Omaha daily bee., 1920-01-25
BY BELLVIEW.

piOiStio VI 'HS wy, Nho nav h'No
here from the time" when Omaha
was little more than quaint little
village on The bank Of the Missouri
river, when It's industrial section was
concentrated in a small group, and
the residences OF the prominent citi-
zcns were much nearer the Big
Muddy" than those of the present
day.
In a communication to The Bee,
one of Omaha's pioneer women,
reminisces a bit, and recalls the
carly days before the residence dis
tricts stretched to the far sections
OF the city, before it took the greater
part OF IN four to reach the heart
of the throbbing business life from
ones home.
"A business transaction that made
il necessary tc visit Omaha's whole
sale .e:strict brought "reminiscences
cf days whea the present busy site
was the residential district OF the
cjty's prominent citizens anG if one
Lad not really lived in pioneer days
ii would be hard to convince the
present generation that such a
change could be possible.
Extensive Garden Grounds.
The Lee Colt Andreesen Hard
ware Co. is now located on ground
where in early days Peter Wind
helm had residence, a comfortable
frame building, with large grounds
for garden nurnosPs
Mrs. Windhcinl was very proud
OF the number and variety of flow
ers she cultivated and also the poul-
try she raised, particularly the tur-
keys which were a terror TO the
children OF the neighborhood if they
were dressed with garment with
too much of red coloring
A log barn was used by the chill
dren for a playhouse or forsany kind
OF amusement. The walls we're dec
Grated with numerous samples Of
paper from the shop of Peter Wind
helm.
81. Marys, one OF the first Catho-
lie churches in Nebraska, was on
Eighth and Harney, small brick
cditlce which soon proved too small
torS the growing congregation and
It was necessary to build St. Philo-
mena's where the John Deere Piow
company now have their building.
Many Of the old children" will re-
member the runs we had around the
foundation while the church was
building. To the south of St. Marys,
now the Burlington freight depot,
was the home OF the late Herman
kountze, a gothic frame building
with grounds designed by land
scapc gardener with miniature lakes
and terraces sloping to the east.
Many natural trees and shrubs
provided plenty OF shade and the
grounds would do justice to home
OF today. The substantial brick
house OF Thomas Davis occupied the
corner on which Byne & Hammer
have their factory.
Remembers Davis Parties.
MANY mothers and some grand
mothers will remember with pleas
IRE the entertainment provided for
Tie Davis boys, Fred, Late and
1 Charlie. The Davis mill was in the
vicinity row occupied by the Union
and freight depots of the Union Pa
cific. and frequent visits were made
to the mill for wheat to make Our
chewing gum.
s"It was great fun to visit the saw
mill nearby and ride on the huge
logs that were being sawed. and
dare would be made to anyone who
could ride nearest the saw. | doubt
very much if the mothers were
aware Of the dangerous deeds that
were done by the young westerners.
{ss"Thc southwest corner OF Ninth
and Farnam streets surrounded by
locust trees was where Trinity
church welcomed its Pensioners. 1t
was . small brick structure and
sften it was used as school. Before
II was demolished it was known as
he 'Tivoli Garden
Beautiful Picnic Grove.
<"Can the present inhabitant i'm
5ginc a grove in the vicinity of
Ninth street from Dodge to Capitol
avenue? This was the picnic ground
Tor Onlaha's population. Farther to
The north in the grove was the home
of Judge Cant and in the same
ncighborhood was the Shull resi-
dence. A large swing proved an
attraction for the children in that
vicinity and other parts of the town.
Yankee Robinson's circus tents
were pitched on Ninth and Farnam,
now occupied by the addition to
Lee Colt Andreesen. AS it was a
one-ring show and few animals and
side show attractions, not much
sround space was required.
"Omaha's prominent hotel The
Heradon,' with a few. additions
made by the Union Pacific when
used for their Offices. is still stand
ing on Ninth and Farnam. Many
guests from all over the world have
Inscribed their names on the register
of that hostlry.
Many Judges Homes.
Ezra Millards family home was
on Eleventh and Harney and in the
same block were the home of the
Wymans (parents of Mrs. George
Hoagland). Judges Lake and Doane
had residences on Twelfth and Har-
ney. Augustus Kountze and Will
lam Ruth had homes near.
"One cannet realize that fine
residence and we'll kept grounds
ever could be where the Burkley
Printing company and other firms
now are doing business, but the To-
cation was formerly the home of
Judge WooIworth. In this vicinity
were the homes Of the Stephens,
Wilcox, Koesters, Demarest and
others ] cannot recall.
"As The town expanded, homes
we're built further west towards Fiji
SeeufK and Siyteentt on Earnau and