Max Rudolph Nippell (ca. 1871-1941), Architect
Max Rudolph Nippell was born on October 26, 1871 in Neuchâtel, Switzerland. His parents were Jean-Pierre and Anna Lydia (née Batten) Nippell.[1][b] Nippell's father was an English teacher at a college in Neuchâtel, and his mother was later indicated, by Nippell, as English.[4] Nippell immigrated to the United States in 1902,[17][18][c] and was employed as a draftsman in the office of John McDonald in Omaha. In 1907, he worked for Frederick W. Clarke. In 1910, he began the partnership of Nippell & Bellas, Architects with Charles Bellas. He married Grace Wilkins in 1907 in Omaha, with whom he had at least two children.[5] In about 1919, Nippell married Adella J. Edwards in Jackson County, Missouri.[6] After this, Nippell is found living in Dallas, Texas; Springfield, Massachusetts; Englewood, New Jersey; and San Diego, California.[7][8][9][10] Max Nippell died on November 21, 1941, in San Diego.[10]
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.
Contents
Compiled Nebraska Directory Listings
Omaha, Nebraska, 1905-1911, 1913
Educational & Professional Associations
1903: nominated on Populist ticket for Knox County surveyor.[19]
1905-1906: draftsman, John McDonald, Omaha, Nebraska.[a]
1907: architect, F. W. Clarke, Omaha, Nebraska.
1908-1909: architect, 806 New York Life Building, Omaha, Nebraska.
1910: architect, 429 Paxton Block, Omaha, Nebraska.
1910-1913: architect and partner, Nippell & Bellas, Architects, Omaha, Nebraska.
1911-1912: Benson city engineer, elected on Democratic ticket 1911, voted out 1912, Benson, Nebraska.[20][21][22]
1913: architect and partner with Fred Petersen as Nippell & Petersen, Omaha, Nebraska.[11]
1915-1917: architect, Fort Dodge, Iowa.[12][13][14][15][16]
1920: residing in Dallas, Texas.[7]
1926: architect, Springfield, Massachusetts.[8]
1930: architect, Englewood, New Jersey.[9]
1941: residing in San Diego, California.[10]
Buildings & Projects
Nippell & Bellas, 1910-1913
Nippell partnered for a few years (1910-1913) with architect Charles Bellas, producing approximately a dozen buildings, mostly in Omaha. SEE Nippell & Bellas, Architects for their joint projects.
Nippell & Petersen, 1913
Nippell had a brief partnership (of only a few months duration) with Omaha architect Fred Petersen in 1913. One Omaha building and a few house designs published in Omaha newspapers in mid-1913 can be credited to these partners--SEE Nippell & Petersen.
Later Nippell Projects
Bungalow for Mrs. L Strow (1917), Olsen Park, Fort Dodge, Iowa.[12]
Bungalow for W. C. Halsey (1917), Eagle Grove, Iowa.[12]
Garage for Ft. Dodge Auto Company (1917), 12th St., & 1st Ave., Fort Dodge, Iowa.[13]
Residence and Garage for W.G. Moore (1917), east end, Fort Dodge, Iowa.[14]
Notes
a. First Omaha directory listing, 1905.
b. Some sources give his birth date as either November 22, 1872 or 1873, but all corroborate his parents' names.[2][3]
c. A newspaper in Niobrara, Nebraska noted in 1902 "Max Nippell brother of County surveyor [Chas. A.] Nippell, arrived here from France last Friday evening. Mr. Nippell is an expert draughtsman and he says that he is so well pleased with the country that he has concluded to remain here."[17][18]
References
1. “Naissances,” Feuille D'Avis de Neuchatel (November 4, 1871), 6.
2. U.S. Social Security Administration, Applications & Claims, 1935-2007 (n.d.) Accessed August 26, 2016 through Ancestry.com
3. State of California, Death Index: 1940-1997 (n.d.) Accessed August 26, 2016 through Ancestry.com
4. Annuaire Officiel de la Republique et Canton de Neuchatel, (La Chaux-de-Fonds: Imprimerie duNational Suisse, 1895). Accessed through Google Books on August 26, 2016.
5. Greater Omaha Geneological Society, Omaha Area Marriages: N-Nm (n.d.) Accessed August 27, 2016. https://omahamarriages.wordpress.com/
6. State of Missouri, Marriage Records: 1805-2002,(n.d.). Accessed August 27, 2016 through Ancestry.com.
7. 1920 United States Census, s.v. "Max Nippell" Dallas, Texas. Accessed through Ancestry.com.
8. Architecture, vol. 53 (1926), 144. Accessed on August 27, 2016 through Google Books.
9. 1930 United States Census, s.v. "Max Nippell", Bergen County, New Jersey. Accessed through Ancestry.com
10. State of California, Death Index: 1940-1997, (n.d.). Accessed August 26, 2016 through Ancestry.com
11. Omaha World Herald (April 27, 1913), 3. (advertisement)
12. “Ft. Dodge, IA,” The American Contractor Vol. 38, No. 25 (June 23, 1917), 64. Accessed through Google Books. https://books.google.com/books?id=fDRYAAAAYAAJ&dq=Max%20Nippell&pg=RA11-PA64#v=onepage&q=Max%20Nippell&f=false
13. “Ft. Dodge, IA,” The American Contractor Vol. 38, No. 21 (May 26, 1917), 69. Accessed through Google Books. https://books.google.com/books?id=fDRYAAAAYAAJ&dq=Max%20Nippell&pg=RA7-PA69#v=onepage&q=Max%20Nippell&f=false
14. “Ft. Dodge, IA,” The American Contractor Vol. 38, No. 17 (April 28, 1917), 78. Accessed through Google Books. https://books.google.com/books?id=fDRYAAAAYAAJ&dq=Max%20Nippell&pg=RA3-PA78#v=onepage&q=Max%20Nippell&f=false
15. “Garages,” The American Contractor Vol. 38, No. 21 (May 26, 1917), 31. Accessed through Google Books. https://books.google.com/books?id=fDRYAAAAYAAJ&dq=Max%20Nippell&pg=RA7-PA31#v=onepage&q=Max%20Nippell&f=false
16. “Fort Dodge, Iowa," and “Fort Dodge, Iowa, Webster County,” The Construction News Vol 40, No. 21 (November 27, 1915), 13. Accessed through Google Books. https://books.google.com/books?id=oOBaAAAAYAAJ&lpg=RA1-PA112&ots=RMwRgrog5Y&dq=Max%20Nippell%20Fort%20Dodge%2C%20Iowa&pg=RA1-PA112#v=onepage& q=Max%20Nippell%20Fort%20Dodge,%20Iowa&f=false
17. "Max Nippell...arrived here from France..." The Niobrara (Nebraska) Tribune (April 10, 1902), 5 (col. 3).
18. "Max. Nippell...reached here direct from Switzerland, Friday...He is an architect by trade..." The Niobrara (Nebraska) Pioneer (April 11, 1902), 1.
19. "Populists Nominated Ticket," The Creighton (Nebraska) News (August 28, 1903), 1.
20. "Pledged for Street Car Extension and Public Park for Benson," The Benson (now Omaha, Nebraska) Times (March 25, 1911), 5.
21. "Max R. Nippell...democratic candidate for city engineer..." The Benson (Nebraska) Times (March 25, 1911), 1.
22. "Sixth Annual Election," The Benson (Nebraska) Times (April 6, 1912), 1.
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Acknowledgements
Patrick Thompson and the editors wish to acknowledge the support of Restoration Exchange Omaha, Omaha, Nebraska.
Page Citation
Patrick Thompson & E. F. Zimmer, “Max Rudolph Nippell (ca. 1871-1941), Architect,” in David Murphy, Edward F. Zimmer, and Lynn Meyer, comps. Place Makers of Nebraska: The Architects. Lincoln: Nebraska State Historical Society, June 27, 2023. http://www.e-nebraskahistory.org/index.php?title=Place_Makers_of_Nebraska:_The_Architects Accessed, April 20, 2024.
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