Samuel Otis Hahn (1864-1928), Builder-Architect

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Lincoln, Nebraska, 1907-1916

dba: S. Otis Hahn, S. O. Hahn

Samuel Otis Hahn was born in Mount Vernon, Iowa in 1864 to farmers Charles E. and Almira Hahn.[1] Samuel studied at the Iowa State Normal School in Cedar Falls, taught in Riverside, Iowa, and was a principal in Hudson, Iowa. He married Margaret (“Maggie”) E. Parker in 1888 in Riverside, Iowa. In the early 1890s, they lived in Iowa City, where he sold the ‘’International Cyclopedia,” before founding the Athens Publishing Company, the Home Educational Company, and Hahn, Rule & Company, wholesale and retail booksellers. His businesses encountered legal difficulties with his associates on several occasions, and a Waterloo (Iowa) newspaper opined “Though he has been considered here as an honest man, he has been known to be very visionary and has never indulged in much hard physical labor.”[2][3][4][30][a]

Hahn began to be listed in the city directories of Lincoln, Nebraska in 1903, first as the manager or president of a succession of businesses, then as an architect, from 1907-1914.[5][6] He was also identified as both “architect” and “contractor” on several residential building permits between 1907 and 1916. Each directory over that period showed the Hahns residing at a different address, typically corresponding to a house he had designed and built. Presumably their residence was always under construction or available for sale. It is not apparent that Hahn practiced architecture for any clients other than himself and his wife Margaret, who was listed as “owner” on their building permits.

After 1914, the Lincoln directories again identified Hahn with a succession of business ventures. In 1920, the Hahns relocated to Pueblo, Colorado, and then to Denver by 1923.[7][8][b] Samuel Otis Hahn was listed as a resident of Denver when he died in Illinois in 1928. He was interred in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. His widow Margaret resided at the Home for Aged Women in Cedar Rapids as late as 1945.[9][10][11]

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

Lincoln, Nebraska, 1903-1918

Educational & Professional Associations

1880s: student, Iowa State Normal School, Cedar Falls, Iowa.[2]

1890s: bookseller, printer, publisher, Iowa City, Iowa.[2][3][4]

1903: manager, Crescent Manufacturing Company, Lincoln, Nebraska.[5]

1905: president, Western Mercantile Company, Lincoln, Nebraska.[5]

1906: president, “The Hahn-Butler Co. Manufacturers & Jobbers,” Lincoln, Nebraska.[5]

1907-1916: architect, Lincoln, Nebraska.[5][29]

1912: secretary, American Investment Company, Lincoln, Nebraska.[12][c]

1915: president, Hahn-Boyer Electric [Water-] Heater Company, Lincoln, Nebraska.[5]

1916: manager, National Sales Company, Lincoln, Nebraska.[5]

1918: proprietor, Kleen-O Drug Company (with wife Margaret), Lincoln, Nebraska.[5]

1920: proprietor, Carbonale Company, Lincoln, Nebraska.[8]

Buildings & Projects

Harry Forney (aka Hahn-Straub) “Stone” (concrete block) house (1907), 1923 B Street, Lincoln, Nebraska.[13][31] (LC13:D07-594)

Hahn-Dunn House (1908), 1933 B Street, Lincoln, Nebraska.[14]{31] (LC13:D07-060)

Frame house (1908), 2328 Garfield Street, Lincoln, Nebraska.[15]

Stucco house (1908), 2327 Washington Street, Lincoln, Nebraska.[16] (LC13:D06-0759)

Professor Lees House (1908-1909), 2012 A Street, Lincoln, Nebraska.[17][31]

Hahn-Ireland House (1909), 1900 A Street, Lincoln, Nebraska.[18][31] (LC13:D07-0062)

Platted Boulevard Heights Subdivision (1911), bounded by 33rd Street on the west, A Street on the south, 37th Street on the east, and D Street on the north, Lincoln, Nebraska.[19][d]

Hahn-Collman House (1911), 1910 A Street, Lincoln, Nebraska.[20][31] (LC13:D07-605)

Frame house (1911), 2215 E Street, Lincoln, Nebraska.[21]

Frame house (1911), 2216 E Street, Lincoln, Nebraska.[22]

Frame house (1911), 2025 South 16th Street, Lincoln, Nebraska.[23]

Jerry & Rebecca Woods House (1912), 1810 South 25th Street, Lincoln, Nebraska.[24]

Frame house (1912), 1800 South 25th Street, Lincoln, Nebraska.[25]

Frame house (1913), 600 South 30th Street, Lincoln, Nebraska.[26]

Porch & remodeling of frame house, (1913), 610 South 30th Street, Lincoln, Nebraska.[27]

Brick & stucco house (1914), 1224 South 21st Street, Lincoln, Nebraska.[28]

Frame & stucco house (1916), 2645 Washington Street, Lincoln, Nebraska.[29]

Notes

a. The 1900 U. S. Census and 1901 city directory of Iowa City, Iowa both list Hahn and his wife as residents of Iowa City, but in 1901 Hahn also placed an advertisement in a Lincoln, Nebraska newspaper for an auction “On account of a change...[to] sell all my household goods in the six room cottage located at No. 1610 S. 17th St. [in Lincoln].” That “change” may have related to petitioning for bankruptcy of his bookselling business in Iowa City. A judge in 1903 ruled against discharging S. Otis’ debts of nearly $30,000, but cleared Margaret of responsibility for those liabilities. This may account for her consistent listing as “owner” on all of their joint building permits in Lincoln.[4][6][30]

b. In early August, 1920, a Lincoln newspaper reported that the Hahns would soon re-located to Pueblo, Colorado, and that members of Trinity Methodist Church attended a farewell party at the Hahn’s home in University Place (now Lincoln). The story noted that Mr. Hahn had “been a teacher of the young woman’s class of the church for nineteen years. On August 11, 1920, it was noted further: “Mr. and Mrs. S. Otis Hahn left Tuesday by motor for their new home in Pueblo, Colo. Mr. and Mrs. Hahn have made their home in Lincoln for the last nineteen years.”[10][11]

c. A Lincoln paper reported in 1911: “An investment company having headquarters in Kansas City has just opened up for business in Lincoln and will build houses for sale. S. Otis Hahn of Lincoln is associated with it. The firm is getting prices on material and will begin soon on several houses.” Hahn was identified as the secretary of American Investment Company in the 1912 Lincoln city directory, but was not mentioned among the officers in the directory entry on the company itself. American Investment was listed again in 1913, without mention of Hahn. [12]

d. The Hahns platted the area north of A Street (to D Street) and east of 33rd Street (to 37th Street) into 240 house lots. No indication has been found that they built houses on that land themselves, but rather sold it in large groups of lots within a few years of the 1911 platting. Their central east-west street was called “Boulevard Avenue” on the plat, then was renamed Mohawk by 1921.[5][19]

References

1. Ancestry.com. Illinois, Deaths and Stillbirths Index, 1916-1947 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011.

2. “Hahn is Known Here—Erstwhile Canvasser Gets into Trouble at Iowa City,” (Waterloo, Iowa) Courier (December 1, 1900), 1.

3. “S. Otis Hahn in Court. Upon Three Charges Made by C. E. Hammond of the Home Educational Company,” Iowa City (Iowa) Press-Citizen (November 30, 1900), 1.

4. Ancestry.com. 1900 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc., 2004.

5. Lincoln City Directories.

6. “Auction Sale,” Lincoln (Nebraska) Evening News (June 21, 1901), 6.

7. Ancestry.com. Illinois, Deaths and Stillbirths Index, 1916-1947 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011.

8. Ancestry.com. 1940 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. s.v. Margaret Hahn. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012.

9. Cedar Rapids, Iowa City Directories.

10. “People You Know,” (Lincoln, Nebraska) Evening State Journal (August 3, 1920), 11.

11. “People You Know,” (Lincoln) Nebraska State Journal (August 11, 1920), 7.

12. Lincoln (Nebraska) Star (October 29, 1911), 26.

13. City of Lincoln Building Permit #1943, issued August 5, 1907; estimated cost: $7,000; M. E. Hahn, contractor & owner.

14. City of Lincoln Building Permit #2287, issued March 6, 1908; estimated cost: $9,000; S. Otis Hahn, contractor, M. E. Hahn, owner.

15. City of Lincoln Building Permit #2718, issued October 14, 1908; estimated cost: $3,000; S. Otis Hahn, contractor, M. E. Hahn, owner.

16. City of Lincoln Building Permit #2782, issued November 17, 1908; estimated cost: $3,000; S. Otis Hahn, contractor; M. E. Hahn, owner.

17. City of Lincoln Building Permit #2832, issued December 31, 1908; estimated cost: $7,000; S. Otis Hahn, contractor; M. E. Hahn, owner.

18. City of Lincoln Building Permit #3457, issued October 26, 1909; estimated cost: $10,000; S. Otis Hahn architect & builder/contractor; M. E Hahn, owner.

19. “Boulevard Heights,” a subdivision in the City of Lincoln, signed by Margaret E. and S. Otis Hahn, Dec. 30, 1911. On file with Lancaster County (Nebraska) Engineer.

20. City of Lincoln Building Permit #4270, issued September 14, 1911; estimated cost: $7,500; M. E. Hahn, owner; contractor: “self.”

21. City of Lincoln Building Permit #4198, issued July 17, 1911; estimated cost: $2,500; S. Otis Hahn architect; Barr & Dohmer, builder/contractor; M. E. Hahn, owner.

22. City of Lincoln Building Permit #4190, issued July 17, 1911; estimated cost: $3,000; S. Otis Hahn architect; Barr & Dohner, builder/contractor; M. E. Hahn, owner.

23. City of Lincoln Building Permit #4346, issued November 20, 1911; estimated cost: $2,500; S. Otis Hahn architect & builder/contractor; M. E. Hahn, owner.

24. City of Lincoln Building Permit #4539, issued May 21, 1912; estimated cost: $4,000; S. Otis Hahn, contractor; M. E. Hahn, owner.

25. City of Lincoln Building Permit #4540, issued May 21, 1912; estimated cost: $3,000; S. Otis Hahn, contractor; M. E. Hahn, owner.

26. City of Lincoln Building Permit #5184, issued August 15, 1913; estimated cost: $3,000; S. Otis Hahn, architect & contractor; M. E. Hahn, owner.

27. City of Lincoln Building Permit #5185, issued August 15, 1913; estimated cost: $500; S. Otis Hahn, architect & contractor; M. E. Hahn, owner.

28. City of Lincoln Building Permit #5589, issued June 18, 1914; estimated cost: $7,500; S. Otis Hahn, architect & contractor/builder; M. E Hahn, owner.

29. City of Lincoln Building Permit #6630, issued June 12, 1916; estimated cost: $3,500; S. Otis Hahn, architect & contractor; M. E Hahn, owner.

30. Iowa City (Iowa) Press-Citizen (May 15, 1903), 6.

31. Listed in the National Register of Historic Places within the Mount Emerald and Capitol Additions Historic District.

Page Citation=

E. F. Zimmer “Samuel Otis Hahn (1864-1928), Builder-Architect,” in David Murphy, Edward F. Zimmer, and Lynn Meyer, comps. Place Makers of Nebraska: The Architects. Lincoln: Nebraska State Historical Society, November 15, 2018. http://www.e-nebraskahistory.org/index.php?title=Place_Makers_of_Nebraska:_The_Architects Accessed, March 28, 2024.


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