| Saratoga, Nebraska |
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Information AboutSaratoga, Nebraska |
| CATEGORIES ABOUT SARATOGA, NEBRASKA TERRITORY | |
| north omaha, nebraska | |
| history of united states expansionism | |
| missouri river | |
| settlements established in 1856 | |
| douglas county, nebraska | |
| history of omaha | |
| former cities in nebraska | |
| former place names | |
| neighborhoods in omaha | |
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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.Bristow, D. (1997) ''A Dirty, Wicked Town: Tales of 19th Century Omaha.'' Caxton Press. 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".(n.d.) Historical Sketch of Brownell Hall. 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 Bank s, 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. 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.'' 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 buildingMorton & Watkins (n.d.) "History of Nebraska" . By 1869 a new school building had been constructed at 16th & Jones in Omaha and the old hotel was abandoned.(n.d.) Douglas County Andreas' History of Nebraska. Richard Siemon was the operator of the Saratoga Brewery located at the present-day junction of North 16th Street and Commercial Avenue. By 1863 the company was sold to Ebenezer Dallow, and eventually it became the famous Storz Brewing Company .[http://www.rootsweb.com/~neresour/andreas/douglas/douglas-p46.html "History of Omaha," ''Andreas' History of Nebraska - Douglas County.'' Retrieved 9/8/07. In 1866 local citizens erected a One Room Schoolhouse called Saratoga School, one of the first public schools in Nebraska.(n.d.) "Saratoga History." Saratoga Elementary School website. The current school was built in 1926, and expanded to house all of the neighborhoods students in kindergarten through sixth grades in 2001. (2004) Walnut Hill Elementary School . ''Omaha Public Schools 2004-2005 Report to the Community.'' Omaha Public Schools. Retrieved 6/25/07. 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.(n.d.) History of Carter Lake, Iowa City of Carter Lake, Iowa website The community floundered for several years, and by the 1880s, was annexed into the City of Omaha. LEGACY In 1886, Omaha banker Herman Kountze platted much of the Saratoga area as a new affluent suburb of Omaha called Kountze Place . The Saratoga community was notable again in Omaha's history at 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. At that time the University was located just south in the posh Kountze Place suburb. With new bleachers built to accommodate a crowd of a thousand, the Saratoga Field was home to OU's team until 1951.(n.d.) Saratoga Field University of Nebraska at Omaha website. Saratoga Avenue in North Omaha was the Main Street of the town of Saratoga. Saratoga Elementary School was incorporated into , once located in the heart of Saratoga, thrives today and is recognized as the oldest school in Nebraska . SEE ALSO
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