Old Bellevue University in Bellevue

 There have been two Bellevue Universities.  The first was on Elk Hill in Bellevue close to the downtown area.  The second is at its current location close to Fort Crook and Harvel.  When the college was being build the remains of Big Elk were remove and moved to Bellevue Cemetery.  The tornado of 1908 hit the college and caused significant damage to several of the buildings.  After this is never really recovered and closed a few yeas later.  It served veterans after WWI and then was used as housing during WWII in support of the plane factory at Offutt.  

Parking where the University use to be.

Bellevue College
On October 16, 1880, this Presbyterian Liberal Arts College was organized, first classes were held September 10, 1883 with 26 students.  The original college contained 264 acres.  200 acres were sold in 1920 to the St. Columban's seminary.  In 1900, college enrollment was over 200 students under the leadership of Rev. David R. Kerr.  In 1910 The Presbyterian Church withdrew its support and the college became known as University of Omaha Bellevue.  The college had hopes of leading theological institution, but suffered a lack of financial support forcing it to close in 1919.  Its assets and records were given to Hastings College, Nebraska.  The building were latter used to educate World War I veterans.

Looking towards Columban Mission which use to be part of the college.

looking towards Missouri River

screen shot of map shows three buildings from old Bellevue University.  However I think they have now been torn down.  

Book Review: Romance of a Village: Story of Bellevue

 Romance of a Village: Story of Bellevue: The first permanent continuous settlement in Nebraska by William J. Shallcross, Centennial Souvenir Edition, Roncka Brothers Printers, Omaha, Nebraska, 1954.

This book is limited by when it was published, but it does provide some interesting information about the history of Omaha up until Offutt was created as the Strategic Air Command.  It starts with the Lewis and Clark expedition, and then continues onto early trading posts and trapping.  Manuel Lisa gave the area its name because of the view he observed long ago.  Peter Sarpy was also an early trade post operator but after Lucien Fontanelle.  Sarpy also ran a ferry.  He talks about relationships with the Omaha Indians, Chief Big Elk.  Bellevue had an early Indian agency.  

Early visits to Bellevue included Prince Maximilian and Karl Bodmer the artists.  Also Friederich Kurz the Swiss artist visited the area.  Mormons came through the Bellevue area in 1846, and gold miners soon after.  There was also a significant missionary effort to the Native Americans from the Baptists and Presbyterians.  This ended when the Omaha left to their permanent reservation in 1856.  

Bellevue could be considered the first territorial capitol, located at the mission; but the governor lived only one day after being sworn in.  The people of Council Bluffs and the Lieutenant Governor preferred the Omaha area.  So Bellevue missed out on the capital, and a few years later would also missed out on the railroad and the first bridge over the Missouri.  In missing the bridge this was partly because flooding had wiped out the footing on the Iowa side opposite Bellevue.  The bone tossed to Bellevue was that of the county seat, when Douglass county was divided and Sarpy County made.  However this was given to Papillion to create a more central location.  

Bellevue lost out on much, but began to establish itself as an education site with Bellevue University, a Christian University.  However after the tornado of 1908, the school never really recovered and closed.  After this the town of Bellevue struggled with few residents, until WWII.  At this time a bomber manufacturing plant was established at Fort Crook.  This added greatly to the population of the area, and was responsible for the creation of a downtown commercial area on Mission.  However it was feared at the end of the war the city would dry up.  This was adverted when the federal governemnt decided to place the SAC at the location of the old plant and Offutt was created from Fort Crook.

As mentioned this history is limited by its publication date.  Much more history and expansion has taken place since the 1950s and Bellevue is now the third largest city in Nebraska.  

Book Review: Shoshone by F.A.Bird

 Shoshone, Native American Nations by F.A.Bird, Checkerboard Library, and Imprint of Abdo Publishing, North Mankato, Minnesota, 2025.

This is a small book in a series which deals with the Shoshone.  The Shoshone had a wide area with many different bands, but shared the same language.  There territory extended from Wyoming and Montana, through Idaho and northern Utah and into Nevada and then into the Death Valley area of California.  There were many different types of land, desert of the Great Basin and Death Valley, mountains of the Rockies, and Uintahs, valleys and canyons.  Those of the easter Shoshone would hunt buffalo, in the north they would catch salmon.

The housing would vary based on season and location.  In the summer brush huts would often suffice, and be left up from year to year.  However during the winter teepees were more common.  They would often make lean-tos to keep off the sun in the summer.  

In addition to buffalo and salmon they would eat other small game they would hunt with bows and arrows.  They would also hunt smaller animals they would trap with snares.  The would also gather nuts and berries as well as camas root which they would make into a flower.  Pine nut gathering is an annal tradition among Shoshone where pinyon pine was prevalent.  

Craft were are and important activity.  Porcupine quill decorations were common.  Traditionally they made awls of bone and thread of sinew.  Shoshone women would often wear am awl around their neck kept in a leather pouch.  

Babies were often kept in cradle boards from which they found comfort when they were wrapped tight.  Children had time to play and swim.  Older children helped with chores.  

Adults would teach children, often through stories about coyote.  

Chief Washakie was a chief of the eastern bands.  However his influence extended throughout all of Shoshone land.  His statue is outside the Wyoming State Capitol.  

Magazine Article Review: How Lincoln Became the Nebraska State Capital

How Lincoln Became the Nebraska State Capital by David L. Bristow, Nebraska State Historical Society, Nebraskaland, Lincoln, Nebraska October 2025, pp 36-39.

When Nebraska was made a state, the populace also voted for a change of the capital site, thinking a capital south of the Platte River would be more central to all the population centers of the time.  Political bosses in Omaha, realizing they did not have the votes, added amendments to make the move less palatable.  These included that the state hospital, state university and state prison would also be included.  Another amendment to to make the move less palatable was to give it the name of Lincoln after the president.  It was thought this would be disagreeable to Democrats living south of the Platte River.  

With the votes tallied and the move pending, and location had to be found.  They chose a town, Lancaster, with a population of 30.  Everything would be new.  It was considered central to the major cities of the time.  Feelings in Omaha were against the move.  In fact it was so negative that a couple clandestine wagons were loded in the middle of the night with records and furniture and on their way to Lincoln before morning.

Tragic Shooting Death of Vivian Strang in North Omaha

 Came upon this tragic story when I was in North Omaha on 24th street near Lake.  There are actually two plaques, one with three sides which is by the North Omaha Visitors Center, and the other a historical marker a couple blocks further south on 24th..  

Magazine Article Review: The Pawnee Seed Savers: Nebraska Gardeners Replenish Ancestral Foods

The Pawnee Seed Savers: Nebraska Gardeners Replenish Ancestral Foods by Jenny Nguyen-Wheatley, Nebraskaland Magazine, Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, Lincoln, Nebraska, October 2025, pp 28-35.

A very real part of the encroachment of Europeans on the Native American populations was the loss of their traditional food supplies.  They went from eating their traditional vegetables and plants, as well as game meat to being dependent on government supplies.  In the case of the Pawnee they went from farming in Nebraska to Oklahoma, where their seeds were not as effective.  It created a whole change in diet; and one not as conducive to their physical make-up (their genes were use to the traditional diet.)  Only more recently has this been thought to be so important, and in order to correct it a garden system has been developed.  They use seeds left over from the old days, and then gardens in Nebraska.  Each year they raise crops, and then have more traditional seeds.  

The three sisters are corn, squash and beans.  Their most sacred of these is corn.  The project started slowly in 2004, but now as Native Americans find old stores of seeds, they have grown 20 different varieties of Pawnee corn.  They have also grown varieties of beans, squash, sunflowers and watermelon. Sunflower is considered the fourth sister and traditionally they ate the seeds, but it was also used to protect the other plants as sunflowers can grow over ten feet tall.  

There are now over 20 gardeners in Nebraska growing Pawnee seeds.  Most of the harvest they share with the Pawnee in Oklahoma, and so doing the Pawnee are able to eat their traditional foods. 

Greek Town and Greek Riot of 1909 in South Omaha

 South O aha at one time had a significant Greek population and Greek town.  It was mostly around Q and 25 streets but extended from R to L and 28th to 24th streets.  The population of Greek residents was almost 3000.  They mostly worked in the meat packing industry.  After the riot the Greek population went from almost 3000 to 56.

The Riot was more than just one incident.  There was a resentment towards the Greek workers because some had come in as scab workers during a strike.  This resentment was fomented by a newspaper article that compared the "Greek problem" to that of have too many Japanese.  A town meeting was organized to discussd "the Greek issues."  There they called the Greek community a "vile bunch of filthy Greeks."  From thee they marched to Greek Town where the riot took place.

The epicenter of the riot at 28th and R Streets became known as Bloody Corner

The corner kept they name as there was a bar on the corner where there was much violence for many years,

Bar located in this corner which is now parking

26th and R. Greek town extended from here to 24th street

Metro COmmunity College looking to 24th Street which ara was once Greek Town.

Miguel Keith Memorial

 Miguel Keith served as a Marine in Viet Nam.  He was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously.  

Gale Sayers

 Found this statue of Gale Sayers outside of Central High School.  He was a 1961 graduate there.  He was one of the greatest running backs of all time, although his career was cut short due to injury.  After playing for Central high School he played for University of Kansas and then the Chicago Bears.  He has been inducted in both the pro and college halls of fame.  He is noted for his part in the Brian Piccolo story.  He and his wife were best friends to the Piccolo family.  He roomed with Brian Piccolo.  Piccolo helped him through rehabilitation from knee surgery, and Sayers stayed by Piccolo's suie until his death of cancer.

Live Stock Exchange Building

 The Live Stock Exchange Building is on 30th Street between L and Edward Babe Gomez Ave.  It use to be the center hub of the livestock exchange, and at one time was surrounded by stock yards and holding pens.   The architect was George Prinz and it was built by Peter Kiewit and sons.  It is a ten-story brick building built in an "H" shape.  It was completed for the Union Stockyards Company of Omaha.  It housed the Stockyards National Bank, offices, a bakery, cigar stand, soda fountain, kitchen, cafeteria, telehone and telegraph offices, sleeping quarters and apartments, and two ballrooms.  

Today it still houses the two ballrooms.  It now has 200 apartments.  On the bottom floor is a medical clinic, One-World Health.

Magazine Article Review: The Doctor's Work Endures,

 The Doctor's Work Endures by Ron Soodalter, Nebraska Life, July/August 2025, p 53.

Susan Laflesche was passionate about caring for her people, the Omaha Indians on the Omaha reservation in Nebraska.  She had seen disregard for Omaha life and decided to take upon herself the task of making a difference.  Susan was eleven years younger than her famous sister, Susette La Flesche.  An elder had been denied treament, with the doctor saying it didn't matter, she is only an Indian.  Susan decided it did matter and did something about it.  1889 she graduated valedictorian from the Women's Medical College of Pennsylvania.  She became the first Native American physician.  She returned to Nebraska determined to care for all.   She would do house calls.  She opened a hospital in Walthill in 1919.  This hospital has recently been restored and is a medical and community center.  In addition a couple women recently reenacted her life, keeping the story alive. They were able to present at the Smithsonian.  

Magazine Article Review: Bright Eyes: The Interpreter Who Won a People's Freedom

 Bright Eyes: The Interpreter Who Won a People's Freedom by Ron Soodalter, Nebraska Life, July/August 2025, pp 48-52.

Susette La Flesche was born in Bellevue in 1854.  Her family lived in a traditional earth lodge.  At age two, she and her family moved to the Omaha reservation farther north, and closer to the Ponca reservation.  The Omaha were familiar with the troubles faced by the Ponca, who were removed from their reservation and sent to Oklahoma.  This resulted in the Trail of Tears, and much death.  The Oklahoma weather was different and some did not adjust.  when Chief Standing Bear's adult son passed away, he asked his father to bury him at the traditional burial place in Nebraska.  This resulted in a group of people leaving the reservation and traveling north.  After much harship, they finally landed at the Omaha reservation, where they planted crops.  However they were arrested and taken to Fort Omaha, under the direction of General Crook.  Standing Bear sued for habeas corpus, and was brought to trial in Omaha before Judge Elmer Dundy.  Chief Standing Bear testified in his own behalf, and Susette La Flesche interpreted.  Omaha and Ponca are different dialects of the same languague.  La Flesche also spoke English.  Her father, Chief Joseph Iron Eyes's La Flesche was part Anglo.   She was of mixed descent.  Her mother was Ponca.  She had spent time in both White and Indian worlds.  She had attended a young lady's school in New Jersey.  She worked with Thomas Tibbles for the Omaha Daily Herald.  Tibbles was a newspaper man who had told the story of the Ponca.  

As Chief Standing Bear gave his famous "I am a Man" it was La Flesche's words people could understand.  "My hand is not the same color as your hand, but if I pierce my hand I will feel pain.  If you pierce your hand you will feel pain.  The blood that will flow from mine will be he same color that will flow from yours."  

La Flesche's eloquent interpretation lead she, Chief Standing Bear and Tibbles on a journey east.  The judge ruled in favor of Standing Bear.  He was able to bury his son; but they still had no land.  Their land had been given to the Sioux.  They found an islan in the Niobrara River where the lived and farmed for a tim.  They toured and gave discourses in many eastern cities, slowly turning the argument in their favor.  The Ponca were eventually granted a small reservation on their traditional land.  While on their trip, the wife of Tibbles became ill and passed away.  La Flesche would later marry him.  

La Flesche became somewhat of a celebrity with her speaking on behalf of civil rights for Native Americans.  This including speaking on behalf of other Native peoples.  When she passed away she was eulogized by the Senate.  She is now inducted into the Nebraska Hall of Fame.

Magazine Article Review: A Grand New Design

A Grand New Design by Michelle Stacey photos by Cassie Floto Warner, Smithsonian, December 2025, pp 66-72 86-91.

This is the second story I have read where train tragedy lead to chang.  The first is the train accident in South Jorda, Utah.  After this laws were changed requiring buses to stop at railroad tracks.  In this article, there is a big train accident in a tunnel in New York in 1902 with many injuries and loss of life.  The steam engines made too much smoke, which clouded the stop signal and so one train engineer did not see it and plowed into another.  New York was in need of a completely revamped train system.  This would involve changing everything from steam to electric.  However it also involved levels of trains, with smooth ramps in between to avoid stairs.  It also involved an ingensous way for paying for it.  The project would involve the destruction of 200 buildings, but how to pay for such a project.  William J Wilgus had worked himself up through the train industry.  With no money for a formal education, he apprenticed with an engineer for two years, learning engineering, mechanics  and mechanical drafting.  It was his idea to build layers of tunnels for trains; and then to finance it all by selling air rights, the right to build on the surface.  This included a grand redesign for Grand Central Station.

Many other cities have followed suit, building layers of subway tunnels and then using the surface real estate to help finance the projects.  

Native American Artifacts and Clothes from Joslyn Art Museum.

 There are many artifacts from Native American life displayed at the Joslyn Art Museum.  They are artistic but they also show Native American life.

Ancestor artist, Ho-Chunk (Winnebago) Bandolier bag

Haida button blanket with rib design

Ancestor artist, Umoho (Omaha) breech clothe

left Valery Killscrow Copeland, Oglala Lakota, Honoring Blanket
right, Okta Keen (New Moon) Omaha Tribe of Nebraska, Wearing Blanket with Appliqué

beaded baby mocassins, top Cheyenne, bottom Great Plains

left, ancestor art, Southern Plains, women awl case
middle, Ocheti Sakawin (Sioux), beaded pouch with turtle design
right, elk horn and flint knife

First Moon Ceremony Regalia
girl's buffalo robe behind

Ancestor Artist, Ocheti Sakowin (Sioux) Beaded Dress

Ancestor Artist, Umoho (Omaha) beaded shirt

Pipe Tomahawks

woodstock club, Dakhota

bear claw necklace, Great Plains region