Difference between revisions of "Henry A. Raapke (1876-1959), Architect"

Latest revision as of 13:09, 14 February 2023

Henry Raapke, ca. 1939.

Henry Raapke was an architect in Omaha for about 50 years. Born in Nebraska in 1876, he attended grammar school and high school in Omaha, then attended Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri. Raapke continued his studies at the Hamburg Trade and Technical School (Baugewerk Schule) in Hamburg, Germany, following which he concluded his formal education with five years at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts, in Paris, France. He returned to the United States to work for Thomas Rogers Kimball, but went back to Europe on a study tour from 1906-1908. Upon his return to the United States he opened his own office in Omaha, which he maintained for the better part of the next 38 years.[d] He married Edna Jensen, daughter of a prominent Omaha physician, in 1910.[14] Raapke died on August 30, 1959.[4][5][6]

This page is a contribution to the publication, Place Makers of Nebraska: The Architects. See the format and contents page for more information on the compilation and page organization.

Compiled Nebraska Directory Listings

Omaha, Nebraska, 1908-1959

Educational & Professional Associations

1891-1894: student, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri.[5]

1894-1897: student, Hamburg Trade and Technical School (Baugewerk Schule), Hamburg, Germany.[5]

1897-1902: student, Ecole des Beaux-Arts, Paris, France.[5]

1902-1906: Thomas Rogers Kimball, Omaha, Nebraska.[5]

1906-1908: in Italy, France, Greece, Germany, Switzerland, Holland and Belgium.[5][15][16][e][f]

1908-1940: principal, H. A. Raapke, Architect, Omaha, Nebraska, having "just (1908) taken over the architectural business of Charles Cleves."[5][29]

1917: employed E. G. Ward as a draftsman.

1939: Registered Professional Architect, Nebraska, August 8, 1939; A-56.[5]

1942: employed by Metropolitan Scenic Studios, Inc,. Omaha, Nebraska.

1945-1946: principal, H. A. Raapke, Architect, Omaha, Nebraska.

Buildings & Projects

Dated

Storz Brewing Company Bottling House (1902), Sherman Avenue, Omaha, Nebraska.[5][33][b]

Modifications to Arthur D. Brandeis House for ex-senator Joseph H. Millard (1908), southwest corner of Thirty-eighth Street and Dewey Avenue, Omaha, Nebraska.[11]

R. C. Knox House (1909), 3926 Harney, Omaha, Nebraska.[3] (DO09:0319-069)

Emma A. Moore House (1909), 565 S. 36th St., Omaha, Nebraska.[3] (DO09:0208-012)

Dr. A. F. Jonas residence (1909), Omaha, Nebraska.[5][a]

Proposal for seventeen-story Woodmen of the World building (1909), 16th & Jackson Street, Omaha, Nebraska.[19]

R. J. Dinning residence (1910), Thirty-seventh and Farnam Streets, Omaha, Nebraska.[5][12][a]

Doctor A. P. Condon's private surgical hospital, aka "Nicholas Senn Hospital" (1911), southeast corner of Park and Dewey Avenues, Omaha, Nebraska.[4][5][13][a]

Guy Liggett residence (1912), Omaha, Nebraska?.[5][a]

Storz Brewing Company Ice House (1912), Omaha, Nebraska.[5][a]

Thorvald Apartments, for T. Jorgensen (1912), 1122 Park Ave, Omaha, Nebraska. [1:159][3][5][a] (DO09:0203-010)

Chula Vista Apartments (1912), 2968 Poppleton Ave, Omaha, Nebraska.[3][5][21][a] (DO09:0204-053)

Dr. W. L. Morsman residence (1912), Thirty-second and Ed Creighton Avenue, Omaha, Nebraska.[21]

Dr. A. A. Crandall residence (1912), Thirty-second and Ed Creighton Avenue, Omaha, Nebraska.[21]

Storz Brewing Company Stock House (1913), Omaha, Nebraska.[5][a]

Independent Realty Company Store and Apartment (1913), Omaha, Nebraska?.[5][a]

E. D. Higgens house (1913-1914), 401 S 39th, Omaha, Nebraska.[1:101][2][3][5][a] (DO09:0319-009)

Storz Brewing Company Ice Plant (1914), Omaha, Nebraska.[5][a]

German American Bank (1915), York, Nebraska.[5][a]

Applicant to Dodge County board for new courthouse design commission (1916), Fremont, Nebraska.[22][g]

Store buildings for Charles R. Sherman (1916), south side of Farnam between 35th & 36th Streets, Omaha, Nebraska.[23]

Earl K. Buck House (1916-1918), 3920 Dewey Ave., Omaha, Nebraska.[2][3][5][a][b] (DO09:0319-007)

Lee-Coit-Andreesen-Holm Company Warehouse (1916-1917), 819 Farnam, Omaha, Nebraska. [1:120][2][3][5][17][24][a] (DO09:0068-004)

Henry F. Hamann Store and Apartment (1917), Omaha, Nebraska?.[5][a]

E. K. Buck house (1917), 3920 Dewey Ave, Omaha, Nebraska.[1:114]

G. W. Todd residence (1918), Omaha, Nebraska?.[5][a]

W. C. Raapke residence (1923), Omaha, Nebraska.[5][9][a] (DO09:0432-018)

Lorraine Apartments (1923), Omaha, Nebraska?.[5][a]

Warehouse/Garage (1925), 215 N. 12th St., Omaha, Nebraska.[3] (DO09:0125-023)

House (1926), 665 N. 56th St., Omaha, Nebraska.[3] (DO09:0436-010)

Ophelia Hayden residence (1926), Omaha, Nebraska?.[5][a][b]

Omaha Road Equipment Company Warehouse (1926), Omaha, Nebraska.[5][a]

Zella K. Blaha residence (1926), Omaha, Nebraska?.[5][a]

John W. Madden residence (1928), Omaha, Nebraska?.[5][a]

M. Biemond Theatre (1931), Ord, Nebraska.[5][25][a]

Fontenelle Brewing Company Stock House (1933), Omaha, Nebraska.[5][a]

Falstaff Brewing Corporation Cellar and Bottling House (1936), Omaha, Nebraska.[5][a]

Fontenelle Brewing Company Wash House (1936), Omaha, Nebraska?.[5][a]

Walter E. Harkert Restaurant (1937), Omaha, Nebraska?.[5][a]

Fontenelle Brewing Company Stock House (1937), Omaha, Nebraska?.[5][a]

Muller Theatre (1937), Omaha, Nebraska?.[5][a]

Falstaff Brewing Corporation Malt Bins (1938), Omaha, Nebraska.[5][a]

Moon Theater (1941), Neligh, Nebraska.[26]

Center Theater remodel (1951), 35th and Center Streets, Omaha, Nebraska.[27]

Metropolitan Scenic Studios building (1954), 2453 St. Marys Avenue, Omaha, Nebraska.[28]

Undated

Storz Brewing Company Boiler house (n.d.), Omaha, Nebraska.[5][b]

Visual Arts

Plans for "the church "Saint Germain-Anxerrois" accepted for display at "Great Salon of the Society des Artists Francais" (1906), Paris, France.[4][16][28][f]

Watercolor "Arch of Constantine" Honorable Mention, Paris Salon (1906) and featured in Omaha Art Gild's [sic] first exhibit (1912).[32][f]

Rosenberg Library Competition (Nebraska State Historical Society)

Ink and ink wash elevation drawing, ca. 1902, Rosenberg Library Competition (1901), Galveston, Texas, "while employed by" Thomas Rogers Kimball, architect for the design.[8]

Notes

a. Supplementary letter to State Board of Examiners, November 23, 1938.[5]

b. “Report on Standard Examination,” appended to Raapke’s State Board of Examiners file, July, 12, 1946. There is no information included to suggest why Raapke was examined nearly eight years after receiving his license to practice. Many projects listed in his application were not dated and are assigned dates from other sources. The "Storz bottling house" is dated from notes in Omaha World-Herald of construction of a $40-50,000 building for that brewer, without ascribing it to any architect. If Raapke was involved in that project, it occurred at the beginning of his association with Thomas Rogers Kimball.[33]

c. The Business Sections of the Omaha City Directory gives the dates, 1980-1942.[7]

d. The Omaha Bee reported in 1908 that Raapke "In his office in the Bee building...has a postal card index containing 5,000 cards....The cards show all styles of architecture, ancient and modern, and many of them in perfect detail....Mr. Raapke has written the information necessary on the back of each cards, and besides showing the views can tell in an instant who the architect was who designed the building or interior, what it cost and when it was constructed." Raapke wrote a full-page article on European parks for an Omaha newspaper in 1909 which appears to be illustrated with three of his postcards.[10][20]

e. The Omaha Bee reported in 1905 that Raapke entertained a few friends with a theater party and supper before leaving for Paris and Italy "for a post-graduate course in artistic architecture." His guests were Dr. & Mrs. H. P Jensen and Miss Jensen (his future bride and her parents); Mr. & Mrs. R. J. Dinning and Dr. & Mrs. George Todd (future residential clients); and Omaha architect J. Davey and his wife.[15]

f. SEE "Visual Arts." Raapke's drawings were among the 240 accepted from 1,060 submissions.[16] Soon after his return from his European tour and studies, Raapke displayed his "watercolors and architectural drawings" in the windows of an Omaha storefront. One newspaper provided a detailed account of the subject matter of his watercolors and pencil sketches.[29][30][31][32] He also became active in the Omaha Art Gild [sic, Guild?] and was recognized for helping organize its first exhibition in 1912, which included pieces from his European tours. His obituary noted that "He traveled for two years through Italy and Greece, sketching and painting water colors. His works...have been presented to the Joslyn Art Museum.[4]

g. Raapke was among eleven architects or firms that "presented their credentials, and submitted, most of them, samples of their architectural drafting" to the Dodge County board for its consideration in selecting a courthouse architect. The other Omahans were Arthur G. Dole on behalf of Bankers Realty Investment Company; James H. Craddock; Chas. W. Steinbaugh; W. F. Gernandt; G. B. Hilgers of Sioux City; Berlinghof & Davis and D. D. Price of Lincoln; Rose & Peterson of Kansas City, Kansas; and A. H. Dyer & Company of Fremont. The Lincoln, Kansas City, and Fremont firms were selected for further consideration.[22] The Dyer firm won the commission and designed the courthouse. (EFZ: D. D. Price has not previously been identified as a Lincoln architect. In the 1916 Lincoln city directory, Donald D. Price [1886-1978] was listed as a consulting engineer in partnership with J. Glenn Mason as Donald D. Price & Co.)

References

1. Landmarks, Inc., An Inventory of Historic Omaha Buildings (Omaha: Landmarks Heritage Preservation Commission, 1980).

2. Listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

3. City of Omaha Planning Department, Landmarks Heritage Preservation Commission, Database, Query on Architects, May 20, 2002; courtesy of Lynn Meyer, Preservation Planner.

4. “Services Tuesday For H. A. Raapke, Omaha Architect,” Lincoln Star (August 31, 1959), 2:3; "H. A. Raapke Rite Tuesday--Was Architect Here for Half Century," Omaha (Nebraska) World-Herald (August 31, 1959), 18.

5. Application for Registration to Practice Professional Engineering and Architecture, Nebraska State Board of Examiners for Professional Engineers and Architects, December 15, 1937. Nebraska State Historical Society RG081 SG2.

6. 1910 United States Census, s.v. “Louis Raapke,” Omaha, Douglas County, Nebraska, accessed through HeritageQuestOnline.com.

7. A Comprehensive Program for Historic Preservation in Omaha (Omaha: Omaha City Planning Department, 1980), 92-93 (Omaha Directories, Business Section listings).

8. Nebraska State Historical Society Archives, Thomas Rogers Kimball Collection, RG3607. The drawing is signed, "HAR," and is attributed by the editor to Raapke.

9. “Home of Spanish Residence,” Omaha World Herald (February 24, 1924), 20.

10. "Real Use of Picture Cards--Shows Styles of Architecture as Gathered and Assorted by Henry Raapke," Omaha (Nebraska) Evening Bee (March 3, 1908), 1.

11. Millard Buys the A. D. Brandeis Home...House Sells for $65,000," Omaha (Nebraska) Daily News (December 29, 1908), 1.

12. "For New Residence," Omaha (Nebraska) World-Herald (April 28, 1910), 28.

13. "Condon Builds Hospital," Omaha (Nebraska) World-Herald (June 28, 1911), 9; "Timely Real Estate Gossip...Construction of the Omaha surgical hospital...", Omaha (Nebraska) Daily Bee (July 9, 1911), 15; "'Nicholas Senn' Name of Condon's Hospital," Evening World-Herald (Omaha, Nebraska) (August 26, 1911), 10.

14. "Mrs. Henry A. Raapke," Omaha (Nebraska) Daily News (September 7,1910), 7 (illustrated with photo); "Dr. H. P. Jensen Dies After Long Illness--Prominent Physician Was a Resident of Omaha for Fifty-Six Years--Noted for Scientific Attainments in Medicine and Therapeutics," Evening World-Herald (June 11, 1913), 1.

15. "Pleasures Past," Omaha (Nebraska) Daily Bee (November 26, 1905), 6.

16. "Omaha Boy Achieves Honor," (Lincoln) Nebraska State Journal (May 12, 1906), 9.

17. "Lee-Coit--Andreesen Will Erect Six-Story Building," Evening World-Herald (Omaha, Nebraska) (April 14, 1916), 24.

18. "Through some inadvertancy...", The Excelsior (Omaha, Nebraska) (January 16, 1909), 4.

19. "Woodmen Builders Like Jackson Site," The Omaha (Nebraska) Daily News (September 9, 1909), 1.

20. H. A. Raapke, architect, "The Parks of Europe, Those Beautiful Garden Spots On Which Ages of Greatest Care Have Been Bestowed," Omaha (Nebraska) Daily News (October 24, 1909), 4D (full-page article, illustrated).

21. "New Apartment House/Two New Residences," Evening World-Herald (Omaha, Nebraska) (May 16, 1912), 15.

22. "Board Considers Only Bids and Architects--Disposition of the Old Wreck and Plans for New Court House Takes Up Deal of Time of County Dads, but Considered Well Spent," Fremont (Nebraska) Herald (May 5, 1916), 1.

23. "Plan Store Buildings," Omaha (Nebraska) Daily News (July 11, 1916), 1.

24. "The H. J. Lee Building," Omaha (Nebraska) World-Herald (September 17, 1916), 28; illustrated with handsome rendering.

25. Notice/advertisement: "Congratulations to Mr. M. Miemond and Mr. J. Hoogenboezem who have made possible the new Ord Theatre, H. A. Raapke, Architect," The Ord (Nebraska) Quiz (February 12, 1931), 3.

26. "New Moon Theater to Open September 28th," Neligh (Nebraska) Leader (September 20, 1944), 1.

27. "Grand Opening...New, Ultra-Modern...Center Theater," Omaha (Nebraska) World-Herald (March 13, 1951), 14.

28. "Studios Buy Land for Building Site," Evening World-Herald (Omaha, Nebraska) (July 15, 1954), 8.

29. "Raapke Exhibits His Salon Pictures--Omaha Architect Has Returned from a Sketching Tour of European Countries," Omaha (Nebraska) Daily News (February 13, 1908), 2.

30. "Sub Rosa," The Excelsior (February 15, 1908), 3.

31. "Omaha Student Wins Honors--Henry A. Raapke, a Young Architect, Exhibits in Paris," Omaha (Nebraska) World-Herald (May 13, 1906), 9.

32. "Omaha Art Gild's [sic] First Show Brings Out Local Artists," Omaha (Nebraska) Daily Bee (November 3, 1912), 13 (including illustration of Raapke watercolor of "Arch of Constantine" and photo portrait of Raapke).

33. "Enlarging Its Capacity--Storz Brewing Company Begins Large Improvements," Omaha (Nebraska) World-Herald (June 1, 1902), 6; "The City in Brief--Storz to Build," Omaha (Nebraska) World-Herald (June 29, 2902), 15.

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Page Citation

D. Murphy & E. F. Zimmer, “Henry A. Raapke (1876-1959), Architect,” in David Murphy, Edward F. Zimmer, and Lynn Meyer, comps. Place Makers of Nebraska: The Architects. Lincoln: Nebraska State Historical Society, February 14, 2023. http://www.e-nebraskahistory.org/index.php?title=Place_Makers_of_Nebraska:_The_Architects Accessed, April 20, 2024.

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