Homer Koch (1890-1973), Builder
Homer F. Koch was born on February 28, 1890 in Arnold, Nebraska to Minnie and John Fred Koch.[1:19,28][2] He was one of four children. Both Mr. and Mrs. Koch were born in Germany, where John attended Heidelberg University. John's half brother was Robert Koch, winner of the 1905 Nobel Peace Prize in physiology and medicine for his wok on tuberculosis.[1:28] John Koch worked as a miller in Arnold. Homer Koch married Addie Wilson in 1911, and they had one daughter in 1916, Alta, who died of influenza at 2 years old.[1:371]
Homer Koch began work as a carpenter in Arnold in 1908, and went on to build a large number of Arnold’s business buildings and town residences, as well as several country homes.[1] He advertised in the 1910s as "Homer F. Koch, Contractor & Builder." The town of Arnold had a street with every building put up by Koch, which was unofficially titled "Koch Row" around mid-century.[1:278] Koch continued working until shortly before his death on November 9, 1973.[1:278][2]
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
Arnold, Nebraska, 1912, 1920, 1930 [1:256]
Educational & Professional Associations
Buildings & Projects
Dierk’s Lumber Office (1912), near railroad through town, Arnold, Nebraska.[1:278]
Homer Koch Residence (1914), Arnold, Nebraska.[1:278]
Farmers State Bank (1915), Arnold, Nebraska.[1:278]
9 Residences (1916-1917), Arnold, Nebraska.[1:278]
Robison’s Feed Barn (1916), Arnold, Nebraska.[1:278]
Brigham’s Ranch House (1916), north of Arnold, Nebraska.[1:278]
House for the Milldale Cattle Company, (1916), near Gandy, Arnold, Nebraska.[1:278]
Country Home (1916), Loyal, Nebraska.[1:278]
Country Home (1916), Logan, Nebraska.[1:278]
Stapleton Bank (ca. 1916), Stapleton, Nebraska.[1:278]
Buildings for Flying A Ranch (ca. 1916), north of Arnold, Nebraska.[1:278]
3 Residences (1919-1920), Arnold, Nebraska.[1:278]
Comm. Lumber Service (1920), Arnold, Nebraska.[1:278]
Baptist Church (1921), Arnold, Nebraska.[1:278]
5 Residences (1923-1936), Arnold, Nebraska.[1:278]
Public Library (1924), Arnold, Nebraska.[1:278]
Nazarene Church (1927), Arnold, Nebraska.[1:278]
U.S. Post Office (1929), Arnold, Nebraska.[1:278]
Hospital (1930), Arnold, Nebraska.[1:278]
Forresters Garage (1933), Arnold, Nebraska.[1:278]
Central Imp. (1937) & Addition (1952), Arnold, Nebraska.[1:278]
Clyde Arnold Store (1938), Arnold, Nebraska.[1:278]
Swisher’s Service Station (1939), Arnold, Nebraska.[1:278]
7 Residences (1940-1948), Arnold, Nebraska.[1:278]
Equipment built onto Arnold's first firetruck (ca. 1945), Arnold, Nebraska.[1:223]
Koubek’s Locker addition (1947), Arnold, Nebraska.[1:278]
Masonic Temple (1949), Arnold, Nebraska.[1:278]
Medical & Dental Clinic (1950), Arnold, Nebraska.[1:234,278][a]
Bufinch’s Liquor (1950), Arnold, Nebraska.[1:278]
Halstead’s Feed & Seed (1950), Arnold, Nebraska.[1:278]
Motor Court (1950) & addition (1960), Arnold, Nebraska.[1:278]
10 Residences (1950-1966), Arnold, Nebraska.[1:278]
Peter’s Body Shop (1953), Arnold, Nebraska.[1:278]
U.S. Post Office (1959), Arnold, Nebraska.[1:278]
Forrester’s Quonset (1963), Arnold, Nebraska.[1:278]
Lutheran Church (1964), Arnold, Nebraska.[1:278]
Model Café (1965), Arnold, Nebraska.[1:278]
Forrester Residence (1968), Arnold, Nebraska.[1:278]
16 Residences (n.d.), Arnold, Nebraska.[1:278]
Moved home for his mother (n.d.), north part of town, Arnold, Nebraska.[1:127]
Notes
a. The clinic was worked on by "almost every man in town with a construction skill" some time during the year.[1:234]
References
1. One Hundred Years on the South Loop: A History of the Arnold Community from 1883-1983 (1983: Loup Valley Queen, Callaway, Nebraska).
2. "Homer Koch" Arnold Cemetery-NE. Accessed September 10, 2019 via https://arnoldcemetery-ne.org/homer-koch
Page Citation
D. Murphy & Lydia Allen, “Homer Koch (1890-1973), Builder,” in David Murphy, Edward F. Zimmer, and Lynn Meyer, comps. Place Makers of Nebraska: The Architects. Lincoln: Nebraska State Historical Society, September 10, 2019. http://www.e-nebraskahistory.org/index.php?title=Place_Makers_of_Nebraska:_The_Architects Accessed, November 22, 2024.
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