E Pluribus OmahaE Pluribus Omaha

A look at Ethnic OmahaA look at Ethnic Omaha

1890 to World War I1890 to World War I

Immigrants come to Omaha from Eastern Immigrants come to Omaha from Eastern and Northern Europeand Northern Europe

GermanyGermany Czechoslovakia (Bohemia)Czechoslovakia (Bohemia) JewsJews

Why come to Omaha?Why come to Omaha?

Work - meat packing, rail road, agricultureWork - meat packing, rail road, agriculture Sense of CommunitySense of Community Free land!Free land!

Why live in the same part of the city?Why live in the same part of the city? SafetySafety FamiliesFamilies Similar living traits (food, language, dress, etc.) Similar living traits (food, language, dress, etc.)

Coming to the new countryComing to the new country

When you first arrived, you were set up to live above an ethnic When you first arrived, you were set up to live above an ethnic businessbusiness

You lived there until you made enough money to move out and You lived there until you made enough money to move out and buy your own placebuy your own place

Then a new immigrant came in to live and so on…..Then a new immigrant came in to live and so on…..

Jewish CommunityJewish Community Centered around 24Centered around 24thth and Lake and Lake

Streets in North OmahaStreets in North Omaha Moved west as the wealth Moved west as the wealth

went west in the citywent west in the city New center on 132New center on 132ndnd between between

Pacific and Dodge Streets Pacific and Dodge Streets (JCC)(JCC)

Important people – Jonas Important people – Jonas Brandeis, Rose BlumkinBrandeis, Rose Blumkin

Key Contributions: Key Contributions: Establishment of a “financial Establishment of a “financial district”district”

Brandeis and the TitanicBrandeis and the Titanic Emil Brandies was Emil Brandies was

headed home from headed home from Europe earlyEurope early

He gave up his seat in a He gave up his seat in a life boat to a young life boat to a young mother and her childmother and her child

He was found floating in He was found floating in the water after 3 daysthe water after 3 days

Only identification was a Only identification was a gold pocket watch & gold pocket watch & cigarette case w/ his cigarette case w/ his initialsinitials

The gold pocket watch of Emil Brandeis & an inventoryof his belongings (Durham Western Heritage Museum)

Brandeis Family PlotBrandeis Family Plot

Brandeis Family PlotBrandeis Family Plot

German CommunityGerman Community South Omaha (just south of South Omaha (just south of

Rosenblatt)Rosenblatt) German American Society now German American Society now

is on 120is on 120thth Street between Street between Center and I StreetsCenter and I Streets

Important people: Fred Krug, Important people: Fred Krug, Peter Iler, and the Kountze Peter Iler, and the Kountze BrothersBrothers

Strong emphasis on education Strong emphasis on education and religion (Lutheran)and religion (Lutheran)

Schools were closely tied to Schools were closely tied to Lutheran churches Lutheran churches (Preschools, Elementary)(Preschools, Elementary)

Irish CommunityIrish Community First Immigrants to move to First Immigrants to move to

Omaha in great numbersOmaha in great numbers Settled in downtown & in the Settled in downtown & in the

area of I-80 and I-480 meet area of I-80 and I-480 meet (Sheelytown)(Sheelytown)

Key Contributions: Catholic Key Contributions: Catholic ReligionReligion

Important people: Edward & Important people: Edward & John Creighton, Patrick and John Creighton, Patrick and Shamus Sheely, Father Shamus Sheely, Father Edward Flanagan, John Edward Flanagan, John MulhullMulhull

Black CommunityBlack Community North 24North 24thth and Lake Streets and Lake Streets Moved to Omaha during WW I Moved to Omaha during WW I

to escape poverty and racismto escape poverty and racism Key Contributions: Religion Key Contributions: Religion

(Baptists, African Methodist (Baptists, African Methodist Church-AMC)Church-AMC)

Important people: Ernie Important people: Ernie Chambers, Bob Gibson, Gale Chambers, Bob Gibson, Gale Sayers, Ahman Green, Sayers, Ahman Green, Malcolm LittleMalcolm Little

Czech (Bohemian) CommunityCzech (Bohemian) Community 1313thth and Martha Streets and Martha Streets Little Bohemia Little Bohemia Key Contributions: Food, Key Contributions: Food,

opened sports programs in opened sports programs in their “Sokal” hallstheir “Sokal” halls

Important people: Roman Important people: Roman Hruska (Neb. Senator)Hruska (Neb. Senator)

Italian CommunityItalian Community Little Italy/Sicily (South of the Little Italy/Sicily (South of the

Durham Western Heritiage Durham Western Heritiage Museum) on 10Museum) on 10thth street street

Key Contributions: Food Key Contributions: Food establishments/restaurantsestablishments/restaurants

Important people: Caniglia, Important people: Caniglia, Orsi, RotellaOrsi, Rotella

Polish CommunityPolish Community Just south of downtown, in Just south of downtown, in

Sheelytown and Sarpy County Sheelytown and Sarpy County (Papillion)(Papillion)

Key Contributions: LaborKey Contributions: Labor

Hispanic Community (Mexican)Hispanic Community (Mexican) South Omaha 13South Omaha 13thth and Vinton and Vinton

StreetsStreets Key Contributions: Latin Key Contributions: Latin

celebrations, Food, Religion celebrations, Food, Religion (Our Lady of Guadalupe (Our Lady of Guadalupe Church is the focal point)Church is the focal point)

Important people: Edward Important people: Edward “Babe” Gomez, Medal of “Babe” Gomez, Medal of Honor recipientHonor recipient

Edward “Babe” GomezEdward “Babe” Gomez Born in South Omaha in 1932Born in South Omaha in 1932 He was the 3He was the 3rdrd of 12 children of 12 children His 5 foot 2 inch frame made His 5 foot 2 inch frame made

him a target to bullieshim a target to bullies At 17, eager to see the world, he At 17, eager to see the world, he

joined the USMC Reserve and joined the USMC Reserve and was sent to Korea in 1950was sent to Korea in 1950

Wounded after only being there Wounded after only being there 2 months2 months

He was killed protecting his He was killed protecting his platoon mates from a Chinese platoon mates from a Chinese hand grenade, giving his life for hand grenade, giving his life for othersothers

He was awarded the Medal of He was awarded the Medal of Honor, the highest medal for Honor, the highest medal for braverybravery

Edward “Babe” GomezEdward “Babe” Gomez

New Immigrants to OmahaNew Immigrants to Omaha

The SudaneseThe Sudanese Fleeing ethnic Fleeing ethnic

violence in Sudanviolence in Sudan The cultural center is The cultural center is

3030thth & California & California streets, by the TAC streets, by the TAC buildingbuilding