Category: Buildings

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20th century architecture Buildings Lost history Near North Side North 24th Street Segregation theaters Theaters Theaters

A History of the Ritz Theater in North Omaha

Ritz Theater, 2041 North 24th Street, North Omaha, Nebraska
This is the Ritz Theater in 1971, its last year of operation. It was a Black theater.

A theater opened to African Americans in a time when Omaha was deeply segregated, the Ritz Theater was an anomaly in the city. Here’s some of its history.

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20th century 21st century 24th and Lake Architects architecture Black spaces and places business civic infrastructure culture Great Plains Black History Museum historic preservation Lake Street Listed on National Register of Historic Places Near North Side Organizations Social services

A History of the Webster Telephone Exchange Building

Original North Side YMCA, 2213 Lake Street, North Omaha, Nebraska
The Webster Telephone Exchange Building at 2213 Lake Street was the home of the Urban North Side YMCA from 1945 to 1951, later becoming the Great Plains Black History Museum.

Some buildings are constructed, serve a purpose and then are demolished. Others seem to live several lifetimes by acting as a base for several enterprises and a hub for the community during different crises. Despite looking like its falling apart right now, one Lake Street building is such an institution, serving as an icon of change, sustainability and transformation in the community. This is is a history of the Webster Telephone Exchange Building.

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19th century 20th century 21st century African Americans Architects architecture Demolished buildings ethnic groups historic preservation Immigrants Jewish Near North Side North 24th Street schools Segregation

A History of Kellom School

1950 Kellom School, North Omaha, Nebraska
This is a 1950 photo of students in a history project at Kellom School.

What do Fred Astaire, Roger and Gale Sayers, Bob Gibson, Bob Boozer, Michael Anania, Brenda Council, and former Omaha mayor Johnny Rosenblatt all have in common? Born in the Near North Side, each attended the same school. That same building is a neighborhood institution with deep roots going back at least 140 years in Omaha’s past. This is a history of North Omaha’s Kellom School.

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19th century 20th century 21st century Ames Avenue architecture Belt Line Buildings business civic infrastructure culture economics Expo grounds historic preservation History of Nebraska houses industry Intersection North 16th Street North 24th Street Omaha & Council Bluffs Street Railway Co. Organizations Politics Saratoga wealthy White flight

A Timeline of the History of Saratoga

Suburban Theatre, North Omaha, Nebraska
In the 1910s, the Suburban Theatre was located on North 24th Street just south of Ames Avenue.

This is a timeline of the history of the Saratoga neighborhood in North Omaha, including the intersection of 24th and Ames. Included here are events, places and people central to the neighborhood’s existence as a pioneer town, leafy suburb, and a seemingly abandoned urban neighborhood.

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19th century architecture business Demolished buildings historic preservation North 24th Street Pioneer era Saratoga

A History of the Saratoga Springs Hotel in North Omaha

Grant Hotel aka Saratoga Springs Hotel, N. 24th and Grand Ave., North Omaha, Nebraska
Shown here is the Grand Hotel, originally called the Saratoga Springs Hotel and later serving as the first Brownell Hall. It was located at N. 24th and Grand Ave. in present-day Omaha.

One building defined the early history of a boom-and-bust town located in present-day North Omaha. Despite only being open for a short time, the building left a long shadow on the area. This is a history of the Saratoga Springs Hotel in the town of Saratoga, Nebraska Territory. Starting a Town Erastus Beadle came to […]

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19th century 20th century 21st century Architects architecture Black spaces and places Buildings economics Education historic preservation Lost history North 30th schools

A History of the Druid Hill School in North Omaha

Druid Hill School Math Fair, North Omaha, Nebraska
This 1991 picture shows students listening to a teacher at the Druid Hill Math Fair.

Some schools in Omaha were built in reaction to floods of new residents moving into neighborhoods unexpectedly. Others were built to attract new residents. Originally opened in 1885, the school at North 30th and Spaulding Street was the latter. This is a history of the Druid Hill School in North Omaha.

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19th century 20th century 21st century architecture Bemis Park biography economics Historic houses historic preservation Jody Lovallo Listed on National Register of Historic Places Lost history Mansions and estates Official Omaha Landmark wealthy

A History of the Zabriskie Mansion in North Omaha by Jody Lovallo

Zabriskie Mansion, 3524 Hawthorne Avenue, the Bemis Park Landmark Heritage District, North Omaha, Nebraska
This is a 1983 image of the Zabriskie Mansion at 3524 Hawthorne Avenue in the Bemis Park Landmark Heritage District.

Adam’s Note: This is a guest article by Jody Lovallo in her continuing series about important women in North Omaha history. Check out the “You Might Like…” section below for links to her other articles. Enjoy “A History of the Zabriskie Mansion” by Jody Lovallo.