Emiel Christensen
Encyclopedia
Emiel J. Christensen was a Nebraska
architect
, community planner, and professor at the University of Nebraska whose work includes the Oak Ballroom
in Schuyler, Nebraska
, Eagle Creek Lodge in Atkinson, Nebraska
, Izaak Walton League Lodge in Columbus, Nebraska. He also designed several homes in Columbus, the area where he lived.
Christensen wrote "emphatically" on enviroethics. His son has spoken on his work since his death.
on April 23, 1895 and received his architectural training from Washington University in St. Louis. After World War I he worked at architectural firms in Omaha, Nebraska
and Jacksonville, Florida
.
Christensen came to Columbus from Lyons, Nebraska
with his wife Clara in the summer of 1927 and worked for a local architectural company until "after a short time he purchased the business". The Oak Ballroom was one of his earliest works and remains one of his best known projects. He "also worked as the building foreman on the ballroom". His other work includes many family residences in Columbus that include a "distinctive use of red brick and stone exteriors".
Christensen also designed the "old" city hall built in the 1930s, and he served as a technical adviser to the Columbus City Council where he "designed additions to the city's water and sewer systems". He served as the Columbus Red Cross disaster chairman "for many years" and "after World War II Emiel developed a reputation in community planning, and was invited to join the faculty of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln" where he taught classes in community planning and "became a leader in Nebraska's Community Improvement Program".
In 1954 Christensen partnered with Elmer Bradley to develop PaWiTo, "a private venture in creative recreation" and a "nature-lover's paradise" consisting of 30 acres (121,405.8 m²) of land "nestled in the bluffs south of Columbus... rich with wild fruits, creatures, 60 species of trees and over 100 kinds of birds.
Christensen was Coordinator of Community Services at the University of Nebraska, a member of groups including the American Society of Planning Officials, a member of the American Institute of Architects
, and a Rotarian. He died of pulmonary failure at 93.
. The designs are similar and the Oak Ballroom has striking exposed wood beams in its construction while the Columbus Izaak Walton League Lodge also uses wood and stone for a rustic look.
is located in its "great room", which also offers panoramic views of a nearby lake and prairie. A real estate listing noted the building is on 160 acres (64.7 ha) "with a 35 acre spring fed bass stocked lake" and that "upland waterfowl hunting is available on site with turkey and deer hunting nearby."
Nebraska
Nebraska is a state on the Great Plains of the Midwestern United States. The state's capital is Lincoln and its largest city is Omaha, on the Missouri River....
architect
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
, community planner, and professor at the University of Nebraska whose work includes the Oak Ballroom
Oak Ballroom
The Oak Ballroom is a historic building in Schuyler, Nebraska constructed with dozens of native oak trees hauled to the building site from the nearby Platte River using horse and buggies. A Works Progress Administration project it was completed in 1937. The building is listed on the National...
in Schuyler, Nebraska
Schuyler, Nebraska
Schuyler is a city in Colfax County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 5,371 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Colfax County. The city is named after former Vice President of the United States, Schuyler Colfax...
, Eagle Creek Lodge in Atkinson, Nebraska
Atkinson, Nebraska
Atkinson, Nebraska is a city in Holt County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 1,244 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Atkinson is located at ....
, Izaak Walton League Lodge in Columbus, Nebraska. He also designed several homes in Columbus, the area where he lived.
Christensen wrote "emphatically" on enviroethics. His son has spoken on his work since his death.
Background
Christensen was born in Washington County, NebraskaWashington County, Nebraska
-National protected areas:*Boyer Chute National Wildlife Refuge*DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge -Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 18,780 people, 6,940 households, and 5,149 families residing in the county. The population density was 48 people per square mile . There were 7,408...
on April 23, 1895 and received his architectural training from Washington University in St. Louis. After World War I he worked at architectural firms in Omaha, Nebraska
Omaha, Nebraska
Omaha is the largest city in the state of Nebraska, United States, and is the county seat of Douglas County. It is located in the Midwestern United States on the Missouri River, about 20 miles north of the mouth of the Platte River...
and Jacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Florida in terms of both population and land area, and the largest city by area in the contiguous United States. It is the county seat of Duval County, with which the city government consolidated in 1968...
.
Christensen came to Columbus from Lyons, Nebraska
Lyons, Nebraska
Lyons is a city in Burt County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 851 in the 2010 U.S. Census. The city is named after its founder.-History :...
with his wife Clara in the summer of 1927 and worked for a local architectural company until "after a short time he purchased the business". The Oak Ballroom was one of his earliest works and remains one of his best known projects. He "also worked as the building foreman on the ballroom". His other work includes many family residences in Columbus that include a "distinctive use of red brick and stone exteriors".
Christensen also designed the "old" city hall built in the 1930s, and he served as a technical adviser to the Columbus City Council where he "designed additions to the city's water and sewer systems". He served as the Columbus Red Cross disaster chairman "for many years" and "after World War II Emiel developed a reputation in community planning, and was invited to join the faculty of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln" where he taught classes in community planning and "became a leader in Nebraska's Community Improvement Program".
In 1954 Christensen partnered with Elmer Bradley to develop PaWiTo, "a private venture in creative recreation" and a "nature-lover's paradise" consisting of 30 acres (121,405.8 m²) of land "nestled in the bluffs south of Columbus... rich with wild fruits, creatures, 60 species of trees and over 100 kinds of birds.
Christensen was Coordinator of Community Services at the University of Nebraska, a member of groups including the American Society of Planning Officials, a member of the American Institute of Architects
American Institute of Architects
The American Institute of Architects is a professional organization for architects in the United States. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., the AIA offers education, government advocacy, community redevelopment, and public outreach to support the architecture profession and improve its public image...
, and a Rotarian. He died of pulmonary failure at 93.
Projects
Christensen's Oak Ballroom and Columbus Izaak Walton League Lodge are listed on the National Register of Historic PlacesNational Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
. The designs are similar and the Oak Ballroom has striking exposed wood beams in its construction while the Columbus Izaak Walton League Lodge also uses wood and stone for a rustic look.
Eagle Creek Lodge
Eagle Creek Lodge is 4060 square feet (377.2 m²) and features custom cedar logs cut from native Nebraska timbers. It includes 4 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, a wet bar, billiard room, and was built in 1971. A 20 feet (6.1 m) fireplace made with petrified cottonwood from the banks of the nearby Niobrara RiverNiobrara River
The Niobrara River is a tributary of the Missouri River, approximately long, running through the U.S. states of Wyoming and Nebraska. The river drains one of the most arid sections of the Great Plains, and has a low flow for a river of its length...
is located in its "great room", which also offers panoramic views of a nearby lake and prairie. A real estate listing noted the building is on 160 acres (64.7 ha) "with a 35 acre spring fed bass stocked lake" and that "upland waterfowl hunting is available on site with turkey and deer hunting nearby."