HistoricOmaha

Today is the 95th anniversary of the deadly tornado that hit Omaha on Easter Sunday, March 23, 1913. This family of storms makes up the top 3 killer tornados in Nebraska history according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

THE TOLL OF EASTER DAY IN OMAHA AND VICINITY,
The Terrible Tale of America’s Worst Tornado.

Omaha and Environs.

	Dead.	Injured.	Property Loss.
Omaha	115	352	$5,000,000
Council Bluffs	11	15	300,000
Ralston	7	20	250,000
Totals	133	387	$5,550,000

Nebraska.

	Dead.	Injured.	Property Loss.
Yutan	18	21	$300,000
Berlin	7	17	350,000
Mead	2	2	50,000
Rock Bluffs	1	1	10,000
Fremont		2	1,500
Bennington		7	5,000
De Soto	2	10	6,000
Valley		6	1,250
Plattsmouth		1	1,000
Nehawka	1	12	5,000
Waterloo		6	2,500
Greenwood		4	1,500
Tekamah		2	1,000
Craig	6	2	2,500
Total, Nebraska	37	93	$737,250

Iowa.

	Dead.	Injured.	Property Loss.
Glenwood	5	12	$125,000
Woodbine		8	300,000
Beebertown	2	10	125,000
Gilliat	2	5	75,000
Weston	2	11	100,000
Neola	3	4	50,000
Total, Iowa	14	50	$775,000
Grand total	177	510	$7,062,250

Homes destroyed in Omaha		642
Homes wrecked in Omaha		1,669
Persons left homeless in Omaha		6,834

More photos and descriptions:

• There are several sites with photos and stories from a 32 page supplement published by the Omaha Bee.
• Easter Sunday 1913 Omaha Tornado
• Track of the Tornado Housed by the MARDOS Memorial Library at USGenNet.org
• 1913 Omaha Nebraska Easter Tornado Photo Gallery housed by NOAA’s website
• 11913 OMAHA NEBRASKA TORNADO extensive descriptions, index of affected families, and a table listing the human and property destruction from a booklet published by the Omaha Daily News
• Story of the Great Flood and Cyclone Disasters America’s Greatest Calamity edited by Thomas H. Russell, A.M., LL.D
• Chapter XXI — The Omaha Tornado
• Chapter XXII — In the Storm’s Path
• Chapter XXIII — What the Governor Saw
• Chapter XXIV — The Work of Relief
• Chapter XXV — How the Storm Started
• Chapter XXVI — The Dead in Omaha
• Chapter XXVII — Incidents of the Tornado
• Tragic Story of America’s Greatest Disaster by Marshall Everrett
• Chapter XVIII — Omaha’s Terrible Night Description of a great city in the path of the awful forces of destruction—Humanity returned to life of destitution in a twinkling of an eye—Rich and poor on equality in bitter cold of wind-swept hills
• Chapter XIX — Tragic Days After Tornado Relief and sight seeing amid ruins of great city—Soldiers on guard—Story of Pete, the canary
• Chapter XX — Heroism of Telephone Girls Feminine nature responds to call of duty—Not even daunted by Omaha tornado—Exchange a hospital and military headquarters
• TORNADO OF MARCH 23, 1913 in the Omaha Public Library’s Early Omaha: Gateway to the West collection
• Omaha Easter Sunday Tornado (1913) at Wikipedia.org.
• HOW OMAHA WAS STRICKEN.; Fully 1,500 Homeless; $5,000,000 Property Loss. New York Times, March 24, 1913.
• OMAHA COUNTS 200 LIVES LOST; Surrounding Towns Add 50 More — Roll of Injured Numbers Nearly 500. New York Times, March 25, 1913.
• OMAHA’S TERRIBLE NIGHT is a lengthy description of the tornado and its impact on the city.
• Omaha’s Easter Tornado of 1913 (Paperback) by Travis Sing

Bob Vila, television’s original home improvement guru, will be at Habitat for Humanity of Council Bluffs (645 9th Ave.) on Wednesday, December 12, 2007 from 12 to 1 to discuss “green” building techniques in construction.

Bob is making this stop as part of his campaign for Hillary Clinton for President. Habitat for Humanity of Council Bluffs cannot and does not endorse any political candidates.

We encourage anyone who is a Bob Vila fan or interested in knowing more about green building practices to join us. Light refreshments will be served.

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Landmarks Inc. is a private non-profit organization that serves as the advocate for the preservation of Omaha’s historic environment.

Landmarks needs your help. They are seeking nominations for Omaha’s most endangered buildings. Please fill out the nomination form if you know of a building in danger or in need of preservation action.

Current List of Endangered Buildings

St. Cecilia’s Convent

• Current Address: 3843 Webster
• Date of Construction: 1927
• Original Architect: Leo A. Daly
• Threat: The Archdioceses is planning to tear down the building because of high re-investment and maintenance costs needed to rehab the building.
• Support: The current Owner is not interested in saving the building. A new building is planned for the site. A committee was formed to develop options for its reuse and was presented to the Church. An assisted living care center, affordable housing, or a variety of mixed uses are compatible to this building and its neighborhood. Due to water damage, another recommendation was made to invest in a new roof in lieu of demolition costs. That way the building could be stabilized until a new use was formed. Other options including tearing down the newer addition on the back, and preserving the original structure or Façade fronting along Webster Street. If you are interested in saving this property, please contact Landmarks.

4524 Farnam Street

• Current Address: 4524 Farnam Street
• Current Owner: St Ellen 15 LLC
• Alternate Addresses: 4486 Farnam Street
• Date of Construction: 1900 per assessor’s page
• Statement of Significance: NRN Criteria C - Property embodies the distinctive characteristics of a type, period, or method of construction or represents the work of a master, or possesses high artistic values, or represents a significant and distinguishable entity whose components lack individual distinction.

  According to the Sanborn maps, in 1918 this property served as the construction yard for John Harte, a prominent local contractor. It is also a beautiful example of Sullivanesque commercial architecture.

• Threat: As the plans for Saddle Creek Road’s relocation develop, this building waivers between demolition and salvation. Traffic studies are in process for the street’s relocation and how it may connect to Dodge Street.
• Support: The current Owner is not objectionable to the relocation of Saddle Creek Road , provided the property is not negatively effect by it. There is a public meeting to be held on March 19th, 2006 facilitated by Destination Midtown. Go to www.destinationmidtown.org for details. If you are interested in saving this property, please contact Landmarks.

The Hupmobile Building

• Current Address: 2523 Farnam Street
• Current Owner: Frank Horedshi
• Date of Construction: 1910 - 1917
• Original Owner: Hupmobile
• Statement of Significance: NRN Criteria A - Property is associated with events that have made a significant contribution to the broad patterns of our history.

  Hupmobile Car information: Visit the Hupmobile Club Site. This area of town contained many car dealerships, show rooms, and repair garages in the 1920s. This pattern of the rise and fall of a small auto manufacturer is not uncommon. During WWII artillery shells and plane parts (some for the Enola Gay bomber) were made there. A plane was placed on top of the building during that period. Much of the original equipment is still in place and operational. This is last preserved Hupmobile dealership that exists in the country.

• Threat: The building is without a current use. Efforts to sell and reuse the building as a part of Metropolitan Community Colleges Culinary Arts program did not realize. A new tenant(s) or buyer is being sought after.
• Support: The current Owner is supportive of the building’s rehabilitation. If you are interested in saving this historic property, please contact Landmarks.

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These sites that caught our eye between November 7th and November 25th:

• Nebraska Memories : Omaha Stock Yards - Photo gallery of historic photos of the Omaha Stock Yards in South Omaha
• Omaha Archives - Significant events in Omaha weather: 1913 Omaha tornado, May 1975 tornado, Oct 1997 snow storm, March 2003 ice jam, June 2003 Coleridge tornado, May 2004 Walnut IA tornado, May 2004 Hallam NE tornado
• Nebraska Memories : Historic Maps - Gallery of historic Nebraska maps
• Omaha Nebraska 1913 Track of the Tornado Easter Sunday - Photo gallery from the Omaha Bee
• Omaha 1913 Tornado Photo Gallery - Photos & captions of the destruction caused by the 1913 Easter Tornado
• Planning - Historic District Design Guidelines - Introduction Glendale’s Residential Character Siding & Exterior Finishes Roofs Porches Windows & Doors Victorian Style Foursquare Style Craftsman Style Mission Revival Style Mediterranean Revival Style Spanish Colonial Revival Style Tudor & E
• RHDC.org - Design Guidelines for Raleigh Historic Districts - The Design Guidelines for Raleigh Historic Districts booklet (referred to throughout the document as the design guidelines) is intended to meet several essential needs. It serves different roles for different stakeholders in the historic districts. For
• Home Improvement | Home Repair | Home Remodeling - Get Matched to Prescreened Home Improvement Contractors

Sunday, Dec. 2, 2007
5-7 p.m.
Free admission

Eleven of Destination Midtown’s most beautiful churches will be aglow for a holiday churches tour on Dec. 2. Luminarias will be lit at 5 p.m., setting the tone for a warm and joyful evening. Begin your tour at any of the churches. You will enjoy a wide variety of special activities during this magical event, including music performances, live nativity scenes, guided tours and refreshments.

• First Baptist Church 421 Park Ave.
• First Central Congregational Church 421 S. 36th St.
• First Lutheran Church 542 S. 31st St.
• First Presbyterian Church 216 S. 34th St.
• First Unitarian Church 3114 Harney St.
• Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church 1326 S. 26th St.
• Harvest Community Church 3903 Cuming St.
• Holy Cross Catholic Church 4837 Woolworth Ave.
• Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church 2117 S. 33rd St.
• St. Barnabas Church 129 N. 40th St.
• St. John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church 602 Park Ave.