Heritage Nebraska’s 2009 list of Fading Places and Hidden Treasures below.
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2009 Hidden Treasures: (9)
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Downtown Fremont : There has been a Main Street Program in this National Historic Register District downtown since 1994. The downtown has finally come of age as a unique blend of historic buildings and modern businesses and entertainment.
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Faling House, Cambridge B&B: Constructed from 1907 to 1910, the 10,000 square-foot house built by William Faling in Cambridge is now used as a bed-n-breakfast. The neoclassic –style house has been on the National Register since 199.
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Hamilton Avenue Church in Hastings : A rare example of a church built [in 1904] by African-Americans in outstate Nebraska, still standing with minor alterations and still serving a Black congregation. Set apart by its historical significance.
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Joslyn Castle in Omaha: George and Sarah Joslyn constructed one of Nebraska’s greatest homes—a 35-room Scottish Baronial mansion atop a hill on Omaha’s outskirts – in 1903.
The four-story house was completed at a cost of $250,000 in 11 months.
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Olde Main Street Inn in Chadron : Built by the O’Hanlon family in 1890, the elegant Chadron House was adorned with Brussels and marble washstands in each room and has been run by three generations of innkeepers for more than 100 years
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Neihardt State Historic Site in Bancroft : The house, built in 1880, was the boyhood home of Nebraska Poet Laureate John G. Neihardt from 1900-1921. The Neihardt Center is presently owned by the Nebraska State Historical Society.
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Nicholas Street Historic District: This National Register District on the edge of North Downtown Omaha represents one of three patterns of industrial development along railroad lines and is home to Omaha’s Hot Shops, 50 art studios, four art galleries and many exhibition spaces.
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Prairie Loft Center for Outdoor Agricultural Learning: This farm [1894] near Hastings was once part of the state mental hospital. The barn, built around 1931, is now being used to teach agriculture appreciation, outdoor education, cultural traditions and natural resources.
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Prospect Hill Cemetery and Caretaker Residence: Some of the most prominent people in the development of Omaha are buried among the 15,000 graves dating back to 1858. The caretaker’s residence [1918] and surrounding land is a prominent part of Nebraska heritage.
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2009 Fading Places: (12)
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Archeological sites statewide : There are a number statewide and they are being threatened by unwise stewardship and downright deliberate acts of vandalism, neglect, inappropriate use and ignorance.
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Aurora Apothecary and Knights of Pythias Hall: Another important building endangered in this Hamilton County seat community that has lost others to demolition and arson. The collapse of part of the roof of the Aurora Apothecary building has set back plans for the sale and rehab.
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Boot Hill Cemetery and Camp Lookout in Sidney: Between 1868 and 1889, the cemetery played a significant role in the history of the “Old West” when Sidney was a major outpost for the U.S. Army and part of the Black Hills Gold Rush. Camp Lookout is definitely the oldest building in Sidney and perhaps the entire Panhandle.
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Hastings Junior High School and endangered schools statewide: The facility [1917] was designed by Hastings architect C.W. Way and is one of five remaining structures of that type. Several elementary schools in the community are endangered as well. The story is repeated time and again across Nebraska as a tear-down mentality prevails.
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Metz Hall in Elkhorn: Located on the “upper” Main Street, the wood building features a dance floor in a room highlighted by an inlaid wood ceiling. This turn-of-the Century structure reflects the grand era of brewing in Omaha when Metz, Krug, Willow Springs and Storz were the big four names in breweries. Metz Brewery closed because of the Prohibition in 1920.
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Naval Ammunition Depot: The 48,000 acre Navy facility [1942 - 1966] located in Adams and Clay County was the largest in the US during World War II and produced a significant amount of ammunition for the armed forces. There were: 1,800 buildings and 1,500 concrete and earthen storage magazines, 200 permanent and numerous temporary buildings and barracks on site.
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Oregon Trail Statewide: During the 1840s, travelers on their way west from Independence, Missouri, knew that the Oregon Trail provided the smoothest and most direct route to Independence Pass at the southern end of the Wind River Mountains in Wyoming. It followed the natural drainage systems of six rivers to reach the easiest crossing of the Continental Divide.
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Pershing Auditorium West Wall Mural in Lincoln : The 140 ft by 38 ft mural designed by Omaha artists Leonard Thiessen and William Hammon is in need of repair. More than 763,000 pieces of tile, each cut one inch square and assembled in one foot by two foot sections in Cincinnati, Ohio, was assembled and installed based on numbers on the backs of each piece.
Rural schools statewide such as the Logan Valley District 16 School of Cedar County. The school north of Laurel was built in 1929-1930. The wooden building is one of many that dot the rural landscape of Nebraska and sit in various stages of neglect. Restoration is essential to keep this part of rural heritage alive.
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Starke Round Barn: This unique property [1902-03] located near Red Cloud is the state’s largest and one of the largest in the nation. The building is in fair condition but can only be maintained on a minimal basis due to lack of funds. The remote location and small population base make it essential to find a viable use for this and other oft-neglected barns.
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Thorndike Hall in Cambridge: Thorndike Hall [1907-08] features an elaborately painted ceiling by Hansen and Willer. This is the place where Glen Miller played trombone [1924] for Cambridge native Tommy Watkins and his orchestra. Miller eventually broke off and started his own band and moved to California.
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Webster Telephone Exchange Building: Safety engineers have said the old telephone building, one of the area’s oldest landmarks, is in danger of collapsing. A lack of funding to maintain and upgrade the building which was designed by prominent architect Thomas Kimball is the biggest threat. A stabilization plan and an adaptive re-use plan for the facility have been done.
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SAVED: Three Fading Places have either found new life or a reprieve since being listed in May 2009. They are:
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Aurora Apothecary and Knights of Pythias Hall: The roof and the rear wall have been reconstructed. With the building stabilized, development plans can proceed when ready.
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Boot Hill Cemetery and Camp Lookout in Sidney: The city has purchased Camp Lookout and cleanup of the property, a necessary first-step for stabilization, has begun.
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Hastings Junior High School and endangered schools statewide: A Hastings contractor has purchased the building and is in the process of creating office space, meeting rooms and luxury condominiums while retaining the classic architecture of the outside of the building.
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Heritage Nebraska is a statewide non-profit organization celebrating history through advocacy, education, outreach, preservation and stewardship. We’ll help you understand the importance of your built environment, heritage and treasure.
Great post!