Category: North 24th Street

Biographies, Black History, Culture, History of Nebraska, North 24th Street, society, storytelling1 Comment

A Biography of North Omaha’s Dr. Marguerita Washington

Adam F.C. Fletcher

This story begins with the death. On November 2nd, 1989, Mildred Brown passed away. Easily the mother of North Omaha pride, Mildred co-founded The Omaha Star in the late 1930s and ran it by herself for almost 50 years. She promoted the community mercilessly, building pride, power and purpose through her paper, and her death was a massive loss to everyone in North Omaha, especially the African American community. Continue reading A Biography of North Omaha’s Dr. Marguerita Washington

19th century, 20th century, Architecture, Culture, Economics, Historic houses, historic preservation, History of Nebraska, Kountze Place, Near North Side, North 24th Street7 Comments
Redick Hall, Omaha University, 24th and Pratt Street, North Omaha, Nebraska

A History of the Redick Mansion in North Omaha

Adam Fletcher Sasse

The most famous mansion built in North Omaha is probably the Mayne Mansion, also known as the Redick Mansion. Clifton E. Mayne was a pioneer real estate investor and salesman in the city. In the 1870s, a farmer built a little house along Saunders Street leading north out of Omaha. He sold ten acres and his little farmhouse to Mayne in 1885. Continue reading A History of the Redick Mansion in North Omaha

19th century, 20th century, 21st century, Black History, Crime, Culture, Economics, Government, Near North Side, North 24th Street, Omaha, Politics, Poverty, Race riot, Racism, society, White flight4 Comments
Near North Side, Omaha, Nebraska

A History of the Near North Side Neighborhood in North Omaha

Adam Fletcher Sasse

As far as I’m concerned, the history of Omaha’s Near North Side neighborhood is the richest in all of Omaha. It has been home to working class families, poor people, and the wealthy; northern Europeans, African Americans, and eastern Europeans; Lutherans and Catholics, Jews and Black Muslims; slums, family homes, and mansions; looked like a pioneer town, had country gentleman farms, been a suburb, and had slums; professional offices, warehouses, manufacturing plants, local storefronts, printing presses, training centers, supermarkets and pop-up shops; giant churches and synagogues, and tiny storefront temples and more. So much has happened here, and clearly its story is still being written… Continue reading A History of the Near North Side Neighborhood in North Omaha

19th century, 20th century, 21st century, Culture, History of Nebraska, Kountze Place, North 24th Street, society1 Comment
Omaha Presbyterian Theological Seminary, Florence Boulevard, Kountze Place neighborhood, North Omaha, Nebraska

A History of the Omaha Presbyterian Theological Seminary in North Omaha

Adam Fletcher Sasse

The Presbyterians were one of the congregations that grew along with Omaha. Arriving soon after the city’s founders, the first Presbyterian church in Omaha was opened in 1856. Over the next 25 years, more than 100 Presbyterian churches were founded in towns and cities across Nebraska. Their buildings became institutions for the faithful, for their communities and for the culture of the state. One institution made leaders for these flocks for more than 50 years. Continue reading A History of the Omaha Presbyterian Theological Seminary in North Omaha

20th century, 21st century, Architecture, Benson, Black History, Carter Lake, Culture, historic preservation, History of Nebraska, Kountze Place, Minne Lusa, Near North Side, North 24th Street10 Comments
Historic movie theaters of North Omaha, Nebraska

A History of Theatres and Movie Theaters in North Omaha

Adam Fletcher Sasse

While it has absolutely no active movie theaters today, the North Omaha community has been home to at least 20 (!) movie theaters over the last century. This is a short history of those theaters. Its really incomplete, as information has been hard for me to find. Continue reading A History of Theatres and Movie Theaters in North Omaha

20th century, Biographies, Black History, Crime, Houses, Near North Side, North 24th Street, Race riot, Racism13 Comments
1969 Greater Omaha Community Action Office guarded by Omaha Black Panthers

A History of the June 1969 Riot in North Omaha

Adam Fletcher Sasse

While African Americans have known about police racism for more than a century, white people across the US are beginning to acknowledge the effects of legalized harassment, white privilege, systematic discrimination, the school-to-prison pipeline and other forms of white supremacy that constantly plunder communities and the entire nation of its potential, power and purpose. With a vibrant, vital, and obvious story, Vivian Strong must be remembered today. Continue reading A History of the June 1969 Riot in North Omaha

Civic Infrastructure, Economics, Historic houses, Near North Side, North 16th Street, North 24th Street, Race riot, Racism, schools, White flight12 Comments
This is a 1938 pic of a family outside of their unit in the Logan Fontenelle Housing Projects of North Omaha. Pic courtesy of the Library of Congress.

A History of the Logan Fontenelle Housing Projects

Adam Fletcher Sasse

Once upon a time, there was a massive public housing project located at the intersection of North 24th and Paul Streets in the Near North Side neighborhood. Originally named the “Northside Village Public Housing Project,” the name was officially changed in honor of the famous Omaha tribe leader Logan Fontenelle. Continue reading A History of the Logan Fontenelle Housing Projects

20th century, 21st century, Black History, Crime, Culture, Florence, Kountze Place, Miller Park, Minne Lusa, Near North Side, North 24th Street, North Omaha, Omaha, Omaha Claim Club, Politics, Racism, White flight17 Comments
This is a 1930s era US federal government Home Owners Loan Corporation map from the US Library of Congress. It was found by Palma Joy Strand, a professor at Creighton Law School and the Werner Institute 2040 Initiative at Creighton University.

A History of Redlining in Omaha

Adam Fletcher Sasse

The history of North Omaha includes redlining starting during the 1920s, and being made illegal in the 1960s. This article explores that history, including the context in which it happened and some of the outcomes. Continue reading A History of Redlining in Omaha

20th century, Civic Infrastructure, Kountze Place, North 24th Street, Omaha, schools4 Comments
Municipal University of Omaha Science Hall, North 24th and Ames Avenue, North Omaha, Nebraska

A History of Original Omaha University in North Omaha

Adam Fletcher Sasse

Along the tree-lined streets and fine middle and upper class homes of Kountze Place in North Omaha, the staff of Omaha’s Presbyterian Theological Seminary decided in the early 20th century to start a new university. For 30 years, the neighborhood was home to the eventual University of Nebraska at Omaha. This is a short history of that time, starting from the beginning. Continue reading A History of Original Omaha University in North Omaha

19th century, 20th century, 21st century, Black History, Crime, Culture, History of Nebraska, North 24th Street, Politics, Race riot, Racism, White flight11 Comments
This is "A History of African American Politics in Omaha" by Adam Fletcher Sasse for NorthOmahaHistory.com.

A History of African American Politics in North Omaha

Adam Fletcher Sasse

This is a history of African American politics in Omaha beginning in the post-Civil War era, evolving through various struggles for rights and representation. Continue reading A History of African American Politics in North Omaha

Historic houses, History of Nebraska, Kountze Place, Near North Side, North 16th Street, North 24th Street11 Comments
"February 23, 2015. Dearest Cornice, I have finished taking the exquisite Wirt Street Home Tour in North Omaha. After visiting a dozen beautiful homes, I'm convinced this neighborhood is a place where dreams can come true! Come visit soon! Your Cousin June."

A History of North Omaha’s Wirt Street

Adam Fletcher Sasse

Hidden deep in the heart of North Omaha is a jewel of a street, filled with abundant American foursquare houses, long yards and hints of its glory 100 years ago. This section of Wirt street, from north 16th to north 24th streets, was once home to some of the predominant names in the beautiful Kountze Place development. It was also home to more than simple Foursquare style homes. In addition to the stout middle class houses, there were some exquisite examples of high style in Omaha history. This article highlights those beauties, which suggest a future for the Wirt Street historic district. Continue reading A History of North Omaha’s Wirt Street

20th century, 21st century, Architecture, Black History, Culture, Historic houses, historic preservation, History of Nebraska, Miller Park, North 24th Street, Racism, schools, Streets, White flight44 Comments
Miller Park NEIGHBORHOOD, established 1891 in North Omaha, Nebraska

A History of the Miller Park Neighborhood

Adam Fletcher Sasse

The place where I grew up, Omaha’s Miller Park neighborhood, rushes through my imagination a lot. I want to see it acknowledged, appreciated and accentuated every day. This article is my acknowledgment of the past and contribution to the future. Continue reading A History of the Miller Park Neighborhood

20th century, Black History, Culture, History of Nebraska, Near North Side, North 24th Street, Politics, Racism, White flightLeave a comment

A Time for Burning

Adam Fletcher Sasse

One of the most powerful documentaries to ever be made in Omaha is called A Time For Burning. Nominated for an Academy Award for documentary filmmaking in 1966, the film highlights then-barber/future Nebraska legislator Ernie Chambers. A graduate of the Creighton University Law School, he was elected Senator to the Nebraska Legislature in 1970. By 2005 he had become the longest-serving state Senator in the history of Nebraska. This is a powerful clip from the film featuring Chambers talking with the minister of a Lutheran church who was trying to integrate his congregation. Learn more about the film. You Might … Continue reading A Time for Burning

Architecture, Black History, Civic Infrastructure, Culture, Kountze Place, Near North Side, North 24th Street, Politics, Race riot, Racism, White flight55 Comments
This is a colorized version of a 1938 pic of 24th and Willis. Image courtesy of the Durham Museum.

A History of 24th Street in North Omaha

Adam Fletcher Sasse

North 24th Street in North Omaha, Nebraska, used to be a regular street of dreams. Home to immigrants and entrepreneurs, it hosted generations of families that made it. Then in the 1960s, several riots struck at the heart of the community. It hasn’t recovered in the 50 years since. Continue reading A History of 24th Street in North Omaha

20th century, Black History, business, Civic Infrastructure, Crime, Economics, Government, Lost history, Near North Side, North 16th Street, North 24th Street, North 30th Street, North Omaha, Politics, Poverty, Race riot, Racism, society, White flight, Wrecked buildings7 Comments
On June 27, 1969, these kids were pictured going through one of the burned out businesses along North 24th Street after the killing of Vivian Strong.

A History of the North Omaha Riots

Adam Fletcher Sasse

Because of when the riots happened and what they did, there are scars on North O that that haven’t healed almost 50 years later. Here’s a history of what happened. Continue reading A History of the North Omaha Riots

Black History, Culture, History of Nebraska, Near North Side, North 24th StreetLeave a comment

A Video History of the Dreamland Ballroom in North Omaha

Adam Fletcher Sasse

Here is a video by Waymaker Media with a short history of the Dreamland Ballroom on North 24th Street in North Omaha. Make sure you like the video and leave comments on YouTube! You Might Like… A History of the Jewell Building and Dreamland Ballroom A History of the 24th and Lake Historic District A History of the Carnation Ballroom in North Omaha A Short History of The Stage II Lounge A History of North Omaha’s Elks Hall and Iroquois Lodge 92 BONUS PICS! Continue reading A Video History of the Dreamland Ballroom in North Omaha

19th century, 20th century, Culture, Economics, History of Nebraska, North 24th Street, Saratoga6 Comments
Omaha Driving Park, North Omaha, Nebraska

A History of the Omaha Driving Park in North Omaha

Adam Fletcher Sasse

A century ago, there was a race track tucked away in Omaha’s memory. Starting as a rugged race track for fast horses and wagon races, it become a proper driving park, the county and state fairgrounds, and home to several … Continue reading A History of the Omaha Driving Park in North Omaha