Category: culture

• A Biography of Cathy Hughes

  

  This is a biography of North Omaha native Cathy Hughes. She grew up in the Logan Fontenelle Projects and today is the 2nd richest Black woman in America.

  Adam F.C. Fletcher

  June 27, 2022

  21st century, 20th century, Near North Side, biography, music, Media, Black businesses, Black businesspeople

• Historic Neighborhoods in North Omaha

  

  These are historic neighborhoods in North Omaha, including their establishment, locations and links.

  Adam F.C. Fletcher

  June 14, 2022

  19th century, 20th century, 21st century, architecture, business, civic infrastructure, culture, economics, government, Historic houses, historic preservation, industry, Politics

• A History of the Military Theater

  

  This is a history of the Military Theater, which operated from 1928 to 1975 in North Omaha. Today the building is home to Grace Apostolic Church.

  Adam F.C. Fletcher

  June 11, 2022

  20th century, 21st century, architecture, Black churches, Buildings, business, Military Avenue, theaters, Theaters, Theaters, White flight

• A History of North Omaha’s Stone Soul Picnic

  

  Black people in Omaha have celebrated, uplifted and empowered Black culture in the city for more than 150 years. Sometimes there are events and places that become synonymous with these celebrations. One of these happened for more than 25 years. This is a history of North Omaha’s Stone Soul Picnic. Before this Phenomenon Starting in […]

  Adam F.C. Fletcher

  May 17, 2022

  21st century, African Americans, Black culture, Black organizations, Black spaces and places, Carter Lake, culture, events, historic preservation, Organizations, society

• A History of the City Interracial Committee

  

  This is the history of the City Interracial Committee, an attempt by youth in the 1930s to overcome segregation in Omaha, Nebraska.

  Adam F.C. Fletcher

  March 14, 2022

  20th century, Activism, Black organizations, Black people, Churches, Civil Rights Movement, culture, Education, historic preservation, Organizations, Segregation

• A History of the Lost Blue Windows House

  

  This is a history of the lost Blue Windows home, a one-time iconic residence in the Ponca Hills of North Omaha, Nebraska.

  Adam F.C. Fletcher

  January 28, 2022

  20th century, 21st century, Architects, culture, Demolished buildings, Demolished buildings, Historic houses, houses, Lost history, Pioneer era, Ponca Hills, White people

• A History of Music in North Omaha

  

  This is a summary of a LOT of music in North Omaha over the last 150 years, including jazz, soul, blues, hip hop, gospel, pop, and so much more. Get introduced some of the people, places, events, and more from North Omaha’s musical history.

  Adam F.C. Fletcher

  January 6, 2022

  19th century, 20th century, 21st century, African Americans, African Methodist Episcopal, Art, Baptist, Black churches, Black culture, Black educators, Black organizations, Black people, Black performers, Black spaces and places, Books, Buildings, Churches, Civil Rights Movement, Clubs, clubs, culture, government, historic preservation, History of Nebraska, Jazz, Lost history, music, nightlife, religion, schools, Segregation, Social clubs, Social halls, Social services, society, theaters, Theaters, United Methodist, White flight, White people

• A History of The Omaha Guide

  

  This is a history of the Omaha Guide newspaper, a Black-owned and Black-focused semi-weekly in North Omaha, Nebraska from 1927 through 1956.

  Adam F.C. Fletcher

  December 7, 2021

  20th century, Black businesses, Black businesspeople, Black culture, Black spaces and places, culture, historic preservation, Newspapers

• A Biography of North Omaha’s Vic Walker

  

  Vic B. Walker (1864-c1925) was an African American attorney, police officer, business owner, and criminal in Omaha, Nebraska.

  Adam F.C. Fletcher

  December 2, 2021

  19th century, 20th century, biography, Black attorneys, Black businesspeople, Black leader, clubs, crime, History of Nebraska, Law, nightlife, racism

• A History of Relations between Jews and African Americans in Omaha

  

  This is a history of relations between Black people and Jews in Omaha, Nebraska. It details instances, occasions, places and spaces where the Jewish community interacted with the Black community in the city.

  Adam F.C. Fletcher

  November 29, 2021

  19th century, 20th century, 21st century, 24th and Lake, Activism, African Americans, Black people, Black politicians, Black spaces and places, business, Civil Rights Movement, culture, economics, Europeans, Historic districts, historic preservation, history, History of Nebraska, Immigrants, industry, Jewish, Lake Street, Legislators, Near North Side, North 16th Street, North 24th Street, Politics, poverty, Race riot, racism, religion, Segregation, wealthy, White flight, White people

• A History of North Omaha’s Red Dot Athletic Club

  

  This is a history of the Red Dot Athletic Club, a North Omaha sports association for young people from 1924 to 1926.

  Adam F.C. Fletcher

  November 27, 2021

  Black athletes, Black people, Clubs, Near North Side, Segregation, Sports

• A History of the Grand Theater in North Omaha

  

  This is a history of the Grand Theater near N. 16th and Locust. It was open from 1914 to 1931, and stands still today.

  Adam F.C. Fletcher

  November 19, 2021

  20th century, 21st century, architecture, Baptist, Listed on National Register of Historic Places, North 16th Street, theaters, Theaters, Theaters

• A History of Antisemitism in Omaha

  

  Throughout the history of Omaha there is a long tradition of hostility towards and prejudice against Jewish people, which is called antisemitism. It has existed since the first Jews arrived in the city in the 1860s. Antisemitism was overt in Omaha into the 1960s, by which time Jews were largely viewed as part of the […]

  Adam F.C. Fletcher

  October 6, 2021

  19th century, 20th century, 21st century, business, culture, ethnic groups, Europeans, houses, Jewish, racism, religion, White people

• Biography of George McPherson

  This is the story of Professor George T. McPherson (1864-c1915) of North Omaha, who was the preeminent pianist in Omaha for decades.

  Adam F.C. Fletcher

  March 22, 2021

  20th century, 21st century, African Americans, biography, culture, music

• History of the Omaha Colored Baseball League

  

  This is a history of the Omaha Colored Baseball League.

  Adam F.C. Fletcher

  January 12, 2021

  20th century, Black athletes, racism, Segregation, Sports

• Biography of Florentine Pinkston

  

  This is a biography of Flora Pinkston (1887-1966) of North Omaha, Nebraska.

  Adam F.C. Fletcher

  January 5, 2021

  20th century, African Americans, biography, Black culture, Black educators, Black performers, culture, Education, music

• 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

• 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 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 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

• A History of the Ritz Theater in North Omaha

  

  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.

  Adam F.C. Fletcher

  June 11, 2020

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

• A History of the Webster Telephone Exchange Building

  

  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.

  Adam F.C. Fletcher

  June 5, 2020

  20th century, 21st century, 24th and Lake, Architects, architecture, Black culture, Black people, 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