Benson, Nebraska
Encyclopedia
Benson is a historic neighborhood in Omaha, Nebraska
. Now a pocket within North Omaha, Benson Place was originally platted in 1887 and was annexed into the City of Omaha in 1917.
was a land speculator, investor
and philanthropist who unsuccessfully ran for Mayor of Omaha in 1906. He was an early investor in marketing Thomas Edison
's inventions, including the phonograph
and the Kinetoscope
. In 1887, he purchased approximately 900 acres (3.6 km²) of farm land from Edward Creighton
, an Omaha businessman. On March 4, 1887, Benson plat
ted the land on the Creighton farm and called it Benson Place, later changing it to Benson. The newly platted community was located along Military Avenue, approximately 9 miles (14.5 km) northwest of Omaha.
On May 25, 1917, the city of Omaha, Nebraska
annexed the town of Benson. At that time, it was 1.4 mi² and had 5000 residents. Early that year the city built a new city hall and fire station
that was converted to a community center in 1923. It is still in use as such today.
Krug Park
was an amusement park located at 2936 North 52nd Street in Benson. In 1930 the park was the site of the worse roller coaster accident in the country to that year, and in 1940 it was closed. Today Gallagher Park is located on the original Krug Park site.
is in the Omaha Public Schools
district, as are Monroe Middle School
and Benson West Elementary School. Benson is home to several live music venues Common Grounds Coffeehouse, Benson Grind The Waiting Room, Barley Street Tavern, PS Collective, the Pizza Shoppe, Krug Park as well as Hargiss Stringed Instruments, a luthier
shop. Area churches include St. Bernard Catholic Church, the St. Paul United Methodist Church, Benson Church of Christ, Benson Presbyterian Church of Omaha, and Benson Baptist Church of Omaha Nebraska. Local artists include Mark Goodall.
Omaha, Nebraska
Omaha is the largest city in the state of Nebraska, United States, and is the county seat of Douglas County. It is located in the Midwestern United States on the Missouri River, about 20 miles north of the mouth of the Platte River...
. Now a pocket within North Omaha, Benson Place was originally platted in 1887 and was annexed into the City of Omaha in 1917.
History
Erastus BensonErastus Benson
Erastus A. Benson was a banker, investor and land speculator in Omaha, Nebraska. Born and raised in Iowa, after graduating from the University of Iowa Benson speculated in land around Omaha. After investing in early business ventures in the phonograph and the Kinetoscope, Benson staged an...
was a land speculator, investor
Investor
An investor is a party that makes an investment into one or more categories of assets --- equity, debt securities, real estate, currency, commodity, derivatives such as put and call options, etc...
and philanthropist who unsuccessfully ran for Mayor of Omaha in 1906. He was an early investor in marketing Thomas Edison
Thomas Edison
Thomas Alva Edison was an American inventor and businessman. He developed many devices that greatly influenced life around the world, including the phonograph, the motion picture camera, and a long-lasting, practical electric light bulb. In addition, he created the world’s first industrial...
's inventions, including the phonograph
Phonograph
The phonograph record player, or gramophone is a device introduced in 1877 that has had continued common use for reproducing sound recordings, although when first developed, the phonograph was used to both record and reproduce sounds...
and the Kinetoscope
Kinetoscope
The Kinetoscope is an early motion picture exhibition device. Though not a movie projector—it was designed for films to be viewed individually through the window of a cabinet housing its components—the Kinetoscope introduced the basic approach that would become the standard for all cinematic...
. In 1887, he purchased approximately 900 acres (3.6 km²) of farm land from Edward Creighton
Edward Creighton
Edward Creighton was a prominent pioneer businessman in early Omaha, Nebraska. The brother of John A. Creighton, the Creightons were responsible for founding many institutions that were central to the growth and development of Omaha...
, an Omaha businessman. On March 4, 1887, Benson plat
Plat
A plat in the U.S. is a map, drawn to scale, showing the divisions of a piece of land. Other English-speaking countries generally call such documents a cadastral map or plan....
ted the land on the Creighton farm and called it Benson Place, later changing it to Benson. The newly platted community was located along Military Avenue, approximately 9 miles (14.5 km) northwest of Omaha.
On May 25, 1917, the city of Omaha, Nebraska
Omaha, Nebraska
Omaha is the largest city in the state of Nebraska, United States, and is the county seat of Douglas County. It is located in the Midwestern United States on the Missouri River, about 20 miles north of the mouth of the Platte River...
annexed the town of Benson. At that time, it was 1.4 mi² and had 5000 residents. Early that year the city built a new city hall and fire station
Benson City Hall (Omaha, Nebraska)
The Benson City Hall and Fire Station, now known as the Benson Community Center, is located at 6008 Maple Street in the Benson neighborhood of Omaha, Nebraska.- History :...
that was converted to a community center in 1923. It is still in use as such today.
Krug Park
Krug Park (Omaha)
Krug Park was an amusement park located at 2936 North 52nd Street in the Benson neighborhood of Omaha, Nebraska, USA at the turn of the 20th century. In 1930, Krug Park was the site of the worst roller coaster accident in the nation up to that time.- History :Charles Tietz, an early Omaha...
was an amusement park located at 2936 North 52nd Street in Benson. In 1930 the park was the site of the worse roller coaster accident in the country to that year, and in 1940 it was closed. Today Gallagher Park is located on the original Krug Park site.
Currently
Today, the Benson High SchoolOmaha Benson High School
Omaha Benson High School Magnet, Benson High Magnet, or Benson High, is located at 5120 Maple Street in Omaha, Nebraska, in the Benson community of Omaha. The original site of Benson High was the current building that houses Benson West Elementary School. Founded in 1904, Benson High is one of the...
is in the Omaha Public Schools
Omaha Public Schools
Omaha Public Schools is the largest school district in the state of Nebraska. This public school district serves a diverse community of more than 46,000 students at over 80 elementary and secondary schools in Omaha, Nebraska...
district, as are Monroe Middle School
Monroe Middle School
Monroe Middle School, or Monroe Middle, is located at 5105 Bedford Avenue in the Benson community of Omaha, Nebraska. Founded in 1926, Monroe is one of the oldest middle school buildings in Omaha, and in 1956 it became the first junior high school in the Omaha school district.-Early years:Monroe...
and Benson West Elementary School. Benson is home to several live music venues Common Grounds Coffeehouse, Benson Grind The Waiting Room, Barley Street Tavern, PS Collective, the Pizza Shoppe, Krug Park as well as Hargiss Stringed Instruments, a luthier
Luthier
A luthier is someone who makes or repairs lutes and other string instruments. In the United States, the term is used interchangeably with a term for the specialty of each maker, such as violinmaker, guitar maker, lute maker, etc...
shop. Area churches include St. Bernard Catholic Church, the St. Paul United Methodist Church, Benson Church of Christ, Benson Presbyterian Church of Omaha, and Benson Baptist Church of Omaha Nebraska. Local artists include Mark Goodall.