Mendelssohn & Lawrie, Architects
Partners:
Louis Mendelssohn, Omaha, Nebraska
Harry Lawrie, Omaha, Nebraska
Mendelssohn & Lawrie was an architectural partnership that was in business for only one year before evolving into the firm of Mendelssohn, Fisher & Lawrie, Architects.
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, 1887
Lineage of the Firm
1881-1885: Dufrene & Mendelssohn, Architects, Omaha, Nebraska
1885-1886: Mendelssohn & Fisher, Architects, Omaha, Nebraska.
1887: Mendelssohn & Lawrie, Architects, Omaha, Nebraska.[a]
1888-1893: Mendelssohn, Fisher & Lawrie, Architects, Omaha, Nebraska.[b]
1893-1896: Louis Mendelssohn (1842- ), Architect, Omaha, Nebraska.[c]
1893-1913: Fisher & Lawrie, Architects, Omaha, Nebraska.
Other Associations
1885-1886: employed George Lee Fisher, architect.
Buildings & Projects
Dated
J. M. Woolworth Building (1887), 1114-24 Howard, Omaha, Nebraska.[12][13] (DO09:0121-003)
B. F. Smith Warehouse (1887), 12th & Harney, Omaha, Nebraska.[2] (DO09:123-049)
Sheeley building (1887) northeast corner 15th & Howard, Omaha, Nebraska.[2][8][16]
Barker Building (1887), southwest corner 15th & Farnam, Omaha, Nebraska.[2][16]
Ramage Block (1887), southeast corner 15th & Harney, Omaha, Nebraska.[2][16]
W. J. Connell house (1887), southwest corner St Mary's Ave & 22nd, Omaha, Nebraska.[2]
First Congregational Society Church (1887), 19th & Davenport, Omaha, Nebraska.[2]
First National Bank (1887), southeast corner 13th & Farnam, Omaha, Nebraska.[2][6]
McCord-Brady & Company Warehouse (1887), 13th & Leavenworth, Omaha, Nebraska.[2]
Millard Hotel (1887), northeast corner 13th & Douglas, Omaha, Nebraska.[2]
Board of Trade Building (1887), southwest corner 16th & Farnam, Omaha, Nebraska.[2]
Moline, Milburn & Stoddard Warehouse (1887), Pacific S. of Union Station, Omaha, Nebraska.[2]
St. Peters Catholic Church (1887), Leavenworth near Phil Sheridan Ave, Omaha, Nebraska.[2][16]
Hotel Barker (1887), northeast corner 13th & Jones, Omaha, Nebraska.[2][16]
Sacred Heart Convent, in Park Place (1887), Omaha, Nebraska.[2]
North American Bag Company Building (1887), 11th & Jackson, Omaha, Nebraska.[2][16]
Bemis Omaha Bag Company Building (1887, 1888, 1889), 1102-1118 Jones, Omaha, Nebraska.[11:45][12][13] (DO09:0121-029) National Register narrative
W. J. Broatch Building, 4th floor addition (1887), 1205-1211 Harney, Omaha, Nebraska.[11:130][12][13] (DO09:0123-027)
Paddock Theater and Hotel (ca.1887-1888), Beatrice, Nebraska.[3]
Joseph Barker House (1887), 1505 S 8th St, Omaha, Nebraska.[11:41]
Moses Block (1887), 1234-1244 S. 13th, Omaha, Nebraska.[12] (DO09:0117-006) National Register narrative
House (1887), 1916 Wirt St., Omaha, Nebraska.[13] (DO09:0140-058)
Christ Church Episcopal (1887-1890), southeast corner 5th & Lincoln, Beatrice, Nebraska.[14][15][d] (GA03-211) National Register narrative
Undated
W. A. Paxton Building (n.d.), northeast corner 16th & Farnam, Omaha, Nebraska.[2][4]
Chamber of Commerce Building (n.d.), Omaha, Nebraska.[7]
Knights of Pythias Castle Hall (n.d.), Omaha, Nebraska.[9][16]
Y.M.C.A. Building (n.d.), Omaha, Nebraska.[10]
Notes
a. Retirement of George Fisher announced, January 1, 1887.[1]
b. Fisher rejoins the firm, January 1, 1888.[2]
c. Mendelssohn's 1896 Omaha City Directory listing states, "Moved to Europe."
d. The church agreed to hire Mendelssohn & Laurie (sic) on May 4, 1887, and the building committee was appointed on February 15, 1888.[14:24] The architects [Mendelssohn & Lawrie] submitted plans, and contracts were awarded on September 14, 1888; William H. Tyler of Lincoln was awarded the stonework.[14:27] The cornerstone was laid March 18, 1889, and the church was opened on Easter Sunday, 1890.[14:28][14:34] Mendelssohn & Lawrie, Architects were selected to design the church in the early planning stages, but the firm was officially known as Mendelssohn, Fisher & Lawrie at the time plans were submitted and the contracts awarded. A lien in the Land Record, in the amount of $2318.00, owed to W. H. Tyler, states that Tyler had supplied stone and stonework, etc., according to the plans and specs of Mendelssohn, Fisher & Lawrie of Omaha.[15] The church was completed under the supervision of the latter-named firm.
References
1. “Mendelssohn & Lawrie,” The [Omaha] Herald (January 1, 1887).
2. “Mendelssohn & Lawrie,” Omaha Daily Bee, Annual Review (January 1, 1888).
3. American Architect & Building News 22 (1887), plate 626.
4. Omaha Illustrated (Omaha: D. C. Dunbar & Co., January 1888), 55.
5. Omaha Illustrated (Omaha: D. C. Dunbar & Co., January 1888), illustration on 47.
6. Omaha Illustrated (Omaha: D. C. Dunbar & Co., January 1888), illustration on 35.
7. Omaha Illustrated (Omaha: D. C. Dunbar & Co., January 1888), illustration on 27.
8. Omaha Illustrated (Omaha: D. C. Dunbar & Co., January 1888), illustration on 87.
9. Omaha Illustrated (Omaha: D. C. Dunbar & Co., January 1888), illustration on 85.
10. Omaha Illustrated (Omaha: D. C. Dunbar & Co., January 1888), illustration on 79.
11. Landmarks, Inc., An Inventory of Historic Omaha Buildings (Omaha: Landmarks Heritage Preservation Commission, 1980).
12. Listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
13. Omaha Planning Department, Landmarks Heritage Preservation Commission, Database, Query on Architects, May 20, 2002; courtesy of Lynn Meyer, Preservation Planner.
14. History of the Parish of Christ Church, 1873-1923, Beatrice, Nebraska. (Beatrice, Nebr.: Milburn & Scott Co., n.d.), 24, 27-28, 34, 49.
15. Land Record, Lien 3-523, October 29, 1889. Register of Deeds Office, Gage County Courthouse, Beatrice, Nebraska. Transcript in site file GA03-211.
16. Robert Peters, “Bemis Bag Company NRHP Nomination,” OCPD (August 1978).
Page Citation
D. Murphy, “Mendelssohn & Lawrie, Architects,” in David Murphy, Edward F. Zimmer, and Lynn Meyer, comps. Place Makers of Nebraska: The Architects. Lincoln: Nebraska State Historical Society, February 17, 2015. http://www.e-nebraskahistory.org/index.php?title=Place_Makers_of_Nebraska:_The_Architects Accessed, April 25, 2024.
Contact the Nebraska State Historic Preservation Office with questions or comments concerning this page, including any problems you may have with broken links (see, however, the Disclaimers link at the bottom of this page). Please provide the URL to this page with your inquiry.
