The Omaha Sunday Bee
PAEI TOXE
FAIT IKirt
CHILDREN
PACES 051 TO rOUTL
HOME MAGAZINE
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VOL. XLI-NO. 10.
Country Homes Wherein Omaha Business Men
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MPROVEMEXT la U cbrtcter of build
ice in late years bat bn oohere to
great, perhaps, as ia the construction of
country homes. This Is the result of
what someone his called the "arousing
of the artistic conscience of the people,"
accompanied, necessarily, by the finan
cial ability to indulge the demands of this stimulsted
esthetic sense.
CiTic bodies, afitiUnV the city beautiful cam
paign, bare helped materially to stir the desire for
better lirlag conditions among all classes. Architects
and landscape gardeners, park boards and improve
ment clubs, bare also a!dd the steady trend toward
the ideal or, at least, toward the most enjoyable and
conrenient types of homes for individuals and ele
gsntly ornate structures for larger purposes. Schools,
thesters and churches hsve been benefited through
the ssme channel. So far has this movement pro
gressed thst a goodly number of cities are now prac
tically "msking themselves over."
Ajnerteans Adapt Many Style.
Americans borrow inspiration from many sources,
nd it will not be stretching the truth to say thst
America country homes Nebraska and Omaha
country homes specifically included reflect many
Upea and typify widely diverse notions of beauty,
oomfort and retreat from the busy whirlpool ef mod
era city life. Among them will be found the English
simplicity, the Swiss picturesque, the Asiatic airiness.
the Indian bungalow varied and improved, and some
types peculiarly American. Older 'eoaatriea have
their traditions to direct or guide them In the making
of tha country residence; Americans hsve only their
inspired adaptability to lead them aright Of course,
there were the old New England structures, mostly
four-aquare to the whistling winds, and the spscious
mansions of the ante-bellum south, but they were de
velopments in the building art. modified to suit pe
culiar conditions and satisfy finicky temperaments.
Their good features have been preserved in many
cases, both in city and country; but wide departures
are noted on every band. Originslity. that pre
eminent American trait, has been giTen full play in
the pretentious msnelon on hilltop or table flat, and
in the hillside csbinMke home that conceals from first
glsnce the possession of all modem conveniences.
Conatry Hones Growing In Popularity.
Withia the life of the present generation of
0msti.Es the building of homes "ia the country" has
beea given its Initial imp t us. Even the oldest of
the local suburban homes is not in the anue&i clsss,
but some of them will compare very favorably wjih
similar torn spots in scy stata. and quite a few give
promise of a later development that will put them in
tha "show" class. Country places like those of
Arthur Brsndels snd Thomas R. Crane, north of the
rlty, are noted for some particular feature- On the
Brandeis place almost countless flocks of white poul
try are wonderful to behold; at the Crane place great
stratches of roses account for the name, Rosemere.
There is. too. in both cases, a completeness of equip
ment about the homes that leaves nothing to ba
iesired
.r sbout this city are found grand opportunities,
so far as landscape is concerned, for the location of
xuntry rrtidences. Hill snd valley, wooded snd
ro'ling laed. with wide views snd perspectives to en
trsnce the beauty lover, sre to be rescted easily, by
itreet car In some instances, but more hsndily by
mtomobile. The country about Florence holds de
rided attractions furnished by esture; but within
very short distances of Eenson, Dundee, and South
Drr.aha are almost equally dasirsble sites. Tha per
'ection of the horseless vehicle fsst. reliable, luxuri
es to almost any degree money may demand, summer
in wtrter alike has gives a fijwsrd Impetus to the
jonstruction of costly suburban residences la recent
rears, and this Important desideratum, .uick trscs
Krtstlon. will serve to accelerate the growth of this
)artlcular branch of home building
Walnut Lod First 1st This Section.
Walnut Lodge, the country home ef the late Guy
Barton, was tha pioneer venture of the kind by an
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Omaha citizen, If we except the eld home of Dr.
George L. Miller, at Seymour lake, which was de
stroyed by fire a good many years ago. The Barton
estate owns a large smount of land surrounding Wal
nut Lodge,, and the house itself is set in grounds that
are a good many acres in extent. A small artificial
lake was created in the immediste vicinity of the
house and sb'.de and ornamental trees in generous
number serve to give it a most attractive setting. It
is not a costly house, es such things go, but it is very
substantial and complete, with its own water and elec
tric light system.
Tom Craae's Fine Place
Rosemere, the Crane place on the hill north of
Florence, was the first pretentious suburban home
erected in that btauuiui section. Ten acres are com
prised in the tract of which the home is the center,
and by tha skill of the expert gardener, closely ad
vUd and superintended by Mr. Crane himself. Rose-'
mere has been brought to the point where it is a de
light to the visitor and a constsnt source of pleasure
to its occupant. If the ordinary dining room, for
issucc. be not fsvored, breakfast and other meals
can be served on a commodious and breezy porch
where the fly is excluded and the mosquito cannot
enter.
The Arthur Brandeis place, heretofore mentioned,
lies on the road running north from Krug park. It
was built about five yeara ago, and Mr. Brandeis,
being a practical man as well as an Intense lover of
artistic wurroundings, is making his investment pay.
He has a cozy home of no great pretensions at present,
but with wide possibilities for Improvement in the
future. Hia chicken yarda are noted throughout the
country among devotees of tha rooster and the hen.
the egg and the omelet, and ha can stake himself or
bis friends to hen fruit of spproved quality, no met
ter what the msrVet price. Also, when the strain of
the business hustle gets on his serves he hss a most
Inviting retrest on which to fall back for quiet aolaoa
in bis Doujlas county country home.
r. P. KlrkendaU Has Big Plans Mad.
"Kirkwood" wUl one of these dsys be a word full
of meaning to anybody discussing Ideal country
homes. Thst is the name selected by F- P. Klrkendsll
for the estste ha is beginning to develop at what waa
for many years known aa Prlee lake. Mr. Klrkendall
has gone about his task a pleasant one. withal in
a businesslike fashion. Having picked a commanding
site for his proposed new heuse on a hilltop centrally
located on the estste, be has lsld out winding reads
and weodlsnd paths converging ea this central
feature. A dam has been constructed ef concrete a
short dlstsare off the river roed. to bold the waters
of what will be a rather extensive lake or waterway,
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with ample provision for tsking csre of the overflew.
Not only will this sheet of water be a thing of beauty -attaching
to Kirkwood. but it will also furnish facili
ties for bathing, boating and sksting. It is to be
spanned by several rustle bridges. Just whst
amount of money will be spent on this new country
estate would be idle to estimate, but the enthusiastic
neighbors, clustered on the hillsides all about, are
even now cherishing the boast that the Klrkendall
country place will be lit when ni6hed to take high
rank on the list of show places in and about Omaha.
Their anticipations seem to be entirely Justified, too.
Judging by the plsce as It appesrs in the rough. Every
natural feature is calculated to lend Itself to beauti
flcatlon to almoat any Imaginable degree.
Broad lew Farm, Pride of George WfL
Speaking of neighbors to Kirkwood brings us to
the point where it is permissible to say that Farmer
George West is fast laying tha foundation that will
make him as well known by that designation as when
we now speak of him aa George West, the railroad
man. He has so many apples bsngi&g on his trees
this year that be could not eat them if he lived to
be as old as Methuaalen. Likewise, Farmer West hss
grapea that would make wine enough to float a ship
of modest dimensions, and apricots, berries, tomatoes,
potatoes and salad materials, to say nothing of a
healthy family of children. Mr. West s summer heme
ha insists on modesty, ss usual is Jus a shack, to
hear him tell about it; but when one gets there he
wishes he could stay all summer. The entrance la
off the river road, and when Mr. West gets to the
point where he considers the best view is in sight
be says, "I csll my plsce Broadview Farm." It de
serves the name, ss would sny of the many adjoining
acres on which homes have been planted. One can
see pleasing stretches of hill, meadow and river in
every direction, and no prospect can be found that is
not a delight to the eye.
Robert F. Bscon of the McCord-Brady company
last year purchased a country place adjoining the Klr
kendall tract. He moved there with his fsrallv snd
they all liked it so well Mr. Bacon has concluded to
make It bis permanent home. Being a man who needs
little or no sleep. "Bob" Bacon baa no objection to
getting op with the lark in order to be In tha city be
fore 8 o'clock every morale g.
Learned and Wrmaa .Ira Neighbors.
Myron Learned's summer tome, close to the West
place, la ao situated that there Is more than ordinary
basis for bia claim that he is msster of tha most
beautiful view la Douglas county. Mr. Learned
claima ha can take la tha whole country from Manawa
to Missouri Valley, and after standing before his ram-
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bllng. but very enticing, bungalow one is quite willing
to commend the admirable taste of Mrs. Learned in
selecting the site for her country home. Good taste
is evident ia the construction work already dona on
the Learned place aa. Indeed, It ia evident on tha
other places all about. The owners may be worki&g
slowly, but they are certain of the ends aimed at, and
when the plscs made or Incubating are all perfected
these hills north of the city of Florence will be classed
as an adornment of tha general landscape hard to
equal anywhere.
Henry Wymsn has a home adjoining tha Learned
place, and after going Into raptures over the first, one
glances with misgiving at tla opinion aa he takes la
the view from the second. Working with Learned
far company, Mr. Wymsn has roughly hewed out
paths through the woods that lead to continual ex
posures of admlrsble vistas. He calls bis plsce
Woodney. very spproprlately, for it is prolific of the
hardwood growths scattered so plentifully over the
face of this particular section. Wholesome simplicity
is to be the distinguishing characteristic of Woodney,
both in nousa and grounds, and the same character
isation will apply to tha other homes scattered about
the hilltop, according to their ownera
lUngwalt Brothers Have Mce. Retreats.
"Decorative kickshaw, aa such, do not make mucH
of aa appeal to me," says Theodore L Ringwalt, who
baa a tidy little place alongside Wytnan Which does
not meaa that Mr. Ringwalt baa no eye for beauty,
rather the contrary. A main feature of his grounds
is a pergola that promises to be popular ss a lounging
spot later on, from which it will be Judged ha has a
liking for expansive, solid beauty that is at once deao
rative and useful- Holcroft is tie name of this place.
John R. Ringwalt also has a country home la this
neighborhood. It Is perched oa as elevation from
which one could apparently jump Into the Missouri
river, floicg below. Like most of tha other summer
homes hereabout. Oak Ridge (as Mr. Ringwalt calls
his place) has about it an air of restfulness and peace
that catches the fancy at once. A great, big porch
serves ss a living room, and this feature is to be found
very strongly in evidence st all the homes mentioned
Mesls sre served on the porches, all tightly screened,
and they also are used ss sleeping quarters when tfcs
nights are extra warm.
Fine rUeee Little Farther Out,
Louis C Nash is one of tha Omaha mti who baa
gone a considerable distance from the city to estab
lish bis summer borne. It Is built on the bill west of
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Take Pride
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Cetrman, and combines the pastoral features ef farm
Ufa with tha modern accoutrements of convenience.
Mr. Nash and bis family and guests can watci thai
lambkins gambol when they feel like it. or eat tie
sweet, raw turnip fresb from the ground
Martin F. Reum bss christened hia eouitr bona
Fappio View. It is located oa West Dodge street gad
ia one of tbe best types of suburban residence to be
found la the vicinity of Omaha. A garage la keeping
with the character of the house Is located la the rear,
and In the basement of the residence Mr. Reum baa a
bowling alley, where he can take regular exercise te
enable him to shoulder a beef without much difficulty.
Miss Lucy Harding, secretary of tha Board o(
Trade building, makes chickens, pigeons, eggs and
garden truck the main features of her place. 8ee
Osks. on the bill west ef Florence. By combining
business with plessjre st her country place Miss Hard
Ing finds good living comes easy.
E. Porter Peck erected a very fine country borne
some years ago st Cslhoun. It is occupied by Lyman
Peck, and a wealth of magnificent shrubbery a the
main landscape feature. Mr. Peck takes exceeding
pride in the high grade of bia bogs, breeding a great
many classy animals from one of the best strains.
C. w. Pstrtrldge bss a handsome suburban resi
dence a abort distance north of Florence and Is fast
bringing his grounds into first-class condition. Chstlea
Ady has a nice plsee close by.
Move GouDUTwerd is Steady.
This list by no means covers all of the suamef
home builders, but it will serve to indicate the scop
of the spreading-out movement that baa caught tha
fancy of Omaha men and women who have the eaaa
to gratify their taste ia this direction. A great many
folks in various walks of life have ia recent years
bought suburban property and are dwelling ia sereae
comfort sod happiness ia modest homes tbsy bve
erected thereon. They cvllivate gardens and dtvota
a good deal of attention to poultry and other light
branches of agriculture, as well ss cultivating vine
yards, orchards. Cower beds, shrubs and vines X
surprising number of these homes off the mala trsv
eled routes are lighted by electricity and bout water
systems of their own. A drive through the sections
indicated will prove a decided pleasure to soy person
having the time and inclination to make the trip.
Rural architecture is to ba teea oa every bsnd is
tasteful demonstration, and the immediate surround
lngs of the bouses, large and small, are kept is a blgh
state of cultivation and adornment
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