Omaha Exploration

My name is Patrick Wyman, join me as I explore Omaha and the surrounding area. With an emphasis on the origin stories of the places that define this city, I also cover new developments, attractions, events and whatever else catches my eye.

Built Environment

Southwest Corner of 24th and P Streets

In part two of my John Vachon series, we explore C & M Produce. If you missed the first one in which we explore Cattleman’s Bar, you can find it on my page. After William Paxton, Herman Kountze and John Creighton with the help of cattle ranchers formed the Union Stockyards Company in 1883, others…

Patrick Wyman

January 20, 2024

2–3 minutes

c and m produce, Ernie Jackson, Great Depression, Herman Kountze, John Creighton, john vachon, South Omaha Fruit Market, South Omaha Stockyards, St Vincent Depaul, William Paxton

January 20, 2024

In part two of my John Vachon series, we explore C & M Produce. If you missed the first one in which we explore Cattleman’s Bar, you can find it on my page.

After William Paxton, Herman Kountze and John Creighton with the help of cattle ranchers formed the Union Stockyards Company in 1883, others followed including Philip Armour, Michael Cudahy in addition to Gustavus and Edwin Swift. The village of South Omaha grew from 1,500 in 1886 to 8,000 just three years later.

1938 John Vachon photograph courtesy of the Library of Congress.

The population explosion and streetcar helped 24th Street which was originally known as Bellevue Ave to become the center of commercial development in South Omaha. This includes the subject of this photograph, C & M Produce, which was located at the SE corner of 24th and P St, just one block south of the area between M and O Streets that were added to the National Register Historic Places in 1988.

While the assessor shows the building was constructed in 1943, Omaha Wholesale and Retail Feed Company was operating from this address at 5037 S 24th Street as far back as 1930. The business names changed over the years and didn’t become C & M Produce until 1937 one year before this photograph was taken during the Great Depression. C & M was owned by Clifford Mansmith. One of the houses behind the storefront caught on fire in 1942. It’s likely the fire caused both houses and the storefront to be demolished. The new building was constructed in 1943 at which point Ernie Jackson opened the South Omaha Fruit Market which continued until 1977.

1976 Omaha World-Herald ad for the South Omaha Fruit Market showing the old and new buildings.

The new building was constructed in 1943 and Ernie Jackson opened the South Omaha Fruit Market which continued until 1977. In 1986 it was Pope and Son Raceway which was one of just two slot car race tracks in town. After that it was the home to a St. Vincent DePaul Thrift Store until 2022.