Sheelytown (Omaha)

Sheelytown was a historic ethnic neighborhood in South Omaha, Nebraska, USA with populations of Irish, Polish and other first generation immigrants. Located north of the Union Stockyards, it was bounded by Edward Creighton Boulevard on the north, Vinton Street on the south, South 24th Street to the east, and 35th Street to the west.[1][2] Sheelytown was named for the Sheely Brothers Packing Houses that were located in the area. Sheelytown was annexed by Omaha in 1887.[3] The Omaha Quartermaster Depot was built just east of the community across the Union Pacific tracks.

History

Joseph Sheely ran a meat packing plant near the railroad tracks southeast of Hanscom Park. Workers in his plant occupied a small company town immediately next to the plant that was named after their boss.[4] Sheelytown was first occupied by Irish, who came in the 1860s and 1870s to work in the stockyards and meatpacking plants.[5] Later when Polish[6] and Czech immigrants arrived, they also settled in Sheelytown and South Omaha. The community was a working class and poor area, often regarded as dirty and "uncivilized" by wealthier Omahans.[7] In the early decades of the 20th century, the community had ex-officio mayors for many years, including Nicodemus Dargaczewski, who was a close ally of political bosses "Cowboy" James Dahlman and Tom Dennison.[8]

Around the start of the 20th century, members of the Hanscom Park Methodist Episcopal Church became concerned with the "lawlessness and destitute behavior" of workers in the neighborhood. They organized dances to compete with the "loose establishments" in Sheelytown. The dances routinely caused a stir among local residents, but were continuously held for many years.[9]

Legacy

Adjacent to Sheelytown is the commercial area now called the Vinton Street Commercial Historic District. In 2006 it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[10]

The Polonairs of Omaha is a polka band that recorded an album called Sheelytown On Parade on the Czech Records label.[11]

References

  1. ↑ Lopez, D.A. (2001) The Latino experience in Omaha: a visual essay. p. 33.
  2. ↑ "Question Mark, Where is Sheelytown?". The Omaha World-Herald Newspaper, Omaha, Douglas County, NE, USA. December 28, 1968. p. 14. The area, bordered approximately by Ed Creighton Boulevard, Vinton, 24th Street and 35th Streets, got its name from the Sheely Brother Packing House at 27th and Martha, according to World-Herald files.
  3. ↑ (nd) "Annexation-Growth Page," Omaha Public Schools. Retrieved 2007-07-16.
  4. ↑ (n.d.) Prospect Cemetery Omaha Public Schools. Retrieved 2007-07-16.
  5. ↑ (2002) "Naas group had hectic Omaha weekend," KidCareNet News. Retrieved 2007-07-16
  6. ↑ (nd) "The Alfred & Frances Riedmann, Sr. Family." Retrieved 2007-07-15.
  7. ↑ Menard, O.D. (1989) Political Bossism in Mid America: Tom Dennison's Omaha, 1900–1933. University Press of America. p. 11.
  8. ↑ Peattie, E.W. "How they live at Sheely: Pen picture of a strange settlement and its queer set of inhabitants," March 31, 1895. in (2005) Impertinences: Selected Writings of Elia Peattie, a Journalist in the Gilded Age. University of Nebraska Press. p. 31.
  9. ↑ Peattie, E.W. (2005) Impertinences: Selected Writings of Elia Peattie, a Journalist in the Gilded Age. University of Nebraska Press. p. 32.
  10. ↑ (2006) "New Listings". Nebraska State Historical Society. Retrieved 7/8/07.
  11. ↑ (nd) TK Frank's Polka Records. Retrieved 2007-07-16.

Bibliography

Coordinates: 41°14′01″N 95°56′52″W / 41.23361°N 95.94778°W / 41.23361; -95.94778

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