Author: Adam Fletcher Sasse

I am a historian who researches, writes and edits NorthOmahaHistory.com. I grew up in the Sherman and Miller Park neighborhoods and graduated from Omaha North High School in 1993. I have written eight books and have had several academic articles published related to the past of North Omaha.
Architects, Architecture, Buildings, Florence, Focus Topic, Wrecked buildings
This 1973 article from the Omaha World-Herald highlighted an idea for the Florence Historical Village, a concept that never saw the light of day.

Focus: Florence Historic District

Adam Fletcher Sasse

The Florence neighborhood in Omaha, Nebraska, should be a historic district. These are the articles I’ve written related to Florence that prove that. Continue reading Focus: Florence Historic District

19th century, Activism, Bar or Tavern, Biographies, Black barber, Black businesses, Black businesspeople, Black spaces and places, Downtown, nightlife, Ownership, Politics, Prospect Hill burial, SegregationLeave a comment
Barber shop, 24th and Ames, North Omaha, Nebraska

A Biography of Richard D. Curry

Adam Fletcher Sasse

Many people live unremarkable lives filled with sameness and consistency, while some break the mold. Given the racist nature of Omaha, in the city’s early Black community, there are not a lot of noted Black people. This is the story … Continue reading A Biography of Richard D. Curry

16th century, 17th century, 18th century, Americans, Black History, Black people, Black spaces and places, Enslaved Person, Ethnicities & Races, Europeans, French, Government, historic preservation, History of Nebraska, Immigrants, Lost history, Missouri River, Mormons, Native Americans, Omaha, Pioneer era, Racism, Spanish, White peopleLeave a comment
York (1770 – before 1832) was the first African American in Omaha. He was a slave belonging to William Clark of the 1804 Lewis and Clark expedition.

A History of Black People in the Omaha Area Before 1850

Adam Fletcher Sasse

Black trappers, traders, pioneers, and farmers were in the Omaha area before the city was founded. This is a history of Black people in the Omaha area before 1854 by Adam Fletcher Sasse for NorthOmahaHistory.com. Continue reading A History of Black People in the Omaha Area Before 1850

24th and Lake, Architecture, Bar or Tavern, Black businesses, Black doctors, Buildings, business, Grocery store, Law, Listed on National Register of Historic Places, RestaurantsLeave a comment
This is the top of the building at 2314 N. 24th St. in North Omaha, and this is an article about the building's history by Adam Fletcher Sasse for NorthOmahaHistory.com.

A History of the Jensen Building in North Omaha

Adam Fletcher Sasse

This is a history of the Jensen Building by 24th and Lake in North Omaha. Built in 1913, its been essential to the Black community’s history in the city. Continue reading A History of the Jensen Building in North Omaha

Demolished buildings, Grocery store, Hospitals, Intersections, North 24th Street, North Omaha, University of OmahaLeave a comment
This is the signage on the northeast corner of 24th and Pratt, highlighting the TBC Shop sign behind the street signs.

A History of the Intersection of North 24th and Pratt Streets

Adam Fletcher Sasse

This is a history of the intersection of 24th and Pratt, home to important institutions and businesses throughout the life of North Omaha. It was written by Adam Fletcher Sasse for NorthOmahaHistory.com. Continue reading A History of the Intersection of North 24th and Pratt Streets

20th century, 21st century, Black churches, Buildings, Churches, Demolished buildings, historic preservation, Modern, Near North Side, North 24th Street1 Comment
This is the North 24th Street Church of God at 2021 N. 24th Street in North Omaha. Founded in 1923, this building was constructed in 2001.

A History of the North 24th Street Worship Center

Adam Fletcher Sasse

There are a number of historical Black churches in North Omaha. A few have illustrious, long stories packed with hard times and fascinating outcomes, all the while growing and shrinking, suffering and aspirations. Other congregations are built entirely on faith … Continue reading A History of the North 24th Street Worship Center

20th century, Ames Ave, Ames Avenue, Architecture, Culture, Cuming Street, Intersections, North 16th Street, North 30th Street, Restaurants, Wrecked buildings, Youth15 Comments

A History of Drive-Ins in North Omaha

Adam Fletcher Sasse

In the 1950s, a culture of cruising muscle cars, jeans and white t-shirts, pony tails and carhops on roller skates took over America. As the home to a lot of Omaha’s suburban dreamscape, North Omaha had several drive-in restaurants starting in that decade and spreading into the 1960s. This is a history of drive-ins in North Omaha. Continue reading A History of Drive-Ins in North Omaha

#PreserveThisPlace, 20th century, 21st century, African Methodist Episcopal, Architecture, Baptist, Black churches, Buildings, Catholics, Churches, Civil Rights Movement, COGIC, Demolished buildings, Economics, Ethnicities & Races, Gothic, historic preservation, Kountze Place, Listed on National Register of Historic Places, Ownership, Presbyterian, Racism, Redlining, Segregation, United Methodist, White flight, White people, Wrecked buildingsLeave a comment
These are some of the historic churches of the Kountze Place neighborhood in North Omaha.

The Historic Churches of Kountze Place in North Omaha

Adam Fletcher Sasse

This is a history of the historic churches in the Kountze Place neighborhood of North Omaha, Nebraska. Continue reading The Historic Churches of Kountze Place in North Omaha

19th century, 20th century, 21st century, Architects, Architecture, Demolished buildings, Economics, Florence, Healthcare, Kellom Heights, Long School, Poverty, Religion, Segregation, Senior citizens, society, White people1 Comment
This was the House of Hope in Florence, demolished in 2013.

A History of the Florence Home Healthcare Center, aka the House of Hope

Adam Fletcher Sasse

This is the history of the House of Hope, a nondenominational senior living facility in North Omaha. Continue reading A History of the Florence Home Healthcare Center, aka the House of Hope

19th century, 20th century, 21st century, Architecture, Biographies, Cuming Street, doctors, Forest Lawn burial, Historic houses, historic preservation, Listed on National Register of Historic Places, North 40th Street, Official Omaha Landmark, Queen Anne, Railroads, real estate, Walnut Hill, Wealth6 Comments
The Mercer Mansion in North Omaha, Nebraska.

A History of the Mercer Mansion in North Omaha

Adam Fletcher Sasse

This is a history of North Omaha’s Mercer Mansion, built in 1885 at N. 40th and Cuming Street and still standing today! Continue reading A History of the Mercer Mansion in North Omaha

19th century, 20th century, Civic Infrastructure, Demolished buildings, Economics, Omaha & Council Bluffs Street Railway Co., Streets, Transportation, Wrecked buildings3 Comments
Omaha Street Railway Company streetcar barn, N. 20th and Nicholas Streets, North Omaha, Nebraska

A History of the Nicholas Streetcar Barn in North Omaha

Adam Fletcher Sasse

This is a history of the streetcar barn at North 20th and Nicholas Streets that stood from 1887 to 2017. It was also home to Micklin Hardware and Lumber. Continue reading A History of the Nicholas Streetcar Barn in North Omaha

Adam Fletcher Sasse, Black people, BooksLeave a comment
#OmahaBlackHistory: African American People, Places and Events from the History of Omaha, Nebraska by Adam Fletcher Sasse of NorthOmahaHistory.com

#OmahaBlackHistory: African American People, Places and Events from the History of Omaha, Nebraska by Adam Fletcher Sasse

Adam Fletcher Sasse

OmahaBlackHistory: African American People, Places and Events from the History of Omaha, Nebraska by Adam Fletcher Sasse (CommonAction Publishing, 235 pages, 2021) Continue reading #OmahaBlackHistory: African American People, Places and Events from the History of Omaha, Nebraska by Adam Fletcher Sasse

18th century, 19th century, 20th century, 21st century, General history, historic preservation, North Omaha, presentation, press release, Transportation5 Comments
This is a July 16, 2023 presentation called "North O's Planes, Trains & Automobiles - AND MORE!" by Adam Fletcher Sasse for NorthOmahaHistory.com.

North O’s Planes, Trains & Automobiles – AND MORE! Presentation by Adam Fletcher Sasse

Adam Fletcher Sasse

On June 16, 2023, Adam Fletcher Sasse made a presentation to Mt. Olive Lutheran Church called “North O’s Planes, Trains & Automobiles – AND MORE!” In this slideshow, I showed how the railroads, interstates, boulevards and more influenced, drove and transformed the history of the community for the last 170+ years. Continue reading North O’s Planes, Trains & Automobiles – AND MORE! Presentation by Adam Fletcher Sasse

19th century, 20th century, 21st century, Architecture, Belt Line Railway, Civic Infrastructure, General history, Military Avenue, nightlife, North Omaha, society, Theatres5 Comments
This is a circa 1946 pic for "A History of North 45th and Military Avenue" by Adam Fletcher Sasse for NorthOmahaHistory.com.

A History of the Intersection of North 45th Street and Military Avenue

Adam Fletcher Sasse

Here’s the history of the convergence of a passenger railroad, several neighborhoods and streetcars that made N. 45th and Military a vibrant intersection in North Omaha for decades! Continue reading A History of the Intersection of North 45th Street and Military Avenue

19th century, 20th century, 21st century, Architects, Architecture, Historic districts, Historic houses, Listed on National Register of Historic Places, Neighborhoods, Official Omaha Landmark, Pioneer eraLeave a comment
National Register of Historic Places NRHP plaque

National Register of Historic Places in North Omaha

Adam Fletcher Sasse

These are official historic sites in North Omaha, extending from Dodge Street to the Washington County line, and from North 72nd Street to the Missouri River in Omaha, Nebraska. Continue reading National Register of Historic Places in North Omaha

20th century, 21st century, Architecture, Buildings, Children, Culture, Education, Florence, Government, Listed on National Register of Historic Places, North 30th Street, Organizations, Senior citizens, Social halls, Students, Youth5 Comments
This is a 1971 pic of the sign for the Florence Community Center located at N. 30th and Clay Streets. Pic courtesy of the Durham Museum.

A History of the Florence Building

Adam Fletcher Sasse

The Florence Main Street is filled with several important buildings that tell the neighborhood’s history from 1856 until today. One of the most important has been a social hall, gymnasium, public library, and is now a college. This is a history of the original Florence Community Center, also called the Florence Building. Continue reading A History of the Florence Building

18th century, 19th century, 20th century, 21st century, General history, historic preservation, North Omaha, Pioneer era, presentation, press release
An April 16, 2023 presentation to Mt. Olive Lutheran Church in North Omaha called "Losing North Omaha's History" by Adam Fletcher Sasse of NorthOmahaHistory.com.

Losing North Omaha’s History Presentation by Adam Fletcher Sasse

Adam Fletcher Sasse

Losing North Omaha’s History—Little towns, forgotten schools, lost cemeteries and other missing elements have left big holes in the history of North Omaha. Drawing on his original research, Adam will highlight the bizarre, boggling, and benign past of big dreams, good intentions, and abandoned possibilities of the community with pictures and more, much of which nobody remembers or shares anymore. Continue reading Losing North Omaha’s History Presentation by Adam Fletcher Sasse

20th century, Age groups, Architecture, Black culture, Black History, Black organizations, Buildings, Children, Children's entertainment, Commercial vernacular, Culture, Economics, Near North Side, North 24th Street, Organizations, Parents, Senior citizens, YouthLeave a comment
Bryant Center, North Omaha, Nebraska

A History of the Bryant Center

Adam Fletcher Sasse

This is a history of the Bryant Center in North Omaha, Nebraska, starting in 1966 and continuing to today! Continue reading A History of the Bryant Center

Apartments, Architecture, Commercial vernacular, Demolished buildings, Kountze Place, North 24th Street, schools, Students, University of Omaha1 Comment
Joslyn Hall, Omaha University, North 24th and Evans Streets.

A History of Joslyn Hall in North Omaha

Adam Fletcher Sasse

From 1916 to 1964, a three-story brick building sat at N. 24th and Evans St. in North Omaha, Nebraska. This is a history of the building, originally called Joslyn Hall and then University Apartments. Continue reading A History of Joslyn Hall in North Omaha

Biographies, Black businesses, Black businesspeople, Black History, Black hotels, Forest Lawn burial, Near North Side, North 24th Street, Religion, Senior citizens1 Comment
This article, entitled "Love, Freeheart, Sunshine and Peace, It's Wonderful," was a mocking piece in the Omaha World-Herald on February 27, 1944.

A Biography of Perfect Peace

Adam Fletcher Sasse

North Omaha has been home to all kinds of people. Some were entrepreneurs, some were devoutly religious, and every now and then some were a little bit of one and the other. This is a biography of one such woman … Continue reading A Biography of Perfect Peace