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About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (March 5, 1911)
A THK OMAHA SUNDAY WVA): MARCH .". lull. Present Locations of Buildings Erected in Omaha Long Ag- a V 5LD U.&mm - NOW 123 1323 ST. MOULD you want to locate any buildings which wore erected Iii in the '.jt's aud early 'uus, chIi Ficd Benin. Me was engaged business of moving buildings In for twenty years following the a little Jaunt he took down south with a musket and a knapsack, which trip consumed the years from IN til to 1 S 0 . .Scores or these original buildings that decorated the Bite of Omaha and were considered very fine iu their day were moved, at yie time and another, from the original location to otters. In certain cases two or three moves were made, before the building found a permanent location. The old buildings stood mov ing in good shape, for. as Mr. Hehm says, the sills and, studdings were very generally of hand-hewn timber, tound as could b secured. "And in those days people did not tear down th buildings as readily as they do today," said Mr. Behm. "A good building was solid property, to be kept Intact and used, if not for one purpose, then for another; and as people prospered and wanted better homes they either moved the old ones to other lots or sold fhem to other people." This statement is borne out In the case of the old home that stood on the site of the former store of Dewey & Stone, now 1115 and 1117 Farnam street. This store, still standing, was the first four-story building erected in the state of Nebraska. V. I. Kier stead superintended the erection for the owners, and w hen asked what became of the house that used to stand on the site Mr. Klerstead took the inquirer over to North Twentieth street. .There he pointed out a very comfortable-looking cottage. "That's the old house." he said, "and you can see for yourself that the builders of the old day usnd to put up real buildings. No one couldafford to build a new house every few years, and when a home was built it was built for keeps." llclun a Walking Directory. (letting back to J. Fred liehm, it may be re marked he possesses a wonderful memory for the dif ferent Jobs of moving he did. lie will almost In Btantly name the present location of Beveral score more or less pretentious buildings of the early day. Kven though he may not have moved them all himself, he has been au observing man, and has kept pretty close tab on what was going on about him. ' General I. M. rainier, who commanded Fort Omaha thirty-five or forty years ago, built himself a residence that was considered something of a mansion in those days," said the chipper old veteran. "After ward, when he was leaving, he sold the house and w moved It to Twenty-first and Hurt, where it stands to day. From the looks of it now that house Is good for a long spell of years yet. "I noticed in a recent issue of The Sunday Bee mention of the St. Charles hotel that stood on the north side of Harney, between Twelfth and Thirteenth. Well, the building is still standing down on Dorcas street and la being used as a residence. Of course, tho early hotels were not nearly as large as even the small hotels here today. The landlords of taverns like the St. Charles did not prepare to accommodate beyond a comparatively small number of guests. Motel life was not as popular as It is today. "The building in which the Omaha Nebraskan newspaper was gotten out is still in use. as a resi dence, on Marcy street, between Fifteenth and Six teenth. A man named Clark was the editor, and at one time I used to help him get out his paper. Every issue was eagerly vatched for and used to provide topics for conversation until the next one appeared." y-s-v . W; &s 7 ? ; ' , i 'AAA- .1 n Ks. n ; M;; ' .- . ""Tl-v p r r i ' j , , . ,-4 f" 'r v " r." " - ' i - iS-Ml "x :k Xj - X j s ; yA i! : j U U U X X , I a-' iU :v ; J a " vT"' "'xs x. n 1 I ' I : ;'; " ! ii.iM.li.ia-'ii." " flSf ""1.11 HFT7r nnrmrrnr HrrMv ll i 'J B J KSL lJDWaoa 50.615 1 - -V-i or' ' , ' ' JrV "W.l.EHiESTEAD -5P I close of I -- : - X i . mlZ&a&'Z $&- X:-- X :X . ; f ' V . J r m : I- J ... i ?r r . . - - .' I JtvvJL J"- -'; - - j il tt- pi .:- . . ! tJiii- :jji!r!;L!i!l!ii! ; M! j- "S-'?'"" JiT;.: ;.'-1a-..'. c-.'''.' ' 211 1 ' I ""jvM'lv' X'.v.'I3; 'V 'HZj , iiiiw i i w bb iiiiii sMawH aaaaswaMswas TOOD OTT X, .. - ., - "V)Y C I k7 - 1'' ' ' I UJ r-AteH::i:lH: Xi ' '1 oiiO i lffejl ... ,4' ' - l 200H r j 1 1 j' ' Ja Old I nltel Stt-s TriNon. At the southeast corner of Thirteenth and Capitol avenue Is a stucco-covered, old-fashioned house that could tell Borne sorrowful tales, If walls could talk. It was used for two or three years, in its younger days, as the United States prison for this district. Colonel Lorln Miller, father of Dr. George U Miller, was the man In charge, and the prisoners sent there by Uncle Sam knew the feel or a ball and chain. In those days the officers took no chances with the prisoners In their care, especially If they were accused of anything very serious. What is now known as 2004 Burt street was orig inally the home of A. J. Manscom. It was built in 1S56 and stood on Douglas street, on the north side, between Fourteenth and Fifteenth. "I moved it for Mr. Manscom to the block bounded by Sixteenth and Seveneenth and Capitol and Davenport," said Mr. Hehm. We set it In the middle of the block, facing Sixteenth, and the location was at first considered pretty well out. Afterward St. A. D. Balcombe bought the place and lhed in it ror some years; then we moved the house again, to its present location. "In 157 or "j! Merman Kountze built himself a modest home at the foot of Davenport street, on the edge of a bluff that was there In those days; later, when Mr. Kountze built another home. I bought the old house, soon selling it to Paul Nelson. It has stood the wear and tear of all the years since and, as will be seen, is quite presentable today; It stands on the west side of Sixth street, just south of Leavenworth. Old Mansion Now a laundry. "Another popular home In the ante-bellum days was that of lieueral Ciluiore, who in me to Omaha as a government officer under appointment of President Bntnftaaru That residence was a bride one, built, as I recall it, about '56; it was a fine house In Its prime, and still holds a place on the map, on the north side of Marney, between Tenth and Eleventh. Recently I noticed the old Gilmore place, and a Chinese laundry holds forth where the fashionables of Omaha were fre quently found assembled in the old days." One of the well known old homes of Omaha was that of J. 11. Kellom. The pioneer educator built the house In ISoG, on Chicago street, between Nineteenth and Twentieth. It Is still standing, and Mr. Behm be lieves the building holds a record for standing pat where it was first put. "Over in the neighborhood of the shot tower is a small building," said Mr. Behm. "that has had under its roof Brigham Young and ottier men who have taken their places In history; it was originally used for a postoffice In Florence. Along about '64 the building was moved to Twelfth and Chicago streets. In Omaha; later I bought It and moved it to Fifteenth and Marcy, afterward selling It to my partner, Bald win; he moved it to the present location on South Seventeenth. It really is surprising how those an cient structures stand up under the attacks of time." A building that is now standing in Omaha, in a fine residence section, Mr. Behm asserts has as Its nucleus the two stories that constituted the first pretentious saloon in Omaha. It was run by "Dick" Kimball and was called the Apex; it stood on Marney street, across from Abe St. Charles hotel, and was afterward moved to Farnam street and turned Into a residence; later It was sold again and moved. "It would not be recog nized today," says Behm, '.'as a former saloon, for nearly all the men who used to quench their thirst there have passed on or gone away." First Home on Went Farnam. W. I. Klerstead, who built the first pretentious residence in the West Farnam district, west of Thir tieth, Insists that nowhere in Omaha have such great changes been accomplished as in that section. "When I built my bouse out there in IS S3," said Mr. Kler stead, the street was not improved in any way. 1 bought the ground, lOOilSO, of Dr. Miller, paylug him $1,200. That was the top price paid for property iu that neighborhood up to that time. After livlug there until the street began to be built up I sold the place in 191 for $13,500, and the growth In values since tar surpasses that of the 'SO. When the late Chris tian II art man built his beautiful home, Laura Villa, Just above Thirty-fourth, on Farnam, in 1SK9. it was the third house erected in the district. Surely It would be hard to find a city in the land where such tremen dous progress ha been made in twenty-two years as iu that particular section. "When we moved out there Turner's cow pastuia. comprising" twenty-fonr acres, was right opposite our door. Where the Farnam school stands a cut of twenty-seven feet was made, when the street was im proved, and a cut of thirty-three feet Vas made at thirty-second and Farnam. At that time the city line was at Thirty-sixth street, and we , had only six wards." The Kebraslca time, and note is Early Business Men Advertised. A glance through the issue of the Omaha Daily Republican of February 21, 1867, brings before the mind's eye a pretty accurate picture of the business bunch then hustling in the young city. Every last Inch of space on the sixteen long columns of the first and last pages was given over to advertisements. On the two inside pages ten more columns were filled with ads, thus leaving six columns for news and editorial matter. Of this, two columns was given up to a epeech of I. N. Hascall. delivered in the state senate, and half a column was devoted to telegraphic news. One item in the telegraph column told how the United States senate bad passed "a resolution extending aid and facilities to citizens of the United States engaged to survey a route for a ship canal across the Isthmus of Darien." And today we are preparing to celebrate the opening of a ranal at a vry different location. On the same day the national house of representatives fixed a tax of $5 per thousand "on cigars, cigarettes and cheroots of all descriptions." legislature was In session at tho made of the fact that the senate reported to the house the passage of "An act declaring the assent of the state of Nebraska to an act of the congress of the United States for the admission of the state of Nebraska into the union, passed February 9, 1867." On third reading of the bill in the Nebraska house a motion to postpone consideration was supported by only six votes, and the half dozen opponents stuck to their position on final passage, the vote being 20 to 6. . Old Advertisers Yet Living. Of the several score individuals and firms which had advertisements in the old paper of 1SG7 very few are still living in Omaha today. Joseph Millard was in the banking business, the firm name being Millard, Caldwell & Co. A. J. Simpson was in the carriage business, as he still Is. Dr. R. C. Moore was practic ing medicine, and Is still at It. Henry V. Yates was cashier of the First National bank; Samuel Burns was In the crockery business, the firm name being Ketchain & Burns; Harry P. Deuel was a member of the com mission firm of Porter & Deuel; George T. Moagland & Son were in the lumber business, and the name still attaches to that line; Schneider & Burmester were in the stove, tin and sheet iron trade, and Adolph Bur mester, father of Councilman Burmester, is still at It with bis son; S. D. Barkalow was in the stationery business with bis brother; Henry T. Clarke, sr., was In the lumber business at Bcllevue; Frank Del whh active as a contractor and was on the comml asking bids for erection or the Catholic cathedral' The paper carried a column of cards of St. ll business men, and also advertised a great lot drawing In New York, at which "$1, '.0,000 In gr backs" was to be distributed. The capital prize $.".0,(1110. One of the firms doing business in the dry g and gents' furnishing line was Stephens & Wilcox, Lucien Stephens, son of one of the proprietors, Is' in the trade. He tells of an Indian council hel1 his father's store that was attended by Red CI Blue Morse, second to Red Cloud In command of Brule Sioux, and Red Dog. Ancient Coronation Customs T ME crowning of the king of England has usually been accompanied by what was regarded as the still more solemn rite of anointing with oil, which dates from the days of tbe ancient Hebrews. And in England, before tbe Norman conquest, the term used was "hallowing," or consecration, rather than that of coronation. But from old records it seems that tbe ceremony as then performed at "Winchester was in all essentials tbe same as that which now takes place in Westminster Abbey. Few people seem to be aware that the corona tion ceremony la the only religious rite of tbe Anglican church which escaped the pruning policy of the re formers. Meuce its Impressive ritual aud gorgeous pageantries. The last coronation at which etery old world cere mony was duly performed was that, of King George IV. At his it owning a coiouaUou bauuuet took plate, there waa a procession of peers, the herb strewer scattered flowers and the challenge of the champion of England was Included in the ceremony. But at the coronations of William IV, Queen Victoria and King Edward these old customs were for various reasons omitted. Still, much remains that is of deep interest and stately splendor. The dean and chapter of West minster claim the right to Instruct the sovereign in the duties of this solemn service, and on coronation day tbe regalia are delivered into their custody. According to old records $joo Is paid for the anointing oil supplied by the royal apothecary. The coronation chairs are of interest. That of the' king is the chair of Edward the Confessor, used by every British sovereign since the time of Edward II. It is of oak, and Is recovered with fresh crimson velvet on each occasion. Helical li It is placed the stone of destiny, an aiicicut iciic vshicii caiue origiually from lrelrfud. Fun at an Indian Council. "This council was held on the second floor of store," said Mr. Stephens. "For the occasion Cloud, a macuiflcent specimen of savage manh was provided with a black broadcloth suit and a hat. Red Dog became jealous of the splendor of .head chief and Insisted on being similarly dressed was very fat, enormous in fact, and we had a j bothersome time trying to get clothes to fit him. didn't succeed, either; but Red Dog took the bij? suit available and drew it together in front strings as muc h as ho could. Mo was a sight for and men In that rig, but his solemnity was not t disturbed. i "We had laid down carpets for the Indian squat on, and only Red Cloud had a chair. B wrapped In the glory of his new clothing, Red Do, slsted that he, too, must have a chair; so I had to ) tie downstairs aud lug up the biggest office chair! could be found. I get tired even now when I t of that struggle to get the big chair upstairs. ! Dog got his body down between the arms alter i effort, and was happy. "When the council was over, the trouble, or fun, really began. The Indians apparently saw r ing to laugh about, but the fat chief couldn't get of that chair and his friends couldn't pull him Finally we were compelled to break the arms ofl chair, when Red' Dog arose and went away wit the loss of even a tall feather of Lis dignity." Mr. Stephens also tells a story on Blue Horse indicates the simplicity of mind of tbe warpath rors. "Blue Morse came once with a pipe tl wanted. Me gave It to me, and my father sugg the chief should have a present iu return. V him pick it hlmseir nnd he selected a little blue 1 sol. about like the little girls use for their dolls. ; lie opened and. taking ln by the hand, he parade Farnam street with a stateliness and lack of' tonsciousut-bs that m most admirable." I !