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DOUGLAS, 1860s

According to Harold Becker, the original photo of this image of Douglas Street looking northwest from 15th & Douglas, is believed to have been taken by noted photographer William Henry Jackson. This portion of Douglas Street was still residential, with homes, marching west up the north side of Douglas, belonging to Sam Megeath (home behind first white picket fence); Delos Baird (large residence with lots of vertical windows on the east side); Richard Withnell (small white structure inside white corral fence); Dewitt Sutphen (home hidden behind trees and surrounded by white fence); and the Oscar F. Davis home on the horizon. The home on the horizon directly to the right of the Davis home is “Sunnybank” – built by attorney John Reid Meredith and believed to be the first mansard roof home in Omaha. The Territorial Capitol sits on the horizon to the far right. The large home east of the Capitol with the cupola on top (tinted yellow) is at the northwest corner of 18th & Dodge and belonged to John McCormick, an early businessman. Dewitt C. Sutphen homesteaded and farmed on the land at 39th & Davenport where Joslyn Castle was eventually built.

Becker, H. W. “Omaha’s First Century in Photos: - Chapters in Omaha Growth Are Revealed in Rare Photographs.” Omaha Sun Newspaper, 7 January 1965.