No one would blame you for not knowing about 5120 Mayberry Street or if you might never have even heard of Mayberry Street. As far as east-west streets go in this town, Mayberry is pretty discreet. It gets cut off a lot, it isn’t flashy and it’s left picking itself up after many blocks of disappearing acts. And to top it all off, it didn’t even start it’s inconsistent life as Mayberry. It used to be called Melton Street. I can assure you that part of Mayberry Street’s charm is that it is off the beaten path and that is exactly what the neighbors love about it.
How I Fell in Love
I first became aware of 5120 Mayberry about ten years ago. Mr. Cassette and I were out for one of our long, adventurous walks and happened upon it quite unexpectedly. We took a turn behind Three Happiness on Leavenworth and thought we were headed down another modest, midtown neighborhood on south 51st. Quickly we found a park-like setting just to the west of the street. Looming in the distance was Elmwood Tower but through the many gorgeous trees were a couple of homes. As we walked west on Mayberry, a dark shingled, gloriously, preppy, east coast estate was hiding amongst the trees. Having always loved large, older homes, I went into utter convulsions. It was something like the Secret Garden meets Grey Gardens.
Entrance to the estate, facing north.
What immediately struck me about the estate was the fact that it looked hidden. It also didn’t make much sense in this small, quiet neighborhood which made it all the more intriguing. 5120 wasn’t trying to be a Happy Hollow Home. It didn’t put on Fairacres’ Airs. It was a Modest Midwestern Mansion, if you know the type–so immediately Old Money Omaha in its denial of affluence and lack of showiness. It was wrinkled and had just the right amount of mess. The rustic style was there off-handedly. Unpretentious but self-possessed. All the while with her back turned to Elmwood Tower as if she had better things to do. I imagined that the house had been built long ago and probably had many more acres around it originally. I figured it had predated Elmwood Tower and that possibly it had been one huge property at some time. The entrance had two large supporting columns with a wrought iron gate. That all made sense. But it was attached to a common, chain link fence surrounding the perimeter of the estate. There must have been a more dignified fence at one time, I wondered. I immediately thought of that once gorgeous house on the north west corner of 52nd and Dodge. You know the one. The old Black’s estate. It famously had the best fence in Omaha. One of its more recent owners was rumored to have stripped out the original black and gold fence and took it with them to their new west O home when they moved–forever leaving the rest of us sitting at the red light while viewing that sad, wooden, spiked replacement. But let me get back on track. Had the owners of 5120 let their home go to ruin? Was it abandoned? Did I just see someone in the window or were they sailing back east? My mind raced and I just had to go inside but the high gates were locked. They would remain locked pretty consistently for the next nine years.
Entrance to the estate, Elmwood Tower looming in the background. This is how the gate looked every time we lurked past. I took this photo back in 2011.
Western facing, backside of the home.
Steady Obsession
Mr. Cassette and I would continue to walk by Mayberry for the many years to follow, always pausing to look through the fence at 5120. “Man, the gardening I’d do,” Mr. Cassette would say and I would exclaim dreamily about what I’d do to that fabulous house. 2.07 acres of land and 3,776 sq ft of mansion. Everyone wins. I had already found it’s owner on the county assessor site: Paul F. McGill. I knew he was married to Kate. I had found out his children’s names and that one of his kids was in the storage business. I knew that Mr. McGill spent most of the year in California and that previously he had been quite a real estate developer in town. He had been the president of Sunset Realty as well as run Western Hill Plaza Partnership out of 5120. He owned many real estate properties as well as had owned and created Omaha’s beloved Dubliner Pub, Dingle Bay Oyster Bar and a favorite of ours, the Brass Grille, all in the Old Market. Around this time, I had befriended a realtor who shared a lot of this information with me. Together, the realtor and I began to discuss how to write a dream letter to Mr. McGill. I wanted to let him know how much I was in love with his estate and wanted to ask if he would ever consider selling it. Really silly, I know and definitely out of the Cassette Price Range. It was naive of me. But by now I’m sure you’re beginning to see how I can obsess. I never wrote that letter but I did tuck away all of Paul F. McGill’s information for a later date.
Mayberry Street, looking east.
Heartbreaking News
Many years later, this last fall of 2015 to be exact, I heard a rumor about Bluestone Development working on a new project in the midtown area. Bluestone is known for rehabbing a number of properties downtown, created the Soma homes, Little Italy Row Houses and is known for having built new, loft-type warehouse spaces that the city really seems to like. The talk was that Chris Christensen, Bluestone and Alley Poyner Macchietto were planning to develop a large apartment complex “behind Three Happiness.” I thought, “Oh that’s cool…with UNO so close.” Soon after, I would learn that the near 200 unit apartment complex was slated for my beloved 5120 Mayberry Street address, along with 5110 Mayberry (Mr. McGill had already acquired this years ago), 836 S. 51 St and 812 S. 51 St. These properties, I had imagined were all part of that original estate. In recent decades they all were fenced and divided but looked like they shared this large, rambling, tree-filled oasis. I quickly went on the county assessor in disbelief and, strangely, all previous traces of Paul McGill were gone. There wasn’t a breadcrumb of a sale or any tax history. Normally they will list all the particulars of recent sales. Poof. The new owner was listed as Mayberry 51 LLC c/o Chris Christensen. This is where the mystery began for me.
The southern side of my obsession. I took this photo back in 2011 when I was out gumshoeing about.
More Questions
Understandably, the neighborhood was shaken with the news. After interviewing a number of the Mayberry neighbors, I learned that there had been mysterious happenings on the short block for some time. I cannot be sure of this information, as it is hearsay. It is interesting that all their stories match one another. A number of the long-time neighbors said they had seen the multi-complex development coming for a while. According to them, they thought that Mr. McGill had wanted to buy surrounding properties (5110 Mayberry, 836 S. 51 St and 812 S. 51 St.) with just this future development in mind. Don Gill had owned a corner lot with a small house at 836 S. 51 St (now part of the Mayberry LLC parcel) and apparently had been approached to sell a number of times in the decades of his ownership.
Plastic fenced off area where Mr. Gill’s house had been, previous to razing. Corner of 51st and Mayberry.
Mr. Gill had always refused the offers of Mr. McGill, in fact it was reported that he wanted to donate his house to his old high school. Gill rented 836 to tenants who wanted to buy it themselves, because of Gill’s beautiful plantings of trees and flowers. A lover of birds, he had instilled in his tenants his appreciation of nature, for which this large wooded area was a haven. It is the perception of the neighbors that when Mr. Gill became ill, he was moved out of the state so that his family could sell his property to Mr. McGill without further issue. Don Gill died about two years ago and his tenants at 836 were asked to move out shortly after. 836 S. 51 St was torn down last year after being sold to either Paul McGill or Chris Christensen by way of Mayberry 51 LLC.
Portion of Lanphier’s property, facing west.
Mayberry neighbors also reported that they thought it was odd when their collective property values dropped a few years ago–later to learn that 5120 and surrounding acres had been designated as blighted. In their current belief, this area was blighted for the purpose of commercial redevelopment and was part of the already-in-motion plan. That also explained to them why someone had let 5120 fall into apparent disrepair over the years even though the McGill’s had plenty of money. No one knew about the sale of 5120 Mayberry. It happened very quietly and very quickly. The neighbors first formally heard about the plans to develop a large apartment complex at the same time as the rest of Omaha, although some had suspected. They are concerned about overbuilding the area and that the tiny, congested, Elmwood neighborhood street can’t support the increase in traffic. As I mentioned earlier, this short strip of Mayberry is off the path, has two serious turns and in it’s current state takes some maneuvering when two cars are coming down the road. Please see Chris Burbach’s OWH article for more details: http://www.omaha.com/news/metro/omaha-planning-board-approves-plan-for-apartments-at-st-and/article_39dc5a58-18d1-552a-b97c-55220339a8a5.html. There is a rumor that Three Happiness and connecting strip mall will be removed to try to make room for the increase of traffic onto Leavenworth Street. Currently the neighbors say that 5120 has a renter staying on the property in a short term eight month lease, who is bound to a legal gag order regarding the estate.
There are a number of plastic fences around small groupings of trees that apparently will be saved for the new development.
The Lanphier home at 812 S. 51 St was the last parcel acquired by Mayberry 51. Apparently the owners had just moved out this Saturday. They are rumored to have held out against this development and received a good amount of money when they finally surrendered. This spacious, white, ranch with its sprawling property, is directly south of Three Happiness. It is expected to be razed in the next couple of months.
Although I love older homes and buildings, I understand that urban development sometimes means adaptation. I can understand why Bluestone wants to cram these apartments into a tiny neighborhood with no thoroughfare. No, really…I do get it. It’s about money. I’ve got a pit in my stomach for the ol’ girl at 5120, but I can, hopefully accept it. This much space in the middle of Midtown is a luxury and an opportunity, for some. Ultimately I do have high hopes for this project. The below design was created by Alley-Poyner Macchietto/Bluestone Development for their February 3, 2016 planning board meeting.
Part Two: Looking Back
Out of my love for 5120 Mayberry, I thought I would share my historical findings for one of my absolute favorite homes in Omaha. I know you must be thoroughly exhausted by now but here we go for Round Two. Although 5120 Mayberry is listed as being built in 1939, I did not find this to be true. It also was not listed in the city directory by 1940. The below building permit was entered in the Evening World Herald in December 9, 1940 by J. M. Harding.
J.M. Harding was the secretary and treasurer of Harding Cream Company, later to become Harding’s Sealtest Ice Cream. Sealtest Dairy, a brand later acquired by Kraft, was a premier dairy company in its day, with plants across the Midwest and northeastern states. They were known for their milk, ice cream, cream and, oddly, lemonade. Imagine being born into big ice cream money.
(Photo courtesy of the Bostwick-Frohardt/KM3TV Photography Collection at The Durham Museum Photo Archive.)
But J.M. Harding and his wife already lived at 825 S. 52nd St, directly west of 5120 Mayberry. This 825 address is now gone but I believe it is part of what the Elmwood Tower property would become. This four acres of Elmwood Tower (originally built in 1963 as the Masonic Manor) and the two acres of 5120 Mayberry (directly east of it) was the Harding Family Compound. West bound by 52nd St, North bound on Leavenworth, East most side on 51st St and South boundary of Mayberry St. 1942 finds the whole family gathered at the original 825 S. 52nd St address. J.M. and wife are seated, with children, spouses and grandchildren surrounding them.
(Photo courtesy of the Bostwick-Frohardt/KM3TV Photography Collection at The Durham Museum Photo Archive.)
As it turns out, 5120 Mayberry was built for their daughter, Mary, newly married to Lawrence Brinker. The 1941 city directory lists Lawrence Brinker as owner of the brand new 5120 Mayberry Street. Mr. Brinker had started Lawrence Brinker & Company in 1927, working in investment securities at the First National Bank building at 16th and Farnam. He apparently was quite a bit older than Mary. It would appear that they never had children. Lawrence died on October 15, 1951. He was buried in Holy Sepulchre Cemetary right across the way on Leavenworth St. August of 1954 found Mary advertising for a live in white girl for cooking and cleaning. I found a couple such ads placed by her over the years. Also in 1974 there is an addition of Mr. Edward Gaber to the address which seemed very mysterious for that time. I wasn’t sure if Mary had taken in a renter.
On June 13, 1978 there was a terrible tragedy at the estate. According to this clipping there was at one time a pool on the property. This was oddly thrilling to me (not the drowning). In all the years of peeping through the fence, I had thought it looked like there was or had been a swimming pool in the back yard. There is a flatness to the ground and the way the backyard is configured lent itself to a pool. So there was a pool and by the sounds of it, Mary shared it with another couple on the next block over, by her parent’s original home. Also note that Mr. Edward Gaber, chauffeur, found the drowned boy. So that explained the man’s name listed in the city directory. Of course Mary wasn’t taking in a renter. Of course she would have had help living in that large home all alone.
Mary Harding Brinker died in September 1977. She must have had so many gorgeous things in 5120 Mayberry. I can only imagine the treasures she acquired. This ad from November 13, 1977 is the first of a couple of notices I found for her estate sale.
South side of the house.
1978 is the first time Paul F. McGill enters the city directory under 5120 Mayberry. He and wife Kate and their children would live there until a late 80’s move to California. The couple continued to own the home and when they would return throughout the year, neighbors would report seeing Kate tending her plants and flowers. I am sure 5120 Mayberry welcomed their return. I do find it touching that only two families lived in this property in all of those years. I would like to leave you with this last picture. I encourage you to go by this great, old house. I, for one, hope to get behind that fence with Mr. Cassette and walk amongst those glorious trees before they cut them all down and say hello to that beautiful dream girl house crush up close and personal.
5120 Mayberry Street Look Book
This article now has a followup story. Please see Mysteries of Omaha: 5120 Mayberry Street Part Two.
I would love to hear your comments and memories about this great part of town. Please be compassionate in your support to the neighbors. Click the title header to enable comments. Thank you, Omaha friends.
© Miss Cassette and myomahaobsession, 2016. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Miss Cassette and myomahaobsession with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
Oh, my.
Fantastic article Miss Cassette!
Fascinating history of this place, which I’d never noticed, not living in the neighborhood. It’s terrible when one gets attached to a place – or things like trees – because there’s always the risk of losing them. I think you’ve done a wonderful service, recording the history and including maps and photos and clippings about the address. Good researching!
Designating a neighborhood as blighted is always a red flashing light and clanging bell notifying you that the City is once again paving the way for some developer to destroy old houses and buildings. One needs to watch the Public Notice section of the newspaper diligently to keep up with what’s going on around town. Public meetings and comment periods are advertised there by law, and it is possible to get them to change the plans, early in the process. This particular project, however, has followed all the rules and public comment periods, etc. and fits well with Omaha trying to become a more walkable, livable city. It’s a shame such a lovely old home has to go, not to mention the trees. Thanks for this lovely remembrance.
Thank you so much for your valuable input, Terry! Many of the inner workings are lost on too many of us. The reality of the system, ignorance of the common people and sentimentality all got stirred up with this one. Please share your experience again and again!
You’re very kind! In general, whether you’re interested in urban issues or environmental issues, watch the Public Notices column in the paper assiduously. And do NOT be afraid to attend meetings and speak your mind. But go prepared, and stay calm. I could write a book…
Good to know. Maybe you could start a blog and educate us!
Here’s a blog post I made quite a long time ago that might interest you. (or not):
I don’t know how to do live links here so I’ll just put the URL:
http://3outsidetheskinny.blogspot.com/2002/12/blog-post.html
Terry – are you still living in Omaha. Not sure if you remember me, but I grew up on 50th Ave and Pacific in the house with the rock façade.
This is so great.
Don – Brother of Ruth? I remember crawling though a dirt fort dug out of a mound one summer at your house. I remember the story that your house had a few “Rubies” mixed in with the rocks. What an amazing House! It too plays a part of the history of this neighborhood.
Don my name is Morris Petersen. My sister Rhonda and Maureen and brother Murray said to say hello, and hope all is well
Thanks for the history! Great to finally know after living nearby for 10 years now. This place will be missed.
Thank you Dan. Please keep us updated if you see any happenings.
This is incredible. Just a few blocks from me, but I had no idea it was here. I have family that live on Mayberry St., but it’s on the east side of Saddle Creek. I’m having trouble picturing where Mayberry goes when you’re going west. Next time I go to Three Happiness, I’m taking a little detour.
Thanks for your comment. If you want to see some real strangeness, pull up Mayberry on google map. The little street that could!
We live in the ‘hood and walk by this house often, daydreaming about what a magical place it would be to live. I’m heartbroken to learn it’ll be razed. C’mon, Christiansen, c’mon Lund: up until now I’ve been on your side.
I loved your story. My grandmother lived on the 18th floor of the Masonic manner for the last 15 years. And her apartment faced out towards downtown Omaha and you could see the entire property from her window. And I remember gazing down on it many times wondering on down there. And there was a pool I knew there was a pool I could see it from the window! At one point in time my grandmother even commented that she knew the woman who lived in that house. And that she would come back occasionally when it was summer and tend to her yard and her plants, but as she got older she stopped coming. I find it interesting the history of some of these places I’m sad to see them go.
WOW!!! I love your story. You truly experienced from another angle. I have thought about the Elmwood tenants today and the neighbors. I understand the trees have started to come down today. Now that would be a sad viewing.
Small town – my wife and I lived at 50th Ave and Leavenworth for a few years, behind the commercial property on Leavenworth, and never knew there was such a place tucked away across the street. Also, I worked for Paul McGill for a year or so at the Dubliner when I was in college. As thanks for my hard work, McGill accused me of stealing. (The Dingle Bay was not doing well, and he was frustrated, so decided I must be stealing his non-existent profits.) I was going to quit, but then McGill sold the place and left for California. Good.
Eek…not good. Sorry about that bad memory. Hope you’ve moved on to greater ventures!
My father had his interior design business at 825 until 1986. I don’t recall the exact square footage but the house had 3 floors with 3 or 4 bedrooms on the second floor, and two bedrooms with full bath on the third floor (servants’ quarters). There was an elevator that traveled from the basement to the second floor. There was an electric servant call system throughout the house with an integrated intercom…think one technological evolution from the one at Downton Abbey. Sadly, the board of directors at the then-Masonic Manor saw it as a money pit with no historic or architectural significance, and it was torn down in the late 90s. The three car garage for the house still stands inside the fence just south of the tower. And oh yeah, that house was haunted.
Fantastic! I will have to try to find some photes of 825. I did see that garage yesterday. I thought it was unusually large for just housing property equipment for Elmwood Tower. Now I know. Thanks
There are photos of 825 in the archives of the Durham Museum photo collection
Haunted? Do tell!
Not a malevolent presence..more of a protective one. My job for my dad was to update price lists for upholstery and drapery fabrics that were kept in the former master bedroom. I never felt alone in there, but never threatened either. I recall one night my dad sent me to the house to retrieve a set of house plans. His office was at the top of the main staircase (a graceful winding one) in a bedroom adjacent to the master bedroom. I entered the house off the driveway, which was the kitchen entrance; walked through the dining room into the foyer and up the stairs. I found the plans and turned off lights as I retraced my path out of the house. The entire exit felt as though I was being pushed out of the house, as though I was unwelcome.
I don’t think I got the time frame right on my previous comment. It may have been later in the 80s or early 90s when my dad stopped using the house for his business.
You should have went to the auction they had. You could have toured the entire house or bought many of the possessions from inside. It was pretty neat.
It was such a lovely property. Sad to see it commercialized but money is the only thing most people ever truly love. Stay true
So, so true. I do wish I would gave known about that auction.
Miss Cassette, again – kudos to you!
You’ve expertly put a face, and soul to one of my favorite mysteries from my old neighborhood.
I’d raised my children at 55th and Mayberry, yet traversed the 51st & Mayberry hollow many, many times.
This is truly an interesting development, no pun intended.
It is sad to know this parcel will be razed for an uninteresting blend of cubist buildings and parking.
On a related side note: Did you and Mr. Cassette ever interact with another mysterious soul, “Walking Jim” Walker, with his white shirts, khakis and Chuck Taylors traversing the Elmwood area, walking along Leavenworth? I’d always wanted to know something about him, though he may have now passed.
Keep up your good work!
Is Walking Jim slim w reddish strawberry hair? Sometimes in a vintage hat? If so, alive and well. If it is the same gentleman, he is a swing dancer in town. Quite good! But yes, always walks Leavenworth in a white shirt.
This is my neighborhood and my husband and I have always loved the 5120 Mayberry property, too. I enjoyed reading your historical accounts and research, but am sickened about the home and surrounding area being razed for an apartment complex. I wrote to my congressman to ask him to vote against the Bluestone project and signed the petition against it, as well. My voice and the voices of my neighbors have been ignored. I am tired of seeing beautiful historical properties destroyed by people with money. Thank you for honoring the history of our neighborhood with your article.
Very interesting! I googled this address and found this with pictures of interior. http://www.zillow.com/homedetails/5120-Mayberry-St-Omaha-NE-68106/75768001_zpid/
Good detecting, Sandy! I had found that too– particularly interested in that lodge lookinh room. Really gives an idea of how they let it all just fall apart. Still, good bones. Thank you.
Very interesting article. It’s wonderful to have this history, and based on what I know of the property, your observations are mostly accurate.
I’ve known the McGills for 35 years. We belonged to a 4 couple gourmet group together, and enjoyed many fun dinners in the house. Arhild (Kate is a nickname) hosted my son’s baby shower on the wonderful screened porch. She loved the home, and resisted for years Paul’s desire to sell. They put in a ton of elbow grease fixing up and maintaining the property. We’ve lost touch in the last couple of years, but were very close friends, walking together daily, sharing plants from each other’s gardens, and spending a lot of time together over the years. I visited their ocean front home in Cambria, CA. on two occasions. It is not accurate that the McGills moved to CA. They were there from Nov to May, but spent the rest of the year here. After selling 5120, they moved this fall to a condo in a building they own in the Old Market. Paul is in his mid 80s and it was time to downsize.
Ironically and coincidentally, I also downsized 2 years ago, and moved to Elmwood Tower. (I live on the 16th floor and look down on the house, trees and grounds) It was then that I stopped hearing from the McGills. The sale of the property was very secret, so I suspect that was largely the reason. At any rate, I first learned of it when I observed the auction and walked over to investigate last fall. At that time, Arhild shared details of the sale, but I was left with the impression plans for actual development were not in the immediate future. I was shocked when a few months later the Tower announced a meeting for residents with Bluestone the day before the Planning Board meeting – way too late for input. By that point, it was a done deal.
“Progress” is inevitable, but it is heartbreaking to watch the trees come down. I share concerns of the neighbors about density, and am particularly concerned that the Christsensens plan to actively market to pet owners. Barking is already a big problem in the area. I can only imagine what it will be like if even half of the 197 apartments include dogs. The project will dramatically change the area forever. Let’s hope the positives will prove to outweigh the obvious negatives.
Thanks again for your articles.
I
Thank you for your comments, insider memories and gentle corrections. I do appreciate getting a fuller picture!
I was raised just a few short blocks from this home. I never new it was there. I walked by it so many many times, the foliage was often too thick to see this home.
I just visited New York it’s clear what our city father’s want. They want a mess, with too many cars on our streets. That way they can have more tax dollars to line their pockets.
I say we have to stop them. I did not say to burn the wooden frame construction. I did not say to put sugar in there gas tanks. I didn’t say to slash their tires or assault the construction workers. That was your idea.
It is heartbreaking. I am so grateful to the people of that neighborhood for fighting the fight. I know it could not have been pleasant for them to stand up to the powers that be. Thanks for your comment.
I grew up on 51st Street on the North side of Leavenworth, and lived there during the 60s and 70s. I can remember before I was old enough for school sitting on the side walk watching them build the “Masonic Manner”. It was so cool to watch at the age of 4-5. I smile today thinking back at being a kid that young sitting near the corner of busy street by myself at such a young age.
Directly across the street where the shops are located now, was a large bluff area that ran from the Manner Garage along Leavenworth, and wrapped around to the house at 812 South 51st. The area had a steep grade to it, and was covered with a number of trees and bushes, but that didn’t stop the number of kids who grew up in the area, running the “trails” that had been carved into the hill over a number of years. The fence that was used to protect the property on top was old and worn from the number of kids using it to steady themselves as the ran the trails. I can remember a number of times jumping over the fence and covertly walking through the grounds to sneak a peek of the property at 812, being amazed that it was some ones home.
With Washington Elementary being the areas grade school, naturally we walked a number of different routes to school. As a result the entire set of properties played a factor in almost every route. For me, the real change occurred when the bluff was leveled and the shops were put it. However when I can not begin to imagine how the neighborhood along 51st and Mayberry must feel knowing that the tranquil peace of years past will soon change. Thanks for sharing this.
Love this! Your stories gave me shivers. The trails…I try to imagine that. Thank you
Scott – yes as in Ruthanne’s older good looking brother.
At one point the entire four blocks (50th to 52nd and Mayberry to Leavenworth) was a family compound – Sam and Ruth Harding Rees owned the house where the Elmwood Tower now stands; Jesse McMillan Harding and Agnes Burkley Harding’s house was 825 52nd St. (originally built by great-grandfather Charles Harding…it had tile and wrought iron from Mexico) and Mary Burkley Brinker and Lawrence Brinker’s house. (J.M. Harding and Ruth Rees were siblings and Agnes and Mary were siblings). There is a reason the house is smaller and more modest – Lawrence loved good things and loved spending money and they wanted to contain his ‘enthusiasm’ for a new house so J.M. and Agnes ‘built’ the house and then sold it to Mary and Lawrence. It was modest and beautiful and it was truly magical. And, yes, Eddie was the butler. I could go on and on and on about: the cooks (Hannah, former cook for the Joslyns), and Roscoe (chauffeur for the Hardings)who was like a second father to us, the 60,000 acre ranch in Mexico… – drop me an email if you’d like to meet for coffee and I can tell you all about this wonderful snippet of Omaha history that will soon be lost and forgotten.
I am so happy that you commented. What a delight to hear from someone who experienced it all. Yes, I will be contacting you. Thanks
When you and Rob get together, please let me know. Rob is the family historian, and I’d love to hear the stories too.
Ha! Yes. Very good. Let’s all meet. By the looks of this, he could hold a mini town meeting and it would be packed.
David is really the historian and I am just his cousin who knows a branch or two of the family tree. And, yes, Brinker Harding (a brother of mine) was named in honor of Mary Burkley Brinker. (Our immediate branch of the family all have family names as middle names and some of us go by our first name and others go by our middle names.) It would be great to get together with you and David Harding to chat over coffee about family history and family lore and Omaha history.
Robert – how are you related to Brinker? My family has lived in that neighborhood since 1890s. My Great grandparents immigrated from Germany in 1880 and in 1890 built a house on Poppelton and Bell Ave when 51st street was called Bell Ave. They had 9 children and 5 of them also built houses in the neighborhood. Always had fun cutting through the “Mansions” and escaping detection on the way to Lee Drug. Don Wrieth – djwrieth@cox.net
I remember the Easter egg hunts that “aunt” Mary Brinker used to host. That was back when we all lived at 57th and Emilie….before your time.
Ok, this is weird. I took an online class on WordPress years ago and the mock website was Pets To Go. For some reason, I can’t change my name on the site. This is Kathy Koch Joyce.
Just going through some items for cataloging, and found a volume of poems by Agnes Burkley Harding called The Wind King and Other Verses. Self-published and undated. In researching it, I was so interested to come across this information about her family and houses! (Which I probably read back when it was first written, but certainly did not remember.)
Hello Martha–fascinating. I have another Harding investigation coming out and will have to look into these poems to include. Thanks for the lead!
I love these connections! Thank YOU for your research, and the wonderful context it provides for other discoveries. 🙂
The Brinkers, and the Hardings… I wonder if there is a direct connection to Brinker Harding, Chief of Staff for former Omaha Mayor Hal Daub?
I was asked that by another Omaha friend yesterday. I have no idea but now we must know!
Yes, Brinker is Robert Harding’s son. I think Mary Brinker was Robert’s aunt. Mrs. Brinker used to have big Easter Egg hunts when she lived there. That would have been in the late 50’s or early 60’s.
I went to one of those easter egg huts!
I don’t know the connection of our family to the Brinkers but I do remember the property – pre Masonic Manor.
I am the maillady in this area……I remember the first time I came upon 5120….it was enticingly scary! I had on an occasion to talk with Mr McGill…generally a day or two before they left for California and then after he got back……Today as they cut down the trees is was surreal as to just how much they shaded the area (and it was an overcast day). The neighborhood will be quite different.
Thanks for weighing in and thank you for the great service you provide. Mail carriers are the best. I bet you do see and hear a lot. It won’t be the same.
There’s an article on the Mode>Shift>Omaha web site about this project. I follow M>S>O because I’m interested in the walkable/bikeable city and other urban transportation issues. They supported this project. I’m not so well-educated about the issues that I feel safe saying it’s good or bad; I suspect like many situations, it depends on which end of the stick you’re on. But, I remembered this article and thought folks here might find it interesting.
https://modeshiftomaha.org/2016/02/05/51st-mayberry-smart-development-moving-forward/
Yes, I, too, remember this Mode Shift article and their odd interest-support of this project. I have some suspicians about this group. As we have already seen by the comments here, Omaha is a big small town. I’m sure someone in Mode Shift is in the back pocket of Bluestone.
> I’m sure someone in Mode Shift is in the back pocket of Bluestone.
I have thought long and hard whether to respond to this statement. I’ll just say, go to the Mode>Shift>Omaha web site and read their archives. One may not agree with all of their opinions, but such a statement can do more harm than good if it’s not backed up by proof. I’ve been following them for 3 or 4 years and have never picked up a whiff of anything like what you’re suggesting.
Never knew it was hidden back in there.
Great site, thanks.
If you enjoy the past in Omaha….
http://www.omahapastandpresent.site50.net/
Thank you, Bob!
I, too, grew up in the neighborhood near 5120 Mayberry. Back in the 1950s and 1960s most of the kids in the neighborhood (usually young grade school age boys) would enjoy cutting thru the property from 52nd street (Lee’s Drug Store) and exiting thru the gates on Mayberry. Some of those boys included Don Wrieth and Terry Hickman, who have commented previously, on this article. It was always exciting, as we often were chased by the large dogs that roamed the property. I remember the swimming pool was located northeast from the house at 5120, sort of down in the valley, closer to 51st Street. There were three “mansions” on this property, and it was always great to go Trick or Treating there because of the large amounts of candy they gave out. Before the strip center where Three Happiness is located was built, it was real fun to walk thru the trees and trails that were on that property. When the Masonic Manor was being built, we would sneak past the guards and climb the tower at nite. Not too smart, but exciting! Tom Helligso
Now that, is a great story! Thanks for sharing.
rbraidic @yahoo.com
> “Some of those boys included Don Wrieth and Terry Hickman, ”
–oops, nope. I’m a woman and grew up in the Benson High School district. Perhaps you meant a different commenter?
The Terry Hickman that I knew was a boy, lived on Pacific at 51st Avenue, attended Washington Grade School and would be about 68-69 years old right now. I had good times with Terry growing up in those years, as well as with lots of other kids that ran the neighborhood and playground in those days.
The Terry Hickman I knew was a male schoolmate that lived on the south side of Pacific at 51st Avenue. He was a good ball player and had a pretty mother.
Really enjoyed reading all the comments and history. I grew up near 55th and Marcy in the 1950s and also loved sneaking onto the property where the “three mansions” were, sometimes after getting asked to leave Lee Drugs for reading (and never buying) the comic books. My grandparents home near 57th and Marcy, built in 1922, was one of the first on that street. The other neighborhood “mansion” was the “Maenner Mansion” on the corner of 56th and Marcy. I remember looking through the wrought iron fence and mulberry bushes when they hosted a birthday party for one of their grandchildren — with a real live pony. And spending all my pennies on candy at The Cottage on 55th and Leavenworth. My mom says she did the same when she was growing up. Great neighborhood.
What a delight to read. Imagine a birthday party w a pony. I will have to look into the Cottage as I have never heard of it. Please stop by and comment again. Thanks
The Cottage was in the little stone building that most recently has housed Tasty Pastry. They carried basic groceries and had a fresh meat counter with a butcher. The butcher’s family lived above the store. A bigger store, Steve’s Grocery, was on the corner of 50th and Leavenworth which now houses McMillan’s Antiques. The Omar Man and Gray Dairy made home deliveries of baked goods and milk, and the lady next door to my grandparents baked Swedish rye bread every Saturday and sold it door to door.
I had imagined the Cottage to be in Come Into My Kitchen-Tasty Pastry when you first mentioned it. What a great memory and wonderful descriptions you’ve given. Thanks
From my earlier post, make that Graystone Dairy. Grrr on auto-correct.
Hey, Alison. Didn’t realize this was your old stomping grounds!
I really enjoyed reading all the details you had about the family and the house, and having been in your apartment, I could just imagine the view you had of the property. Thanks for all that information, and would love to see you again.
Yes, Alison, in one week’s time my view has gone from a verdant green park to a barren dirt field. Sad to see the distruction. Many of the plants were from my former gardens in Benson. At least a few trees remain at the borders, which Bluestone has supplemented with a handful of saplings on the Tower’s property. Of course all the residents will be long gone before they mature! It is also troubling to observe equipment digging in the parking lot of the 3 Happiness lot this AM, and a newly placed for sale sign at the corner. Looks like my predictions for a radically changed neighborhood might be coming true. One can only hope it’s for the better. In Omaha, the developers always win. The only exception I can recall is the recent controversy in Fairacres, thanks no doubt in part to powerful neighbors, some of whom own banks that provide financing. At any rate, shoot me an email. We can commiserate over a glass of wine!
Alison, I too remember The Cottage Store on the southeast corner of 55th And Leavenworth. However as a kid going to Washington, you were not allowed to cross without a “School Patrol” guard, and they only patrolled the crosswalks across Leavenworth on the West side, and across 55th on the North side. As a result you got reported if you attempted to cross without a guard. So to get to The Cottage either before or after school, you had to walk down from 55th and Leavenworth to 55th and Mayberry to cross the street. Sometime in the mid to late 60s it closed and became a Vacuum sales and repair store.
My best friend in grade school lived in the house you describe as the other Mansion at 56th and Marcy, the Allen’s. Thanks to social media, I am still in touch with him today. That house is amazing, and while the majority was finished, I remember playing in the attic that was unfinished, and it had a number of places that we would hide in. The yard you talk about was very cool, and had a couple of entrances to some of the homes on Leavenworth. We would cut through those properties a number of times. I remember a number of wrought iron fences, gates and the old wrap around the tree wrought iron benches, that were apart of the original build and had began to be displaced due to the growth of the trees.
Mrs. Bruckner was the lady behind the counter at Steve’s Grocery for over 30 years, and I think eventually bought it before it closed, but I will check with her granddaughter. She and her family lived at the corner of 50th Ave and Jackson. I remember searching through all of the neighborhood alley’s in search of pop bottles to cash in at Steve’s to buy “pixie straws” or Apple Beer (yes it was soda pop) if we had a good day. Way too many memories. Thanks for digging them up!
I have lived in this neighborhood for almost 24 years and enjoyed the serenity of this property everyday. Watching the destruction of such natural beauty has brought tears and sadness to my heart.
I feel so sorry for you and the neighbors–those most directly effected. Please know that I have always adored your area and also felt a peace on the block. There was also a quiet, neighborly acceptance, I imagined, of why we wanted to walk by so often in all those years. Thanks for commenting.
Wonderful article and comments. No wonder the neighbors were kept in the dark about the sale!!! There might have been time to organize an argument regarding the impact on their neighborhood and the loss of a hidden oasis in the middle of Omaha. It is interesting to note that the sellers have moved to the Old Market Historic District. Mode Shift Omaha is a transportation group. From what I’ve read the project is neither smart nor sensitive. It’s too bad that people still think that progress has to be at the expense of the past.
Thank you. I believe your assessment is right on. I understand from two close friends that Bluestone had taken this project to the Memorial Park-Fair Acres neighborhood and were firmly rejected. They want this development to be near UNO. That is their target. They knew this time around they did not want to hear from the neighbors. I had suggested previously that Mode Shift might have board members who were friendly w Bluestone. I understand that might be inaccurate or insulting to suggest. The reason I am suspicious is there is no reason for a pro-walkable community, pro-bike riding, pro-public transportation advocacy group to back this project. They are also pro-density. This area of midtown, if Mode Shift had ever biked through, would have seen many, many people who walk the neighborhood. People walk up to Leavenworth from this very Mayberry street to ride the bus in the morning. Leavenworth has a bike lane that is very popular. I can say w 100% certainty that this part of town is naturally everything that Mode Shift wants to be. The people in midtown live close together, enjoy community, are active and involved in politics. This neighborhood already gets it, a model neighborhood by Mode Shifts’ standards. An important factor when considering density is the inclusion of beautiful, open areas of nature. We need our trees, we need a respite. The fact that Mode Shift came out publicly in support of this outrageous development in a statement that made little sense, told me that they are a confused, misguided group or had something to gain from bolstering Bluestone.
A representative of Mode Shift spoke in support of this project in front of the planning board. Don’t know what there connection is to Bluestone.
Thank you for your comment. I was not aware that they took their support all the way to the board. Strange that they were involved in the Specht fight. We will found out the connection at some point.
I took this pic of the property from Mom and Dad’s 15th floor apartment in Elmwood Tower a couple days ago. They’ve cut down all the trees and just the two houses remain. It used to look like a small forest down there from up here and now it is just scorched earth.
Thank you. I had received some earlier today from inside Elmwood as well. I do appreciate your update.
A friend of mine is a decendant of J.M. Harding (same as David Harding above, actually! My friend is his son.) I hope you’ve been able to reach out to them to learn more about this property and the others that were part of the Harding compound you mention in the area. Jesse has a photo of the property at 825, and I’m sure they have many others as well as it was in their family. David is brilliant and is part of the team at Legacy Preservation working out of the Joslyn Castle here in Omaha. http://legacypreservation.com/
Thank you for your comment. Yes, I’ve met with two of the Harding’s. They are great. It was wonderful to learn more about their family history and this great property. I appreciate your comment.
Thanks for the articles and photos. I really got hooked by it! Have been away from Omaha for 20 years, but now living here again. I have not been out & about much, but intend to check out my old haunts. But from what I read, a lot of places are gone & not sure I want to see.
Welcome Back! I can get very upset about all that we have lost in town. I can’t believe some of the photos I’ve found of what our town looked like before I was born. There are some exciting things going on now and like minded younger people making use of some great older spaces. Drive around, walk around. You will find good things happening. And thank you for your kind words.
Ok…. I attempted to read all these replies on my lunch break… I’m now late because I simply couldn’t stop!! Great, but a sad story….