Author Archives: Jolene McHugh

About Jolene McHugh

I was a graphic artist prior to coming to the Omaha World-Herald in 2007, and now I’m a photo imaging specialist, which means I prepare photos to print properly in the newspaper. I also have the incredibly fun task of restoring old photographs from our massive library. My favorite part of my job is getting lost in the history and stories behind the photographs. Many of the archive photos have little or no information attached, so I need to properly date and identify the people and places in them. Researching the stories is a bit like being on a historical scavenger hunt. The largest challenge I face is restoring photos we run in our books. Our newest book, “At War, At Home: The Cold War” is filled with hundreds of old photographs, and most of them small and in poor condition. I live in Omaha with my husband, one of my daughters and three very furry Maine Coon cats.

1975 tornado pounds Benson

Posted on May 14, 2013 by Jolene McHugh

On May 6, 1975, an F4 tornado tore through Omaha, causing incredible damage. Benson suffered much damage, and was closed off to the public by armed guards to allow homeowners and volunteers try to salvage as much personal property as … Continue reading →

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Northwest Radial Highway ‘a must’ for Omaha

Posted on May 14, 2013 by Jolene McHugh

The completion of Northwest Radial Highway through Benson was a really big deal. The Aug. 29, 1957, story read: “West Section of Northwest Radial Dedicated With a Bit of Pomp and Ceremony and Lots of Kids Hundreds of children swarmed … Continue reading →

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Last days for one of Benson’s oldest buildings

Posted on May 14, 2013 by Jolene McHugh

A 1951 newspaper clip and photo told the story of how one of the oldest buildings in Benson was about to be torn down. The building most recently housed a machine shop, locksmith, and carpenter shop and was located at … Continue reading →

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Benson sidewalk sale

Posted on May 14, 2013 by Jolene McHugh

Those of us who grew up near Benson remember the “Big, One Day Only Sidewalk Sale.”

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The Benson Theatre

Posted on May 13, 2013 by Jolene McHugh

The Benson Theatre opened in 1923 as the Benalto Theater. It was part of a neighborhood chain of theaters 1927 to 1953. The Benson Theatre Project is currently trying to restore it as a shared community space.

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Benson’s first chautauqua

Posted on May 13, 2013 by Jolene McHugh

Have you ever heard of a chautauqua? They were traveling shows known as circuit chautauquas that brought all forms of entertainment to towns across the country. A chautauqua featured speakers, musicians, movies, politicians and preachers. Theodore Roosevelt called it “the … Continue reading →

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The Benson Times

Posted on May 13, 2013 by Jolene McHugh

The weekly Benson Times was established by Lew Raber in 1903 and sold by him in 1907. It had a reputation of being quite the bulldog, even going after larger papers such as The World-Herald and the Chicago American. The … Continue reading →

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Krug Park entertains in Benson

Posted on May 13, 2013 by Jolene McHugh

Krug Park was an amusement park located on North 52nd Street. It was founded in 1895 by Charles Tietz and purchased by the Frederick Krug Brewing Company in the early 1900s. A beer garden, swimming pool and amusement rides were … Continue reading →

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Undated Benson photos

Posted on May 13, 2013 by Jolene McHugh

We don’t have dates for these images taken in Benson, but they’re interesting nonetheless. The Krug Brewery was founded in Benson in 1859. More on local breweries.

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Who founded Benson?

Posted on May 13, 2013 by Jolene McHugh

Benson was founded by prominent Omaha real estate agent Erastus A. Benson in 1887. He attracted buyers to the area by hiring Buffalo Jones to graze herds of buffalo along Military Road. Could Benson have predicted then that the town would be … Continue reading →

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