The Origins of our Street Names

Wife of developer Oscar Fiene.

Developer C.J. Bradfield (possibly a member of the Sheridan Park Investment, Co.)

Developer Oscar Fiene, owner of Fiene Real Estate Co.

Developer V. Stanley Hanson. The court was added later by a different developer but the name was retained.

Mother of developer Dave Putensen. Her maiden name was Joy.

Developer Clarence E. Kessler.

Harvey Rathbone, very active developer in the Sheridan area.

Ann Hope, daughter of builder Michael Samus, as Ann's Ct. already existed in Lincoln at the time.

Francis J. Beckman, bishop of Lincoln Diocese, 1924-30.

Dr. Thomas A. Bonacum, bishop of Lincoln Diocese, 1887-1911.

Dr. Louis B. Kucera, bishop of Lincoln Diocese, 1930-57.

Dr. Charles J. O'Reilly, bishop of Lincoln Diocese, 1918-23.

J. Henry Tihen, bishop of Lincoln Diocese, 1911-17.

Benjamin Harrison, 23rd president of United States. Originally platted as Garfield Blvd. but changed to Harrison because planners thought the boulevard would be confused with Garfield Street which already existed in Lincoln.

Andrew Jackson, 7th president of United States

Thomas Jefferson, 3rd president of United States

Philip Henry Sheridan, American Union general who led Army of the Shenandoah in Civil War.

William Tecumseh Sherman, American Union general who commanded all Union troops in the West.

Silas Henry "Cub" Burnham, president of First National Bank of Lincoln.

T.E. Calvert, Lincoln resident in 1880's. General superintendent and chief engineer of Burlington and Missouri River Railroad.

Byron Dunn, president of National Bank of Commerce. The name supposedly arose after a builder (most likely L.E. Shurtleff of Shurtleff Building Co.) approached Dunn and offered to name a street after him in exchange for a loan.

Joseph Ryons, a prominent businessman who lived at 1834 Ryons.

Capt. Thomas Sewell, served in Civil War and moved to Lincoln in 1870. Ran merchantile on O between 9th and 10th until retirement in 1887.

(Possibly) Thomas G. Smith whose name appears early on the deed.

Joseph E. Stockwell, proprietor of works and brickyards in Yankee Hill area, came to Lincoln in 1882.

Van Dorn family, owned a farm/nursery at the site of the current Van Dorn Park. Named by Mark Woods because the road deadended into the Van Dorn farm.

William & Margaret Elder, lived on the street for 2.5 years before any other lots were developed.

John Alden, Pilgrim colonist and political figure whose courtship of Priscilla Mullins is the subject of a popular legend.

A long-stemmed sacred or ceremonial tobacco pipe used by certain Native Americans.

The Pilgrim colonies which were formed beginning in 1620.

Pilgrims' famous ship.

A town of southeast Massachusetts on Plymouth Bay founded in 1620 by Pilgrims, who supposedly set foot on Plymouth Rock when disembarking from the Mayflower.

Member of a group of English Protestants who in the 16th and 17th centuries adhered to strict religious doctrine. Left England and founded colony in Massachusetts.

John Winthrop, English colonial administrator who was the first governor of Massachusetts Bay Colony.

Relating to the reigns of the four Georges who ruled Great Britain from 1714 to 1830.

A large, stately residence

An English town, birthplace of Shakespeare.

Town in Buckinghamshire, England

Possibly named for the trees in the area or as a reference to the Woods family which developed it.

Named for close proximity to the Lincoln Country Club which was built in 1926.

Lots were apparently created from the former gardens of the homes which surround them. The road is a well-kept secret in Lincoln; it does not appear on many city maps.

Platted by Mary B. Allen in 1925, possible geographic reference.

Street originally ran past a lake for ice-skating and fishing which once existed behind the current Bryan West.

Platted by Frank L. Sheldon in 1880's, began at site of what is now Standing Bear Park.

Developed by the Royal Highlanders, a fraternal order/insurance company, under the direction of Frank Sharp.

Named for St. Thomas Orphanage which occupied the current Bishop Square area until 1962.

Platted in the 1870's as a south boundary for Lincoln one mile from A Street. (This was as far south as planners could conceive of Lincoln extending.)

Possibly named for the fact that it occupies a small hill in the neighborhood.

Originally an alley and later developed by the Royal Highlanders. Although there are an amazing 52 pages of deeds to analyze (in contrast to the more typical 5-10 pages for many area streets), the story behind the name is not apparent.

Developed in the 1950's by Clarence Kessler. However, research has not led to any connection between Holly and Kessler. (His wife was Velma and his daughter was Selma.) Interestingly, Kessler lived on Laurel. He may have simply created a botanical connection.

Platted by Harvey Rathbone in the 1920's, but not developed until many years later. Laurel does not appear to be a family name or part of the English theme that he used throughout the area.