Restoration Alive in South Omaha

In partnership with RestoreOmaha, Landmarks drew over 100 people into South Omaha's homes and businesses on March 2nd. Despite the rainy weather, tour goers made the trek through five sites that have undergone restoration projects.

One of the favorites was 1315 South 8th Street where home-owner Karyn Spencer exemplified historically appropriate do-it-yourself techniques with a sustainable twist. On a tight budget, she creatively restored and recycled many items including doorknobs, woodwork, and heating grates. Even old wallpaper was framed and turned into artwork to play up the home's historic character, which has just sold for above market value.

In planning the tour, Landmarks was pushing to bring attention to home remodeling projects that were "within reach" for most do-it-yourselfers. A good example was the stair restoration project at James Smejkal's home at 3609 South 20th Street. "The stair project was completed with inexpensive materials, readily available at local stores which involved mostly time and labor," quoted Smejkal. Sometimes uncovering what your home already has is all that is needed to make it unique!

Catching a great view from the top of the Livestock Exchange Building was everyone's highlight. "You can never get tired of the incredible panorama offered through those beautiful windows," said Shawn Colby. "It is unbelievable that at one time people thought this building should have been torn down."

Lecture Brought Insight to South Omaha

On November 16th, Landmarks, Inc. and Restore Omaha hosted speaker John Carter with the State Historical Society. The presentation included fascinating photographs and stories of Omaha’s beef industry. Right here in Omaha, creative entrepreneurs, investors and industrialists invented new technologies to transport refrigerated beef all over the country. Until this system was replaced by the trucking industry and interstate system, Omaha was the profit center of our Nation’s largest industry at the time. This feeding our local economy, many Historic Landmarks were built as a result. Stay tuned for more great material coming out this year with NETV’s documentary movie called “The Beef State”.