Since beginning my research on the history of North Omaha in earnest more than 15 years ago, I’ve discovered that the number of people, places and events that happened throughout the community is outstanding. To illustrate that, I have compiled some of the different events I’ve found that happened in North Omaha in 1890.

• In the 1890 US Census, the city of Omaha had 140,452 residents.
• There were 4,658 Black residents comprising 3.3% of the city’s population in 1890. According to newspaper accounts from this era, the 1890 census recorded “all people of color” in Omaha as “colored” including Chinese, Japanese, Indians, and others.
• General George Crook (1830-1890) lived in North Omaha as the leader of Fort Omaha twice totaling almost a decade. He died on March 21, 1890. The General Crook House was named in his honor.
• William Connell (1846-1924), a Nebraska Republican representative who supported the movement to secure pensions for former slaves, introduced the first bill in the US Congress in support. Connell lived in Omaha. Modeled after the military pension plan for Civil War veterans, H.R. 11119 wasn’t passed.
• In 1890, a major amateur baseball field was built at Florence Boulevard and Miami Street with bleachers, a backstop, a locker room with showers and more.
• The first Black candidate for statewide office, Rev. George Woodbey (1854-1937), ran for Lieutenant Governor of Nebraska for the Nebraska Prohibition Party.
• The second Florence School was built at 8516 North 31st Street at Tucker Street in 1890.
• For 20 years prior, the City of Omaha paved city streets with a variety of surfaces. In 1890 they started paving with a new material called asphalt in a few North Omaha neighborhoods.
• Harry Buford (1890–1951), a longtime policeman and a lieutenant for the city’s crime boss Tom Dennison, was born in 1890.
• A chapter of a national building, loan and protective union is established in Omaha to help Blacks in the city buy or build a home. The board included president George F. Franklin (1852-1901), vice-president William Marshall, Secretary and Treasurer Alfred S. Barnett (1858-1905), and attorney James S. Bryant (1869-c1903). Others involved included Millard F. Singleton (1859-1939), Alphonso Williams and Harrison Buckner.
• In 1890, the Omaha Murphy, Wasey and Company Factory was built along the Belt Line Railroad at 3167 Spaulding St. They closed the plant in 1931, but the building still stands today.
• The fine Queen Anne-style Burdick House at 1618 Emmet Street was built in 1890.
• The Omaha chapter of the National Afro-American League was established by Edwin R. Overall (1835-1901), Alfred Barnett, Dr. Matthew Rickets (1858-1917), Silas Robbins (1857-1916) and Fred Thomas, among others.
• The owners of the Walnut Hill development signed a contract with the streetcar company to extend there, and the value of the neighborhood’s lots skyrocketed.
• The first African-American physician in Omaha arrived this year. He was Dr. W.H.C. Stephenson, and his arrival was noted as the start of the first African American professional class in Omaha.
• The Immanuel Deaconess Home for the Aged and Infirm, the
• Immanuel Hospital and the Deaconess Motherhouse all opened in 1890 at North 34th and Meredith Avenue.
• The historic Burdick House at 1618 Emmet Street was built this year. Located in the Kountze Place neighborhood, it was designed and built by I. E. Burdick, who owned it as well.
• George F. Franklin (1852-1901) arrived in Omaha in 1890 as a barber, later starting a Black newspaper called The Enterprise. He was also an influential Republican activist and co-founded the Omaha chapter of the National Afro-American League in 1890.
• Trinity Methodist Church moved to 2017 Binney Street in the Kountze Place neighborhood. The Easter Sunday tornado of 1913 nearly demolished the church. In 1953, the church moved to Fontenelle Boulevard.
• On June 14, 1890, a massive fire burned down the second Carter White Lead Company plant in a single night. They rebuilt quickly.
• The Mergen House at 4922 Ames Avenue was built in 1873, but in 1890 it was expanded on majorly making it the finest country mansion in this section of Omaha.
• A two-story office building and storefront at 2910 North 30th Street was built this year. Located in the Omaha View neighborhood, the building stands today.
• 1890 was the year Frank Shelton “Red” Perkins (1890–1976) was born. Red Perkins Orchestra was one of the main ragtime bands in Omaha for decades.
• The Garneau-Kilpatrick House was built this year. It is located at 3100 Chicago Street and was designed in a mixed Romanesque and Richardsonian Romanesque style. Located in the Gifford Park neighborhood, it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982 and designated an Omaha Landmark in 1980.
• Millard Singleton, an African American government employee in Omaha, helps found the Nebraska Afro-American League this year. He lived in the Near North Side neighborhood.
• First United Presbyterian Church was established this year. They built a new church at 2108 Emmet Street and stayed there until the early 1950s.
• The house at 1538 North 17th Street was built this year. Located in the Near North Side neighborhood, it is currently one of the oldest houses in North Omaha.
• C.C. Galloway (1890-1958) was born in 1890. The publisher of The Omaha Guide, a Black newspaper, he was an influential community leader in many ways.
• The first hotel for African Americans in Omaha was opened and run by a Mr. Lewis at 10th and Capitol Streets.
• The first Omaha Presbyterian Hospital opened in 1890 on Binney Street.
• In 1890, the Campion House was built at 518 Florence Boulevard. It was demolished by Creighton University in 2022.
• As the fine Kountze Place streetcar suburb was developing, the Sacred Heart Catholic Parish was established in 1890 in another neighborhood but moved later and continues to exist today.
• The first African American candidate ran for the Nebraska State Legislature this year. He was Edwin Overall, and he lost.
• In 1890, the First United Presbyterian Church at 2108 Emmet Street in the Kountze Place neighborhood was built.

Its obvious that 1890 was a tremendous year in the history of North Omaha. The amount of notable events extends far beyond this list, and surely I’m neglectful of the most important things. However, this list alone shows the extent of the people, places and events that contributed to making North Omaha a great place.

If you know of events, people or places that happened in 1890 in North Omaha, please share them in the comments section!

You Might Like…

• A History of North Omaha, Part 1
• A History of North Omaha, Part 2
• A History of Black People in the Omaha Area Before 1850