JOHNSTOWN, Neb. — When a school closes in a small town, the building often tells the story of what comes next. Some are given a second chance, while others crumble with time. In Johnstown, one family sees more than an empty building — they see an opportunity to bring their community together again.

Driving through the Nebraska Sandhills, Johnstown is one of several tiny villages still hanging on.
“We’re just a quaint little town,” said longtime resident and business owner Ruth Trobee.

Trobee owns the L Bow Room, one of only a couple of businesses still open in town. Her bar and grill is filled with relics of the past — like an old train ticket and a diary from the man who first opened the establishment in the late 1800s.

“Our population says 65, but I would guess 50 of them are over 70 years old,” Trobee said.

Despite the town’s size, Trobee has kept her business growing.

“We opened up this wall several years ago. What’s behind here is the original bank,” she said.

Still, she admits that Johnstown faces big challenges.

“My dad grew up in this area, and he said there were two grocery stores and two lumber yards,” Trobee said.

That’s why when a new family moves to town — especially one with children — it’s a big deal.

“I was kind of excited because it’s a littler town. I can go around the streets. Before I didn’t get to do that,” said 13-year-old Kaydence Myers.

Kaydence’s parents, Sam and Lyndsey Myers, moved their family to Johnstown a few years ago and have purchased the old school building, which closed in 2004 and has sat mostly unused for years.

“I don’t know if we’re crazy or what we’ve got going on,” Sam Myers joked.

The Myers family hopes to breathe new life into the building and the community.

“We wanted to start doing something for the community, like host holiday meals, homeschool groups, and Bible studies,” Sam said.

Although they aren’t ready to show the inside of the school yet, the family says there’s plenty of work ahead — and plenty of potential.

“There’s a lot of history in here. We’re still discovering things like old pictures from graduating classes, basketball teams, and more,” Sam said.

Trobee, who has spent years preserving pieces of Johnstown’s past, says that kind of effort is what keeps small towns alive.

“That’s what keeps us going — the people,” she said.