Havelock Votes to Ban Alcohol in 1910

Prohibition measure passes in Nebraska town near University of Nebraska

Apr. 5, 2026 at 6:54pm

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On April 5, 1910, residents of the town of Havelock, Nebraska voted to prohibit the sale and consumption of alcohol within the town's limits. This came a year after the city of Lincoln, home to the University of Nebraska, had also voted for prohibition.

Why it matters

The vote in Havelock was seen as a response to concerns raised by University of Nebraska Chancellor Samuel Avery that intoxicated students were a problem due to the town's proximity to the university campus. The prohibition measure aimed to curb alcohol use and related issues in the area.

The details

In the year prior, Lincoln had voted to prohibit alcohol, and University of Nebraska Chancellor Samuel Avery had stated that cases of intoxicated students were due to Havelock and its proximity to the school. The Havelock residents then voted to prohibit alcohol within their town's limits on April 5, 1910.

  • On April 5, 1910, residents of Havelock voted to prohibit alcohol.
  • The previous year, in 1909, Lincoln had voted to prohibit alcohol.

The players

Samuel Avery

The Chancellor of the University of Nebraska at the time, who had raised concerns about intoxicated students due to Havelock's proximity to the university campus.

Havelock, Nebraska

A town near the University of Nebraska that voted to prohibit alcohol in 1910.

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The takeaway

The prohibition vote in Havelock was a local effort to address alcohol-related issues near the University of Nebraska campus, following a similar measure passed the previous year in the larger city of Lincoln.