Founded October 18, 1913, and named after Fred R. Gurley, superintendent with the Burlington Railroad. The first Gurley depot station was opened during the winter of 1915-1916. Three bunk cars served as a station building. One was the office, one was for freight and one was for living quarters for the agent and his family. The first agent was George Wallen. Fred Gurley was the agent from 1916-1919. During the time that Fred was the agent he started a park north of the depot. He planted flowers and made the trellis that was in the center of it and there is still a park there today. The Gurley Lumber Company was one of the first businesses in Gurley. S.J. Flora came in 1914 to be the manager of this business. The first general store and a post office were operated by F.W. Busse. In the same building, there was a pharmacy and a doctor's office. Dr. Hart was the doctor at that time. He also had the first telephone switchboard in Gurley. Christ Weyerts built a Weyerts Garage and dance hall about 1915. The Gurley State Bank was built by Christ Weyerts in 1915 on the south side of main street. This closed in 1921. A.K. Greenlee built and operated a grocery and dry goods store on the south side. This brick building was built in 1915. Gurley's first grain elevator was erected in 1914-1915 and burned on March 14, 1941. The rebuilt grain elevator was acquired by the Farmer's Union Elevator in August of 1960. Other buildings and businesses: Grace Lutheran Church - 1915; Methodist Church - 1922; Salem Lutheran Church - 1948; Hotel - 1915; J. L. Rouch Pool Hall - 1915; Farmer's State Bank - 1919; Flour Mill - 1919; Gurley Fire Department - 1917, hose cart, nozzles, 500 feet of hose; District 138 Public School - 1916; School Gymnasium - 1940; Earl Lessig Skelly Service Station - 1946; Goldie Wolcott Beauty Shop - 1928; Bill Wolcott Barber Shop - 1928; Emil Weyerts Gurley Body Shop - 1954; Gurley Telephone Company - 1940; Al Alscheimer Grocery/Cream Station - 1934; Fred Kriesel Gurley Equipment Company - 1948; American Legion Building - 1948; Water Tower - 1954; Town Water Pump House - 1973 Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gurley%2C_Nebraska