20th century, Biographies, Black businesses, Demolished buildings, Harlem Renaissance, Hotels, Industry, Manufacturing, North 16th Street, North Downtown, OwnershipLeave a comment
This was an ad for the Kaffir Chemical Company at 817 North 16th St. in Omaha.

A History of the Kaffir Chemical Laboratories in North Omaha

Adam F.C. Fletcher

Kaffir Chemical Laboratories was founded in 1920 by African American entrepreneurs in North Omaha. Led by Madree Penn, it became a significant Black-owned business producing various products until its decline by 1925, representing a powerful chapter in Omaha’s Black business history. Continue reading A History of the Kaffir Chemical Laboratories in North Omaha

#PreserveThisPlace, 20th century, 24th and Lake, Black businesses, Black businesspeople, Black hotels, Historic houses, Houses, Near North Side, Segregation, Willis AvenueLeave a comment
This is a history of the Ashby Tourist Home at 2228 Willis Avenue in North Omaha, Nebraska, written by Adam Fletcher Sasse for NorthOmahaHistory.com.

A History of the Ashby Tourist Home

Adam F.C. Fletcher

This is a history of the Ashby Tourist Home at 2228 Willis Avenue in North Omaha. It was crucial for Black travelers in the city, offering them hospitality amid widespread racism. Its significance lies in fostering community and resilience during the Jim Crow era in Omaha. Continue reading A History of the Ashby Tourist Home

20th century, 21st century, Architecture, Buildings, business, Civic Infrastructure, Economics, Environment, Florence, Listed on National Register of Historic Places, Minne Lusa, Missouri River, Organizations, Politics, Public health, Racism, SegregationLeave a comment
This is a history of the OPPD North Omaha Coal Plant by Adam Fletcher Sasse for NorthOmahaHistory.com. Image courtesy of the Durham Museum and colorized by AI.

A History of the OPPD North Omaha Station

Adam Fletcher Sasse

This is a history of the OPPD North Omaha Station located in North Omaha, Nebraska. Continue reading A History of the OPPD North Omaha Station

19th century, 20th century, 21st century, Belvedere, business, Civic Infrastructure, Druid Hill, Economics, Environment, Florence, Florence Field, Fort Omaha, Gifford Park, Long School, Miller Park, Minne Lusa, Monmouth Park, North 30th Street, North Omaha, Ponca Hills, StreetsLeave a comment
These were rowhouses on North 30th Street in North Omaha. Pic courtesy of Joe Kinney.

A History of North 30th Street

Adam Fletcher Sasse

This is a history of N. 30th Street in North Omaha, extending from Dodge Street into the Ponca Hills, from 1854 to the present day. Continue reading A History of North 30th Street

20th century, 21st century, Black History, Buildings, business, Civic Infrastructure, Crime, Economics, Government, Historic districts, historic preservation, Lost history, Neighborhoods, Politics, Poverty, Racism, real estate, schools, Segregation, society, Streets, Wealth, White flight, White people, Wrecked buildings1 Comment
This is "A History of Gentrification in North Omaha" by Adam Fletcher Sasse for NorthOmahaHistory.com.

A History of Gentrification in North Omaha

Adam Fletcher Sasse

From the 1910s through today, there have been various agendas, plans and schemes focused on fixing up North Omaha. This is a history of gentrification in the community. Continue reading A History of Gentrification in North Omaha

19th century, 20th century, 21st century, Black businesses, Black culture, Black History, Black organizations, Black people, Black spaces and places, Civic Infrastructure, Creighton University, Culture, Economics, Environment, Government, Lost history, lynching, Omaha Police Department, Ownership, Politics, Racism, Redlining, Rioting, Segregation, society, WealthLeave a comment
This is "A History of White Supremacy in Omaha" by Adam Fletcher Sasse for NorthOmahaHistory.com.

A History of White Supremacy in Omaha

Adam Fletcher Sasse

This article examines Omaha’s “doctrine of white supremacy” as a deliberate, engineered system rather than random prejudice. From 1850s enslavement to modern redlining and carceral pipelines, the city’s geography and institutions were built to extract Black wealth and agency, ensuring white success through a durable, structural architecture of exclusion. Continue reading A History of White Supremacy in Omaha

19th century, Biographies, Black History, Guest author, Laurel Hill Cemetery, Lost history, lynching, Poverty3 Comments
This is a jar of soil collected in honor of George Smith, who was lynched in Omaha in 1891. Image courtesy of the Omaha World-Herald.

A Biography of George Smith by Alan Welsh

Adam Fletcher Sasse

Adam’s Notes: Alan Welsh privately researched and wrote the following article and shared it with me so we can enrich, deepen, and otherwise learn more about the actual life of the first recorded lynching victim in Omaha. Shortly after the … Continue reading A Biography of George Smith by Alan Welsh

19th century, Abolition, Activism, Americans, Black activists, Black businesspeople, Black culture, Black leader, Black politicians, Crime, Culture, Economics, Lost history, Omaha, Pioneer era, Politics, Prince Hall Masons, Racism, Segregation, society, White peopleLeave a comment
This 1868 article details how Black people joined Omaha's Republican Party after Emancipation.

A History of Black Voting in Omaha Before 1870

Adam Fletcher Sasse

Before Omaha’s founding in 1854, white supremacy suppressed Black political participation. This is a story of how Black people in the city were betrayed by white leaders and still thrived, regardless of white supremacy. Continue reading A History of Black Voting in Omaha Before 1870

19th century, Abolition, African Methodist Episcopal, Black culture, Black History, Black spaces and places, Demolished buildings, Economics, Lost history, Neighborhoods, Politics, Racism, Segregation, societyLeave a comment
In 1865, a so-called “colored school” was open by the new Omaha school district and served at least twenty-seven students annually from 1865 to 1872. Shown here is an 1888 picture of 9th Street north from Farnam. The school was on 9th Street north of Dodge Street until 1872.

A History of Omaha’s First Black Neighborhood

Adam Fletcher Sasse

Before 24th and Lake existed, Omaha’s first Black neighborhood was established in the 1850s. It was around 10th and Dodge, and was a segregated enclave known as the Near North Side. It housed significant community leaders and institutions, witnessing early civil rights struggles and eventually leading to the area’s integration by 1872. Continue reading A History of Omaha’s First Black Neighborhood

20th century, Activism, Black activists, Black History, Black organizations, Civil Rights Movement, Organizations, Politics, Racism, Segregation, Social clubs, Students, YouthLeave a comment
This is a history of the Tomorrow's World Today Club in Omaha, Nebraska, from 1940 to 1945 by Adam Fletcher Sasse for NorthOmahaHistory.com.

A History of Tomorrow’s World Club in Omaha

Adam Fletcher Sasse

The Tomorrow World’s Club, founded in 1940 by young activists in North Omaha, challenged systemic racism through surveys and campaigns for Black teacher representation. Continue reading A History of Tomorrow’s World Club in Omaha

20th century, Activism, Black activists, Black History, Black leader, Civic Infrastructure, events, Integration, Scandinavians, Segregation, Students, YouthLeave a comment
The Omaha Bus Boycott was led by the DePorres Club from 1953 to 1954, in Omaha, Nebraska.

A History of the Omaha Bus Boycott

Adam Fletcher Sasse

The Omaha Bus Boycott from 1952 to 1954 was a crucial yet overlooked Civil Rights movement. It successfully challenged employment discrimination in public transit, inspiring a collective economic action that transformed labor dynamics in Nebraska and shaped future activism. Continue reading A History of the Omaha Bus Boycott