult to dismiss and equally difficult to confirm. Whether anyone was ever charged is not recorded in the accounts we have.

The museum is open seasonally, and the staff will talk about it.

FAQ

Where is Centennial Hall located?

Centennial Hall is in Nebraska, United States.