Sheelytown (Omaha)

Sheelytown was a historic ethnic Irish neighborhood in South Omaha, Nebraska, USA. Located just north of the Union Stockyards, Sheelytown was named for the Sheely Brothers Packing Houses that were located in the area. Sheelytown was annexed by Omaha in 1887. [(nd) [http://www2.ops.org/OOE/annexation.htm "Annexation-Growth Page,"] Omaha Public Schools. Retrieved 2007-07-16.] The Omaha Quartermaster Depot was built just west of the community across the Union Pacific tracks.

History

Joseph Sheeley ran a meat packing plant 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. [(n.d.) [http://www2.ops.org/OOE/prospect/index.html Prospect Cemetery] Omaha Public Schools. Retrieved 2007-07-16.] Sheelytown was first occupied by Irish, who came in the 1860s and 1870s to work in the stockyards and meatpacking plants. [(2002) [http://kildare.ie/KNN/omaha190302.htm "Naas group had hectic Omaha weekend,"] KidCareNet News. Retrieved 2007-07-16] Later when Polish [(nd) [http://riedmannfamily.com/Al&Frances%20Story.htm "The Alfred & Frances Riedmann, Sr. Family."] Retrieved 2007-07-15.] 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. [Menard, O.D. (1989) "Political Bossism in Mid America: Tom Dennison's Omaha, 1900–1933." University Press of America. p. 11.] 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. [Peattie, E.W. "How they live at Sheely: Pen picture of a strange settlement and its queer set of inhabitants," March 31, 1895. in (2005) "Impertinences: Selected Writings of Elia Peattie, a Journalist in the Gilded Age". University of Nebraska Press. p. 31.]

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. [Peattie, E.W. (2005) "Impertinences: Selected Writings of Elia Peattie, a Journalist in the Gilded Age". University of Nebraska Press. p. 32.]

Legacy

One of the neighborhood's commercial areas is now called the Vinton Street Commercial Historic District. In 2006 it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. [(2006) [http://www.nebraskahistory.org/histpres/nebraska/all_2006.htm "New Listings"] . Nebraska State Historical Society. Retrieved 7/8/07.]

The Polonairs of Omaha is a polka band that recorded an album called "Sheelytown On Parade" on the Czech Records label. [(nd) [http://www.polkas.com/tkfrank/polishlz.htm TK Frank's Polka Records] . Retrieved 2007-07-16.]

References

Bibliography

* Larsen, L. and Cottrell, B. (1997) "The Gate City: A History of Omaha." University of Nebraska Press. p. p 158.
* Sullenger, T.E. (1937) "Problems of Ethnic Assimilation in Omaha," "Social Forces, 15" (3) March. pp. 402-410.