Gottlieb Storz House

Gottlieb Storz House

View from the southeast, across Farnam Street
Location Omaha, Nebraska
Coordinates 41°15′29″N 95°58′4″W / 41.25806°N 95.96778°W / 41.25806; -95.96778Coordinates: 41°15′29″N 95°58′4″W / 41.25806°N 95.96778°W / 41.25806; -95.96778
Built 1905[1]
Architect Thomas R. Kimball
Architectural style Tudor Revival, Other
NRHP Reference # 74001113[2]
Significant dates
Added to NRHP August 7, 1974
Designated OMAL December 21, 1982[1]

The Gottlieb Storz House is located at 3708 Farnam Street in the Blackstone neighborhood of Midtown Omaha, Nebraska. Built in 1905 by Omaha beer magnate Gottlieb Storz, the mansion was designated an Omaha Landmark on December 21, 1982, and was listed in the National Register of Historic Places on August 7, 1974. It was included in the Gold Coast Historic District when the district was listed in the NRHP on March 14, 1997.

About

Gottlieb Storz founded the Storz Brewing Company in Omaha in 1876. After two decades of success he constructed this 27-room mansion in 1905. Built in the Jacobethan Revival style, the Storz Mansion is said to provide a rare visual connection to a "golden era" in Omaha’s history.[1] The mansion is home to the Adele and Fred Astaire Ballroom on the top floor, which is the only memorial to their Omaha roots.[3]

Built with beige brick and limestone trim, the mansion features a red tile roof, steep gables, rectangular windows with stone mullions and transoms, and a symmetrical facade. Much of the exquisite original interior remains, including hand-carved oak woodwork, a solarium covered by a stained glass dome, and distinctive mosaic fireplaces in the living and dining rooms.[4]

The mansion's heyday was the mid-20th century when Arthur Storz, Jr., owned it. The mansion was the scene of an opulent party celebrating the movie Strategic Air Command in 1955. The movie premiere was held in Omaha and the premiere party was held at the Storz mansion with guests including James Stewart and June Allyson, as well as the Strategic Air Command Commander Curtis LeMay.[5] During that same period Robert Storz raised his son, Todd, in the mansion. Todd Storz grew to love ham radio while living there; he eventually pioneered the Top 40 radio format that grew to popularity around the world.[6]

The mansion has continuously been occupied by a single family throughout its history, unlike many of the other notable houses throughout this neighborhood, which were frequently converted from single to multiple-family dwellings, and often reconverted. After it left the Storz family, Michael Gaughan, son of Jackie Gaughan, bought the house in 1989 and gave it to Creighton University in 2002. After leasing it as a residence the University sold the 27-room mansion in 2007. The new owner, Wayne Stuberg, is a professor and director of physical therapy at the University of Nebraska Medical Center's Munroe-Meyer Institute.[7]

The well-manicured grounds also include a three-story carriage house.[8]

The Bier Stube, or gazebo that was previously sat on the west side of the property underwent extensive renovation in 2012 and was relocated to Lauritzen Gardens.[9] The gazebo is believed to be the only remaining structure from Omaha's Trans-Mississippi and International Exposition of 1898.[9]

The mansion was the scene of the premier party for the 1955 film "Strategic Air Command" starring Jimmy Stewart and June Allyson, both of whom were in attendance at the party.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Storz (Gottlieb) House". City of Omaha — Landmarks Heritage Preservation Commission. Retrieved 2012-10-25.
  2. ↑ National Park Service (2007-01-23). "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service.
  3. ↑ Wishart, D.J. (2004) Encyclopedia of the Great Plains University of Nebraska Pres. p 259.
  4. ↑ Gerber, K. and Spenser, J.S. (2003) Building for the Ages: Omaha's architectural landmarks. Landmarks, Inc. p 103.
  5. ↑ "Can of the Month: Storz", RustyCans.com. Retrieved 5/12/08.
  6. ↑ Fisher, M. "Chapter 1: Omaha Morning", The magic of radio. Retrieved 5/12/08.
  7. ↑ Burbach, C. "Storz Mansion Changes Hands," Omaha World-Herald. October 27, 2007.
  8. ↑ "Nebraska National Register Sites in Douglas County", Nebraska State Historical Society. Retrieved 5/10/08.
  9. 1 2 Stansberry, Rhonda (October 4, 2012). "Century-old gazebo finds new home at Lauritzen Gardens". The Omaha World-Herald Newspaper. Retrieved 10 February 2013.

External links

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