|
 
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Homer was the home of two historical legends.
Dick Hart, often called “the lost Capone.” He was the older brother of Al Capone and served as a U.S. Marshall on the Indian reservation during prohibition days. He was often referred to as “Two-Gun Hart”.
Charles “Omaha Charlie” Bristol lived among the Native Americans. Much of his material is located in the Nebraska State Historical Society in Lincoln. Bristol was the originator of the Wild West Show later taken over by Buffalo Bill Cody and toured the United States, England and Europe.
Homer Community Club
402-698-2317
|
|
|
|
Christmas Tour with lights at the O'Connor House
Homer Hoopla Daze
|
|
|
|
|
|
ARCHITECTURE & MUSEUM
O'Connor House Museum Complex: Located two miles east oh Hwy 75, constructed between 1865 and 1875 by Captain Cornelius O'Connor.
Combs School (1857): Oldest school building in Dakota county. Annually hosts "hands on" school day for visitors, featuring pioneer dress, lunch in syrup pails, 1800s curriculum. Located east of Homer.
Museum Machinery Building: Oustanding collection of early machinery.
FOLKLORE
James Capone came to Homer in 1919 and worked as a house painter and paperhanger. People knew him as Richard Hart and did not know he was Al Capone's brother. A few years later he was elected town Marshall. He soon became known as "Two-Gun" Hart, because he carried a gun strapped to each hip, and with either hand could shoot the cap off a beer bottle at a hundred feet. But he was caught stealing merchandise from the stores in town and was fired. In 1940, his family was notified that the long-lost brother was living here in Homer. He was broke, had only one eye, a wife and four sons, and was on relief. The Capone family sent him a check every month to help him out. When James Capone (or Richard Hart) died here in 1952, he was totally blind.
HISTORICAL
National Register of Historic Places
Tonwontonga: Tonwontonga is the site of the Omaha Tribe’s “Big Village” one mile north of present Homer.
An interpretive turnout is in the vicinity of the village.
A small party from the Corp of Discovery was sent out on August 13 to make contact with Indians. They reported the next day that the best known and largest of the Omaha villages, Tonwontonga, was surrounded by “emunbl” (innumerable) graves. The tribe had been ravaged by a small pox epidemic four years earlier. Clark’s journal indicates 400 graves and 300 survivors. From 1775 to 1845 Tonwontonga had been the principle village of the Omaha Tribe.
Lewis and Clark stayed for a week hoping to meet with Omaha tribal leaders but the tribe was gone on a buffalo hunt. They did meet with chiefs of the Otos and Missouris in the area. They helped Lewis & Clark make a peace treaty with the Omahas.
Fish Camp: Just south of Dakota City, NE, the Corps camped at a site they named Fish Camp in honor of the 1,100 fish they caught in two days. On August 18th, the Lewis and Clark expedition met with a few Oto chiefs who had not been present at Council Bluff. The same day Private Moses Reed, a deserter, was returned to camp by a search party and tried for desertion and stealing a rifle and shot pouch. He was sentenced to run the gauntlet “only” some five times through (about 500 lashes total). Three chiefs asked for the pardoning of Reed, but after hearing the gravity of the offenses changed their minds and witnessed the punishment. That evening Lewis’ birthday party was celebrated with a dance and extra whiskey.
An interpretive turn out between Homer and Dakota City on the approximate site of Tonwantonga features native grasses and interpretive panels telling about Fish Camp, Second Council, Moses Reed’s Trail, Tonwantonga and Lewis and Clark.
SHOOTING SPORTS
Sumac Sporting Clays: 4 miles east of Homer, two courses, nine stations on each
Thomas Ashford Scout Reservation Large area for Boy Scouts to have camping experiences in wilderness setting.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FUEL/ATM
Pronto Convenience Store
RESTURANT
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
