Liberal Hall was built in 1878 by Tom Scales for the Hastings Free Religious Society, a group of liberal thinkers in religious matters. The frame building measured 50 by 75 feet and had a stage at one end and a gallery running around three sides. For eight years it was the only auditorium or public building in Hastings, serving for lectures on educational and philosophical subjects as well as a courtroom, dance hall, theater, gymnasium, and school room. It also served seven times as the Salvation Army Hall, as a house of worship for the United Brethren Church, as a lodge room for the Knights of Columbus, and as a meeting place for the G.A.R. Post. In 1879 it was the courtroom for the trial of I.P. "Print" Olive and Fred Fisher, who were charged with the murder of Luther Mitchell and Ami Ketcham in Custer County; because of threats of violence, the trial was moved to Hastings. Judge William Gaslin presided over the Olive trial and was known to place two loaded six-shooters before him when proceedings opened. The case became one of the most famous frontier trials in Nebraska. In 1886 the hall was leased by the Germania Society and renamed Germania Hall. Its final owner, Fred Schouburg, bought the building for its lumber and dismantled it in 1916.