Crackling static filled the dark room.
Centennial Hall peers out across a neighborhood on the east side of Valentine, Nebraska on Oct. 24. The historic school building is considered by some to be the oldest — and most haunted — in all of the state, rumored to be home to the spirit of a student who died in 1944.
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The upper vestibule of Centennial Hall is filled with relics of Cherry County’s past on Oct. 21. Old paintings, ventriloquist dummies, medical equipment, vintage clothes and a scale model of the town’s old mortuary adorn this hall on the second floor of the historic schoolhouse.
Phyllis Ohlmann, Centennial Hall’s primary caretaker, stands outside the building on Oct. 21. Ohlmann volunteers as Centennial Hall’s treasurer, keeping track of its finances and frequently running the museum and thrift store inside. She says she’s never seen or heard a ghost wandering the halls.
The tombstone of Lila May Benham, a student at the Valentine Public School who reportedly died of heart trouble in late 1944, sits in the Mount Hope Cemetery outside town on Oct. 21. Benham’s death has since been used to fuel rumors that the schoolhouse, today known as Centennial Hall, is haunted.
Assorted keepsakes line the cabinets and shelves of the “Dukat Room” in Centennial Hall in Valentine on Oct. 21. The local history museum charges visitors $5 to tour its 12 rooms, each themed to a different part of the area’s past.
Our best Omaha staff photos & videos of October 2026
People wait for U.S. President Donald Trump to speak during a campaign event at Pinnacle Bank Expo Center at Fonner Park in Grand Island, on Monday, Oct. 5, 2026.
Nebraska's Kwazi Gilmer (3) celebrates a touchdown reception during the second half of a college football game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026.
Nebraska runs out onto the field before the first half of a college football game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026.
An umbrella lies in the street as heavy rains caused flooding in Omaha, on Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026.
Flooding is see at Fun Plex near 70th and Q Street as heavy rains caused flooding in Omaha, on Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026.
An abandoned car in the wrong lane on 50th Street north of Grover Street as heavy rains caused flooding in Omaha, on Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026.
Cars are abandoned on Q Street near 66th Street as heavy rains caused flooding in Omaha, on Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026.
Omaha fire and police were on the scene of an apparent crash that brought down the sign on southbound I480 just north of the Vinton Street bridge in Omaha, on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026. The southbound lanes were closed.
Omaha fire and police were on the scene of an apparent crash that brought down the sign on southbound I480 just north of the Vinton Street bridge in Omaha, on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026. The southbound lanes were closed.
Wahoo Neuman's Henry Woita (5) tries to tackle Yutan's Nathan Daniell (4) during a high school football game at Wahoo Neuman in Wahoo, on Friday, Oct. 9, 2026.
Workers go up the stairs to hand out red balloons prior to a college football game between the Nebraska Huskers and the Indiana Hoosiers in Lincoln, on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026.
A fan puts on a red foam cowboy hat as people make their way to their seats prior to a college football game between the Nebraska Huskers and the Indiana Hoosiers in Lincoln, on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026.
U.S. President Donald Trump wraps up his appearance at a campaign event for U.S. Sen. Pete Ricketts at Pinnacle Bank Expo Center at Fonner Park in Grand Island on Monday, Oct. 5, 2026.
Nebraska's Anthony Jones Jr. (5) holds his child, Uziah, prior to a college football game between the Nebraska Huskers and the Maryland Terrapins in Lincoln, on Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026.
Nebraska's Kwazi Gilmer (3) catches a pass in the end zone to score a touchdown against Maryland's Messiah Delhomme (33) during the second half of a college football game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026.
Nebraska's Anthony Colandrea (10) celebrates after a first down against Maryland during the second half of a college football game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026.
Nebraska's Shelby Southard (46) fails to catch the ball as Omaha's Haley Wilwerding (8) slides into second base during the seventh inning of a college softball game at Bowlin Stadium in Lincoln, on Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026.
Papillion-La Vista South's Makenna Sanders (16) and teammates celebrate after sweeping Elkhorn North in Papillion on Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026.
U.S. Sen. Pete Ricketts speaks during a campaign event at Pinnacle Bank Expo Center at Fonner Park in Grand Island on Monday, Oct. 5, 2026.
Fans watch on Fox Big Noon Kickoff show broadcasts from University of Nebraska-Lincoln's campus prior to a college football game between the Nebraska Huskers and the Indiana Hoosiers in Lincoln, on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026.
Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule walks off the field after the Hoosiers defeated the Huskers, 20-17, at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026.
Nebraska's Nyziah Hunter (1) scores a touchdown as Nebraska's Kwazi Gilmer (3) blocks Indiana's Jamari Sharpe (22) during the first half of a college football game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026.
Fans make their way to their seats holding red balloons prior to a college football game between the Nebraska Huskers and the Indiana Hoosiers in Lincoln, on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026.
