A prison that was accidentally sold became a curious landmark (6 photos)

To call Harvard a city would be a gross exaggeration. It's a little over a mile square and has a population of less than a thousand. Harvard, in Clay County, Nebraska, is more of a hamlet.





You don't just drop by here if you have business, family, or friends there. But if you find yourself in these parts, take a detour and stop by Harvard. There's a nondescript brick building with two rooms, and a historical plaque next to it that tells how it brought fame to this remote corner of Nebraska.



In 1943, the city authorities decided to get rid of several abandoned lots, selling them for a dollar and a half each. Sixteen-year-old Robert Pinkney, the son of a local doctor, decided to buy a couple of lots to plant "victory gardens" on them - that's what they called gardens during the war that helped fight food shortages. Looking through the list, Robert noticed something strange: among the lots, by chance, was the one on which stood... the city jail.





Like any good citizen, Robert pointed out the mistake to the authorities. But the officials just laughed in his face. Then the guy decided that the best revenge was to buy the lot. Which is what he did.

The deal was done, the documents were signed, but the city authorities stubbornly refused to admit their mistake. They pretended that nothing had happened and continued to jail violators. Robert even put a lock on the door once, but the officials broke it and threw the young owner out.



Then Pinkney hired a lawyer and sued for illegally using his property. The city agreed to pay rent, but put forward a counter-condition: Robert must maintain the sidewalks, trim the trees, and weed, or he would be fined. At one point, the guy even threatened to tear down the prison.

Eventually, the city gave in and offered to buy the building back. But then a new snag arose: Robert was a minor, and by law could not transfer ownership until he turned 21.



The story hit the press and spread across the country. Many publications wrote about it. Someone offered Robert $150 for the prison, someone - $35 a month.

On the advice of a sailor who had returned from the war, Pinkney decided to put the prison up for auction so that the proceeds would go to war bonds. As a result, the famous ventriloquist Edgar Bergen and his puppet Charlie McCarthy "bought" the prison for $10,000 in bonds. When the fuss died down, the building was quietly returned to the city.



While the city council was probably embarrassed, the story had two positives. First, Harvard became famous throughout the country. And second, the money raised helped support the army.

Today, the prison still stands, but no longer accepts residents.