Our library, a room filled from floor to ceiling with shelves full of old photos, has hundreds of pictures of Omaha through the years. So I thought it might be fun to occasionally run a few photos of old-time Omaha and let you guess the location. Have fun!
This undated photo was taken on Douglas Street, looking east from 16th Street. I wonder if parking was more difficult then?
Here are two photos of the same place, 50 years apart. The first was taken in 1909.
Here is the same scene in 1959.
Guessed it? Both photos are taken at 31st and Harney streets, looking southwest. The first photo was on a postcard received by Mrs. John Ring of Hooper, Neb., on Feb. 1, 1909. The second was shot as a “passage of time” photo. It shows the Dewey Park tennis courts.
This is a hard one from 1940! First, I’ll tell you the interesting story behind it, then give you the location. A dugout in the Gibson Hills occupied by Charles “Blacky” Dixon, 70-year old recluse, whose death Friday was attributed by officials yesterday to exposure. When found by neighbors who grew suspicious when they noted no smoke coming from the chimney, he had 13 cents in his pockets and his head was pillowed on a copy of Fortune Magazine. Dixon had lived in the dugout for 12 years. The dugout was located at First and Hascall streets, which is between Laurizten Gardens and the Henry Doorly Zoo.
Another hard one. The caption read: “Dodge Detour Permits Work on Shopping Center Access.” It’s the detour on West Dodge Road at 102nd Street in 1965.
Now my favorite photo. I’ll give you a hint: I am sitting at the same location while I type this!
It’s a building (and former flophouse) at 13th and Douglas being torn down in 1955!
Hope you enjoyed the tour of Omaha long ago!
