North 24th St. - Comparison of the 1950s-60s to 2022

In June 2022, 15 OPS high schoolers, three OPS social studies teachers, and three UNO college students spent one week researching and mapping the more than 400 homes and mom-and-pop businesses that lined North 24th from Cuming Street to Ames Avenue in the late 1950s and early 1960s.

Why this project? Past research uncovered the thriving African American and Jewish communities prior to racial riots and disinvestment in the community that changed the landscape. People who grew up in the late 1950s and early 1960s are now in their 70s and 80s. We wanted to capture their stories before they were gone. Lastly, we wanted to provide the community with a visual look at the properties that once lined North 24th Street to be used as a resource in discussions of how North 24th Street can be redeveloped to serve the community today.

Program highlights included a tour of North 24th Street with Preston Love Jr. followed by soul food at Big Mama’s and the chance to hear stories of North 24th Street in the 1950s and early 1960s from those who lived it; John Ewing Sr., Preston, Patricia Allen, and Marty Shukert. Participants learned how to research the history of properties with Omaha history expert and librarian Martha Grenzeback. They spent time exploring the Jewish Historical Society archives and learning about the history of the Jewish settlers in Omaha and the Jewish businesses that once lined North 24th Street from historians Ben Justman, Dr. Jeanette Gabriel, and Marty Shukert.

The project was made possible thanks to funding from the Sherwood Foundation. Special thanks to the University of Nebraska at Omaha’s Geography Department for hosting the program and to instructor Paul Hunt for all his help.

Click on the picture or the link below to compare North 24th Street in 1958 to the same area today.

https://mihv.maps.arcgis.com/apps/Compare/index.html?appid=201b7a4703074a4fb08f06c2f5bc5375

And, click on the icons below to see the homes and businesses that lined North 24th Street in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Use the search bar to find a specific address.

Link to North 24th Homes and Businesses in the 1950s-60s

According to the Omaha City Directory, in 1958 there were 494 properties that lined North 24th from Cuming to Ames. Broken Down:

4 Physicians, 4 Body Shops, 5 Churches, 5 Pool Halls, 5 Publishers, 1 Realtor, 4 Dentists, 6 Clubs, 5 Transportation Related Businesses, 12 Dry Cleaners, 9 Drugstores/Pharmacies, 1 Theater, 1 Funeral Home, 2 Gift Shops, 17 Restaurants, 9 Service Stations, 22 Grocery Stores, 186 Residences, 19 Retailers, 3 Bakeries, 1 Hotel, 1 Ice Cream Shop, 3 Schools, 1 Architect, 6 Laundromats, 5 Lawyers, 38 in the Businesses in the Service Industry, 12 Bars, 8 Liquor Stores, 2 Loan Companies, 17 Beauty/Barber Shops, 25 Manufacturing Companies, and the Rest Vacant or Unknown

Click on each photo below for a link to the student StoryMap sharing what properties lined North 24th Street in the late 1950s and early 1960s.