Woodmen of the World Building (Omaha, Nebraska)

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Woodmen of the World Building
Woodmen of the World Bldg (1912).jpg
The Woodmen of the World Building shortly after completion in 1912
Woodmen of the World Building (Omaha, Nebraska)
General information
StatusDemolished
TypeCommercial office
Architectural style Italian Renaissance [1]
Location1323 Farnam Street, Omaha, Nebraska, U.S.
Coordinates 41°15′26″N95°56′02″W / 41.257124396750875°N 95.93388209597722°W / 41.257124396750875; -95.93388209597722
Completed1912
DemolishedDecember 18, 1977 [2]
Cost$1,500,000 [3]
Height242 ft (73.8 m)
Technical details
Floor count19
Design and construction
Architecture firm Holabird & Roche, Fisher and Lawrie

The Woodmen of the World Building was a commercial high-rise building located at 1323 Farnam Street, Omaha, Nebraska, United States. Built in 1912, the building was the headquarters of Woodmen of the World from its opening until 1934, when it relocated to the Insurance Building. The building was closed in 1976 and was imploded on December 18, 1977.

Contents

History

Demolition of the Woodmen of the World Building at 14th and Farnam Streets, 1977 Woodmen of the World Building Demolition.jpg
Demolition of the Woodmen of the World Building at 14th and Farnam Streets, 1977

The Woodmen of the World Building was announced in June 1909, following twelve years of planning. It would be built for Woodmen of the World for use as its headquarters. [4] In January 1911, plans were officially unveiled for the building. The building was originally designed to be 18 stories tall, and have an estimated height of 220 feet (67 m). [5] Construction began later that same year, and the building was officially dedicated in October 1912. [6]

Woodmen of the World later vacated the building in 1934, moving its headquarters to the Bee Building, then known as the Insurance Building. [7] In 1976, the final owner of the building, Peterson Brothers Realty Co., announced that the building would be closed and would be subsequently demolished. [8] Several lawsuits were issued to prevent the demolition of both Woodmen of the World Building, and several other properties razed in 1977. However, it was ruled that federal courts had no authority to prevent their demolition. [9] The building was imploded on December 18, 1977. [10]

Architecture

The Woodmen of the World Building was designed by Holabird & Roche and Fisher and Lawrie architects. The building was built using the Italian Renaissance style of architecture and featured exterior decorations of pink granite and terracotta. The building was 242 feet (74 m) tall and had 19 stories. [10] It included a motor operated revolving door opening into a lobby with a 30-foot high ceiling. Six elevators carried tenants to the upper floors. [1]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Woodmen of the World Building", The Western Architect, 18 (12): 129, December 1912
  2. ↑ "Woodmen of the World Building". Emporis. Archived from the original on September 29, 2007. Retrieved October 6, 2010.
  3. ↑ McKee, Jim (July 17, 2010). "Jim McKee: Modern Woodmen helped build Omaha". Lincoln Journal Star. Lincoln, Nebraska: Lee Enterprises. Retrieved August 15, 2014.
  4. ↑ "Fifteenth Street Site for Woodmen Building--Jewell". Omaha Daily Bee. June 14, 1909. p. 2. Retrieved September 19, 2025.
  5. ↑ "Woodmen of the World Building to Be Erected During the Coming Year". Sunday Herald. January 1, 1911. p. 9. Retrieved September 19, 2025.
  6. ↑ "NEW BUILDINGS ARE DEDICATED". Omaha Daily Bee. October 6, 1912. p. 28. Retrieved September 19, 2025.
  7. ↑ "W.O.W. Moving to New Headquarters". The Omaha Evening Bee-News. February 23, 1934. p. 1. Retrieved September 19, 2025.
  8. ↑ "Old Woodmen Building Closing". The Lincoln Star. March 31, 1976. p. 31. Retrieved September 19, 2025.
  9. ↑ "Court powerless in demolition suit". The Lincoln Star. September 8, 1977. p. 13. Retrieved September 19, 2025.
  10. 1 2 "Violent, Awesome, Hated and Loved". Omaha World-Herald. December 19, 1977. p. 12. Retrieved September 19, 2025.
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