t?3Fd|n l$m oltS fb. ro2401t (Ra. l$S) United States tleparEnentof the Inbrior National Park Service NationalReglster of HistoricPlaces RegistrationForm
li.fdm a hr u{ h nonidtif o. E$rdinC d.brmindin ic indivirud p.oF(*&d di.Oict S.. intudbn h rbr bCdrrbb h.faliddn tn,dHke p6t ttitttl;oo ran ({rto.t l R.!iib.BulLin lt Cond6..dr ibm ? in tt.prrord:b !q sby.nbdng ttr irldhcloi rqrdd. I ery ibrnd06 not.pdyb ' ). trirti.t r^:t!.lsaTtlicabb'. Forf5dona, arttibobrd chr.di:.0on, 6.biab, r*l @. ot aifalk nca,ariF onlyc.bfsb..d sbc.i.9o.i.tom tn i n mlt\a lsrr o|l codiou.lbn.n .b 0.lPSFo.rn lGgb). U.. r !?3{ir;e., hld Plo.-$r, or comF/t f io compLi!.n ibm!.
l. Narneof Property
historicneme The F.mamBuildino
othernemes/silenumber Dm:o12/H142
2. Location
street & number 1607-1617Farnam Street notfor publicationIl
city or town Omaha vicinityil
state l{ebraska code NE county ftnuglas code 55 zip code 58102
3. State/FederalAqencv Certiftcation
A8 the &sigfttted auhodityun&r lhe NatimalHiEloric Pr6svalbn Act ot lS6, s snErxlcd,I her€bycs.tfy thattfib lxl nminatim 0 r€qud fol det€tmheiioalof efigful'lym€€tg the doqrrEntdixl €landa]& tor r€gH€fiatgptopslbg In th€ Nalinal Registerd Hhfo{icPhc€3 lnd me€lsf|e Focedu-€l and pr*Esi)||al rcquir€rn€nE3C fodh in S CFR PsrtS. ln rry q,inin, the p|oFrty lxl mc€ts0 do€Ertot m€€t tlF NatkxElR€f*Ets Cdt€rE" I recomr€nd
Signatutc
nirrtor. NehraskaState Histnricel S^ciefy Stetc or Fcderal agcrrcy and burau
In my opinion,the propertyI neds 0 doesnc[ rnee{the NationalRegister criteria. ([ Seecontinmtion sheed for addiborlalcornnents.)
Stgneturc d cefttying dficiaUTltle Date
Slatc or Federal agcncy and burcau
tl. National Park Service Certification l, herebycertify that this propefi is: [Jentered in the NationalRegister. 0 Seecontinuation she€{. I determinedeligible for the NationalRegister. B Seecontinuation shee{. I deterrninednc{ elQible for the NdionalRegi$er. tl remwed from the National Register.
0 cther,(erplain): Signafure cf Keepcr Datr of Actio{t
q, ncYN rpPr &e"*a Farnam Building Douglas County, Nebraska Name of Propefi Countyand State
5. Glassification
Ownershipof Property Categoryof Property Numberof Ressurceswithin Property (Checkas manyboxes as apply) (Checkonly one box) (Do not includepreviously listed resources in the count.)
txl private tX building(s) Contributing Noncontributing t1 public-local tl district 10 buildings t1 public-state tl site sites t1 public-Federal tl structure structures il object objects 10 Total
Nameof relatedmultiple property listing Numberof contributingresources previously (Enter"N/A" if propertyis not partof a multipleproperty listing.) listedin the NationalRegister N/A
6. Functionor Use
HistoricFunctions CurrentFunctions (Entercategories from instructions) (Entercategories from instruction)
COM M E RC Efl-MD E / bu s i n ess/ p rofess io n a I /s oec ia lty store WORKIN PROGRESS /restaurant DOMESTIC/mu ltiple dwel ling COMM ERCE/TMDE/specia lty store
7. Description
Arch itectural Classification Materials (Entercategories from instructions) (Entercategories from instructions)
MIVED/SIrI I iva nesclr re/Goth ic RevivaI foundation Concrete walls Brick,Limestone, Bron-o, Terra Cotta
Roof-SynlIetic other
NarrativeDescription (Describethe historicand currentcondition of the propertyon one or morecontinuation sheets.) Farnem Building Dduglas CountyFltlebraska Namcof Prop8rv Countyand Siat6
8. Statementof Siqnificance
Applicable NationalRegister Criteria Areas of significance (Mark"*' in oneor moreboxes for the criteriaqualifying the propertyfor (Entercat€ories from instruclions.) NationalR€ister listing.) -CommerceArchitectu re DC A Propertyis associatedwith events that have made a significantcontribution to the broad patterns of ourhistory. tl B Propertyis associatedwith the livesof persons significantin ourpast. Xl C Propertyembodies the distinctivecharacteristics of a type,period, or methodof constructionor representsthe work of a master,or possesseshict' r" artisticvalues, or representsa significantand l:{fl"".f"significance distinguishableentity whose components lack 1929-1950 individualdistinction. t] D Propertyhas yielded, or is likelyto yield informationimportant in prehistoryor history. SignificantDates L929 GriteriaConsiderations (Mark'1"in allthe boxesthat apply.) Propertyis: SignificantPerson tl A ownedby a religiousinstitution or usedfor religiouspurposes. (Completeif CriterionB is markedabove.) tl B removedfrom its original location. N/A I C a birthplaceora grave. GulturalAffiliation il D a cemetery. N/A t] E a reconstructedbuilding, object, or structure. tl F a commemorativeproperty. il G lessthan 50 yearsof ageor achievedsignificance ArchitecUBuilder withinthe past50 years. GeorgeB. Prinz ByronReed Company / ParsonsConstruction Co. Narrative Statement of Sig n ificance (Explainthe significance of the property on one or morecontinuation sheets.)
9. Maior Biblioqraphical References
Bibliography (Citethe books,articles, and othersources used in preparingthis form on one or morecontinuation sheets.)
Previousdocumentation on file (NPS): PrimaryLocation for AdditionalData: tl preliminarydetermination of individual listing il StateHistoric Preservation Office (36CFR 67) has been requested. il OtherState agency tl previouslylisted in the NationalRegister tl Federalagency tl previouslydetermined eligible by the National il Localgovernment Register il University il designateda National Historic Landmark lxl Other il recordedby HistoricAmerican Buildings Survey Nameof repository: #_ HistoricalSociety nf ForrglasCorrnty tl recordedby HistoricAmerican Engineering Cityof OmahaPrrhlic Lihrary - DowntownBranch Record# LocalGovernment Doug les Cnunty. tehraske tLnc d Propcrty CounVend S
10.Geoqraphacal Data
Acteage of Property lessthan one
UTM References(place additional UTM references on a continuationsheet).
Zone Eas$ng Northing Zone Easting Northing 1. 15 253900 471270 3. 2. 4. I Seecontinuation sheet. Verbal Boundary D,escription (fhsclbe the bourdaries of the prope$ on a continuation she€i.)
Boundary Justification (E pft*r whythe bourdariesupre selectedon a contintntionshed.)
11. Fom PreparedBy namertitle MartinKluck- Intem Architect oryanization Alley PoynerArchitec+urp dale t{ovemberlr.lggq street & number L213Jones Sbeet tefephone 402-341-1q44 city or town Omaha state NE zip code 58102
Atritional Documentation
Suffi tlre follorvirg itsns witr the comple{edform: Gontinuation Sheets
Maps A USGSmap f/.5 or 15 minuteseries) indicating the property'slocation. A $*etch map for historicdistricts and propertieshaving large acreage or numerousresources.
Photographs Representativeblack and white photographsof the property.
Addilional items (Ch€€t{with fie SHPO or FPO for any additbnal items.)
_Property Owner
(Comdds thb tom at the requedd the SHPOof FPO.) namenitle 1613 Famam Sheet Limitpd Partnership strcet & number1025 LeavenworthStreet telephone402-345-8000 city or townOmaha state NE zip code 68102
f.Frrrt t ar.br m r:D* Tlri. iildri.lbn E b.ing oolLEbdfo. gii{id. b i}, N.tioi.l R.gbbr d Hi.bb Pts b ronind proFn6 lo. kring lid!.op.tq &db.hrd o(diiglidirEl Rr4'qE bbt rquar b Equild bohin. !.i.ft in *conl$.. rih ti. tttir.d ftib* PE Nrrbn
BhI a.nhr rfC Plolb ctoin'g lsrLi lo. tni. f.m ir..tindd b.\rr.g! 16.l nour Fr r.!p..E imtdb tr. fri. for rriaine inituctirB oqnpb6tt,6'wi'{'inrth.lo.m.oiEdcohnttrFn|inghi.bud.n6li'!.bo.fy!P..td,6lor'fb}.dl''^dninErdins.rvic.tIviibr'tl.ijddP.fsdvic., wd|Nl.bn. E zDl97127i .||d tl]. Ofica .a M.rEfcrr.r{ .nd Budg.( PrF$.r R.ducinr Proird fl(n1et !), wldx.ngbo, t)c 2056. OMB No. '102+0018 [iui"-t*too" United StatesDepartment of the Interior NationalPark Service NationafRegister of HistoricPlaces GontinuationSheet FarnamBuildino Name of Property
Douolas Countv. Nebraska County and State Section 7 Page 1
NanativeDescription
The FamamBuilding at 1607-1617Famam Street in Omaha,Douglas County, Nebraska is a sevenslory commercial buildingwith a full basementand sidewalkvault builtin 1929in an Eclectic/Sullivanesque/ArtDeco/Gothic Revival style. It is locatedin the middleof the blockon the southside of FamamStreet between 16'n and 17'nStreets. This flat-roofed rectangularbuilding measurcs 132' x 50'. Therear€ I total of 7 struc{uralbays, which in tum formthe basisfor lhe originallyplanned six commercialtenanls and elevatorlobby serving the upperfloors. The buildingpertially bears on the wes{wall of the brickhigtFrise histodc First National Bank Building to its east. Wh€nthe buildingwas originally ereded, the fourththrough seventh floors ofthe westwall overlookedenother building. There is nowa ten-storystruc'turc on lhis side. The southside has enameled brick to the windowsills of the fourthfloor. An unglazedbrick was used above this. The FamamStreet elevetion has a limestonebase to the headsof the secondfloor windows. Above this the walls achievea verticalitywith bdckpilasters flanking windows with omamentalbronze spendrel panels between them. Above the seventhfloor windows is a limeslonecrown with omamentelrelief that terminatesin a monumental,Decc.style battlement.
The seven-story,omately detailed Famam Building at 1607-1617Famam Street in Omahs,Nebraska was constructedin 1929fof the useof retailtenants, as the corporateoffices of the ByrcnReed Company (on the secondfloor), as well as professionaloffices on floorthree through seven. This sectionof do$rntownOmaha was coming to the end of its multl yearrenovation of replacingoriginal stick-frame and low.risemasonry buildings with substantialand architec{urally significanthigh-rise buildings. 1929 saw the openingof the HotelPaxon at the comerof 14mand Famamss well as the openingofthe Bark€rprofessional office building on the comerof 15band Famam.
The Famambuilding was designed with 6 commercialbays for rctailtenants. The westemmost two bayswere constructedfor the NorthrupJones Co., a lunchroom/paslryshop that lalerexpanded into the adjac€nlesstem bay. The kitchenand bakerywere located in the basement.Deliveries were made from FamemStreet via a scuttlein the sidewalk that led dir€ctlyinto the storageroomlrault. At the time of the originalconslruction, Northrup Jones had an enlrysimilar to the othercommercial bays with the excedionthat the entrancewas insetand accessed around a structuraloolumn. The other storafrontsfit nicely betweenthe slone pilas{ersthat changedto b'rickonce abovethe secondfloor. As differentcommercial tenents heve come and gone, the variousstorefronts have changed. The mostnotable slorefront changeoccuned in the lats 1930'swhen the NorthrupJones Co. expanded.Architect John Latenser was hired to design a new,continuous slorefront.
Unlikethe othercommercial spaeps, which were steel and glass set withinthe stonebase, Latenser decided a differcnt lookwas neededto identifythe Companyas one contiguousspaoe. A contrastingston€ base appears to supporta wall of brickthe samecolor es the resl of the tagadebrick. Withinthis brickexpanse are cream-coloredtena cottapilas{ers flanking a central archeddooMay surounded by cream-coloredtena cotta with light blue omaments. Belweenthe dooMayand the pilasleEthere are smallglass jewel cases with Chippendeletops that providedmenu display. Above the doorand these cases, in an omamentalcrown molding that runsthe lengthofthe storefront,there's an indentation that holdsa fluorescentlight strip. At the frontof this indentation,at the face of the crown,there are bronzeletters that spellout NorthrupJones Co., providing a chiarcscumeffect. Centeredon eachbay to eitherside of the dooni/ayarc la€e glassdisplay cases framed in cream-crloredterra cotta with lightblue accents. Thisframing consisls of a small pilasteron eitherside wilh an Aztecanhead design. The overallslyle, as describedby the architec't,is Georuian. OMB No. 102+0018 (8-86) United $tates Departmentof the Interior NationalPark Service NationalRegister of HistoricPlaces GontinuationSheet FarnamBuilding _ Name of Property
DouglasGounty. Nebraska _ County and State Section 7 Page 2
GeorgePrinz was the architectof the FamamBuilding. An Ohionative, George B. Prinz(186+'19/+6) was educatedat M,l.T.,possibly where he metThomas R. Kimballof Omahaas a fellowstudent, and studiedfor two yearsin Europe. Pfinzmoved to Omahain 1891to workfor Kimballwho was starting an architec{uialpractice. Thomas R. Kimballwas Omaha'smosi prcminent architecl, having designed the OmahaPublic Library as well as the DouglasCounty and Hall CountyCourlhouscs. Prinz began his ownfim in 1909,practicing architec'ture until 1940. Dudngthis iime Prinz designedsuch buildings as the LivestockExchange as well as the MasonicTemple, which came to be knownas the DouglasBuilding.
Buittby the ByronReed Company, lhe buildingwas touted as a completely'fireprcofstrudure because of its concrele struclureand pouredconcrete floor slabs. The rear(south) fagade was designed utilitarian in nature,being all single- coloredbrick with no ornamentetion.The frontfagade is an incrediblecomposition of materials,textures and colors. The beseband is a red,gray and blackmottled granite band. Directlyabove this is an expanseof limeslonethat fisesto a heightapproximately one foot abovethe secondfloor windows. The storefrontson the tirs'tfloor and the large,arched windowsof the secondfloor prcvide the widthto givethe stoneverlicality. These stone 'piers are approximetely four feet wideand step back to providea strong,lwo foot widecentral shaft. Thesestone piers terminate At the topswith an omamenialpettem. Thercare two designsto this pattem,with the designsaltemating between piers. Completingthe effectofthis stonebase is an expansivetwelve inch arched stone head overthe secondfloor windows.
A monumenlalslone arch marks the entranceto the firsl floorelevator lobby, with "FARNAM BUILDING" engraved in its head.Rosettes are engravedon eitherside of thesewords. Crowningthe archis a one foot high,highly omamented sculpturalfrieze. Copperflashing provides a bfilliantgreen top to this arch. On eitherside of the openingarc bronze plaqueswith 'FARNAM BUILDING' embossed. At the time of the building'sconstruction this archwayled to an exterior vestibulethat hadwalls of the samelimestone and an omateplaster ceiling. This vestibule is nowfully enclosed,with a curtainwall systeminfilling the opening.
Abovethe erchedsecond floor windows and the sill of the thirdfloor windows there is a smallamount of the redbrick whichis usedfor the entif€upper fagade. This brick bend terminetes in a deeplimestone sill that hasa centraldiamond- shapedomament caffed intothe centerand laEe dentilsrunning along the underside.
The stepped-stonepilasteF continue as steppedbrick pilaslers until this third-floor sill. At this pointthe pilastelsstep backonce again, providing an evengreater sense of verticality.There are two windowsper struc{uralbay at floorsthree throughseven. Thesewindows are divided by a verticalbrick bsnd that's appmximately half the widthof the adjacent brickpilasters. Adding to the venicalityare bronzespandrel panels that spsnb€trveen the windowsills and heads. Thesebronze panels have ornament in threedesigns. The thr€edesigns allemate in a consislentA-BC rfiythmacross the faqade.These bronze panels are continuousbetween windows from the headsof thoseon the thid floorto the sills of thoseon the s€venth.At the headsof lhe sevenlhfloor windows the brickpilasters slop and a conlinuousstone crown topsthe building.
The stonecrown continues the linesof the slonepilaslers below up intoa decG.likebattlemenl with each element of the pilasterslepping up onefoot, terminating in an angledtop. Betweenthe pilaslers,a modillionedcomice tops this stone band. Betweenthe comiceand third floor windoyv heads, centered between the pilasters,there are three squares of omamentsin two designs.One of thesedesigns is a leaf pattemwith a medallional its center.The otherdesign is a geometricmedallion placed over a multi-lineX. Theseomaments are in a consis'tentA-FA ftythm, withthe oqanic pattembeing ?' andthe geometricpattem being 'B'. OMB No. 102+0018
,n,r"O StatesDepartment of the lnterior NationalPark Service NationalRegister of HistoricPlaces ContinuationSheet Farnam Buildino Name of Property
Douolas Gountv. Nebraska County and State Section 7 Page 3
The interiorsof the 6 offic€floors of this buildingchanged with the timesas well es the tenents.The publicconidors appearthe sametoday as theydid uponthe building'scompletion. The floorsof the conidorsare of a tan/brownterrazzo mix borderedby blacldgrayterazzo tor an arearug effect. Thewainscot is maftle, beingcomposed of a 6' base,4' chairrail, with marblebetween. This pinkish-gray wainscot is four feet tell. Aboveit are plasterwalls. Doorsare wood fulFpanel,with the panelssomelimes being made of clearor frostedglass. The four inchtrim on lhesedoors occurs abovethe marblewainscot only (the marble wainscot abuts the dooropening for the lowerfour feet. Thistheme is caniedout and elaboratedon in the main(first floor) lobby. The marblewainscot in this lobbyrises to a heigt of ten feet. The ceiling,at a heightof spproximatelyfourteen feet, is dividedinto four-foot wide coffers that havegold and greenstenciling in a deco'flame' pattem. At the rearof this lobby,leading to a r€arveslibule, there is a pairof ebony doorsinlaid with laruesquares of omatemetalwoft. Thissame pattem occurs in the elevatordoors. Originallight fiXuresin this lobbywe.e deco "flame" multi-tiered pendent fixtures. A mailbox,building directory, radiator gfills, and elec{riccabinet cover ere all fittedwith omamentalbronze work. OMBNo.1o2+O018 [:;J"*'*'oo" UnitedStates Department of the Interior NationalPark Service NationalRegister of HistoricPlaces ContinuationSheet Farnam Buildino Name of Propefi
DouolasCountv. Nebraska County and State $ection I Page 1
Statementof Significance
The FamamBuilding is locallysignificant under Criterion A for its contributionto c,ommercrin Omaha. Sinceits constructionin 1929,the buildinghas played an importantrole in the businesscommunily. Constructed by the Byron- ReedCompany, the buildingwas the locusfor the financialand legalcommunity who met at the NorthruFJones festauranton the streetlevel. lt playedan instrumentalrole in downtownbusiness transactions. The FamamBuilding is significantunder Criterion C as a representativeexample of early20tn century commerciellreteil conslruction illustfating ornatelydetailed Art Deco,Nouveau, and Gothicomamentation. li is alsoassociated with two significantOmaha arcnitects,George Prinz and John Latenser, Jr.
The city of Omahawas plattedin 1854in hopesthat theirorganized tenitory would be attractiveas a psthfor the t€nscontinentalrailroad. The city grewslolvly at firstwhile establishing necessary public and government services like newspap€F,post offices and city hell. lt wasnt until1863 when the publicannouncement came that the Omahaarea wouldbe the eastemterminus for the tmnscontinentalrailroad that the populationand constructionboom began. Job opponunitiesand therefore population abounded during the 1880'safter the railroad'sarrival. During the laterpert of the 1800sand early 1900s, Omaha experienced tremendous groMh. Censusdata shows Omaha's population at 16,000in 1E70and over 124,000in 1910. lt wesduring this periodthat the downtownand warehousing area began lo take shape with manywarehouses and businessesundergoing construclion. Construction came to a haltduring the hardeconomic timesof the 1890s. However,during the recoveryyeals after the tum of the centuryand especially in the teenyeani priorto WorldWar I, Omahaagain saw a tremendousgrowth spurt and renewedfinencial prosperity. This periodpriorto andduring World War I was knor n as the GoldenYearc. Farmprices were high and the economygood. Duringthe 1920sfarm pricesflucluated and though the economyremained for the mostpart steady in Omaha,fluctualions were presentthat foreshadowedthe crashof 1929.
Thel920ssaw the groy{thof Omahaneighborfioods and apartmenthouses. Downtown began to fill outwith cultural resourceslike theetres and museums.These entertainment venues werc nevera focusduring the boomingpopulation yeersfrom 1860sonward. Buildings conslrucrted in downtownduring the periodinclude the AquilaCourt, a modemmulli- use,mall type building,an ElksClub, art museum,many thealres, and alsoinsurance complexes, namely Woodmen of the Worldand lhe MutualBenefit Health and Accident Association (now Mutual of Omeha).The FamamBuilding, completedin 1929was one of the lastof this eralo be constructedbefore the economyfell flat.
The buildingwas constructed by the ByronReed Company on a pieceof propertythat wasvirtually the onlyunoccupied pieceof landin the heartof the retailand officedistrict of the city.The ByronReed Company, oEanized in 1857,is the oldeslreal estate company in the state. Founder,Byron Feed, was active in the city govemmentand ai onetime hadtho largestrent roll in Omaha. Whenhe died in 1889,Reed donated a parc€lof landfor a publiclibrary, his collec{ionof coins,medals, rare manuscripts, autographs, and privatelibrary to the Cityof Omaha. Hisobituary stated that 'He was to Omahawhat the Astorswere to NewYork' The ByronReed Company lormed the FamamRealty Company in order developthe propertyand constructthe FamamBuilding. L. P. Campbell,vice pr€sidentof the ByronReed Company, believedthat the constructionof the newbuilding would be a "civicimprovement of majorimportance". The corporate officesof the ByronReed Company occupied the entiresecond floor from 1929through 1966.
The FarnamRealty Company hircd erchitect Georye P. Prinzto designthe building.An Ohionative, George Prinz was oducatedet M.l.T.where he met fellowstudent Thomas R. Kimballof Omaha. Afterstudying in Europefor two years,he OMB No. 102+0018
U***O StatesDepartment of the Interior NationalPark Service NationalRegister of HistoricPlaces GontinuationSheet FarnamBuildino Name of Property
Douolas Countv- Nebraska County and State $ection I Page 2 retumedto Omahaand went to workfor ThomasKimball. Pdnzestablished his own firm in 1909and prac{iceduntil '1940.The LivestockExchange Building (listed NRHP, 1999) and the MasonicTemple a/lda the DouglasBuilding (razed 1998)were elso designed by Prinz.
Accoftlingto newspaperarticles at the time,the preliminaryplans showed gothic influenoe with Bedfod stoneand brick construction.While the buildingwas beingdesigned to 'harmonizewith other new buildings in the downtowndistrict", it wasalso the latestin businessblocks, featuring 'peacock alleys' and other innovations. On December3, 1967in an articlein the OmahaWorld-Herald, architect Nes Latenser supplied the folloryingprofessionel critique on the Farnam Building:"A trickyone. lt hasechoes of the naturalforms used by Sullivanbut is morenearly Art Noveaux,a bigthing in the 1920s. lt wasso far outthat itisbackinagain in the twisting,coiling, interlocking forms of hippieposters.'
The buildingpermit indicat€s that the ParsonsConstruclion Company built it for $270,000.The seven-storybuilding was designedfor retailshops and stores on the firsttwo floorsand offices on the thirdthrough seventh flooE. The Milwaukee Railroad,the W.L. DouglasShoe Company and NorthrupJoneswere the firstcommercialtenants in the building.The TravelersHeallh Associalion occupied the entirethid floor of the building.NorthrupJones leased space in the building from 1929until 1994. Oneof Omaha'soldest reslaurants, NorthrupJones was a secondhome for scoresof judges, lawyers,politicians and businesspeople who gathered over years for coffee,pastries and friendship.Owner, Wilbur A. Jonesonce wrole that 'stocks,bonds and realestate is solddaily and loansmade and lawsuitsseitled" around the countersof Northrup.Jones.Other occupants of the buildingincluded the OmahaChamber of Commerceand the Legal Aid Society.
As NesLatenser's quote indicates the buildingis ecleclicin its styling.The buildinghas a myriadof architecturaldeteils providinglhe pedes{rianwith an omatetexurel fegade.Georye Prinz took careto intertwineevery surface of the building with relatedmateriels and details. Architecturally it showsPrinz's ability to workwith a varietyof styles,details, and materialsand makethem hannonizeend refloctmodem building preferences.
Ten yearsafler constructionof the building,Northrup-Jones wanted a distinctivelook for theirspace. They hirEdOmaha architec'tJohn Latenser, Jr. to rehabilitatethe eastemmost bays of the sireetlevel to s€t off theirspace. Latensercame up with a GeorgianRevival, glazed terra cotta fagade to addto the building.This 1939addition is architecturally significantin its ownrite not onlyfor its associationwith John Latenser, Jr, sonof his namesakealso a significantOmaha architec{,but for its integrilyof styleand detail.
Overallthis buildingcontribuies to the economicand commercialdevelopment of the 1920sin Omahaand reflectsthe popularbuilding slyles of the times. OMB No. 102+00'18 (8-86) United StatesDepartment of the Interior NationalPark Service NationalRegister of HistoricPlaces GontinuationSheet Farnam Buildino Name of Property
Douolas Counhr- Nebraska County and State Section 9 Page 1
Bibliography .A DiningLandmark Ends 7E-Year Run". OmahaWofid-Henld. January 14, ,|994
'Announc€ment'.The BensonImes. July20, 1928 'Beautifuf FarnamBuilding to OpenMay 16t'. OmahaChamber of CommerceJoumal. April20, 1929,p.7-12
Bfumeson, John J.-G. lclewing AmeficanArchitechre: a PictorialGuide to StylesaN Terms, 16'j/'j-*1%5.New Yotl<: W-W.Notton & Company,1nc.,1977
BuildingPermits. City of OmahaPlenning Department 'Byron Reed- He BecameOmaha's Richest Man'. OmahaWodd-Herald. March 30, 1976
DeedsRecods. Registerof Deeds,Douglas County, Nebraska.
Larsen,Lawrenence H. andBarbara J. Coftrell.The GateCity: A Historyof Omaha. PruettPublishing Company, 1982
"NameBuifding Famam'. OmahaWorlcl-tlen d. June14, 1928 'New.Lunch Shop". Or?rataWorM-HeraM- March 29, 1929
OmahaCity Direclories.W.Dale Clark Library 1929
OmahaWorld-Henlcl July 11, 'l928 'Smith Site is Leasedfor &Story Building'. OmahaWorl&llerard. June 8, 192E
"WoodmanNeighbor Varyin Form". OmahaWorld-Hercld. December 3, 1967
VerbelBoundary Description
Lots2 and 3, Block140, in the City of Omaha,as surveyedand lithographedin DouglasCounly, Nebraska, except that partof Lots2 and 3, Block140, Originel City of Omaha,as surveyedand plattedand rccordedin DouglasCounty, Nebraskadescribed as follows: Beginninget the S.E.corner of saidLot 2; thenceWesterly on the Southline of saidLois 2 and 3, | 12.00feet; thence Northerly on a line 112.00feet Westof and parallelto tne Eastline of saidLot 2, 63.00feet; thenceEasterly on a line63.00 feet Nodhof and parallelto the Southline of saidLots 2 and 3, 112.00feet to lhe East lineof saidLot 2; thenceSoutherly on the Easlline of ssid Lot 3, 63.00feet to the pointof beginning.
BoundaryJuslification
This bounderyincludes all historicallyassociated prcperty. All photos by Martin Kluck, 1999, Alley Poyner Architecture, Omaha, Nebraska
View of main entrance, north façade, looking southeast
View of north façade, looking southeast Detail of storefront on north façade, looking south