Old Post Office Chat Sept. 10
Join Restoration Exchange Executive Director Kristine Gerber and architect and longtime preservationist George Haecker Sunday, Sept. 10, for a brief talk on Omaha’s old post office at 16th and Dodge streets – the start of the preservation movement in Omaha.
The event begins at 2:00pm on the Fort Omaha campus of Metropolitan Community College, 30th and Fort streets, in Building 10, Room 110.
Following the 30-40 minute presentation, you’re invited to the Fort Crook House to view the Douglas County Historical Society’s new architectural garden featuring salvage from the old post office. Refreshments will be served.
The event is free to Douglas County Historical Society members and $5 for nonmembers. R.S.V.P. to members@douglascohistory.org or 402.455.9990, Ext. 101.
New Advocacy Committee Chair
William Stott, AIA, principal at AO*, is the new chair of Restoration Exchange’s Invigoration Committee.
RExchange Kudos
Kudos to a pair of Benson redevelopment projects profiled by Omaha World-Herald reporter Cindy Gonzales in the Aug. 21 edition:
- Bin 61, a roughly $1.5 million investment in an old car dealership warehouse at 2922 N. 61st St. Half the building, now owned by TACKarchitects, will serve as its Omaha headquarters, and the other half will be leased for office use.
- The historic Bank of Benson building at 6108 Maple St., the former home of a dental laboratory. Benson business owners Jim Johnson and Marc Leibowitz purchased the 6,300-square-foot structure and plan to transform it into dining, retail and office space.
Read the entire article here.
How About That Eclipse?
Have any of you taken Restoration Exchange’s “preservacation” advice? In the June issue of RExchange, Restoration Exchange Executive Director Kristine Gerber outlined a number of mini-preservation vacation ideas within easy driving distance of Omaha. One of them was a trip to Steinauer, Neb., which also happened to be a great place to view the recent solar eclipse.
Based on local sign-in sheets, there were 22 states represented in Steinauer as well as visitors from Sweden, Argentina, Nicaragua, Australia and Austria. “Residents made all of the visitors feel at home. and I think that Steinauer will stay in their thoughts for a long time,” said Terry Wagner.
Save The Date
The Nebraska State Historical Society will host its 2017 Gala Awards and Annual Meeting Thursday, Oct. 12. The event, which includes a cocktail buffet and dessert, will be held at KANEKO in Omaha from 5:3o to 8:30pm. Stay tuned for more information as the event nears.