Jack Broomfield (1865–1927) was a business leader and noted criminal in

Omaha, Nebraska Omaha ( ) is the List of cities in Nebraska, most populous city in the U.S. state of Nebraska. It is located in the Midwestern United States along the Missouri River, about north of the mouth of the Platte River. The nation's List of United S ...

in the late 19th and early 20th century. He was an acknowledged political, social and economic leader in the city's African-American community.

Career

Jack Broomfield began his working life as a

Pullman porter Pullman porters were men hired to work for the railroads as Porter (railroad), porters on sleeping cars. Starting shortly after the American Civil War, George Pullman sought out former slaves to work on his sleeper cars. Their job was to carry ...

, until he lost a leg in a train accident. Moving to Omaha from

Red Oak, Iowa Red Oak is a city in, and the county seat of, Montgomery County, Iowa, United States, located along the East Nishnabotna River. The population was 5,596 in the 2020 census, a decline from the 6,197 population in 2000. History Red Oak derives ...

in the mid-1880s, he was reputed to be an aspiring criminal boss in the city's Black community. Currying favor with Tom Dennison, Omaha's political boss, Broomfield raised in the ranks. When the city's previous African American criminal boss Vic Walker who ran it got on Dennison's bad side around 1890, Dennison gave Broomfield and his partner Billy Crutchfield control of a saloon called the Midway. Along with its bar, the business had a dance floor, gambling hall, opium den and brothel. The hangout for men was at 1124 Capitol Avenue near the seedy Sporting District.

Elizabeth Cady Stanton Elizabeth Cady Stanton ( Cady; November 12, 1815 – October 26, 1902) was an American writer and activist who was a leader of the women's rights movement in the U.S. during the mid- to late-19th century. She was the main force behind the 1848 ...

called the Midway the "most notorious dive in Omaha". In his new role, Broomfield became a low-scale business leader in Omaha. Accumulating wealth and power, Broomfield became more controlling both within the city's African American community and beyond. After Dr.

Matthew Ricketts Matthew Oliver Ricketts (April 3, 1858 – January 3, 1917) was an American politician and physician. He was the first African-American member of the Nebraska Legislature, where he served two terms in the Nebraska House of Representatives (the ...

left Omaha in 1903, Jack Broomfield stepped into the position of the political leader of Omaha's African-American community. Critics complained that Broomfield was more interested in promoting his illicit interests with the political boss Tom Dennison than promoting the interests of his race. Broomfield had allowed blacks to lose political influence throughout the city, and particularly fell through on keeping the community safe. It was under his leadership that the lynching of Will Brown occurred, but it is difficult to say whether any African-American leader could have prevented such a mob outbreak. He was unable to prevent subsequent

redlining Redlining is a Discrimination, discriminatory practice in which financial services are withheld from neighborhoods that have significant numbers of Race (human categorization), racial and Ethnic group, ethnic minorities. Redlining has been mos ...

of the Near North Side and other forms of segregation throughout the city. However, his role within the African American community of Omaha positioned Broomfield as a philanthropist and economic magnate. As a private funder of Black-owned businesses, he supported several families becoming successful. He owned several enterprises, including a real estate company that was invested in dozens of properties around the city and beyond. He also contracted local African-American architect

Clarence W. Wigington Clarence Wesley "Cap" Wigington (1883-1967) was an American architect who grew up in Omaha, Nebraska. After winning three first prizes in charcoal, pencil, and pen and ink at an art competition during the Trans-Mississippi Exposition in 1899, Wig ...

to build the

Broomfield Rowhouse The Broomfield Rowhouse is located at 2502-2504 Lake Street in the Near North Side neighborhood of Omaha, Nebraska. It was designed by African American architect Clarence W. Wigington, who was later regarded as a master in his field. His des ...

in 1913. Giving money to Black charities, Broomfield was repeatedly noted for supporting the segregated senior retirement facility for Black people in

North Omaha North Omaha is a community area in Omaha, Nebraska, in the United States. It is bordered by Cuming and Dodge Streets on the south, Interstate 680 on the north, North 72nd Street on the west and the Missouri River and Carter Lake, Iowa on the ...

, as well as the community-oriented activities of Rev. John Albert Williams of St. Phillip Episcopal Church, the editor of The Monitor newspaper.

Family

From 1882 to 1908, Broomfield was married. Around 1900, he adopted a son with his wife. Continuing to raise the child after he was divorced, his son

Leroy Broomfield Leroy Broomfield (1902–1971) was a dancer in the United States and appeared on stage and in films. He was also a producer, choreographer and taught dance. Early life Broomfield was the adopted son of an African American businessman and noted ...

(1902–1971) became an aspiring businessman in North Omaha, operating a dance hall owned by his father and starting a real estate company that eventually merged with his father's business. The younger Broomfield was a dancer, and when his father died in 1927 Leroy inherited a small fortune. He went to Los Angeles to become a dancer, eventually appearing on stage and in films across the United States and elsewhere. Later in his career, he became a producer, choreographer, and dance teacher.Fletcher Sasse, A. (2025) A Biography of Jack Broomfield, NorthOmahaHistory.com. Retrieved Jan 12, 2025 from https://northomahahistory.com/2025/01/10/a-biography-of-jack-broomfield/. When Jack died, his funeral was facilitated by Rev. Williams and held at St. Phillip. He was buried in the

Forest Lawn Memorial Park Forest Lawn may refer to: Cemeteries California * Forest Lawn Memorial-Parks & Mortuaries, a chain of cemeteries in southern California * Forest Lawn Cemetery (Cathedral City), California * Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Glendale), California * Fore ...

in Omaha.

References

External links

"A Biography of Jack Broomfield"
by Adam Fletcher Sasse for NorthOmahaHistory.com Activists from Omaha, Nebraska African Americans in Omaha, Nebraska 1865 births 1927 deaths Crime in Omaha, Nebraska {{US-crime-bio-stub

Career

Family

See also

References

External links