BLAIR, NEBRASKA (2024 November 26, Tuesday)
Don Harrold, Writer / Editor
blairtoday@mail.com – Facebook
From humble frontier beginnings to established community celebrations, the history of Thanksgiving in Nebraska tells a fascinating story of resilience, adaptation, and community spirit. Through periods of both prosperity and hardship, Nebraskans found ways to maintain this tradition of gratitude.
Early Territorial Days (1854-1870)
Nebraska’s relationship with Thanksgiving began formally in 1854, when territorial governor Thomas Cuming issued the first Thanksgiving proclamation. While Bellevue quickly embraced the holiday with a religious service at its Mission building, Omaha‘s acceptance was initially slower. Dr. George L. Miller, founder of the Omaha Herald, later recalled that early Omaha was “tough” with “no laws,” suggesting that religious and civic celebrations took time to establish.
Frontier Celebrations (1870-1871)
Some of the most colorful accounts of early Nebraska Thanksgivings come from frontier settlements. Red Cloud‘s first Thanksgiving in 1870 exemplified the pioneer spirit, with settlers creatively adapting traditional foods to local resources. The community feast featured buffalo meat, wild turkey, and pies made with marrow from buffalo bones. Wild fruits like plums, grapes, and chokecherries substituted for traditional fare, while a late garden provided fresh vegetables into the winter months.
Just a year later, in 1871, Red Willow County saw its own unique celebration when eleven men from the Republican Valley Land and Townsite company shared their Thanksgiving meal near the mouth of Red Willow Creek. Their feast included buffalo meat, wild turkey, and prairie chicken, along with “regulation camp fare” and frozen syrup cut into chunks from a keg.
The Challenging 1890s
The 1890s brought significant challenges to Nebraska’s Thanksgiving celebrations. During the country’s worst economic depression before the 1930s, many communities struggled. In Omaha, 1893 saw an estimated 2,000 people homeless and without means of support. Local newspapers like Figaro urged wealthy citizens to help the less fortunate, suggesting that even forgoing expensive cigars could provide means to help a poor family.
Urban Evolution (1900-1920s)
By the 1920s, Thanksgiving in Nebraska’s cities had evolved into a multi-faceted celebration. In Omaha, the holiday featured:
- Religious services across multiple denominations
- Charitable efforts by organizations like the Salvation Army and Visiting Nurses Association
- Elaborate celebrations at hotels and restaurants
- Popular saloon celebrations offering free food to all
- Theatrical performances and entertainment
Sports Traditions
Football became an integral part of Nebraska’s Thanksgiving tradition. The University of Nebraska played its first football game on Thanksgiving in 1890 against the Omaha YMCA, beginning a long tradition of holiday games. High school championships were often scheduled for Thanksgiving Day, and North Omaha’s “Coal Bowl,” which ran from the mid-1930s through 1957, became a significant community event benefiting Black charities.
(The Coal Bowl was a Thanksgiving Day football game that took place at Burdette Field in North Omaha. The Coal Bowl was a tradition in North Omaha that featured the neighborhood’s top Black football players. The game was played on the same land where Bob Gibson fielded ground balls from his brother.)
Cultural Impact
Notable Nebraskans like Willa Cather helped document and shape the holiday’s meaning in the state. In 1896, writing under the pseudonym “Helen Delay,” Cather paid tribute to Sara Josepha Hale’s role in establishing Thanksgiving as a national holiday. Cather’s own connection to Nebraska Thanksgivings remained strong throughout her life, as she often returned to Red Cloud for holiday celebrations.
Conclusion
The history of Thanksgiving in Nebraska reflects the state’s broader development from frontier territory to established communities. Through economic ups and downs, harsh weather, and changing social conditions, Nebraskans maintained and adapted their Thanksgiving traditions, demonstrating both resilience and generosity. The holiday became not just a celebration of harvest and gratitude, but a testament to community spirit and shared values that continue to resonate today.
