Talk:Jobbers Canyon Historic District

Photos

I'd like to see some photos posted of the buildings before this destruction. Tiddy 08:01, 15 July 2007 (UTC)

So would I. I added the photo request above. Anybody? – Freechild (BoomCha) 10:16, 15 July 2007 (UTC)

WikiProject class rating

This article was automatically assessed because at least one WikiProject had rated the article as start, and the rating on other projects was brought up to start class. BetacommandBot 05:55, 10 November 2007 (UTC)

Map request

A map of the historic district's boundaries is needed. Cacw (talk) 21:29, 18 March 2013 (UTC)

contradiction and incompleteness

The article states that all 24 buildings were demolished, but then also that one building was not. What gives? The table lists the dates of construction and disposition information for just 21 buildings. Even if date of construction is not known for 3, say, they should be listed there. --Doncram (talk) 09:14, 29 September 2022 (UTC)

I am rounding up sources to check, including:

• Statement of Greenhouse apartments, at 900 Farnam, surviving was added by User:Freechild in this edit of 04:50, 10 July 2007, with edit summary "added info".

• "CONTEMPORARY HOMES WITH A HISTORIC ADDRESS", webpage at https://www.thegreenhouseapts.com/, shows that its building is historic, gives 900 Farnam as its address, and mentions Old Market. Are the apartments included in Old Market (Omaha, Nebraska), instead?

• "Only remaining building; divided into residential apartments" was added to Nash Block's row in the table by this edit of 17:22, 1 December 2020 by editor User:Adavidb with edit summary "‎Individual properties: building addresses, dates, notes".

• • The NRHP document for Nash Block, which was not a source used in its article, is here available at NARA, approximately titled "National Register of Historic Places Inventory—Nomination: Nash Block / McKesson-Robbins Building" and gives its location as 902-12 Farnam. It was prepared January 1985. There is associated correspondence with the National Park Service which reads to me as if it is consistent with the Nash Block being a brand new individual listing.

• The Nash Block article's lede describes it "Designed by Thomas R. Kimball and built in 1907, the building is the last remnant of Downtown Omaha's Jobbers Canyon. It was named an Omaha Landmark in 1978, and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1985."

References

That URL no longer works, but this current City of Omaha about Nash Block at a different URL probably is where its content was moved. It includes links to

• Omaha's official designation of 1978
• city of Omaha's copy of National Register document which is the same NRHP Inventory-Nomination document I found at NARA, but without the correspondence.

• The NRHP document states there were two twin buildings, one was demolished: "This building, the main building of the M. E. Snith and Conpany, once stood as an inpressive complex of three Snith buildings, one of which was a "twin" structure connected over the rail al1ey to the north. The complex was recorded to H.A.B.S. atandards prior to the demolition of the other two structures as a part of a Sectlon 106 case. This remaining structure was officially determined eligible for inclusion ln the Natlonal Register by the Acting Keeper of the National Register on February 24, 1981."

• Oh here's one source for potential confusion: The NationalRegisterOfHistoricPlaces.com website, cited in the Jobbers Canyon Historic District article, gives incorrect info. Its relevant page gives "Jobbers' Canyon Historic District (added 2002 - - #86003408) / Also known as See Also:Nash Block / Roughly bounded by Farnum, Eighth, Jackson, and Tenth Sts. , Omaha". This reflects known shortcoming of that site's interpretation of NRIS data. It gives 2002 as listing date, doesn't understand the 2002 NRIS entry must have been coded as a delisting. NationalRegisterOfHistoricPlaces.com interprets all delistings as listings.

• The NRHP document for Jobbers Canyon HD, not cited in its article, and not available at NPS, is here now available at NARA. The includes correspondence stating (bolding added):

As you may be aware, Jobbers’ Canyon, a National Register listed historic district located in Omaha, Nebraska, was demolished in 1988-89. When Jobbers’ Canyon was listed in the NRHP in 1986, it was described as “a unique and cohesive concentration of late 19*” and early 20*” century warehouse buildings” (NRHP nomination 1986). The historic district was comprised of 22 contributing warehouse buildings and 4 noncontributing buildings.

In 1988-89, 21 of these historically significant warehouse buildings were demolished. Staff members from the NeSHPO have visited the former site of these properties and have confirmed that the structures associated with the historic district are no longer extant. The qualities that caused this property to be listed in the National Register have been destroyed. As documented in 36 CFR 60.15 (a) (1), loss of integrity supplies grounds for removing properties from the National Register.

On January 11, 2002, the NeSHPO presented this information to the Nebraska Historic Preservation Board and recommended removal of the Jobbers’ Canyon Historic District from the National Register. The Board unanimously approved this recommendation.

One contributing property, the Nash Block Building (McKesson-Robbins Building) (DO09:123-009) was individually listed in the NRHP in 1985. This building was included within the boundaries of the Jobbers’ Canyon Historic District, however it was not demolished. It is the opinion of the staff of the NeSHPO that the Nash Block Building retains its architectural and historical significance, the basis of its individual listing.

Please remove Jobbers’ Canyon Historic District from the National Register of Historic Places, pursuant to 36 CFR 60.15 (a) (1).

• The original NRHP document, now stamped "Withdrawn", gives this about Nash Block (bolding added):

123-9. Nash Block (1905-07), 902 Farnam Street (Photo No. 4)

Designed by one of Nebraska's most distinguished early architects, Thomas Rogers Kimball, the Nash Block is individually listed in the National Register of Historic Places for its significance in architecture, commerce and industry. Designed for use as factory and wholesale warehouse space, the structure reflects state-of-the-art technology in a transitional period of industrial architecture. The building was designed and equipped with the latest fire safety techniques in mind, including brick enclosed stairways and elevators, standard fire doors, standpipes, an automatic sprinkler system and outlet scuppers on each floor. Structurally, the eight-story, 132-foot square Nash Block is a combination of exterior masonry bearing walls and heavy timber (mill) construction. Aesthetically, the building is a simple, yet dignified Renaissance Revival style composition.

The Nash Block was built in 1905-07 for the M.E. Smith Company, a major manufacturer and wholesaler of dry goods whose business interests encompassed the entire northwest of the United States. The firm was organized about 1870 in Council Bluffs and moved into the Omaha area in 1886. The company continued to grow and soon expanded into the manufacture of clothing about the time they moved into the Ames Block (1101-07 Howard) which was also built expressly for their use (1889). By the turn of the century they were the largest and most important dry goods firm in Omaha.

Today the Nash Block is the only remaining building of an important complex of three M.E. Smith Company buildings that stood on this block. The building is currently scheduled to be rehabilitated into apartments as a certified historic project.

--Doncram (talk) 10:52, 29 September 2022 (UTC)