Florence, Nebraska
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Florence is a neighborhood in Omaha, Nebraska on the city's north end. It is the site of Nebraska's oldest city, oldest cemetery for people of European descent, and oldest standing gristmill[1]. Florence was the site of an illegal Nebraska Territorial Legislature in 1858.
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[edit] History
In 1846 The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints established their Winter Quarters in present-day Florence as a hold-over on their way from Nauvoo, Illinois to Utah. Due to the harsh conditions, 359 members of the 2,500 person party die and are buried in what is now called the Mormon Pioneer Cemetery. Their community was the first city in the Nebraska Territory, and was called Culter's Park by its residents. Although it only existed for two years, the city had a mayor and city council, 24 policemen and fireguards, various administrative committees, and a town square for public meetings.[2]
The Mormon pioneers left their town once they moved on in 1848. Soon thereafter the town of Florence was started, with settlers occupying the old shacks and businesses left over from Cutler's Park.
In the spring of 1854 James C. Mitchell, following the advice of Peter A. Sarpy, platted the village of Florence, including the old buildings and improvements of the former Cutler's Park.[3] Late in the same year Florence made a bid to become the Nebraska State Capitol, which it lost to Omaha.[4]
The Bank of Florence, now listed on the National Register of Historic Places, was built as a wildcat bank in 1856. It fell in the Panic of 1857, leaving thousands of local townspeople and area farmers severely financially drained.
| “ | It may not be generally known that, about seven miles north of Omaha, on the Missouri River, there is a small hamlet, yeleped Florence, the proprietors of which have been, for months, laboring assiduously to delude strangers that it was a city.[5] | ” |
[edit] Florence Legislature
In January, 1858 a group of representatives illegally moved the Nebraska Territorial Legislature to Florence following a violent outburst at the State Capitol in Omaha. After repeatedly being dogged out of voting on the removal of the Capitol from Omaha, a skirmish pitted representatives from Nebraska City, Florence, and other communities to convene outside of Omaha. Despite having a majority of members present for the vote to remove the Capitol and all agreeing, the "Florence Legislature" did not succeed in swaying the Nebraska Territory governor, and the Capitol remained in Omaha until 1867 when Nebraska gained statehood.[6]
[edit] Omaha annexation
In 1917 the town was annexed by the City of Omaha.[7] The Fort Omaha Balloon School was established later that year as the first such military school in America. "Florence Field," about a mile north of Fort Omaha, consisted of 119 acres.[8]
[edit] Landmarks
| Landmarks in Florence | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Built | Location | NRHP? | Notes | |
| Bank of Florence | 1856 | 8502 North 30th Street | October 15, 1969 | This wildcat bank was designated as an Omaha landmark on October 14, 1980. It is a Greek Revival-style building built between 1850 and 1874. | |
| Community Baptist Church | 8019 North 31st Street | ||||
| Florence Boulevard | 1892 | Burt Street north to J.J. Pershing Drive | Part of Omaha boulevard system, this was once called the "Prettiest Mile." | ||
| Florence Firehouse | 8415 North 29th Street | ||||
| Florence Mill | 1846 | 9102 North 30th Street | December 31, 1998 | Also known as the Weber Mill, Mormon Mill, Grist Mill, and Old Pink Mill, this site is on the National Register of Historic Places and has two historic markers. | |
| Florence School | 1860s | 7902 North 36th Street | |||
| Fontenelle Boulevard | Pre-1900 | Military Road to North 30th Street | |||
| Keirle House | 1905 | 3017 Mormon Street | Declared an Omaha Landmark in 1997. | ||
| Mitchell House | 1854 | 8315 North 31st Street | Built by James C. Mitchell, some assert that Brigham Young lived in the house for a short period.[9] | ||
| Mormon Pioneer Cemetery | 1846 | 3301 State Street | Used until 1848, Mormon church records indicate 359 pioneers are buried there. | ||
| Mormon Pioneer Memorial Bridge | 1952 | Taking Interstate 680 over the Missouri River | |||
| Mormon Bridge Tollhouse | 3010 Willit Street | ||||
| Notre Dame Academy and Convent | 1924 | 3501 State Street | March 5, 1998 | ||
| Old People's Home | 1917 | 3325 Fontenelle Boulevard | October 21, 1987 | ||
| Potter's Field Cemetery | 1870s | 7909 Mormon Bridge Road | Located next to the Forest Lawn Memorial Park. | ||
| St Philip Neri School | 8202 North 31st Street | The parish was founded in 1904; the school in 1922.[10] | |||
| Winter Quarters Nebraska Temple | 2001 | Dedicated in April 2001. | |||
[edit] See also
- History of North Omaha, Nebraska
- Timeline of North Omaha, Nebraska history
- Landmarks in North Omaha, Nebraska
[edit] References
- ^ (n.d.) History of the Florence Mill.
- ^ (n.d.) Historic Florence - Culter's Park Marker
- ^ Andreas' History of the State of Nebraska - Douglas County
- ^ Reeves, R. (n.d.) Douglas County History University of Nebraska.
- ^ Omaha Nebraskian, 1857, as cited in Bristow, D. (1997) A Dirty, Wicked Town: Tale of 19th Century Omaha. Caxton Press.
- ^ Bristow, D.
- ^ Reeves, R. (n.d.) Douglas County History University of Nebraska.
- ^ Reeves, R. (n.d.) Douglas County History University of Nebraska.
- ^ Federal Writers Project. (1939) Nebraska: A guide to the Cornhusker state. Nebraska State Historical Society. Retrieved 4/28/08.
- ^ "Parish history", St. Philip Neri Church. Retrieved 6/4/08.
[edit] External links
- Historical Florence website
- 1856 drawing of the steamer Omaha landing Mormon settlers at Florence.
| Landmarks in Florence, Nebraska |
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Bank of Florence • Florence Depot • Florence Firehouse • Florence Mill • Florence School • Keirle House • Old People's Home • Mormon Ferry Tollhouse • Mormon Pioneer Cemetery • Mormon Pioneer Memorial Bridge • Notre Dame Academy and Convent • Potter's Field Cemetery • Winter Quarters Nebraska Temple |
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