Louis Mendelssohn (1854-1935), Architect
Louis Mendelssohn was born in Germany on August 12, 1854. His parents Maurice and Pauline (nee Hill) emigrated to New York, then relocated to Detroit by 1856.[r1]. In the 1870 U.S. Census, his father was listed as a laboror and Louis was already identified as "architect."[r2]
, he came to America.[10] He trained in the profession of architecture in Detroit, Michigan and New York City. Afterwards, he studied and traveled on the continent for eighteen months, perfecting himself in his profession. Mendelssohn then returned to Detroit and practiced as an architect there for nine years. In February, 1880, he removed to Omaha, Nebraska, and engaged in business with Alfred R. Dufrene.[3][9]
From 1885-1889, Mendelssohn was a Fellow of the Western Association of Architects, of which he was a charter member. He was also a Member, as well as a Fellow, of The American Institute of Architects (A.I.A.). (Upon the merger of the Western Association of Architects with The American Institute of Architects in 1889, all A.I.A. members were made Fellows because W.A.A. members were known as Fellows.)[7][8:302]
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
Compiled Nebraska Directory Listings
Omaha, Nebraska, 1893-1895
Educational & Professional Associations
1880-1885: architect & partner, Dufrene & Mendelssohn, Architects, Omaha, Nebraska.[a]
1885-1886: architect & partner, Mendelssohn & Fisher, Architects, Omaha, Nebraska.
1887: architect & partner, Mendelssohn & Lawrie, Architects, Omaha, Nebraska.
1888-1893 architect & partner, Mendelssohn, Fisher & Lawrie, Architects, Omaha, Nebraska.
1893-1896: architect, Omaha, Nebraska.
1896: “Moved to Europe,” Omaha, Nebraska, Directory listing.
Buildings & Projects
Dated
Three-story brick block for Max Meyer & Co. (1880), ns Farnam near NE corner of 11th, Omaha, Nebraska.[11][h]]
Duchesne Academy (1882-1887), 3601 Burt St., Omaha, Nebraska.[5][6][b] (DO09:0323-003)
Joseph Barker House (1887), 1505 S. 8th St., Omaha, Nebraska.[6] (DO09:0064-005)
Bemis Bag building (1887), Omaha, Nebraska.[9][e]
Bertram Apartments (1888), 2601 Capitol Ave., Omaha, Nebraska.[6] (DO09:0211-002)
Commercial Building (1888), 710 S. 16th St., Omaha, Nebraska.[6] (DO09:0122-067)
House (1888), 1625 Lothrop St., Omaha, Nebraska.[6] (DO09:0140-037)
Louis Mendelssohn hse (1888), 2024 Wirt, Omaha, Nebraska.[4:179][6] DO09:0140-003)
Henrietta E. Swartzlander Tenements (1888), 122 N 26th St, Omaha, Nebraska.[4:33]
Kirkendall Jones & Co. Bldg (1888), 105 S 16th St, Omaha, Nebraska.[4:48]
Mason Elementary School (1888), 1010 S 24th St, Omaha, Nebraska.[4:56][5][6] (DO09:0205-009) National Register narrative
House for H. Meday (1888), 514 Park Ave, Omaha, Nebraska.[4:155][6] (DO09:0207-033)
Building for J. Grant (1888), 1021 Park Ave, Omaha, Nebraska.[4:157][6] (DO09:0205-024)
John Rush House (1888), 1323 Martha Street, Omaha, Nebraska.[6]
M. Spiesberger & Son Building. (1894), 1205-07 Harney, Omaha, Nebraska. (DO09:0123-028) Old Market Historic District, entry 1-39 in Section 7
Undated
Academy of the Sacred Heart (n.d.), Omaha, Nebraska.[9][c]
Omaha and Nebraska National Banks (n.d.), Omaha, Nebraska.[9][c]
Paxton Warehouses (n.d.), Omaha, Nebraska.[9][c]
Christian Specht building (n.d.), Omaha, Nebraska.[9][c][g]
Burlington Headquarters (n.d.), Omaha, Nebraska.[9][c][g]
Moline Plow Company Building (n.d.), Omaha, Nebraska.[9][d]
McCord & Brady Building (n.d.), Omaha, Nebraska.[9][d]
Paddock Building (n.d.), Omaha, Nebraska.[9][d]
Board of Trade Building (n.d.), Omaha, Nebraska.[9][d]
Morrison Building (n.d.), Omaha, Nebraska.[9][d]
First National Bank (n.d.), Omaha, Nebraska.[9][d]
Ramage Block (n.d.), Omaha, Nebraska.[9][d]
William A. Paxton Building (n.d.), Omaha, Nebraska.[9][d]
First Congregational Church (n.d.), Omaha, Nebraska.[9][d]
Cahn Residence (n.d.), Omaha, Nebraska.[9][1][d]
Pundt Residence (n.d.), Omaha, Nebraska.[9][1][d]
Phillips Residence (n.d.), Omaha, Nebraska.[9][1][d]
Colpetzer Residence (n.d.), Omaha, Nebraska.[9][1][d]
McConnel Residence (n.d.), Omaha, Nebraska.[9][1][d]
Monell Residence (n.d.), Omaha, Nebraska.[9][1][d]
Barker Building (n.d.), Omaha, Nebraska.[9][e]
Sheeley Building (n.d.), Omaha, Nebraska.[9][e]
Great Paxton Building (n.d.), Omaha, Nebraska.[9][e]
The Ramage (n.d.), Omaha, Nebraska.[9][e]
The Millard Hotel (n.d.), Omaha, Nebraska.[9][e]
The Knights of Pythias Temple (n.d.), Omaha, Nebraska.[9][e]
St. Peter's Catholic Parish (n.d.), Omaha, Nebraska.[9][e]
The Hotel Barker (n.d.), Omaha, Nebraska.[9][e]
Warehouse of B.F. Smith (n.d.), Omaha, Nebraska.[9][e]
North American Bag Company (n.d.), Omaha, Nebraska.[9][e]
Architecture Hall (n.d.), University of Nebraska Campus, Lincoln, Nebraska.[9][f]
Notes
a. First Omaha directory listing, 1881.
b. Multiple buildings, multiple architects in NEHBS and Omaha Architects Database. In reference [4] below, also referred to as Louis Mendelssohn & Company.
c. Projects from 1880-1885 were done on behalf of Dufrene & Mendelssohn
d. Projects from 1885-1886 were done on behalf of Mendelssohn & Fisher
e. Projects from 1887 were done on behalf of Mendelssohn & Lawrie
f. Projects from 1888-1893 were done on behalf of Mendelssohn, Fisher & Lawrie
g. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[9].
h. A lengthy description of this project is provided by Omaha Herald on May 4, 1880, noting "The plans were prepared by Mr. Mendelssohn of A. R. Dufrene's office."[11]
References
r1. "Louis Mendelssohn Dead in Palm Beach at Age 81," Detroit (Michigan) Free Press (March 29, 1935), 1.
r2. Ancestry.com. 1870 United States Federal Census, s.v. "Louis Mendelshon," [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009.
1. "Mendelssohn & Lawrie," The (Omaha) Herald (January 1, 1887).
2. "Mendelssohn & Lawrie," Omaha Daily Bee, Annual Review (January 1, 1888).
3. A. T. Andreas, "Dufrene & Mendelssohn," History of the State of Nebraska (1882), 767.
4. Landmarks, Inc., An Inventory of Historic Omaha Buildings (Omaha: Landmarks Heritage Preservation Commission, 1980).
5. Listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
6. City of Omaha Planning Department, Landmarks Heritage Preservation Commission, Database, Query on Architects, May 20, 2002; courtesy of Lynn Meyer, Preservation Planner.
7. AIA Historical Directory of American Architects: A Resource Guide to Finding Information About Past Architects. http://communities.aia.org/sites/hdoaa/wiki/Wiki%20Pages/ahd1030032.aspx [accessed 20100525]
8. Industrial Chicago: The Building Interests Vol. 1 (Chicago: Goodspeed Publishing Company, 1891), accessed August 2, 2012, http://libsysdigi.library.uiuc.edu/oca/Books2008-03/industrialchicag/industrialchicag01good/industrialchicag01good.pdf
9. Robert Peters, “Bemis Bag Company NRHP Nomination,” OCPD (August 1978).
10. Staatsarchiv Hamburg. Hamburg Passenger Lists, 1850-1934 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2008.
11. "Transformation. Opening Wonders of 1880 in Omaha's Internal Development. A Long List of Important and Substantial Buildings Contracted for or Under Way...," Omaha (Nebraska) Herald (May 4, 1880), 8.
Page Citation
D. Murphy & E. F. Zimmer, “Louis Mendelssohn (1854-1935), Architect,” in David Murphy, Edward F. Zimmer, and Lynn Meyer, comps. Place Makers of Nebraska: The Architects. Lincoln: Nebraska State Historical Society, November 1, 2023. http://www.e-nebraskahistory.org/index.php?title=Place_Makers_of_Nebraska:_The_Architects Accessed, November 23, 2024.
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