Category: Architecture

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, 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, 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, 21st century, Architecture, Civic Infrastructure, Culture, Government, Miller Park, Minne Lusa, North 24th Street, North 30th Street, Parks5 Comments
This is a pic of the Miller Park in North Omaha from the 1960s.

A History of North Omaha’s Miller Park

Adam Fletcher Sasse

The Miller Park in North Omaha has a long history. There is no single right way to write about it, and if, after you’re done reading this entire article, you disagree with the way I’ve written this history, I invite you to write your own version. This is a history of North Omaha’s Miller Park. Continue reading A History of North Omaha’s Miller Park

#PreserveThisPlace, Belvedere, Buildings, business, Demolished buildings, Drug store, Florence, Florence Field, Grocery store, Ice cream, Intersections, Miller Park, Minne Lusa, Neighborhoods, North 30th Street, Omaha & Council Bluffs Street Railway Co., real estate, Restaurants, shopping, TheatersLeave a comment
This is a history of N. 30th and Redick Ave. in North Omaha by Adam Fletcher Sasse for NorthOmahaHistory.com.

A History of the Intersection at North 30th and Redick Avenue

Adam Fletcher Sasse

Built to serve the Minne Lusa, Florence Field, Belvedere and Miller Park neighborhoods, this is a history of the intersection at North 30th and Redick Avenue in North Omaha. Continue reading A History of the Intersection at North 30th and Redick Avenue

20th century, 21st century, Architecture, Historic houses, historic preservation, Minne Lusa, North 24th Street, North 30th Street35 Comments
Minne Lusa Historic District, North Omaha, Nebraska

A History of the Minne Lusa Historic District in North Omaha

Adam Fletcher Sasse

Starting in 1916, one North Omaha neighborhood became a bastion for middle-class suburban lifestyles. Today, it is integrated, urban and surviving. This is the history of North Omaha’s Minne Lusa Historic District. Continue reading A History of the Minne Lusa Historic District in North Omaha

#PreserveThisPlace, 20th century, 21st century, African Methodist Episcopal, Architects, Architecture, Baptist, Black churches, Black ministers, Churches, Gothic, historic preservation, Kountze Place, Redlining, Segregation, White flight, White peopleLeave a comment
Located at N. 18th and Emmet Streets in North Omaha, this is Plymouth Congregational Church in 1939. It has been home to Second Baptist Church since 1981.

A History of North Omaha’s Second Baptist Church

Adam Fletcher Sasse

Located at 1802 Emmet Street in North Omaha, this is a history Second Baptist Church. Before 1981, it was home to Primm Chapel AME and Plymouth Congregational churches. Continue reading A History of North Omaha’s Second Baptist Church

20th century, 21st century, Architecture, Baptist, Black churches, Black ministers, Black organizations, Churches, COGIC, Kountze Place, Ownership, Segregation, United Methodist, White flight, White peopleLeave a comment
This is the Greater Saint Paul Church of God in Christ located at 2123 Miami Street, this church was built in 1915 by the Church of the Brethren (Dunkard Society). After moving in 1927, Grove Memorial Methodist Episcopal Church in 1927 and was renamed Clair Memorial. Clair moved into the former Brethren moved out in 1956, and Greater St. Paul COGIC moved in in 1962. It continues today.

A History of the Greater St. Paul Church of God in Christ

Adam Fletcher Sasse

This is a history of the Greater Saint Paul Church of God in Christ in the Kountze Place neighborhood of North Omaha, Nebraska. Continue reading A History of the Greater St. Paul Church of God in Christ

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

19th century, 20th century, 21st century, Banks, Bar or Tavern, Buildings, Commercial vernacular, Florence, History museums, History of Nebraska, Listed on National Register of Historic Places, Newspapers, North 30th Street, Official Omaha Landmark, Pioneer eraLeave a comment
This is a history of the Bank of Florence by Adam Fletcher Sasse for NorthOmahaHistory.com.

A History of the Bank of Florence

Adam F.C. Fletcher

This is a history of the Bank of Florence in North Omaha, including its usages as a bank, newspaper office, Old West Saloon and horse stable, and as a museum today. Continue reading A History of the Bank of Florence

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, 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

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

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

20th century, Architecture, business, Catholics, Demolished buildings, Fontenelle View, Houses, Lost history, Organizations, Retirement homes, Senior citizens10 Comments
A History of St. Vincent's Home for the Aged by Adam Fletcher Sasse for NorthOmahaHistory.com (c)2022 All rights reserved.

A History of St. Vincent’s Home for the Aged

Adam Fletcher Sasse

Caring for seniors was hard in Omaha for almost a century. Over the decades, several organizations tried to solve the situation. Just after World War II, Omaha Catholics took a major step towards promoting healthy aging for the oldest citizens … Continue reading A History of St. Vincent’s Home for the Aged

19th century, 20th century, 21st century, Architecture, Belt Line, Belt Line Railway, Buildings, business, Civic Infrastructure, Creighton University, Crime, Culture, Demolished buildings, Downtown, Government, Highways, Historic districts, History of Nebraska, Immigrants, Jefferson Square, Lost history, Native Americans, Neighborhoods, North 16th Street, North Downtown, Omaha Police Department, Organizations, Pioneer era, Politics, Poverty, schools, White flight, White people, Wrecked buildings2 Comments
North Downtown Omaha, Nebraska

A History of the Jefferson Square Neighborhood

Adam Fletcher Sasse

This is a history of Omaha’s first public park; first public school; it’s Native American neighborhood; and it’s “Hobo Park,” all wrapped up in one. This is a history of Jefferson Square in Omaha, Nebraska. Continue reading A History of the Jefferson Square Neighborhood

20th century, 21st century, Architecture, Biographies, Forest Lawn burial, historic preservation, Kountze Place, Mansions and estates, Official Omaha Landmark, Queen Anne, Wealth, White people, Wirt Street2 Comments
This is a comparison of the George F. Shepard House at 1802 Wirt Street in the Kountze Place neighborhood of North Omaha, Nebraska, in 1907 and in 2015. 1907 image courtesy of Sam Swanson.

A History of the George F. Shepard House

Adam Fletcher Sasse

Fancy homes used to line certain streets throughout North Omaha, and one of those was Wirt Street. Business leaders, influential socialites, and high-minded politicians lived up and down the block, building the neighborhood along the way. This is a history … Continue reading A History of the George F. Shepard House