Blog – Page 3 – North Omaha History

Life of Edwin Overall of North Omaha

Throughout most of his life, Edwin Overall (1835–1901) dedicated himself fighting for civil rights. This is his story.

Adam F.C. Fletcher

December 22, 2020

20th century, African Americans, biography, Black leader, Black organizations, Black politicians, economics, History of Nebraska, Lost history, Politics, racism, Segregation
History of Department Stores in Benson

The Benson Commercial Historic District has been home to several department stores. This is a history of the Omaha neighborhood’s stores.

Adam F.C. Fletcher

December 12, 2020

20th century, Benson, Buildings, business, economics, history, Listed on National Register of Historic Places, Military Avenue
History of Department Stores in North Omaha

Department stores once dotted the area north of Dodge and east of North 72nd Street. This is a history of department stores in North Omaha.

Adam F.C. Fletcher

December 10, 2020

20th century, 21st century, Ames Avenue, architecture, Benson, Black businesses, business, Demolished buildings, economics, historic preservation, Listed on National Register of Historic Places, North 24th Street, North 30th, North Omaha, Segregation, shopping
History of Bakeries in North Omaha

Once located all over North Omaha, there are few bakeries left — but lots of memories! This is an account of some of the bakeries from the community’s history.

Adam F.C. Fletcher

December 8, 2020

19th century, 20th century, 21st century, 24th and Lake, Bakery, business, Demolished buildings, Demolished buildings, economics, ethnic groups, Europeans, historic preservation, Immigrants, Jewish, North 16th Street, North 24th Street, North 30th, North Omaha
History of Hungarians in North Omaha

One of Omaha’s most distinct immigrant populations has nearly disappeared from the city’s identity. This is a history of Hungarians in Omaha.

Adam F.C. Fletcher

December 6, 2020

18th century, 19th century, 20th century, Cuming Street, Demolished buildings, ethnic groups, Europeans, Immigrants, Jewish, Lost history, neighborhoods, Organizations, White flight
Biography of Rev. Russel Taylor

A musician, educator and minister committed to Black power, Rev. Russel Taylor was a powerful leader in North Omaha. This is his story.

Adam F.C. Fletcher

December 6, 2020

20th century, Activism, biography, Black churches, Black leader, Black ministers, Black spaces and places, Civil Rights Movement, Demolished buildings, historic preservation, Near North Side, Presbyterian, religion, Segregation
Biography of Dr. George L. Miller

One of Omaha’s most important pioneers is remembered extensively in North Omaha.

Adam F.C. Fletcher

November 30, 2020

1898 Trans-Mississippi and International Exposition, 19th century, 20th century, biography, business, doctors, Miller Park, Newspapers, Pioneer era, Politics, Railroads, real estate, White people
History of the Tip Top Products Company

Millions of bobby pins, pink hair curlers, and other products came flying out of the Tip Top Products Company factories in Omaha. This is a history of the company.

Adam F.C. Fletcher

November 27, 2020

20th century, Buildings, Cuming Street, Demolished buildings, economics, industry, Manufacturing, North 16th Street, North Downtown
History of the Omaha Casket Company

A tornado and a fire couldn’t stop the Omaha Casket Company, which made boxes for the dead in North Omaha from 1892 to 1939.

Adam F.C. Fletcher

November 25, 2020

19th century, 20th century, Ames Ave, Belt Line, Belt Line Railway, business, Demolished buildings, Demolished buildings, industry, Lost history, Manufacturing, North 16th Street, North 30th
Directory of Historic North Omaha Church Buildings

This is a directory of historic North Omaha church buildings. Many are still churches; some are not.

Adam F.C. Fletcher

November 21, 2020

19th century, 20th century, 21st century, African Methodist Episcopal, Americans, Architects, architecture, Baptist, Black churches, Black spaces and places, Buildings, Catholics, Churches, Demolished buildings, Demolished buildings, economics, ethnic groups, Europeans, Lutheran, poverty, Presbyterian, religion, Segregation, United Methodist, wealthy, White people
History of Irvington School in Omaha

A country school that’s now engulfed by Omaha, the Irvington School was once a bastion of a small rural community. This is a history.

Adam F.C. Fletcher

November 10, 2020

19th century, 20th century, Architects, architecture, schools
History of North Omaha’s American Legion Post #30

Charity, socializing, and fraternity drove the American Legion Theodore Roosevelt Post #30 in North Omaha. Discover what happened to them.

Adam F.C. Fletcher

November 8, 2020

20th century, American Legion, Black organizations, clubs, Demolished buildings, Demolished buildings, Long School, Near North Side, nightlife, North 24th Street, Segregation
Biography of Dr. William W. Peebles

A founder of Omaha’s first African American post of the American Legion, Dr. W.W. Peebles DDS kept a 50+ year dental practice in Omaha.

Adam F.C. Fletcher

November 8, 2020

19th century, 20th century, 24th and Lake, American Legion, biography, Black dentists, Black organizations, Forest Lawn burial, Prince Hall Masons, Social clubs
History of the 24th Street Dairy Queen

From 1951 to 1963, the 24th Street Dairy Queen was serve the Black community in the Near North Side. This is a history of the business.

Adam F.C. Fletcher

November 8, 2020

Black businesses, Black businesspeople, Demolished buildings, economics, Food, Ice cream, Long School, Lost history, Near North Side, North 24th Street, Segregation
Biography of Dr. Craig Morris

One African American dentist in Omaha was a civil rights advocate, economic justice activist, and medical leader in the community. Then he simply left North Omaha. This is a biography of his life in the community.

Adam F.C. Fletcher

November 7, 2020

19th century, 20th century, 24th and Lake, American Legion, biography, Black dentists, Black leader, Clubs, Creighton, doctors, economics, Healthcare, Hospitals, Near North Side, Prince Hall Masons, Segregation
History of the Omaha Night Owls

A century ago, the Omaha Night Owls were the “Hottest Colored Orchestra in Town.” This is their story.

Adam F.C. Fletcher

November 6, 2020

20th century, 24th and Lake, Black performers, Jazz, Near North Side, nightlife
History of Cass Street School

Located in the original Near North Side neighborhood, one grade school at North 14th and Cass Street served immigrants, African Americans, adults, and others. Today the school is largely forgotten.

Adam F.C. Fletcher

November 2, 2020

African Americans, architecture, Demolished buildings, Demolished buildings, Immigrants, Near North Side, North Downtown, schools
History of Minne Lusa School

Opened in a re-used school building in 1917, North Omaha’s Minne Lusa School has a long history.

Adam F.C. Fletcher

November 2, 2020

20th century, 21st century, architecture, Buildings, Minne Lusa, schools
History of the North Freeway in Omaha

First conceptualized in 1954, it took almost 40 years for North Omaha’s highest high speed corridor to be completed. This is a history of the North Freeway.

Adam F.C. Fletcher

October 28, 2020

20th century, 21st century, African Americans, civic infrastructure, Demolished buildings, Demolished buildings, economics, government, Highways, historic preservation, History of Nebraska, Lost history, Near North Side, North Omaha, Politics, racism, Segregation, streets, White flight
A Biography of Levi Carter

A wealthy industrialist worked hard, then died. His wife gave the City of Omaha a lot of money to commemorate his life, and today the name is all over East Omaha. This is a biography of Levi Carter.

Adam F.C. Fletcher

October 26, 2020

19th century, 20th century, biography, East Omaha, economics, historic preservation, History of Nebraska, Manufacturing, Missouri River, wealthy
A History of Winter Quarters

In 1846, a town emerged on the western bank of the Missouri River. Although it only existed for a few years, there were a lot of elements that resembled a regular town, and its impact is still felt today. This is a history of Winter Quarters in the Indian Country. Terrorized by religious extremists in […]

Adam F.C. Fletcher

October 26, 2020

19th century, Churches, Demolished buildings, Demolished buildings, Florence, government, historic preservation, history, History of Nebraska, Monmouth Park, Mormons, North 30th, Pioneer era, religion
History of 2410 Lake Street

This is a history of the now-demolished building that once stood at 2410 Lake Street that housed a vaudeville theater, movies, a nightclub, a bowling alley, a supper club, and a teen club, as well as a bar before it was demolished in the 1970s.

Adam F.C. Fletcher

October 5, 2020

20th century, 24th and Lake, Black businesses, Black spaces and places, Cafes, Clubs, clubs, Demolished buildings, Food, Lake Street, Lost history, Near North Side, nightlife, Restaurants, Theaters
A History of the Omaha Fire Station #6

Omaha Fire Department station #6 was located at 914-16 North 24th Street. It was built in 1906 and demolished in the 1970s.

Adam F.C. Fletcher

October 2, 2020

20th century, architecture, civic infrastructure, Demolished buildings, Demolished buildings, Fire stations, Near North Side, North 24th Street
A History of Omaha’s “Black Mayor”

Since its founding in 1854, the City of Omaha has never had a publicly elected Black mayor. For a period in from the 1930s through the 1940s though, there was a Black mayor competition held. This is a history of that position.

Adam F.C. Fletcher

September 21, 2020

20th century, Black leader, Black organizations, Black spaces and places, culture, historic preservation, History of Nebraska, Lost history, Organizations, Segregation, Social clubs, society
History of the Carver Savings and Loan Association

This is a history of the Carver Bank in North Omaha, the first-ever Black-owned bank in Nebraska.

Adam F.C. Fletcher

September 21, 2020

20th century, 21st century, 24th and Lake, architecture, Art, Black businesspeople, Black organizations, Black spaces and places, business, Civil Rights Movement, culture, economics, historic preservation, History of Nebraska, Lake Street, Listed on National Register of Historic Places, Segregation