Redick Mansion
Encyclopedia
The Redick Mansion, also known as the Mayne Mansion and Redick Hall, was located at 3612 North 24th Street in North
Omaha
, Nebraska
. It served as the first home of Omaha University, now known as the University of Nebraska at Omaha
, from 1909 through 1917. A five story tower
on the front of the mansion was a notable landmark throughout the area.
along rural North 24th Street in 1875. In 1885 Clifton E. Mayne, a local real estate
developer and businessman, bought the house, which was now located in a new suburb called Kountze Place
. Using profits from his recent development called Orchard Hill
, Mayne grew the house into a 20-room mansion
, with a five story tower and a wide veranda encircling the entire first floor. A large parlor, a dining room and a spacious entry hall greeted guests, along with tall chimney
s, exotic woodwork and elegant fixtures throughout the house. In 1889 John I. Redick
bought the residence after Mayne fell into financial difficulty. In 1898 the mansion was located across the street from the Trans-Mississippi and International Exposition. John Redick's son, Oak C. Redick, sold the house for $30,000 to the newly formed Municipal University of Omaha in 1907.
. The building was used for classes and offices, and the adjacent carriage house
was used as the science laboratory. The parlor was converted into a chapel and a resting room made available for female students. Faculty for the fledgling university came from the nearby Omaha Presbyterian Theological Seminary
.
The campus developed quickly with the addition of Jacobs Gymnasium and Joslyn Hall, as well as a College of Law, all on the original Redick Mansion property. In 1907 the building was sold to a local grain dealer who had it disassembled and moved by train
to a resort on Keeley Island on Lake Shetek
near Currie, Minnesota
where it became the Valhalla Dance Pavilion and Cafe until it burnt down on March 3, 1928.
Omaha University moved to its Dodge Street location starting in 1936. Today the Redick Mansion property is the site of Omaha Public Schools
' King Science and Technology Magnet Middle School. It sits across the street from Kountze Park.
North Omaha, Nebraska
North Omaha is a community area in Omaha, Nebraska, USA. It is bordered by Cuming and Dodge Streets on the south, Interstate 680 on the north, North 72nd Street on the west and the Missouri River and Carter Lake, Iowa on the east, as defined by the University of Nebraska at Omaha and the Omaha...
Omaha
Omaha
Omaha may refer to:*Omaha , a Native American tribe that currently resides in the northeastern part of the U.S. state of Nebraska-Places:United States* Omaha, Nebraska* Omaha, Arkansas* Omaha, Georgia* Omaha, Illinois* Omaha, Texas...
, Nebraska
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....
. It served as the first home of Omaha University, now known as the University of Nebraska at Omaha
University of Nebraska at Omaha
The University of Nebraska at Omaha is a four-year state university located in Omaha, Nebraska, USA. Founded in 1908 as Omaha University, the institution became the public Municipal University of Omaha in 1931. It assumed its current name in 1968 following a merger into the University...
, from 1909 through 1917. A five story tower
Tower
A tower is a tall structure, usually taller than it is wide, often by a significant margin. Towers are distinguished from masts by their lack of guy-wires....
on the front of the mansion was a notable landmark throughout the area.
Early history
Henry and Mary Meyers built a simple wooden farmhouseFarmhouse
Farmhouse is a general term for the main house of a farm. It is a type of building or house which serves a residential purpose in a rural or agricultural setting. Most often, the surrounding environment will be a farm. Many farm houses are shaped like a T...
along rural North 24th Street in 1875. In 1885 Clifton E. Mayne, a local real estate
Real estate
In general use, esp. North American, 'real estate' is taken to mean "Property consisting of land and the buildings on it, along with its natural resources such as crops, minerals, or water; immovable property of this nature; an interest vested in this; an item of real property; buildings or...
developer and businessman, bought the house, which was now located in a new suburb called Kountze Place
Kountze Place
The Kountze Place neighborhood of Omaha, Nebraska is a historically significant community on the city's north end. Today the neighborhood is home to several buildings and homes listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is located between North 16th Avenue on the east to North 30th...
. Using profits from his recent development called Orchard Hill
Orchard Hill (Omaha)
The Orchard Hill is a neighborhood in North Omaha, Nebraska. One of the oldest neighborhoods in the city, Orchard Hill is home to some of the city's oldest homes. The neighborhood's boundaries are Hamilton Street on the south, Blondo Street on the north, 36th Street on the east and the Omaha Belt...
, Mayne grew the house into a 20-room mansion
Mansion
A mansion is a very large dwelling house. U.S. real estate brokers define a mansion as a dwelling of over . A traditional European mansion was defined as a house which contained a ballroom and tens of bedrooms...
, with a five story tower and a wide veranda encircling the entire first floor. A large parlor, a dining room and a spacious entry hall greeted guests, along with tall chimney
Chimney
A chimney is a structure for venting hot flue gases or smoke from a boiler, stove, furnace or fireplace to the outside atmosphere. Chimneys are typically vertical, or as near as possible to vertical, to ensure that the gases flow smoothly, drawing air into the combustion in what is known as the...
s, exotic woodwork and elegant fixtures throughout the house. In 1889 John I. Redick
John I. Redick
John Irvin Redick was a prominent pioneer professional, public, and business figure in Omaha, Nebraska. He was appointed an associate judge of New Mexico by President Ulysses S. Grant....
bought the residence after Mayne fell into financial difficulty. In 1898 the mansion was located across the street from the Trans-Mississippi and International Exposition. John Redick's son, Oak C. Redick, sold the house for $30,000 to the newly formed Municipal University of Omaha in 1907.
Omaha University
Omaha University paid for the building and moved in in 1909, renaming it Redick Hall. The first classes were held there on September 14, 1909 for twenty-six students, nineteen of them graduates of Omaha High SchoolOmaha Central High School
Omaha Central High School, originally known as Omaha High School, was founded in 1859.The current building, located in Downtown Omaha, Nebraska, was designed by John Latenser, Sr. and built between 1900 and 1912...
. The building was used for classes and offices, and the adjacent carriage house
Carriage house
A carriage house, also called remise or coach house, is an outbuilding which was originally built to house horse-drawn carriages and the related tack.In Great Britain the farm building was called a Cart Shed...
was used as the science laboratory. The parlor was converted into a chapel and a resting room made available for female students. Faculty for the fledgling university came from the nearby Omaha Presbyterian Theological Seminary
Omaha Presbyterian Theological Seminary
The Presbyterian Theological Seminary was located at 3303 North 21st Place in North Omaha, Nebraska. Opened in 1891, the institution was closed in 1943.-History:...
.
The campus developed quickly with the addition of Jacobs Gymnasium and Joslyn Hall, as well as a College of Law, all on the original Redick Mansion property. In 1907 the building was sold to a local grain dealer who had it disassembled and moved by train
Train
A train is a connected series of vehicles for rail transport that move along a track to transport cargo or passengers from one place to another place. The track usually consists of two rails, but might also be a monorail or maglev guideway.Propulsion for the train is provided by a separate...
to a resort on Keeley Island on Lake Shetek
Lake Shetek
Lake Shetek is the largest lake in Murray County, Minnesota, located a few miles north-northwest of Currie. Shetek means "pelican".-Geography:...
near Currie, Minnesota
Currie, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 225 people, 109 households, and 67 families residing in the city. The population density was 393.0 people per square mile . There were 127 housing units at an average density of 221.9 per square mile . The racial makeup of the city was 99.56% White, and 0.44%...
where it became the Valhalla Dance Pavilion and Cafe until it burnt down on March 3, 1928.
Omaha University moved to its Dodge Street location starting in 1936. Today the Redick Mansion property is the site of Omaha Public Schools
Omaha Public Schools
Omaha Public Schools is the largest school district in the state of Nebraska. This public school district serves a diverse community of more than 46,000 students at over 80 elementary and secondary schools in Omaha, Nebraska...
' King Science and Technology Magnet Middle School. It sits across the street from Kountze Park.