Gray & Placey, Architects
Partners:
William S. Gray (1851-1927), Architect, Lincoln, Nebraska
Otis H. Placey (ca. 1829-1892), Architect, Lincoln, Nebraska
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
[hide]Compiled Nebraska Directory Listings
Lincoln, Nebraska, 1886
Educational & Professional Associations
Buildings & Projects
York County Courthouse (1885-1888), York, Nebraska, demolished. (YK11-001)
Three eight-room elementary schools for Lincoln (1885-1888): Bryant at 18th & Q (1886), Everett at 11th & C (1887), Elliott at 26th & O (1887-1888); all in Lincoln, Nebraska.[1][a]
Notes
a. An abstract of the minutes of the Board of Education of Lincoln Public Schools noted that in 1885: "The great increase in the enrollment during the past three years had kept the schools constantly crowded, even though new buildings were being built almost annually. In April, the board again saw the necessity of additional buildings. The original plans for 4-room buildings were discarded and on April 21, it was voted that the president and the secretary make contracts with Architects Gray and Placey for plans and specifications for two new 8-room school buildings. The end of the fiscal year occurred at this point and the work was carried on as planned by the next board."
Bryant (elementary) School at 18th & Q was the next 8-room school built, in 1886. In 1887 the district built an elementary school (eventually called Everett School) on land at 11th & C Streets dedicated for that purpose in the 1867 Original Plat of the capital city. Next in sequence was the original "Elliott School" at 26th & O Streets. "The plans and specifications used in the construction of 'Everett' school were adopted with minor changes....O. H. Placey was named Architect and Superintendent of construction at the 'Elliott' school, as it came to be known."[1]
References
1. Carl Yost, “History of the Lincoln Schools, 1864-1925," typescript abstract of School Board minutes, by a University of Nebraska student as a NYA project, 1936, 33-38. Copy at Lincoln Planning Department.
Page Citation
D. Murphy, E. Zimmer, “Gray & Placey, Architects,” in David Murphy, Edward F. Zimmer, and Lynn Meyer, comps. Place Makers of Nebraska: The Architects. Lincoln: Nebraska State Historical Society, December 16, 2014. http://www.e-nebraskahistory.org/index.php?title=Place_Makers_of_Nebraska:_The_Architects Accessed, April 23, 2025.
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