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About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 25, 1920)
THE OMAHA SUNDAY BEE: JANUARY 25. 1920. 9 B Omaha Woman, Pioneer, Reminisces On Days .When Fashionable Residences ! Stood Where Factories Now Thrive . i Recalls When She Fled From Indian Into the Home of Mrs. James Van Ostrand At Ninth and Douglas Streets Two Street Cars Quit Running at 9 P. M. Churches Gradually Crowded Into Suburbs by Increasing Business Section. .By BELLVIEW. -Omaha's remarkable growth "from early.days is one of the comforts of pioneers of;:he city, who have" lived here from the time-when Omaha was little more than a quaint little village on the bank of the Missouri river,.when its industrial section was concentrated in a small group, and the residtnees of the prominent citi zens' were much nearer the "Big Muddy" than those of the present day. ', ; In a communication to The Bee, one of Omaha's pioneer women, reminisces a bit, and recalls the early days before the residence dis tricts stretched to the far sections of the city, before it took the greater part of an rour to reach" the heart .jcf the throbbing business life from one' home. . "A business transaction that made h neassary td visit Omaha's whole sate .cistrict L brought reminiscences , f days when the present busy site was the residential district of the city's prominent citizens and if one had not really lived in pioneer days it would be hard to convince .the present generation that such a change could be possible. .Extensive Garden Grounds. , "The Lee Coit Andreesen Hard ware-Co. is now located on ground whte're in . early days Peter Wind liefra had a residence, a comfortable frame building, -with large grounds for. garden, .purposes.' "Mrs. Windheim was very proud of the number and variety of flow ers she cultivated and also the poul try she taistd, particularly' the tur keys which were a terror to the children bi the neighborhood if they were dressed with a garmentwith too much of red coloring. "A log barn was used by the chil dren for a playhouse or fqr-nny kind of amusement. The walls were dec orated with numerous samples of paper from the shop of Peter Wind heim. ; " St. Marys, one of the first Catho lic churches in Nebraska, 'was on Eighth and Harney, a small brick edifice which soon proved too small ior.; the growing congregation and it ivts necessary to build St. Philo nieria's where the John Deere Plow eoinp?ny now have their building. "Many of the old children" will re member the runs we had around the foundation - while the church was building. To the south of St. Marys, now the Burlington freight depot, was the home of the late Herman Kountze, a gothic frame building with grounds designed by a land scape gardener with miniature lakes and terraces sloping to the east. , "Many natural trees and shrubs provided plenty of shade and the grounds would do justice to a home of today. The substantial brick house of Thomas Davis occupied the corner on which Byne & Hammer have their factory. , Remembers Davit Parties. "Many mothers and stfrne grand- "ufcothers will remember with pleas- "f.re the entertainment provided for the Davis boys, Fred, 'Late' and . Charlie, The Davis mill was in the vicinity row occupied by the Union and freight depots of the Union Pa cific, and frequent visits were made ti the mill for wheat to make Our chewing gum. "It was great fun to visit the saw mill nearby and ride on the huge Idgs that were being sawed, and a dare would be made to anyone who 'tpuld ride nearest the saw. I doubt very much if the mothers were aware of the dangerous deeds that were done by the young westerners c 'The southwest corner of Ninth atad Farnam streets surrounded by " locust trees was where Trinity vlturch welcomed its parishoners. It was small brick structure and , ten it was used as a school. Before Vt was demolished it was known as ifie 'Tivoli Garden.' j ' ' Beautiful Picnic Grove. ,"'Can the present inhabitant im agine a grove in the vicinity of Ninth street from Dodge to Capitol avenue? This was the picnic ground for Omaha's population. Farther to "the north in the grove was the home of Judge Gant and in the same neighborhood was the Shull resi- dence. A large swing proved an attraction for the children in that ucinity and other parts of the town. .'"'Yankee Robinson's circus tents 'were pitched on Ninth and Farnam, now occupied by the addition to Lee Coit Andreesen. As it was a one-ring show and few animals and side show attractions, , not much gtotfnd space was required. '-"Omaha's prominent hotel 'The Herodon,' with a few- additions made by the Union Pacific when used for their offices, is still stand ing on Ninth and Farnam. Many guests from all over the world have Inscribed their names on the register of that hostlry. . Many Judges' Homes. "Ezra Millard's family home was on Eleventh and Harney and in the same "block were the home of the Wymans (parents of Mrs. .George Hoagland). Judges Lake and Doane had residences oh Twelfth and Har ney. Augustus Kountze and Will iam Kuth had homes near. "One cannot realize that a fine.' residence and well kept groundF over could be where the Burkley Printing company and other firms now are doing business, but the lo cation was tormerly the home of Iudge W.oolworth. In this vicinity were the homes of the Stephens, Wilcox Kcesters, Demarest and others I cannot recall. "As be town expanded, homes R'ere jbuilt further west towards Fif teenth and Sixteenth on Farnam and -larney streets. The Lowes, Tur lersj .Withnell, Redick, Goodrich, were all in the vicinity of the last aamed. where the Securities building now stands, with the court house bnporsite the . site , of the Paxton Mock. -. , . Home of John McCormick. "To the north on Douglas, J. j. 3rown. James and Samuel Megeath, e last living in a house painted white with .green . blinds, white picket fence, on the busy corner of the Fry Shoe company: The home of John McCormick seemed to be off and was only recently razed for the new tl Beudor apartments. "As this mansion was perhaps the most pretentious-all select functions were held there. The homes of the Kennards, Meredith, Sutphen, Hans- corn, Schneider, Cuming. O. F. Davis, Horbach, Campbell, Burns, Byrne, Keed, Cahn, etc., were in this neighborhood. "When Mrs. Parmalee, who lived where now is the Hotel 'Loyal, pre dicted business in the vicinity of Six teenth and Capitol avenue, we "thought her predictions would never materialize. Two Street Cars. "The street car service during the coal shortage prolonged only two hours ' more than when Omaha boasted of car service with two cars which turned in at 9 p. m. and were run into an open shed on Fifteenth street between Dodge and Capitol avenue. It was, such an event when the cars began their runs everyone was entitled to a free ride.' "The distance in early days com pared to now, seems amusing. What is now an easy walking distance from the city years ago required a horse and vehicle to cover the same space. My father had occasion to visit C olonel Gilmore, who lived in a house that was formerly the gov ernor's mansion, and was located on Twenty-second and Webster, but a "rig" had to be procured from the livery barn before the. long journey could, be undertaken. "The barn for the mansion was re modeled and today is a small brick cottage on Twenty-second street be tween Webster and Burt and has more than SO years to its credit. "Many of the early settlers had their stables.' Dr. Peck, Reuben Ward and Judge Redick were all admirers of the horseflesh, particu larly those of the racing kind. One 'rig I well remember .was' a large old-fashioned carriage and a pair of white horses. They were driven through the town by Dr. Lowe. "Harney street could boast of three hotels in close proximity be tween Twelfth and Fifteenth, the ?t. Charles, Douglas and Farnam. The proprietor of the last named was the father of Beecher Higby. "The heating proposition today must remind a few of Omaha's early settlers of the time when wood was all tlut was available and princi pally green cottonwood. I cannot conceive how we kept warm, unless more and heavier clothing was worn. I am sure the winters were more severe and the snowfall we are having this year is like the 'old fashioned winter when drifts were as high as the top rails of a fence and frozen liard enough to walk on. Business Crowded Churches. "The churches of Omaha taave had to change locations frequently as business made it necessary. The Lutheran, afterward called Kountze Memorial, .was first located where the Millard hotel stands. Being too much in the business district, a new church was built on Sixteenth and Harney and the congregation thought they had moved far away from a commercial locality, but they were soon crowded out and erected the present church on Twenty-sixth and Farnam, but business is still following them and it looks as ifj they will be compelled to make an other change. "The" First Methodists had their place of worship on Thirteenth street, the site of the old Omaha National bank. Being too near the business center a church was built on Seventeenth near Dodge, but the government selected, that block for the Postoffice and the church Clearance Sale Exceptional Values in Men's Wear At Reduced All Suits and Overcoats Must Go at 40 Less We are forced to make room for new shipments, now on the way. We are overstocked and must sac rifice this stock at prices that can not be duplicated. Sale starts Monday. The assortment is sufficiently large so that you will find just the style, color and material desired. . ' ' This Sale Will Continue All Week. 7 ..... j Men's Suits Overcoats $70.0a Suits...:... $42.50 $60.00 Suits. .-. . ..$36.00 $55.00 Suits... ...$33.00 $30.00 Suits. .. . ..$18.00 Large variety of Silk Shirts, $6.00 to $15.00, Monday at 25 OFF. Flannel Shirts, $2.50 to $5.50, 25 OFF. ," $1.50 Work Shirts $1.00 i All' Sales JOHN 109 North Sixteenth Street .. Directly Opposite the Postoffice on Twentieth and Davenport is their home. "Hayden's Douglas . street store ocupies the place of the German Catholic church which now is still in the business circuit on Nineteenth and Dodge. 'The First Congrega tional in former days had their church where McCrorey's store is located. They built a frame church on Nineteenth and Chicago and from there moved to their present location, but will soon be in their beautiful structure on Thirty-sixth and Harney. ( ' : Residence District Spreads. 'The First Presbyterians retained their location until too near business and made quite an ascent to Thirty fourth and Farnain. The First Baptists at one time held services in a church which was. located -on Fifteenth and Davenport. What is i.ow a club house on Seventeenth and Cass was the Unitarian church. "Trinity cathedral has made but one change since leaving Ninth and Farnam streets. The land west and north of the city, which a few years ago was being cultivated by the farmers, is fast being improved with beautiful homes and the once fash ionable residence district is rapidly disappearing to be replaced by larpe factories and business houses. "Anyone who has seen the city build almost from the Missouri, can not help but take great interest and feel very proud of Omaha, which has made such progress, for it is rapidly nearing a climax which wilt make it be recognized as one of the prominent cities of the United States' May Eliminate Town Jail; Can't Catch Thieves Defiance, O., Jan. 24. The "Jail less City" is the name that may be applied soon to Defiance. The city solicitor has been re quested by the city council to draft a proposed ordinance providing for elimination of the city jail. Not only has activities at the jail been at the zero mark for a long time, but there does not seem to be any, likelihood that businesf will pick up. Although ; more : robberies took place during the pant 12 months than for many years, the theives have been successful in making their get away. Petrified Cats Found Under an Old Floor Poughkecpsie, Jan. 24. While re pairing . the floor of the Academy of Music of Beacon carpenters found the bodies of two cats that had become thoroughly petrified. Fifty years ago. at the time the floor was laid, the cats must have run under it. . . The carpenters, unknowingly, had walled them in. , They evidently had attacked each other, as one had an ear. chewed off. The bodies are as hard as flint, but lifelike, and no parts are missing except the chewed ear. When His Aerial Sled Would Not Rise Inventor Gets Bath flinfnn Ta Tan 24. Charles w.....w.., j , . . Runvan who nlscrd his faith in an aerial sled invented by himself, re rivH a ruAn iolt- her the othrr day when the wings of the sled tailed to ntt rum over an airnoie in the ice-covered Mississippi river, and sled, driver and all went into the Runyan was rescued, but the sled disappeared. ' i ! Prices $70.00 Overcoats.v$42.00 $60.00 Overcoats ,.$36.00 $30.00 Overcoats .$18.00 All-Wool Unicm' Suits $4.50 Monday only 25 OFF. - j J Neckwear, 75cho $5.00 25 OFF. Final Mil d FELDMAN Silk Hat Returning To Favor In London London. Jan. 24. The silk hat, which in days gone by was the con ventional and inevitable headgear of the business man of any standing at all, is creeping back. But London revolts against prewar conventions in another direction. ; Dinner jackets actually have been seen, a half dozen or more of them, at social functions in such exclusive places as Londonderry house. A few years ago men might well have been turned back from any-, .society door as improperly dressed if they came attired in anything but dress suits. , : j High School Boys Form League to Combat H. C. L. Mitchell, S. D., Jan. 24. A league to combat the high cost of living has been organized here by 200 high school boys. Expensive "shoes, clothing and cravats are under ban. Flannel shirts with plain black ties and army shoes are expected to be worn uniformly by the league mem bers. The girls of the school are. also understood to be planning to re place expensive waists wfth middy blouses. Camera Shows How Coal Is Mined THE United States bureau of mines, Washington, D. C, is conducting a nationwide motion picture educational campaign to make the American people better ac quainted with one of this country's leading industries coal mining. Bureau representatives are now exhibiting in various parts of the country a motion picture entitled, "The Mory of Coal,' which is con sidered the most remarkable coal mining film ever produced. These pictures are being shown in schools, colleges, churches, etc. The bureau men accompany the pictures 'with lectures. The picture first shows the birth of a coal mine, the sinking of the shaft, the erection of buildings on the surface and the installation of machinery. ' Miners of the day shift are be ginning to arrive. About a score of them step onto the cage that is to lower them about 600 feet below the sunshine. The movie camera slips aboard the cage, determined to see everything that there is to see. . A miniature railway train drawn by an electric engine is waiting for the miners. It is quite a distance to where the miners are to work that day, hut the underground rail way gets them there in a few min utes. On the way the movie camera observes by the side of the track a modem machine shop 600 feet under ground, where mine machinery is repaired. The camera watches closely as the miners set about looting-nature's treasure chest. First a powerful electric machine with knives at tached to an endless chain cuts the seam ,ix feet. deep tinder the ledge of coal against which the miners ar centering that day's attack. Then holes are drilled into the face of the room and explosives inserted. The fuses are lighted and the miners run. The movie camera, being at a safe distance, doesn't bat its one and only eye when the charge goes off. and it sees 50 tons of coal toppled ever onto the floor of the mine. . Miners shovel this coal into the miniature railway cars, which carry the fuel to the shaft, where it is raised in cages to the surface. On the srirface again, the camera visits the engine room to see how the cages are lowered and raised by means of steel cables and electric driven windlasses. While in the mining country the camera visits one of the larger wash eries, where coal is given a bath to remove the sulphur. About one fifth of the coal mined in this coun try is washed as shown in this pic ture. ' ' . Anthrax Case Due To Cut Made by Barber New York, Jan. 24. Joseph Cook, 48 years old, a, longshoreman, walked into Bellevue hospital re cently with a cut on his right cheek, which he said 'was made by a downtown barber and which had swollen. The physicians pronounced Cook's illness to be anthrax. ..lie.. will re cover. This is the seventeenth case of anthrax reported at Belle vue hospital in four years. Baby Shoe Prices Advance Ubston, Jan. 24. Xew samples of shoes on exhibit will retail from $1.75 to $7.50 a pair, the exhibitors say. Hand embroidered and gold leaf shoes for baby are among those shown. Special Scenic Plantation Prolog, with Jubilee Sing ers, Jazz Music, Stage and Electrical Effects. a.h: BirtV 'KITS 4.C3 (L, Enumerator Got Age Of Woman From Tombstone sieuocnvuie, kj., jan. . a -foxy census enumerator learned a woman's aire uirainst her will. This enumerator is working 5u one of the rural districts in. eastern Ohio. All the information that a cer tain woman would give this cnum- erator relative to her age was that she was two years younger than her oldest sister. "After arguing with her in vain I remembered , that her sister" Was dead," said the enumerator. "So I went to the nearbv ceme tery and found the hrc of the dead "Then I subtracted two and put -the woman down as 60 years, which is 20 years older than she looks." explained the enumerator. Young Ladies Are Now Taking to African Golf" Bucyrus, O., Jan. 24. That he has more lady customers than men who nuy nice is tue ciaim mane oy a local dealer in dice, poker checks and playing cards. ' One innocent-looking. demure miss stated: "I know lots of girls who carry dice, and they shdot craos. too." They generally shoot . , ! .1 - J for pennies. r it i 1 TV 1 7 1 1 "