Keystone, Omaha

1854–1910

During the late 1800s the area of Keystone was mostly pasture land with a few farms in various areas. After the Kansas–Nebraska Act was passed land sales began. The area later known as Keystone Park was bordered by present-day N.83rd and N. 78th Streets on the West and East sides. The property moved up towards Military Rd through present day Aurora Drive. The land was purchased initially by Daniel Voorhees according to a report put together by Carol Peters William A. Paxton Sr. purchased the land from Daniel in 1883 and a year later deeded it to his son William Paxton Jr. who would own the land until his death in 1910. The Keystone Stock Farm occupied much of the land owned by the Paxton's.

The oldest standing house in Keystone today is on n 73rd and Bedford. According to the Douglas County Assessor the house was built in 1880. There are couple homes within a few blocks built just after 1900. The next oldest homes were built on present day N. 78th St just south of where Aurora forks off to the SE. Just south of that spot on Aurora is another home still standing built before 1900. Another home still standing built before 1900 is on Boyd just past where Boyd curves SE just east of where Boyd originally ended. Boyd Street used to be called Maple Avenue. It was originally a cul-de-sac but was extended all the way to N. 90th most likely in sections. Present day Keystone Drive ran from Military Road through towards present day N. 83rd Street. Boyd Street forked to the west and N. 83rd curved towards Maple Street. These roads made up the early network of the neighborhood. The earliest built and still standing homes line present day: Keystone Dr, Boyd St, N. 79th St, N. 83rd St, Glenvale, Aurora, Pinkney, and Wirt. Around this time the Cherrycroft farm was in operation. The farm was located at N. 77th and Military Rd on land occupied currently by the Mary Immaculate Catholic Church.

In 1907 the land surrounding the Paxton house was called the Keystone Park Edition. The land was divided into tracts and sold anywhere from 2 acres to 20 acres. Advertisements started running in the Omaha World-Herald advertising the great opportunity for land that had yet to be plowed. Boulevards were laid out which is why the center of Keystone is not like many of the neighborhoods that developed at the time where they mostly had a grid like layout. The boulevards were laid out with trees lining them and were intended to be winding to create a scenic view in the area. You can still see this today by driving along Keystone Drive, N.83rd st, and many other roads.

1911–1940s

Homes began to pop up around the current homes and started to stretch down Boyd Street. After William Paxton Jr's death tracts began to be sold. Advertisements used the winding, tree lined roads as a selling point. In 1925 Adams School was built just south of the Paxton home that sat at the intersection of N. 79th St and Evans. Today the land part of the school's playground. As the area grew a prominent resident Carl Renstrom lived on Keystone Drive until he moved to his new mansion on Pacific Street. Another prominent resident of Keystone may be the most infamous Omahan in the history of Omaha. Tom Dennison, also known as the Grey Wolf, lived in a home on Graceland Drive. Graceland Dr used to extend all the way to Clifton Dr, but today stops at present day Skyline Manor. The home was a large brown brick home with a very stately property. By the time the 1920s came along Cherrycroft was offering kennels as was Tom Dennison. Additionally, the area known as Pinecrest which is the section just south of where Fort St meets Military Road had some homes begin to pop up that still exist today.

1950s–present

Keystone began to really grow by the time 1950 came around. Over two thirds of the homes still standing today were built after 1950. In the early 1960's many homes were built and sold. In the Omaha World Herald posted an advertisement which included a picture of a home you could purchase. Many of the homes built at this time share a very similar layout but are often mirror images of each other. The majority of these homes occupy the area west of N. 83rd St, the area north of Boyd St and the empty areas in the rest of the neighborhood. Some homes were torn down and new homes built. The number of homes built after 1980 is less than a hundred, excluding the low income housing area on Boyd Street. As the neighborhood grew there were various needs that came up through the years including the need for a new school, the need for churches, the need for parks, and other normal amenities of a growing neighborhood.

Keystone grew slowly which allowed for more winding, tree lined roads which was an original feature of the neighborhood. Modern home development approaches were used in the growing areas in grid like street designs in order to increase the amount of homes in the development. But Little Papillion Creek did help to create a natural barrier against increased traffic in the neighborhood. Since the only entrance to Keystone on N. 90th St is Boyd St it caused streets built on the west side to end before the creek which reduces through traffic.

The Keystone Pool was built in the 1970s as requested by the residents. Mr. Hargleroad who was the land owner for much of the NW corner agreed to build the pool and purchase 200 memberships for the area if the neighbors purchased 200 more. The Hargleroad addition makes up most of the northern section of Keystone.

Layout

Unlike some of the older neighborhoods Keystone doesn't have a grid like setup outside of a few blocks. However, unlike many new subdivisions the layout does not rely on cul-de-sacs to reduce through traffic. Many subdivisions form with very little current inhabitants but Keystone formed slowly over time until the land was sold and the area was developed. It creates a unique feel to the neighborhood.

Organizations

Keystone has a task force and neighborhood patrol. The Keystone Task Force organizes community events including fundraisers, scholarships, and various other activities. The Keystone Neighborhood Patrol is a group of neighbors who volunteer some of their time to patrol the neighborhood to help prevent crime within the neighborhood.

Notable Locations

The Keystone pool is a popular feature of the neighborhood. When Keystone was being developed the current neighbors asked the developer to build a pool. The developer agreed and the pool was built at the corner of 83rd and Templeton. The pool hosts many parties through the summer as well as many swim meets. The pool has changed through the years building a pavilion and rebuilding the "baby pool", the smaller pool for younger kids.

Keystone also has three moderate sized parks. Esther Pilster Park on 88th St south of Boyd has some playground equipment and rests just south of a ball field which is across the street (Boyd St) from a soccer field. Keystone Park at 78th and Keystone Dr has two tennis courts along with some playground equipment. Democracy Park just north of 87th St and Templeton Dr has playground equipment, a stone mountain that was sealed with stones in the 90's, and a ball field that creates the corner of Templeton and Fort St.

The Keystone Trail

The Keystone Trial originates as Democracy Park and runs for miles through midtown Omaha. The trail travels for several miles through what is now present day midtown Omaha. Many people use the trail each day from biking to jogging to simply going for a walk. The trail head starts at the small parking lot of Democracy Park. There have been talks for years to extend the trail north to Lake Cunningham passing near Omaha Northwest High School. This has yet to happen but the trail is still very popular and active through the spring, summer, and fall.

The trail follows the Little Papillion Creek. There is a pedestrian bridge that crosses the creek in between Larimore Ave and Fowler Ave that comes out to the old train track rails behind a present-day car wash and auto body shop. The trail is 15 miles ending at Haworth Park in Bellevue, Nebraska. The railroad influence is seen along the trail within Keystone. The trail runs along 88th St but curves towards 90th St just before reaching Keystone Dr. The remnants of the old railroad that followed the same path can still be seen today.