![]() ![]() ^ (2007) "Walking tour of Little Italy May 9"."Condos will build on neighborhood's past". (nd) Magic Number:Third stage in downtown Omaha development charging ahead Archived at the Wayback Machine. (1939) Nebraska: A Guide to the Cornhusker State. (1936) Omaha: A Guide to the City and Environs. (nd) A Comprehensive Program for Historic Preservation in Omaha. ^ Press Release from the Office of the Mayor, City of Omaha (June 2, 2008) City and Neighbors Partner to Preserve and Enhance South Omaha Corridors.^ "Reconnaissance Survey of Portions of South Central Omaha, Nebraska: Historic Buildings Survey" (PDF).(1997) The Gate City: A history of Omaha. In 2007 Caniglia's was razed, and was replaced with townhomes. Other landmarks include the Santa Lucia Festival Committee Hall at 725 Pierce Street Marino's Italian Grocery at 1716 South 13th Street Sons Of Italy Hall located at 1238 South 10th Street, and Orsi's Bakery at 621 Pacific Street. The Cornish Residence is one of Omaha's best examples of Second Empire style architecture, and Santa Lucia Hall, which was originally built in 1891 as Fire Station 9. Francis Cabrini Church, designed by Thomas Rogers Kimball and built in 1908 at 1335 South 10th Street. ![]() Little Italy has several landmarks, including St. Many other remnants of Little Italy endure, making this area distinct within the city. Several new housing developments are happening throughout the area, as well. In addition to the historic Italian families in the area, today there are Latinos, Eastern Europeans and others throughout the community. An annual festival called "La Festa" is held to unite the city's Italian community and celebrate heritage. Today the Festival of Santa Lucia, which was started by Grazia Caniglia, is still celebrated throughout Little Italy, as it has been since the arrival of the first immigrants. According to one expert, Little Italy native Tony Biase was the "leading Mafioso in Omaha" through the 1970s. Later, from 1946 to 1951, Calamia controlled the local outlet of a national race wire service, distributed racing results received from the mob-controlled Harmony News Service in Kansas City. In 1930, Omaha city boss Tom Dennison placed Frank Calamia, a Sicilian living in the neighborhood, in charge of liquor syndicate operations in Omaha's south side. The Immigration Act of 1924 was largely responsible for ending large-scale immigration of Italians to Omaha.ĭuring the Prohibition era, much of the Omaha's bootleg liquor was produced in Little Italy. Originally Little Italy had a small commercial area on South 6th Street extending west along Pierce Street, including a grocery store, clothing and shoe stores, and the Bank of Sicily, established by the Salerno brothers in 1908. South 10th Street was also particularly important to the Italian community. Additional waves of Sicilians arrived between 19 and following World War I. In 1905, Sicilian immigrants settled along South 6th Street in the hills south of downtown. Joseph then secured boarding and jobs for the immigrants, particularly in downtown Omaha's Union Pacific shops. When Sebastiano took a job as an agent for a steamship company in 1904, he encouraged friends from Sicily to emigrate. Two brothers, Joseph and Sebastiano Salerno, are credited with creating Little Italy, located further north near the Union Pacific yards in downtown. It was formed by immigrants from southern Italy and migrants from eastern American cities. Omaha's first Italian enclave developed during the 1890s near the intersection of South 24th Street and Poppleton Street. The plan calls for 10th Street to be improved with a streetcar line, treelines, parks, fountains and sculpture. In June 2008, the City of Omaha has announced plans to revitalize the area because of its proximity to Nebraska's top two tourist attractions, the Old Market District and the Henry Doorly Zoo. It is located immediately south of the Burlington Train Station and the Omaha Rail and Commerce Historic District. The community is bounded by Pacific Street on the north, Center Street on the south, South 10th Street on the west and the Missouri River on the east. ![]() It was the source of many laborers for the Union Pacific railroad, much of Omaha's bootlegging during Prohibition and the Santa Lucia Procession, which started in 1924 and continues annually. Little Italy is a neighborhood in Omaha, Nebraska which served as the historic home to Omahans of Italian ancestry.
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