USA > Nebraska > Douglas County > Omaha > Omaha: the Gate city, and Douglas County, Nebraska, a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume I > Part 39
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PAROCHIAL SCHOOLS
The first school in Omaha connected with the Catholic Church was estab- lished in the early '6os by Miss Joanna O'Brien in a small frame building south of the church on Eighth Street. Boys and girls were both admitted at first, but a little later a separate building was erected for a boys' school, in which the first teacher was a man named Webster. One of Mr. Webster's pupils afterward said the only board of education that had anything to do with the school was a strip of a pine shingle. John Rush, afterward county superintendent of public instruc- tion, took charge of the school in 1866. About ten years later the building was removed to the northern part of the city and used for a church.
It is a fundamental principle of the Catholic Church that as soon as a parish is organized a parochial school must be opened. At the opening of the school year in September, 1916, nineteen parochial schools began their year's work with an enrollment of nearly five thousand pupils. In addition to the parish schools, there are four Catholic institutions that pay particular attention to the higher grades. The oldest of these is Mount St. Mary's Seminary, which was founded by the Sisters of Mercy and is widely known as a boarding and day school. The Sacred Heart Convent, on the corner of Thirty-sixth and Burt streets, was opened in the year 1882. In 1904 the work of this institution was given into the hands of the Sisters of Mercy. The great tornado of March 23, 1913, dam- aged this building to such an extent that for a time it was thought it would have to be torn down, but the friends of the school came to its assistance and the build- ing was repaired. St. Catherine's Academy, at the intersection of Eighteenth and Cass streets, and St. Berchman's Academy have both won distinction as Catholic schools.
OMAHA PUBLIC LIBRARY
Col. Robert C. Ingersoll, in one of his lectures, said: "A house that has a library in it has a soul." The same statement might be applied to a city, or at least it can be said that a city with a good public library possesses one of the essential
MEDICAL SCHOOL BUILDINGS. CREIGHTON UNIVERSITY
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factors of a complete educational system. The Omaha Public Library dates its beginning from 1871, when John T. Edgar, Nathan Shelton, Albert M. Henry and Albert Swartzlander started a movement for the organization of a library association. Through their persistent efforts a number of citizens were inter- ested and on December 3, 1871, the Omaha Library Association was incorporated. The articles of incorporation were signed by T. E. Sickles, St. A. D. Balcombe, H. W. Yates, Dr. George L. Miller, John T. Edgar, Herman Kountze, Albert Swartzlander, Charles H. Brown, Albert M. Henry, Ezra Millard, Preston H. Allen and Nathan Shelton.
Miss E. E. Poppleton, in a historical sketch of the library published in Volume IV of the Nebraska Historical Collections, says that there were nearly one hun- dred stockholders in the association. On December 30, 1871, these stockholders held their first meeting and elected the following directors: Albert M. Henry, Nathan Shelton, Andrew J. Poppleton, St. A. D. Balcombe, J. W. Gannett, Henry W. Yates, John T. Edgar, Smith S. Caldwell, Albert Swartzlander, Dr. George L. Miller and John Patrick. The first meeting of the directors was held on January 3, 1872, when the board was organized by the election of A. J. Poppleton as president; Nathan Shelton, vice president ; Albert Swartzlander, secretary ; Albert H. Henry, corresponding secretary ; Smith S. Caldwell, treasurer.
John T. Edgar donated 1,000 volumes and the board purchased 800 volumes from O. E. Crosby of Fremont. These 1,800 yoltimes constituted the nucleus of the library. A little later J. M. Pattee gave 800 volumes to the library, under certain conditions, making a total of 2,600 volumes. These were catalogued by members of the association, who donated their services, and the library was opened in a room in the second story of the Simpson Block, over the postoffice.
In this connection it may be of interest to the reader to know how the Pattee collection of books was accumulated. In August, 1871, Mr. Pattee established a lottery in Omaha under the name of "The Omaha Library Legal Gift Enterprise Concern." Lyford & Company were the ostensible managers and the announce- ment was made that the purpose was to provide the city with a public library. The first drawing was conducted on November 7, 1871, at the Academy of Music, at which it was announced that the capital prize of $20,000 was drawn by a man in Boston. The books were purchased with the proceeds of the drawing and after the library association was organized were presented to that organization. Pattee continued his lottery for about two years and did a large business by mail. On February 25, 1873, the city council, to correct the impression that the lottery had received the official indorsement of the city authorities, adopted the following resolution :
"Resolved, that in the opinion of this council the lottery now advertised by J. M. Pattee, in this city, is a fraud and the same is not and will not be indorsed by any member of this council."
In May, 1873, Pattee's mail was withheld by Postmaster C. E. Yost and for- warded to the dead letter office in Washington by order of the postoffice depart- ment. This ended the lottery and all the library ever received through that channel was the collection of books above mentioned.
When the library was opened in the Simpson Block on May 1, 1872, Mrs. Alle- man was installed as librarian. She served but a few weeks, when she was suc- ceeded by Miss M. Louise Houey, who served until August, when Miss Delia
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L. Sears was appointed by the board of directors. In 1874 John T. Edgar was elected president and in February of that year the library was removed to the second floor of the Marshall Block on the north side of Dodge Street, between Fourteenth and Fifteenth streets. Here it occupied the entire floor. Miss Jean M. Allen was appointed librarian on December 5, 1876, Miss Sears having resigned.
Each member of the association was charged a membership fee of $3 per annum. The fees charged and the proceeds of entertainments . were the only source of income. On January 16, 1877, T. B. Kennard introduced in the state senate a bill entitled: "An Act to Authorize Cities to Establish and Maintain Free Public Libraries and Reading Rooms," which was referred to the committee on judiciary. That committee reported back the bill with the recommendation that it be passed, after amending the title so as to read "incorporated towns and cities." The amendment was adopted and the bill passed the Senate on February 8, 1877, by a vote of 31 to 19. A week later it passed the house by a vote of 49 to 29 and was approved by Governor Garber. In June, 1877, the directors of the Omaha Library Association adopted the following preamble and resolution :
"Whereas, it is evident that this association is not able to keep the library and reading room open with its present and prospective income, be it
"Resolved, that the president pro tem appoint a committee of three to con- sult with the city council of Omaha and inquire whether it will establish and maintain a public library and reading room for the use of the inhabitants of this city, under the act of the Legislature, approved February 17, 1877."
On June 12, 1877, the city council passed an ordinance signifying its willing- ness to maintain such an institution, to be known as the Omaha Public Library, and elected the following board of directors: J. H. Kellom, H. J. Lucas, Mrs. O. N. Ramsey, L. S. Reed, Lyman Richardson, Andrew Rosewater, N. T. Spoor, John M. Thurston and William Wallace. For the support of the library a tax of one-fourth of a mill was levied 90 per cent only to be available, which gave the institution an income of $1,274.80. J. H. Kellom was elected president of the board; Lewis S. Reed, secretary, and Miss Jean M. Allen was continued as librarian. On August 4, 1877, Leavitt Burnham, secretary of the Omaha Library Association, transferred the books and property of the association to the Omaha public library board. Thus the library became the property of the city and the old association disbanded.
In February, 1878, the library was removed to the second floor of the Wil- liams Block, on the northeast corner of Fifteenth and Dodge streets. That year the library tax was increased to one-half mill on the dollar, which gave an income of $2,782.09. With the increased income the board was able to place a number of new volumes on the shelves, which added greatly to the popularity of the institution. In 1881 the work had grown too heavy for one librarian and an assistant was employed. In April, 1887, the library was completely reorganized, the 15,000 volumes being reclassified and a card catalogue made under the direc- tion of the new librarian, Charles Evans, who had formerly been in charge of the Indianapolis Public Library. With the reorganization the library was removed to the third floor of the Paxton Block, on the northeast corner of Sixteenth and Farnam streets. This removal was made from the Falconer Building, on the corner of Fifteenth and Douglas, where the library was taken in 1882.
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On October 18, 1887, the city council adopted a resolution authorizing the library board to submit plans for a library building to be located on Jefferson Square, with the estimated cost of such building. The plans were prepared and a special committee of the council recommended its construction, provided the city would submit to the voters a proposition to issue bonds to the amount of $80,000 for that purpose. A majority of the councilmen voted against the bond proposition and the first move toward the erection of a public library building ended in failure. Nothing further along this line was done until January 3, 1891, when A. J. Poppleton, who had been elected a member of the board but a short time before, offered a resolution providing for the appointment of three members of the board to confer with the city council "with instructions if possible to agree upon and report a plan for the selection and acquisition of a suitable site for such library building, with a view to the erection thereon, as soon as funds can be provided by law, of a suitable, indestructible, fire-proof library building." The library then numbered over thirty thousand volumes and every one who knew anything about the matter realized that a permanent home for the institution was a necessity.
Mr. Poppleton's resolution was unanimously adopted and the committee was appointed. While the consultation between this committee and the city council was going on, the death of Byron Reed on June 6, 1891, changed the whole cur- rent of events regarding a public library building. In his will Mr. Reed left to his son, in trust, the lot at the southeast corner of Nineteenth and Harney streets, to be conveyed by him to the City of Omaha, on condition that the city erect thereon a "first class fire-proof building, at least four stories high, suitable for a public library or art gallery, the erection of said building to be commenced within one year from the day this will is admitted to probate," etc.
The will also provided that, in case the city accepted the bequest of the lot, Mr. Reed's collection "of coins, medals, paper money, bonds, drafts and currency, and the cases in which they are contained," should be given to the public library ; also his private library of books, documents, manuscripts, pamphlets, files of news- papers and other periodicals and literary relics, but this part of the will was not to take effect until the public library building was completed. Exclusive of the lot, the value of the "Byron Reed Collection," which is now preserved in rooms especially set apart in the public library building, is fully fifty thousand dollars.
Soon after the will was admitted to probate the city council submitted to the people a proposition to issue bonds to the amount of $100,000 for the purpose of erecting a building. The proposition was carried by a large majority and when the council saw that the citizens were enthusiastic in their support of the library, an ordinance was passed on December 8, 1891, formally accepting Mr. Reed's bequest under the conditions of the will. The building was completed in 1893. It is a substantial structure of brick, stone and steel, three stories high in front and four stories in the rear. At the time it was first occupied by the library it was thought to be large enough for all future demands, but the library has grown to 110,000 volumes and the number of registered book borrowers to 27,101 in 1915 and the building is now so badly crowded that many of the books, pamph- lets, etc., cannot be properly classified. Miss Edith Tobitt is the present librarian. There are twenty assistant librarians, three janitors, one engineer, five persons
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employed in the bindery, one chauffer and eight pages. The following extract is taken from the report of the library for the year 1915:
"The public library system consists of the main library at Nineteenth and Harney streets, the South Omaha branch library at Twenty-third and M streets, the high school branch at the Central High School, twenty-two deposit stations, and class room libraries in twenty-three schools, both public and parochial. The two most prominent features of the library work during the year were the estab- lishment of the high school branch library and the adjustment of the South Omaha library system to that of Omaha following annexation."
SOUTH OMANIA LIBRARY
In the spring of 1889 A. M. Winebrenner came to South Omaha and tried to work up an interest in a subscription library. Through his efforts and those of his friends, a library association was formed, each member paying a small fee annually. The library was opened on May 23, 1889, in the drug store of B. F. Johnson, on the corner of Twenty-fifth and N streets, Mr. Johnson donating shelf room for the books and his services as librarian. A few months later Mr. Johnson left South Omaha and the books were taken to the music store of J. C. Collins, on Twenty-fourth Street. Miss Anna Glasgow agreed to act as assistant librarian. There the library remained until the spring of 1894, when it was removed to a small office building owned by Doctor Glasgow. At this time the first board of trustees was chosen. It consisted of A. A. Monroe, president ; W. J. Taylor, secretary ; Miss Hattie Moore, treasurer; E. C. Lane, Mrs. Emma L. Talbott, and Rev. H. J. McDevitt.
In May, 1894, the library was again moved, this time to the rooms of the associated charities, and George McBride was chosen librarian. The growth was such during the next five years that the question of establishing a permanent home for the library came up for discussion. Just before Christmas in 1899, Congressman D. H. Mercer wrote to Andrew Carnegie, suggesting that he give $75,000 for the erection of a suitable library building. Mr. Carnegie replied that he had just given $75,000 to Lincoln, to replace the library building destroyed by fire, and that was all he could do for Nebraska that year. Under date of June 22, 1901, Mr. Carnegie wrote from Skibo Castle, Scotland, to Mr. Mercer, offer- ing to give $50,000 for a building if the city would agree to give $5,000 annually for the library's support. The offer was accepted and the library board was then incorporated under the state laws.
On April 2, 1902, a site 70 by 90 feet on the corner of Twenty-third and M streets was purchased from the Glasgow estate for $3,500 and Thomas J. Kimball was employed as architect to design the building. The plans were approved by Mr. Carnegie, who turned over the amount of his donation to the library board, and the library was opened in its new home on Christmas day in 1904, with Miss Jane Abbott as librarian. The number of volumes in this library in 1915 was 9,409. By the annexation of South Omaha in 1915 the library board passed out of existence and the library became a part of the general library system of Greater Omaha.
In concluding this chapter, it is worthy of remark that educators of other cities have visited Omaha for the express purpose of studying the methods employed
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in the public schools, with a view of introducing those methods in the schools of their home cities. This is evidence that the public schools of the Gate City occupy a high place in the educational annals of the nation. The rural schools of Douglas County, the parochial and private schools compare favorably with similar schools elsewhere. Creighton University stands near the head of the list of Catholic col- leges. The University of Omaha, although an infant institution, has a bright prospect for the future. One person in every eight of the population holds a borrower's card to the public library, from which nearly half a million books were drawn in the year 1915. All this goes to show that the people of Omaha and Douglas County are firm believers in education and consistently support their belief by practicing what they preach.
CHAPTER XXII
THE CITY AND COUNTY PRESS
INFLUENCE OF EARLY NEWSPAPERS-SKETCHES OF PIONEER JOURNALS AND JOUR- NALISTS-THE WORLD-HERALD'S ORIGIN-THE FIRST MORNING DAILY-THE DAILY BEE-THE NEWS-DEFUNCT PUBLICATIONS-OMAHA PUBLICATIONS OF 1916-WESTERN NEWSPAPER UNION-RURAL NEWSPAPERS.
In attracting immigration to Nebraska, the development of Douglas County's natural resources and the building up of the City of Omaha, the newspapers played no inconsiderable part. Perhaps the early editors would not measure up to a high journalistic standard today, but what they lacked in polish they more than made up in vigor, and their editorial utterances were forceful if not elegant. They came to the West and east their fortunes in with it, and naturally they were interested in seeing the new country make progress. Telegraphie service was impossible for several years after the founding of Omaha and the news published in the local newspapers was often days or even weeks old before they had an opportunity to present it to their readers. Paper and other materials had to be transported long distances by wagon, or brought up the Missouri River on a steamboat, yet in spite of all these difficulties the newspaper was one of the early institutions of the eity.
Doubtless the first newspaper to be published anywhere near the present City of Omaha was the Frontier Guardian, which was started at Council Bluffs in 1849. Orson Hyde, a Mormon, brought an old-fashioned printing press over- land and installed it in a log cabin, near the corner of what is now First and Broadway streets in Council Bluffs. The Frontier Guardian was devoted to the propagation of the Mormon doctrines, though it occasionally published a little news that the editor thought of general interest. It was issued semi-monthly and its publication was continued until the great body of the Mormons went on to Salt Lake.
On July 28, 1854, the first issue of the Omaha Arrow made its appearance. It was printed in the office of the Council Bluffs Bugle and the names of Joseph E. Johnson and John W. Pattison stood at the head of the editorial columns as editors and publishers. Little can be learned of Mr. Pattison prior to his com- ing to Omaha and it seems he was connected with the Arrow but a short time. In the summer of 1855 he was second lieutenant in the Fontenelle company, in the Fontenelle or "Catfish" war, and in 1858 was associated for a little while with W. W. Wyman in the publication of the Omaha Times.
Joseph E. Johnson, the principal owner and editor of the Arrow, was born in Chautauqua County, New York, April 28, 1817, and was reared on a farm.
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His parents became Mormons and followed the varying fortunes of that sect to Kirtland, Ohio, Independence, Mo., and Nauvoo, Ill. At Nauvoo Mr. John- son married Miss Harriet Snyder, the ceremony having been performed by Joseph Smith, the Mormon prophet. In 1848 he came to Council Bluffs, while that place was called Kanesville, and was appointed postmaster. In 1852 he estab- lished the Council Bluffs Bugle. His office was burned the next year, but he rehabilitated the plant and continued the publication of the Bugle until some time in 1856. After the suspension of the Omaha Arrow and the Bugle, Mr. Johnson engaged in merchandising and is said to have sent the first wagon train to Denver, then known as the "Cherry Creek Mines." It has been claimed that the first published article favoring the North Platte route for the Union Pacific Railroad was from his pen. For a short time after leaving Omaha he conducted a weekly paper at Wood River Crossing, Neb., where he also had a small water mill. In 1861 he went to Salt Lake City, and was there engaged in various news- paper enterprises until his death.
The Arrow was an enthusiastic advocate of every measure calculated to advance the interests of Omaha. The editor was evidently a guest of the St. Nicholas Hotel, kept by Mr. and Mrs. Snowden, for when a Muscatine (Iowa) paper made a slighting reference to Omaha as a "city of six houses and without a hotel," the Arrow came back with the following: "Why, the St. Nicholas, of New York, is not a circumstance to its namesake. in our city. Here you may get venison, fowl, bird or fish cooked in any manner you please. You may smoke in the parlor, put your heels upon the sideboard without injury to the furniture, or for variety you may spread your buffalo on the green grass and take a comfortable smoke without fear of being run over by a score of woolly- headed servants. Omaha City, indeed. Why, we have the editors, squatters, deer, turkeys, grouse and other 'animals' a-plenty, and will soon show you that Omaha City is one of the cities of the West."
Among the advertisements in the first number of the Arrow were those of Tootle & Jackson, merchants, announcing the wondrous bargains in their wares ; William Clancy, proprietor of the "Big Six" grocery and eating house; several Council Bluffs concerns and the following gem setting forth the advantages of the ferry :
ATTENTION ! SETTLERS IN NEBRASKA !
"The General Marion runs regularly between Council Bluffs and Omaha City. There need be no fear of detention as the boat is in constant readiness for stock, teams or foot passengers, with steam up and ready crew. Come on, emi- grants, this is the great central ferry! Hurrah for Nebraska!
"COUNCIL BLUFFS & NEBRASKA FERRY COMPANY.
"June 23, 1854."
But the time was not opportune for the successful conduct of a newspaper in Nebraska's future metropolis, and after a few issues the Arrow was forced to yield to the inevitable. The suspension of the Arrow was the signal for some rejoicing on the part of the Bellevue Palladium, which began its existence 011 July 15, 1854, though it was printed at St. Mary's, Iowa, until November 15, 1854, when the first paper ever printed in Nebraska was run off by the Palladiun
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at Bellevue. Daniel B. Reed & Company were the proprietors and Thomas Morton was the editor. There was quite a rivalry between the Palladium and the Arrow and sometimes the controversy over the location of the territorial capital and the respective advantages of Bellevue and Omaha City grew some- what embittered. The last number of the Arrow was issued on December 29, 1854, and the Palladium assumed a sort of "I told you so" attitude toward Omaha. Its victory was short-lived, however, for the last number of the paper was published on April 11, 1855.
After the suspension of the Arrow, Bird B. Chapman, the second Congres- sional delegate from Nebraska, began making preparations to start another paper in Omaha and on January 17, 1855, he issued the first number of the Nebraskian. This paper continued for several years and was influential in promoting the interests of Omaha and the Territory of Nebraska. In 1858 Mr. Chapman sold the Nebraskian to Theodore Robertson, who sold it to M. H. Clark about two years later. One thing that helped the publication during this period was the fact that Mr. Robertson, and after him Mr. Clark, held the position of city printer. Although the amount of printing ordered by the city was comparatively small, it helped to keep the Nebraskian's head above water. In 1863 Mr. Clark sold out to Alfred H. Jackson, who issued the last number on June 15. 1865.
The next paper to be started in Omaha was the Times, which was founded by William W. Wyman, the first number coming from the press on June 11, 1857. It was a weekly democratic paper, well edited, and during the session of the Legislature in 1858 a daily edition was published, probably the first daily ever issued in Nebraska. Its publication proved to be unprofitable and it was discon- tinned soon after the adjournment of the Legislature. The weekly edition was stispended in 1859. Mr. Wyman was a man of high character, experienced in newspaper work, full of public spirit, and many regretted that circumstances forced him to give up the publication of the Times. In June, 1855, before he started the Times, he was appointed postmaster, and in April, 1859, was again appointed to that position, a fact that probably had something to do with the suspension of his paper.
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