22 Nebraskaland • June 2021
TOP LEFT: Two log cabins built by
Judge R. Charles Mathews in 1874, one
his home and the other the first post
office in Custer County, are now part of
Victoria Springs State Recreation Area.
MIDDLE LEFT: The Custer County School
District No. 2 was formed in 1876 and
built this school in New Helena in 1888-
1889. It served students until 1964 and
is now part of the SRA.
BOTTOM LEFT: The Riessland and
Kucera families of Pleasanton relax
around a fire in the campground at
Victoria Springs.
TOP RIGHT: Chris and Teresa Schaff ert
of Aurora and their grandchildren, Aden
and Nora Rousch, ride paddleboats
around the pond at Victoria Springs.
BOTTOM RIGHT: An aerial view of
Victoria Springs. The boundary to the
SRA is a rectangle. The road in the
foreground travels east (left side) to
west.
