Saratoga, Nebraska Territory

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Saratoga Springs, Nebraska Territory, or Saratoga, was a boom and bust town founded in 1856 that thrived for approximately one year. During its short reign of influence the town quickly grew, outpacing all other local settlements in the area including Omaha and Florence, and shortly considered as a candidate for the Nebraska Territorial capitol.

Contents 1 Location 2 History 3 Legacy 4 See also 5 References

[edit] Location

Located today in the proximity of 24th Street and Saratoga Avenue in North Omaha, the town was once noted as being "three miles north of downtown Omaha and two miles south of Florence." In modern terms, the Saratoga townsite lay between Locust Street on the south and Fort Street on the north, between the current Carter Lake on the east and 36th Street on the west.^[1]

The town's economy, including a hotel and several bars, relied on its connection to the Saratoga Bend on the Missouri River, less than one mile away. In 1856 the Nebraska Territory riverbank at Saratoga Bend was the site of regular steamboat landings, with more regular traffic than the fledgling Omaha City, three miles south. The town was also founded near the site of Sulpher Spring, which because of the town became renowned for its healing powers. The site was also the grave of the daughter of Young Elk, an elder of the Omaha Tribe who advised Logan Fontenelle. One historic report identifies a sulphur spring at the "foot of Grand Avenue", which is the location of "Bluff View Park", also called "Horseshoe Bend".^[2]

[edit] History

Erastus F. Beadle (1821-1894), an agent for New York state land speculators, was the impetus for the town's creation and growth. This type of speculation relied on money from wildcat banks, which were shady investment schemes popular in that period. Beadle named the community after his own hometown of Saratoga, New York because of the mineral springs located at the site, similar to Saratoga Springs, NY. It was hoped these springs would draw many visitors to the area, and anticipating that, a large hotel was built.

Within several months the town had more than 50 buildings, including several businesses and churches. The post office was established in September 1857. After Beadle left in late 1857, the economic "Panic of '57" set in and greatly distressed Saratoga's economy; the Post Office closed in 1858, and the town idled from that point until it was absorbed by Omaha. ^[3]

The hotel did not take off, and five years later Brownell Hall began classes in the abandoned hotel building. The Episcopal school for girls opened at the location of the Saratoga Springs Hotel. The Nebraska Territory bishop paid $3500 for six acres of land and the building^[4]. By 1869 a new school building had been constructed at 16th & Jones in Omaha and the old hotel was abandoned.^[5]

In 1866 local citizens erected a one room schoolhouse called Saratoga School, one of the first public schools in Nebraska.^[6] In 1877 the Missouri River changed course and cut-off the Saratoga Bend, creating what became to be known as Carter Lake (lake), ending the community's reliance on river traffic.^[7] The community floundered for several years, and by the 1880s, was annexed into the City of Omaha.

[edit] Legacy

The Saratoga community was predominant again in Omaha's history starting again in 1927. That year North Omaha businessmen formed the North Omaha Activities Association in order to re-develop Saratoga School's playing field into a college football field for Omaha University's football team. With new bleachers built to accomodate a crowd of a thousand, the Saratoga Field was home to OU's team until 1951.^[8]

Saratoga Avenue in North Omaha was the Main Street of the town of Saratoga. Saratoga Elementary School was incorporated into Omaha Public Schools in the late 1800s.^[9] Brownell-Talbot School, once located in the heart of Saratoga, thrives today and is recognized as the oldest school in Nebraska.

[edit] See also

• Nebraska Territory
• History of North Omaha, Nebraska
• Timeline of North Omaha, Nebraska history
• Landmarks in North Omaha, Nebraska

[edit] References

1. ^ Bristow, D. (1997) A Dirty, Wicked Town: Tales of 19th Century Omaha. Caxton Press.
2. ^ (n.d.) Historical Sketch of Brownell Hall.
3. ^ 2000. 1857 diary of Nebraska pioneer Erastus F. Beadle (1821-1894) - The author was the land agent in Saratoga, and his diary is full of Saratoga history.
4. ^ Morton & Watkins (n.d.) "History of Nebraska"
5. ^ (n.d.) Douglas County Andreas' History of Nebraska.
6. ^ (n.d.) "Saratoga History." Saratoga Elementary School website.
7. ^ (n.d.) History of Carter Lake, Iowa City of Carter Lake, Iowa website
8. ^ (n.d.) Saratoga Field University of Nebraska at Omaha website.
9. ^ Saratoga Elementary School (n.d.) Saratoga History.