Greeks in Omaha, Nebraska

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The community of Greeks in Omaha, Nebraska has a history that extends back to the 1880s. After they originally moved to the city following work with the railroads, the community quickly grew and founded a substantial neighborhood in South Omaha that was colloquially referred to as "Greek Town." The community was replete with Greek bakers, barbers, grocers and cafes. After a 1909 mob attack on the community, Greek immigrants fled from Omaha. Today the Greek community has rebuilt, integrating into the fabric of the city, and currently maintains two Greek Orthodox Churches.[1]

Contents

[edit] History

South Omaha, Nebraska was incorporated as a city in 1886. The home of many European immigrant communities, it once hosted a bustling Greek Town that was home to thousands of Greek immigrants from the 1870s to 1909.[2]

[edit] Greek Town

The principal Greek community in Omaha was centered on South 26th and Q Streets. This was the heart of Greek Town. Other Greek establishments were located around South 24th and Q and South 24th and L Streets.[3]

In 1909 there were over thirty-two businesses owned by and catering to the Greek community in South Omaha, as well as a Greek Orthodox church, a school, and several two and three-story buildings.[4] [5] After a small immigration that started in the 1880s, large scale growth of the Greek population in Omaha started around 1900, when strikes occurred in the South Omaha meat packing industry. Male Greek immigrants were hired by the plants to be linebreakers in the strikes.[6] According to one estimate, by 1909 there were an estimated 2,000 Greeks living in South Omaha.[7]

Sentiments about the Greek community in Omaha were often negative, as expressed by the Omaha Daily News when they wrote, "Their quarters have been unsanitary; they have insulted women... Herded together in lodging houses and living cheaply, Greeks are a menace to the American laboring man -- just as the Japs, Italians, and other similar laborers are."[8]

[edit] Greek Town Riot

In February 1909 a Greek man was accused of having an affair with a young "white" woman in South Omaha. When an Irish policeman named Edward Lowry apprehended him on February 14, 1909, the Greek man killed the officer.[9] Omaha newspapers were particularly renowned for their yellow journalism during this period, and they fanned racist flames among the public about the case with salacious headlines.[10] The Omaha Daily News wrote, "Their quarters have been unsanitary; they have insulted women... Herded together in lodging houses and living cheaply, Greeks are a menace to the American laboring man -- just as the Japs, Italians, and other similar laborers are."[11]

When the man was finally apprehended, a mob thronged around the South Omaha Jail where he was being held. The police decided it was not safe to keep him there and decided to move their prisoner to the Omaha jail. The mob followed the police wagon as it left the jail. More than once they got their hands on the prisoner. At one point they almost lynched him.

After the wagon escaped their grasp, the mob turned back towards South Omaha. On February 21 a mob of more than 1,000 men stormed "Greek Town."[12] They looted homes and businesses, beat Greek men, women and children, and eventually burnt down every building in the area.[13] One Greek boy was reportedly killed.[14] The entire population of Greeks in South Omaha were warned to leave the city within one day, or risk the ongoing wrath of the mob. During the violence, Omaha and South Omaha police did not respond to pleas for help. Within a few days all of the Greeks living in Omaha moved to Council Bluffs, Sioux City and Salt Lake City – and out of South Omaha.[15]

Soon after, a Federal district court trial was held in which the Greek vice-consul to the United States asked the Federal government to provide an explanation of the expulsion, particularly the absence of government protection. The court trials dragged on and no excuse was ever provided.[16]

[edit] Present

The Greek community in Omaha, though not as large as at its height, is recovering. Today Greek Americans in Omaha are more integrated than ever before into the political, social and economic fabric of Omaha.

Evidence is demonstrated by the expansion of the Greek Orthodox Church. There are now two Greek parishes; St. John's Church, the historical anchor of the community, and the Greek Orthodox Church of Greater Omaha, which is also known as GOCGO.[17]

Saint John the Baptist continues to flourish and is undergoing a facility revitalization effort in concert with Omaha's mid-town rebuilding program. Saint John's is also active in various downtown ministries for stricken areas in the mid-town area. Saint John the Baptist is known for its "Big Fat Greek Festival", which is held in September on the beautiful downtown waterfront of the Lewis and Clark Landing monument. This annual celebration features authentic Greek food and entertainment. St. John the Baptist will also celebrate its Centennial anniversary on June 13 through June 15, 2008.

With two flourishing parishes under the jurisdiction of His Eminence Isaiah of the Denver Metropolis, Omaha's Greek community continues to integrate with Omaha rather than standing alone as in its earliest days. [18] [19]

[edit] Notable Greeks from Omaha

Alexander Payne, movie director from Omaha.
Alexander Payne, movie director from Omaha.

The city's most extensive exposure can be credited to Omaha native Greek-American Alexander Payne. The Oscar-nominated director shot parts of About Schmidt, Citizen Ruth and Election in the city. In 2005, Payne joined the board of directors of Film Streams, a nonprofit arts organization opening a two-screen cinema in downtown Omaha.

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ "Racial Tensions in Nebraska in the 1920s", NebraskaStudies.org. Retrieved 12/30/07.
  2. ^ (nd) "History." St. John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church website. Retrieved 6/7/07.
  3. ^ "South Omaha mob wars on Greeks", The New York Times. February 22, 1909. Retrieved 5/25/08.
  4. ^ (nd) "About St Johns Community." St. John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church website. Retrieved 6/7/07/
  5. ^ Larsen, L. & Cotrell, B. (1997). The gate city: A history of Omaha. University of Nebraska Press. P 163.
  6. ^ Hill, J. (nd) “Interview: Helen Papanikolas.” Joe Hill: Early 1900s Labor – Papanikolas. Retrieved 6/7/07.
  7. ^ Larsen, L. & Cotrell, B. (1997). The gate city: A history of Omaha. University of Nebraska Press. P 163.
  8. ^ "Racial Tensions in Nebraska in the 1920s", NebraskaStudies.org. Retrieved 12/30/07.
  9. ^ "Edward Lowry", Policeman Down Memorial Page. Retrieved 5/11/08.
  10. ^ Larsen, L. & Cotrell, B. (1997). The gate city: A history of Omaha. University of Nebraska Press. P 165.
  11. ^ (nd) "Racial tension in Nebraska in the 1920s." NebraskaStudies.Org. Retrieved 6/7/07.
  12. ^ Larsen, L. & Cotrell, B. (1997). The gate city: A history of Omaha. University of Nebraska Press. P 164.
  13. ^ "South Omaha mob wars on Greeks", The New York Times. February 22, 1909. Retrieved 5/25/08.
  14. ^ Hill, J. (nd) “Interview: Helen Papanikolas.”
  15. ^ Larsen, L. & Cotrell, B. (1997). The gate city: A history of Omaha. University of Nebraska Press. P 166.
  16. ^ Larsen, L. & Cotrell, B. (1997). The gate city: A history of Omaha. University of Nebraska Press. P 166.
  17. ^ COCGO. Retrieved 4/23/08.
  18. ^ (n.d.) About St. John's
  19. ^ (n.d.) About GOCGO
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