Omaha daily bee., 1903-03-29

and Farnam streets, for II was here, on land
primarily designed as part OF the park, that
the Herndon house was built by DR.. Miller
and others. Land values at that time can
be estimated from the fact that in 1856 a
lot on Douglas street between Fifteenth and
Sixteenth streets sold for $500. which was
an advance Of $3.50 over the price at which
Il had sold a short time previous.
Business slowly moved up Farnam street
until 1855. when a serious attempt was made
to place Douglas street at the center Of the
business world of Omaha. That year the
Caldwell block was built at a cost of $780,
600. a lumber OF persons had Joined in the
construction OF this block and the owners
generally moved into the new quarters.
The Farnam street land owners restored the
center Of activity by a short time later con-
structing the Central block, which now
stands practically as first designed on Far
nam street between Thirteenth and Four
teenth streets. This was also the work OF
individuals who combined to make a solid
block Of similar design, and was one Of the
first important steps in moving the center
OF business from Tenth street, which Il had
been leaving gradually for some time.
The second stopping place of the business
center was Thirteenth street. From How
ard street to Douglas street It WED with
FaTnam street for several years, and many
persons did not realize until too late that
the retail district Of the city was distined
10 move farther westward. with the con-
struction Of the old postofhce building and
O number of brick blocks on Fifteenth
street In the early 70s brought that street
between Dodge street and Howard street
into prominence, and in a few years the
best stores OF the city, with one or two ex-
ceptions, were to be found in the neighbor-
LAAI - al - -
was not until the boom days" of the sos
that Sixteenth street property came to be
recognized as the principal north and south
retail street of the city. The blocks bounded
by Howard, Dodge, Fifteenth and Thir-
teenth streets had been built up more or
less solidly, but when Hayden constructed
the first department store building on Six
teenth street 1t was the neighbor of a green
house which had stood on the ground for
many years-from the time IL was. in the
suburbs" in fact-and which wag main
tanned at the corner of Sixteenth and Doug
las streets for several years later. with
the construction Of the street car line on
Sixteenth street, which brought there the
people both from the northern and southern
parts OF the city, and the proposed con-
struction of the new federal building on
that street, this property came actively into
the market for retail purposes and assumed
the position which It now maintains. Dur
Ing this time there were two districts which
received considerable attention and which
promised to take considerable part in the
retail business Of the city. One was st.
Mary's avenue near the junction with How
ard street and later Leavenworth street
after 1t had been graded. But neither Of
these promises have so far been redeemed.
While the changes in the center of busi-
ness activity covered not so large a scope
OF territory and the natural tendency to
the west was fought upon every point by
those who owned property in the eastern
part of town, there were many changes in
the residence districts. Augustus Kountze