Rourke Park

Did you know that Rosenblatt was not the first popular baseball park in our neighborhood. 

The story begins in 1867, when Issac Skinner Hascall, a former New York Lawyer, purchased thirteen acres of forest land for an “amusement center”. This was just one of his projects in this area, but more on that story later. Following nearly 30 years of on again off again Omaha baseball leagues, Mr. Hascall designed the 1899 Western Leagues’, Nonpareil Stadium. The grand stand and bleachers of the Nonpareil could hold 3,600 fans. The team was originally co-owned and co-managed by William “Pa” Rourke and Colonel Buchanan Keith, but after personal differences “Pa” Rourke bought out Keith’s share and proceeded to lead the team. Pa’s team finished their first season winning 17 of their last 18 games and by 1904 won its’ first pendant after winning 15 consecutive games and finishing 90-60.

From the Nonpareil Stadium to Rourke Park, and later from Vinton Street Park to League Park,  like many things in that era, the neighbrohood name of the park followed the headings of the local newspaper.  Regardless of the name, Omaha’s baseball history was rather unstable prior to the construction of the Nonpareil Stadium, and thanks to this Mr. Hascall’s vision of an amusement center along Vinton, our area was on the map in Omaha baseball history. 

If you look below you can see a 1918 Circa map of “Rourke Park”. Looking at this map you are likely thinking, “this park looks like it could hold more than 3,600 fans”. Well it could, in fact the park you see below could hold 7,500 fans. Next month, I will tell you the second half of this story and unfortunately, the baseball parks’ history has a sad ending. 

If you wish to read more of Omaha baseball history, you should get Devon Niebling and Thomas Hyde's Baseball in Omaha. This great little book is full of pictorials and includes the story of Rourke Park and many others. You can get a used copy at the link provided for around $8, but I would splurge and get a new one for $16. Thanks Mr. Niebling and Mr. Hyde for helping others learn about this part of our neighborhood's history.  For Nebraska Baseball history, visit a website hosted by Bruce Esser, Nebraska Baseball History. At this website there is an abundance of history on Nebraska baseball's fields. leagues, and players.

Oscar Duran: Deer Park President

Forming the Deer Park Neighborhood Association

Rudy Novacek

This month's A Rich Past, pertains to the forming of the Deer Park Neighborhood Association (DPNA). After making a few phone calls and acquiring 1980’s Omaha Neighborhood Association directories, I learned the following about DPNA's founding. According to a former and long serving DPNA board member, DPNA was formed in efforts to protect the land where interstate I-80 now cuts through the neighborhood. I was informed that soon after the announcement of the interstate project, neighborhood advocates Rudy Novaceck and Frank Janiak filed to start a neighborhood association. By1982, our organization was in the Omaha Neighborhood Association Directory. It reports Mr. Janiak as the president with the neighborhood association boundaries set from 13^th street to 24^th street, and from C Street to Castelar.  Unfortunately, archives are missing the 1983 directory, but by 1984 Rudy Novacek was our president. In addition to his works with our community group, Rudy was also a founding member of the South Omaha Neighborhood Alliance and the Inner-City Coalition on the Environment (ICE). He served as an ICE board member for for nearly 15 years.

I would like to take a moment to thank Mr. Janiak, Mr. Novacek, and the other members that rallied to start DPNA. Their service to our city and community lives on as we continue to serve as they did. If you have any information that would add to this story please contact me and share your information. 

Oscar Duran: Deer Park President

Deer Park Recognized as an Omaha Neighborhood

I feel it is important that the first post of A Rich Past, address the Deer Park neighborhood’s recognition as an official neighborhood in Omaha,  Nebraska. According to city records, on May 13, 1886, owners and proprietors of the green space named Deer Park, approved their land be donated for the public use as the future Deer Park Neighborhood. Had it not been for these former land owner's generosity, it is possible that this neighborhood would not be here today. I located the 1886 Deer Park Neighborhood plat application that contained the neighborhood's proposed boundaries and the signatures of land owners, Anna M. G. McCornick and George T. Mills. Below you can the transfer statement, accompanied with Mrs. McConick and Mr. Mill's signatures.

Thus far, I have been able to learn much more of the two generous land owners, other than Mr. Mills, 5 years later, opened a real estate  office in the new Deer Park Neighborhood. The neighborhood was originally platted to house 242 property parcels within a  13 block area. The street boundaries were set at 15^th in the east, 20^th street in the west, north and adjacent of Spring,  and south and adjacent of Boulevard. If you look just below you can see the 1886 surveyed neighborhood boundaries. An interesting point that should be explored is that this plat of Deer Park was adjacent to the then infamous “Sheelytown”, a historic South Omaha Irish neighborhood.  

Oscar Duran: Deer Park President