Sheelytown (Omaha)
Encyclopedia
Sheelytown was a historic ethnic Irish
neighborhood in South Omaha, Nebraska
, USA. Located just north of the Union Stockyards
, it was bounded by Creighton Boulevard on the north, Vinton Street on the south, South 24th Street
to the east, and 25th Street to the west. Sheelytown was named for the Sheely Brothers Packing Houses that were located in the area. Sheelytown was annexed by Omaha in 1887. The Omaha Quartermaster Depot was built just west of the community across the Union Pacific tracks.
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. Sheelytown was first occupied by Irish
, who came in the 1860s and 1870s to work in the stockyards and meatpacking plants. Later when Polish 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. In the early decades of the 20th century, the community had ex-officio mayors for many years, including Nick Dargaczewski, who was a close ally of political bosses "Cowboy" James Dahlman
and Tom Dennison
.
Around the turn of the 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.
. In 2006 it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
.
The Polonairs of Omaha is a polka
band that recorded an album called Sheelytown On Parade on the Czech Records label.
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
neighborhood in South Omaha, Nebraska
Nebraska
Nebraska is a state on the Great Plains of the Midwestern United States. The state's capital is Lincoln and its largest city is Omaha, on the Missouri River....
, USA. Located just north of the Union Stockyards
Union Stockyards (Omaha)
The Union Stockyards of Omaha, Nebraska were founded in 1883 in South Omaha by the Union Stock Yards Company of Omaha. A fierce rival of Chicago's Union Stock Yards, the Omaha Union Stockyards were third in the nation for production by 1890. In 1947 they were second to Chicago in the world...
, it was bounded by Creighton Boulevard on the north, Vinton Street on the south, South 24th Street
South Omaha Main Street Historic District
The South Omaha Main Street Historic District is located along South 24th Street between M and O Streets in South Omaha, Nebraska. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1989...
to the east, and 25th Street to the west. Sheelytown was named for the Sheely Brothers Packing Houses that were located in the area. Sheelytown was annexed by Omaha in 1887. The Omaha Quartermaster Depot was built just west of the community across the Union Pacific tracks.
History
Joseph Sheely ran a meat packing plantSheely Packing Company
The Sheely Packing Company was located at South 27th Avenue and Martha Street in South Omaha, Nebraska. The plant was the namesake of the surrounding Sheelytown neighborhood, which was predominately Polish, with many other immigrants as well...
near the railroad tracks southeast of Hanscom Park
Hanscom Park
Hanscom Park is a historic neighborhood in Midtown Omaha, Nebraska. Its namesake public park is one of the oldest parks in Omaha, donated to the City in 1872. U.S. President Gerald R. Ford was born in a house in the Hanscom Park neighborhood...
. Workers in his plant occupied a small company town
Company town
A company town is a town or city in which much or all real estate, buildings , utilities, hospitals, small businesses such as grocery stores and gas stations, and other necessities or luxuries of life within its borders are owned by a single company...
immediately next to the plant that was named after their boss. Sheelytown was first occupied by Irish
Irish in Omaha, Nebraska
The Irish in Omaha, Nebraska have constituted a major ethnic group throughout the history of the city, and continue to serve as important religious and political leaders. They compose a large percentage of the local population....
, who came in the 1860s and 1870s to work in the stockyards and meatpacking plants. Later when Polish and Czech
Czechs in Omaha, Nebraska
Czechs in Omaha, Nebraska have made significant contributions to the political, social and cultural development of the city since the first immigrants arrived in 1868.-About:In the 1860s many Czechs, primarily from Bohemia and Moravia, immigrated to Nebraska...
immigrants arrived, they also settled in Sheelytown and South Omaha. The community was a working class
Working class
Working class is a term used in the social sciences and in ordinary conversation to describe those employed in lower tier jobs , often extending to those in unemployment or otherwise possessing below-average incomes...
and poor
Poor
Poor is an adjective related to a state of poverty, low quality or pity.People with the surname Poor:* Charles Henry Poor, a US Navy officer* Charles Lane Poor, an astronomer* Edward Erie Poor, a vice president of the National Park Bank...
area, often regarded as dirty and "uncivilized" by wealthier Omahans. In the early decades of the 20th century, the community had ex-officio mayors for many years, including Nick Dargaczewski, who was a close ally of political bosses "Cowboy" James Dahlman
James Dahlman
James Charles Dahlman , also known as Jim Dahlman, Cowboy Jim and Mayor Jim, was elected to eight terms as mayor of Omaha, Nebraska, serving the city for 20 years over a 23-year-period. A German-American and an agnostic, Dahlman grew up in a ranching area and started working as a Texas cowboy...
and Tom Dennison
Tom Dennison (political boss)
Tom Dennison, aka Pickhandle, Old Grey Wolf, was the early-20th century political boss of Omaha, Nebraska. A politically savvy, culturally astute gambler, Dennison was in charge of the city's wide crime rings, including prostitution, gambling and bootlegging in the 1920s...
.
Around the turn of the 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.
Legacy
One of the neighborhood's commercial areas is now called the Vinton Street Commercial Historic DistrictVinton Street Commercial Historic District
The Vinton Street Commercial Historic District is located along Vinton Street between Elm Street on the west and South 17th Street on the east in south Omaha, Nebraska. This district is located within Sheelytown, a residential neighborhood that had historically significant populations of Irish,...
. In 2006 it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
.
The Polonairs of Omaha is a polka
Polka
The polka is a Central European dance and also a genre of dance music familiar throughout Europe and the Americas. It originated in the middle of the 19th century in Bohemia...
band that recorded an album called Sheelytown On Parade on the Czech Records label.