Difference between revisions of "Henry Donald Frankfurt (1884-1963), Architect"

Latest revision as of 13:49, 8 January 2025

Henry Donald Frankfurt was born on October 11, 1884 in Dubuque, Iowa, Fredrika and Henry Frankfurt, who had emigrated from Germany in 1882. The family lived in Omaha by 1900, where the father was a carriage "trimmer" and harnessmaker. Henry Jr. worked as a draftsman for Omaha architects J. P. Guth and Fisher & Lawrie before opening his own architectural office in 1907. Henry D. married Frieda Luchsinger in Chicago in 1908 and they had five daughters and one son between 1909 and 1925.[4][5][7][28][43] Henry Donald practiced architecture in Omaha and Columbus, Nebraska, for a decade between 1907 and 1917, specializing in residential projects, including single-family dwellings, duplexes, and apartment buildings, with an emphasis on the later. Henry and Freda left Nebraska for Texas by 1918, where Henry registered for the draft, indicating that he was an architect but that he was "unable to work."[5] H. D. later lived with his family and practiced architecture in Los Angeles, Phoenix,and Houston. He died on June 4, 1963 in Houston.[7][28-31]

Melrose Apartments, 1916 (Lynn Meyer)

This page is a contribution to the publication, Place Makers of Nebraska: The Architects. See the Format and contents of Nebraska architect entries page for more information on the compilation and page organization.

Compiled Nebraska Directory Listings

Columbus, Nebraska, 1911

Omaha, Nebraska, 1904-1920

Educational & Professional Associations

1900: clerk, Byron Reed (real estate) Co.

1902-1905: draftsman for architect J. P. Guth, Omaha, Nebraska.

1906: draftsman for architects Fisher & Lawrie, Omaha, Nebraska.

1907-1909: architect, Omaha, Nebraska.[8][9]

ca. 1909: architect and partner, Willis & Frankfurt, Architects, Omaha, Nebraska.

1910: architect/superintendent, 840 Omaha National Bank Building, Omaha, Nebraska.

1911: architect, Columbus, Nebraska.[11][23][b]

c. 1912-1917: associated with Hastings & Heyden realty firm (specializing in apartment houses), Omaha, Nebraska.[12][23][d]

1918: architect "Unable to work," Arlington, Texas.[10]

1920: secretary-treasurer, New-Tex Refining Co. & New-Tex Pipeline Co., Wichita Falls, Texas.[5]

1920-1926: architect, Los Angeles, California.[46][47][f]

1927-1930: architect, Phoenix, Arizona.[28][32][g]

1934-1963: architect, Houston, Texas.[29-31]

Buildings & Projects

Dated

M. H. Brown-Neslund House (1907), 120 West 9th, Cozad, Nebraska.[42] (DS02-025)

Bungalow for Charles W. Martin (1907), 22nd & Fowler, Omaha, Nebraska.[40][42]

Colonial Hotel Apartments (1909), 144 S. 38th, Omaha, Nebraska. (DO09:0319-033)

Hord Hall at Nebraska Central College (1910-1911), Central City, Nebraska.[37:back cover][44][45]

Residence for J.P. Shirley (1911), Albion, Nebraska.[6]

Bungalow for M.G. Needham (1911), Albion, Nebraska.[6]

Evans Hotel (1912-1913), Columbus, Nebraska.[37:3][38]

House (1913), 1721 S. 12th St., Omaha, Nebraska.[3] (DO09:0115-124)

Apartment (1913), 2405 Evans St., Omaha, Nebraska.[3] (DO09:0227-011)

Rowhouse (1913), 2919 Dodge, Omaha, Nebraska.[3] (DO09:0209-060)

Rowhouse (1913), 811 Worthington Ave., Omaha, Nebraska.[3] (DO09:0064-009)

Douglas Apartments (1913-1914), 213 S. 26th Ave., Omaha, Nebraska.[3][12][d] (DO09:0209-010)

Hudson Apartments (1913), 207 S. 26th Ave., Omaha, Nebraska.[3][37:4][d] (DO09:0209-009)

Paxton Court Terraces (1913), 206 Paxton Court, Omaha, Nebraska.[3][37:4][d] (DO09:0209-011)

H. D. Frankfurt duplex (1914), 1301 S 27th St, Omaha, Nebraska.[1:72][3][37:16]

Stratford Terrace Apartments (1914), 2922 Jackson, Omaha, Nebraska.[1:138][3][20][37:2] (DO09:0207-044)

Harney Apartments (1914), 3005 Harney St., Omaha, Nebraska.[3][37][d] (DO09:0210-017)

Apartment (1914), 315 S. 27th Ave., Omaha, Nebraska.[3] (DO09:0209-029)

House (1914), 1303 S. 27th Ave., Omaha, Nebraska.[3] (DO09:0203-002)

Three-Family Apartment (1914), 618-620-622 N. 33rd St., Omaha, Nebraska.[3][37:15 (DO09:0214-007)

Two Family Apartments (1914), 624 N. 33rd St., Omaha, Nebraska.[3][37:13][d] (DO09:0214-008)

Leigh Apartments (1915), S. 25th Ave. between Farnam & Douglas, Omaha, Nebraska.[37:5][39]

Eighteen-unit apartment house for J. W. Elwood (1915), S. 28th & Dewey, Omaha, Nebraska.[27]

Frank Carey Duplex (1915), 523 Park Ave., Omaha, Nebraska.[3][37:11] (DO09:0207-056)

Two Duplexes (1915), 2418-2420 and 2422-2424 Hickory St., Omaha, Nebraska.[3][37:17 (DO09:0201-016) & (DO09:0201-017)

Duplex (1915), 2508 Hickory St., Omaha, Nebraska.[3] (DO09:0201-019)

Duplex (1915), 2502 Hickory St., Omaha, Nebraska.[3] (DO09:0201-018)

Berkeley Apartments (1915), 649 S. 19th Ave., Omaha, Nebraska.[2][3][20][37:9] (DO09:0122-052) National Register narrative

Wayne Apartments (1915), 2719 Dewey Ave., Omaha, Nebraska.[3][37:12] (DO09:0207-004)

Victoria Apartments (1915), 317 S. 27th Ave., Omaha, Nebraska.[3][20][37:1][d] (DO09:0209-030)

Dewey Apartments (1915), 3301 Dewey Ave., Omaha, Nebraska.[3][20][37:1][d] (DO09:0208-022)

Hotel Irwin (1915), 608 S. 17th St., Omaha, Nebraska.[3] (DO09:0122-064)

Paxton Court Terraces No. 2 (1915), 215 Paxton Court, Omaha, Nebraska.[3][37:11][d] (DO09:0209-013)

Mayfair Apartments (ca. 1915), 2222 Howard, Omaha, Nebraska.[2][37:6] (DO09:0122-016)

Two Duplexes (1915), 610-612 & 614-616 N. 33rd St., Omaha, Nebraska.[3][37:17[d] (DO09:0214-005)

Three-Family Apartment for J. Bash (1915), 614 N. 33rd St., Omaha, Nebraska.[3][37:15 (DO09:0214-006)

Carey Dry Cleaning Plant (1915), 24th & Lake (2401-3 N. 24th), Omaha, Nebraska.[14][15]

San Mateo Apartments (1915-1916), on Jackson between 22nd & 23rd Sts., Omaha, Nebraska.[37:7][50][51]

Idalia apartment house (1916), 115 N. 33rd Street, Omaha, Nebraska.[16][20][37:8][c]

Melrose Apartments (1916), 602 N. 33rd, Omaha, Nebraska.[2][3][16][37:9[c][d] (DO09:0214-003) National Register narrative

Adelaide Apartments (1916), 4914 Dodge St., Omaha, Nebraska.[3] (DO090:0433-012) (DO09:0201-017) Claremont Inn (1916), 17th & Jackson, Omaha, Nebraska.[20-22][37:6]

Milton Apartments for Hastings & Heyden (1916), 1954 Jones St., Omaha, Nebraska.[1:139][3][20][37:10][d] (DO09:0122-048)

Residence for George F. Gilmore (1916), vicinity of Fifty-fourth & Farnam, Omaha, Nebraska.[13][37:19]

The Elwood apartment house (1916-1917), southeast corner of S. 49th & Dodge, Omaha, Nebraska.[17-19][37:2][e]

Lincoln apartments for Frank Benbow (1917), 44th & Dodge, Omaha, Nebraska.[24]

Fairview Apartments (1917), 706 N. 50th St., Omaha, Nebraska.[3][25][26] (DO09:0435-006)

Undated

Hillcrest Court (n.d.), 24th & Jones Sts., Omaha, Nebraska.[37:7]

Joyce Apartments (n.d.), Omaha, Nebraska.[37:8]

Leeton Apartments (n.d.), 49th & Dodge, Omaha, Nebraska.[37:10]

Double Store for Mr. Kinnard (n.d.), 24th & Wirt, Omaha, Nebraska.[37:13]

Harte Building (n.d.), 24th & Lake, Omaha, Nebraska.[37:13]

Motion Picture Theatre & Store for J. Marks (n.d.), Military Ave. & Burdette St., Omaha, Nebraska.[37:13]

Double brick apartment (n.d.), 19th & Leavenworth, Omaha, Nebraska.[37:14]

St. Louis Stucco Flat for G. A. Greenough (n.d.), 9th & Williams, Omaha, Nebraska.[37:15]

Double Brick Apartment for Mr. Roach (n.d.), 8th & Williams, Omaha, Nebraska.[37:18]

Two St. Louis Flats (n.d.), 562-4-6-8 S. 26th, Omaha, Nebraska.[37:16]

Two St. Louis Apartments (n.d.), Sherman Avenue and Ohio Street, Omaha, Nebraska.[37:18]

Home for E. T. Hayden (n.d.), 1904 Spencer, Omaha, Nebraska.[37:22][h]

Frame bungalow with brick porch (n.d.), 350 N. 41st Ave., Omaha, Nebraska.[37:27]

Publications

(Architectural Designs, 1916)

Frankfurt, H. D., Architectural Designs (Omaha, Nebraska: Architectural Department, Hastings & Heyden [Realty Co.]), 1916.

Notes

a. [Left blank.]

b. Frankfurt was listed in the Columbus, Nebraska, city directory with a residence and architectural office in Columbus. He also posted a brief advertisement in Omaha newspapers "For the Builder. Send 50 c[ents] for my new 1911 book on modern home-building. H. D. Frankfurt, architect, Columbus, Neb."[11]

c. Early in 1916 an Omaha newspaper published Frankfurt's rendering for the "Idelia" apartment house, a 12-unit project for Hastings & Heyden realty company. The text accompanying the rendering identified the location as 33rd & California, but that is where Hastings & Heyden (and Frankfurt) built "The Melrose" in 1916. An advertisement by Frankfurt identified the "Adalia's" location as 33rd & Dodge Streets. It remains extant (in 2025) at 115 N. 33rd St.[16][20]

d. Frankfurt was associated with the Omaha realty firm of Hastings and Heyden thoughout his years in the city. As early as 1907 he designed a "Fine Bungalow for $3,000" for "Charles W. Martin of Hastings & Heyden."[40] Later he designed numerous apartment houses for the Hastings & Heyden Realty Co. (Bryon R. Hastings and Edward T. Heyden) between 1913 and 1917. He apparently shared the office of the realty firm, which issued a richly illustrated pamphlet of his building designs in 1916.[37] The booklet cites "the sixteen years of practical experience and technical training Mr. Frankfurt has had," which in 1916 would date his schooling and practice back to 1900, when he was sixteen. Over two dozen Frankfurt projects are identified by name and location, while another three dozen designs for single-family houses are offered without specific locations. The booklet concludes by 21 additional "out-of-town" projects around Nebraska including a half-dozen in Columbus, a Catholic church in St. Edwards, and a bank in North Bend.

e. Frankfurt's elevation drawing shows the long west elevation of a three-story, 12-bay building on a site sloping down from left (north) to south, a high basement, and twin entrances. The roof appears flat (i.e., it is not visible in the elevation) and four "lunettes" ornament the cornice, two flanking each entrance bay. The brief text beneath the elevation notes that the apartment house is "to be erected this year by J. W. Elwood," "for which plans are now practically completed by Architect H. D. Frankfurt."[17] Eighteen months later the Elwood was advertised by the prolific Drake Construction Company as "Open for Inspection Today," illustrated with a rendering of a similar design but featuring tall hipped roofs with overhanging eaves.[18] Two decades after The Elwood was built, J. W. Elwood announced plans to develop a $200,000 residential and commercial structure at 35th & Farnam, to be designed by J. L. Conley, who the announcement identified as the designer of the original "Elwood" apartment house 20 years earlier.[19] Conley had been employed by Drake Construction in 1917 and 1918, so it is credible that he may have contributed to "The Elwood's" design or construction superintendence, but primary credit for the 1916-1917 project appears to belong to Frankfurt.(EFZ)

f. Los Angeles newspaper mention a handful of Frankfurt projects from 1920 to 1926. The earliest found was a proposal (with elevation) for a "Film Temple" which noted "Motion-picture activities of Hollywood will be centralized in a new four-story structure to be erected a Western avenue and Santa Monica Boulevard; Frank Rasche and H. D. Frankfurt, designers."[45] Frank F. Rasche registered for the draft in 1917 in his native Los Angeles, listing a birth date of Nov. 30, 1889 and his occupation as "Archt. Designer." He died in Los Angeles in 1979.[48][49]

g. The 1930 U. S. Census lists Henry D. & Frieda Frankfurt and their six children (five daughters and a son) in Phoenix, where H. D. was an architect. Their 21-year-old daughter Bernice was an architect's stenographer. [28] In 1928 he was designing houses "of Spanish design" for a small subdivision in Phoenix. In 1928 Frankfurt was described as an "architect who recently came to Phoenix from Los Angeles, attracted here by the building activity of this section." He was identified as designer of a planned four-unit apartment house in Phoenix and subsequent references show him active in architecture and Phoenix real estate development until about 1930, including automobile-oriented commercial projects.[32-34] City directories and the 1940 Census show the family in Houston by the mid-1930s. In 1940 the household including Henry D., Frieda, their son and his wife, and two daughters. In 1950 H. D. and Frieda remained in Houston where he still was identified as "architect."[28-30] He died in 1963 and was interred in Houston.[31]

h. Frankfurt's 1916 publication Architectural Designs includes a "Modern Eight-room Residence...built by E. T. Heyden for a home, located at 1904 Spencer Street," with a photograph of a tall, 2.5 story American Foursquare with a wrap-around corner porch. The house currently at 1904 Spencer appears to be the same structure with extensive remodeling, including reduction of the porch and brick-veneering of the exterior.(EFZ)

References

1. Landmarks, Inc., "An Inventory of Historic Omaha Buildings" (Omaha: City of Omaha and Landmarks Heritage Preservation Commission, 1980).

2. Listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

3. City of Omaha Planning Department, Landmarks Heritage Preservation Commission, Database, Query on Architects, May 20, 2002; courtesy of Lynn Meyer, Preservation Planner.

4. 1910 United States Census, s.v. “Henry E. Frankfurt,” Omaha, Douglas County, Nebraska, accessed through HeritageQuestOnline.com.

5. Wichita Falls, Texas City directory; and Ancestry.com. 1920 United States Federal Census, s.v. "Henry Frankfurt," [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010.

6. "Columbus, Nebraska," American Contractor 32:21 (May 27, 1911): 63.

7. Ancestry.com. Texas, Death Certificates, 1903-1982 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2013.

8. Hendricks' commercial register of the United States (New York: S. E. Hendricks Co., 1891-1900), 22. Accessed October 10, 2018 via https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015055430030;view=1up;seq=136

9. "H. D. Frankfurt, architect, has opened an office at 51 Douglas block," Omaha (Nebraska) Daily Bee (April 21, 1907), 14.

10. Ancestry.com. U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918. s.v. "Henry Donald Frankfurt," [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2005.

11. "For the Builder," Omaha (Nebraska) World-Herald (May 15, 1911), 6.

12. "Builders Notes" (mentioning fact-finding trip to Chicago for Hastings & Hayden on apartment house trends) and "The Apartment House" (illustrating "The Douglas" with photo and floor plan), Omaha (Nebraska) Daily News (December 14, 1913), 33.

13. "Watch Omaha Grow" (featuring residence designed by Frankfurt), Omaha (Nebraska) Daily News (March 11, 1916), 6.

14. "The Carey Dry Cleaning Co. is having plans drawn...," [[Our Sunday Visitor (Omaha, Nebraska) (September 3, 1915), 5.

15. "The Carey Cleaning Co.'s New Plant," Omaha (Nebraska) Daily News (May 7, 1916), 10 (illustrated).

16. "Here is an Apartment House That Will Introduce Some New Ideas," Omaha (Nebraska) Daily News (February 20, 1916), 64.

17. "Here is Front Elevation of 'The Elwood' Apartment House to be Erected in Dundee this Year at a Cost of $75,000," Omaha (Nebraska) Daily News (April 23, 1916), 22.

18. "Elwood 'Omaha's Most Beautiful Apartments'..." (illustrated advertisement), Omaha (Nebraska) World-Herald (October 21, 1917), 21.

19. "New Resident Area Planned--Elwood to Build on Farnam Tract," Omaha (Nebraska) World-Herald (October 29, 1939), 9.

20. "H. D. Frankfurt, Architect...Specialist in the designing of apartment houses..." (advertisement listing 8 projects), Omaha (Nebraska) Daily News (May 7, 1916), 10.

21. "Watch Omaha Grow...This is the new Claremont Inn, an apartment house and hotel...," Omaha (Nebraska) Daily News, (April 15, 1916), 8 (illustrated with photo).

22. "Claremont Inn Unique and Popular in City," Omaha (Nebraska) World-Herald (April 16, 1916), 28.

23. "Architect Frankfurt Now in New Offices," Omaha (Nebraska) Daily News (January 7, 1917), 34.

24. "Plans being prepared for Lincoln apartments to be built at Forty-fourth and Dodge Streets for Frank Benbow," Omaha (Nebraska) Daily News (February 11, 1917), 33 (illustrated with aerial perspective).

25. "H. D. Frankfurt, Architect, Builds $45,000 'Fairview Apartments'...for himself," Omaha (Nebraska) Daily News (April 29, 1917), 38 (with perspective sketch).

26. "Otto Meyer Buys New Fairview Apartments...Consideration about $65,000," Omaha (Nebraska) Daily Bee (December 22, 1917), 15.

27. "New Type of Apartment Minimum Rent About $25, Omaha (Nebraska) World-Herald (January 17, 1915), 27 (illustrated with elevation sketch).

28. Ancestry.com. 1930 United States Federal Census, s.v. "Henry D. Frankfurt," [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2002.

29. Ancestry.com. 1940 United States Federal Census, s.v. "Henry D. Frankfurt," [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012.

30. Ancestry.com. 1950 United States Federal Census, s.v. "Henry D. Frankfurt," [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2022.

31. Ancestry.com. U.S., Find a Grave® Index, 1600s-Current, s.v. "Henry D. Frankfurt," [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012.

32. "Work Begun on 'Dream Homes' in Aldea Del Ray," (Phoenix) Arizona Republican (December 11, 1927), 11 (illustrated with sketch of 3 houses).

33. "Plans Announced for $15,000 Four-Family Apartment House," (Phoenix) Arizona Republican (February 26, 1928), 20.

34. "Exotic Beauty Found in Aldea Del Ray," (Phoenix) Arizona Republican (March 4, 1928), 26 (illustrated with photo of model home and Frankfurt aerial perspective sketch of "Aldea Del Ray---The Spanish Village").

35. "Proposed $200,000 North Central Avenue Buildings," (Phoenix) Arizona Republican (June 3, 1928), 37.

36. "City's Large Apartment House," and "Moeller Apartment House Fully Rrnted and Occupied As Soon As It Is Completed," (Phoenix) Arizona Republican (January 20, 1929) 27 (with photo of Moeller Apartments).

37. H. D. Frankfurt, Architectural Designs (Omaha, Nebraska: Architectural Department of Hastings & Heyden [realty company], 1916). Accessed on-line January 6, 2025 at https://digitalcommons.unomaha.edu/ascdigitizedbooks/1/

38. "Work on the new Evans hotel is now in earnest...plans...by Architect Frankfurt...," Columbus (Nebraska) Journal (June 19, 1912), 1; "Evans Hotel Open Tuesday--Public Reception will Mark Dedication of New $100,000 Hostelry," Columbus (Nebraska) Telegram (November 28, 1913), 3.

39. "'The Leigh' Apartments," Omaha (Nebraska) World-Herald (March 7, 1915), 5.

40. "A Fine Bungalow for $3,000," Omaha (Nebraska) Daily News (August 4, 1907), 11.

41. Ancestry.com. 1900 United States Federal Census, s.v. "Henry Frankford" in Omaha [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2004.

42. "News of the Busy Home Builders," Omaha (Nebraska) Daily Bee (July 14, 1907), 13.

43. Ancestry.com. Cook County, Illinois, U.S., Marriages Index, 1871-1920, s.v. "Frieda Luchsinger," [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011.

44. "Central City--It is now practically certain that the new agricultural hall...will be built...," Omaha (Nebraska) Daily Bee (May 28, 1910), 3.

45. "Dedicate Hord Hall," Central City (Nebraska) Nonpareil (June 8, 1911), 1 (illustrated with photograph).

46. "New Structures to be Erected Here for Commercial Purposes," Los Angeles Times (November 7, 1920), 83 (with elevation sketch for "Film Temple").

47. "Research Institute Planned--Long Beach Seeking New $6,000,000 Medical School and Hospital Project," Los Angeles Times (September 14, 1926), 16.

48. Ancestry.com. U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918, s.v. "Frank F. Rasche," [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2005.

49. Ancestry.com. U.S., Find a Grave® Index, 1600s-Current, s.v. "Frank Frederick Rasche," [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012.

50. "All Apartment Houses Constructed By Us Are Rented," Omaha (Nebraska) World-Herald (August 29, 1915), 30.

51. "'Watch Omaha Grow'...Here is an example of what remodeling of houses can do...," Omaha (Nebraska) Daily News (February 26, 1916), 3.

Page Citation

E. F. Zimmer & D. Murphy, “Henry Donald Frankfurt (1884-1963), Architect,” in David Murphy, Edward F. Zimmer, and Lynn Meyer, comps. Place Makers of Nebraska: The Architects. Lincoln: Nebraska State Historical Society, January 8, 2025. http://www.e-nebraskahistory.org/index.php?title=Place_Makers_of_Nebraska:_The_Architects Accessed, January 8, 2025.

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