James Lloyd Conley (1889-1984), Architect
DBA: In Omaha, J. Lloyd Conley, James L. Conley, J. L. Conley Co.
James Lloyd Conley was born in Des Moines, Iowa in 1889 to Elizabeth (nee Goodrich) and letter carrier John Conley. James was identified as a Des Moines college student in 1910.[1][2] An Iowa state census of 1915 called him an architect in Des Moines, but that same year he was a draftsman for Omaha architect J. H. Craddock.[2] Conley married Bertha I. Goodrich in 1916.[1] He worked for Drake Realty Construction Company in Omaha in the late 1910s, designing at least one of that major builder's large apartment houses.[4]. In 1922 he incorporated the short-lived J. L. Conley Co., “architects & engineers,” in Omaha with his wife Bertha as secretary & treasurer and his uncle Merrit G. Conley (1866-1924) as V.P.[5] James and Bertha had a daughter Loyberta, born in 1934.[1] His practice in Omaha included school buildings and apartment houses. He died in 1984 in Minneapolis.[1]
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, 1915-1959
Educational & Professional Associations
1915: draftsman for J. H. Craddock, Omaha, Nebraska.
1917-1918: architectural engineer (1917) and architect (1918) for Drake Realty Construction Company, Omaha, Nebraska.[4]
1920: draftsman for Hennepin Engineering Co., Omaha, Nebraska; listed in census as "architect" in Omaha.[6]
1921: draftsman for Omaha architect J. R. Webster, Omaha, Nebraska.
1922-1925: incorporated J. L. Conley Company, architects and engineers, served as president.[5]
1926-c. 1971: architect, Omaha, Nebraska.
Other Associations
Buildings & Projects
Elwood Apartments (1917), 49th & Dodge Streets, Omaha, Nebraska.[18][24][a]
Public school (1922, by J. L. Conley Co.), Callaway, Nebraska.[7]
Playhouse for Beard Wall Paper Co. at Omaha Building Show (1924), "Build in sections...On Floor of Omaha Auditorium...it will be moved to premises of some fortunate person..."[8][9]
"Deuel"/Princeton Apartments (1924, by J. L. Conley Co.), northwest corner of 19th & Dodge Streets, Omaha, Nebraska.[10][11]
Municipal aviation field hangar (1926-1928), Omaha/near Carter Lake, Iowa.[12][13][a]
Three-story apartment house (1929), south side of Howard Street between 22nd & 24th Streets, Omaha, Nebraska.[14]
Plans for additions to the Maples and the Maywood apartments (1929), 25th & Harney and 25th & Sweetwood, respectively, Omaha, Nebraska.[15]
Hunter Inn apartments (1931-1932), northwest corner of 24th & Dodge, Omaha, Nebraska.[16]
Interior remodeling for J. C. Penney Co. (1932), former Thompson-Belden building at 16th & Howard Streets, Omaha, Nebraska.[17]
Plans for $200,000 residential and commercial building (1939), south side of Farnam between 35th Ave. & 35th St., Omaha, Nebraska.[18]
Row of four 4-unit apartments (1942), Corby Street from 55th-56th Streets, Omaha, Nebraska.[19]
Addition and remodeling for Bellevue school (1944), Bellevue, Nebraska.[20]
Plans for apartment and office building for Dr. Frank Mnuk (1949), planned for (but not built at) 3374 S. 13th Street, Omaha, Nebraska.[21]
Perelman Shopping Center (1959), 72nd & Blondo Streets, Omaha, Nebraska.[22]
Plans for 124 unit motel (1960-1961), 31st and Dodge Streets, Omaha, Nebraska.[23]
Undated
Fort Crook hangar plans, Bellevue, Nebraska.[12][b]
Notes
a.
b. A report on plans to improve Omaha's municipal airfield noted "J. L. Conley, architect, who drew the Fort Crook hangar plans, will prepare plans for the municipal field hanger."[12]
References
1. Ancestry.com. U.S., Find a Grave® Index, 1600s-Current, s.v. “James Lloyd Conley,” [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012.
2. Ancestry.com. 1910 United States Federal Census, s.v. “Lloyd Conley,” [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2006.
3. Ancestry.com. Iowa, U.S., State Census Collection, 1836-1925, s.v. “James L. Conley,” [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2007.
4. Ancestry.com. U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918, s.v. "James L. Conley," [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2005.
5. “Notice of Incorporation of J. L. Conley Company,” The Examiner (Omaha, Nebraska) (February 11, 1922), 14.
6. Ancestry.com. 1920 United States Federal Census, s.v. "J. Lloyd Conley," "architect" in Omaha, NE [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010.
7. "Notice to Contractors," Evening World-Herald (Omaha, Nebraska) (April 27, 1922), 23.
8. "The Last Nail Was Driven Last Night in The House That Beard Built," Omaha (Nebraska) World-Herald (March 30, 1924), 49; and "Beard to Show Perfect Toy House," Omaha World-Herald (March 30, 1924, 57.
9. "Beard Playhouse Given to Crippled Child Home" [Hattie B. Monroe Home for Convalescing Crippled CHildren 2824 N. 66th Ave., Omaha], Omaha (Nebraska) World-Herald (April 20, 1924), 12.
10. "A two-story apartment house, the 'Deuel,' will be erected...," Omaha (Nebraska) World-Herald (August 12, 1924), 3.
11. "Returning Prosperity Reflected in 2-Million-Dollar Building Activity," Omaha (Nebraska) World-Herald (October 5, 1924), 43.
12. "Will Ask City Council to Improve Air Field...Entire Cost $20,000," Omaha (Nebraska) World-Herald (September 12, 1926), 14; "Plan $19,000 Hangar," Omaha (Nebraska) World-Herald (September 25, 1926), 9.
13. "Site for Legion Hangar at Muny Field Selected...$27,500 Airplane Garage...," Evening World-Herald (Omaha, Nebraska) (December 20, 1927), 24; "Ground is Broken for Omaha Muny Hangar," Omaha (Nebraska) World-Herald (January 19, 1928), 3.
14. "New Apartment on Howard," Omaha (Nebraska) World-Herald (March 16, 1929), 2.
15. "To Add to Apartments--Additions Costing $120,000 Wait Approval of Zone Change," Omaha (Nebraska) World-Herald (November 27, 1929), 3.
16. "Work Under Way on Hunter Inn Realty Project," Omaha (Nebraska) World-Herald (September 20, 1931), 22; "Completed Addition to Downtown Omaha Apartment Building...Hunter Inn," Omaha (Nebraska) World-Herald (March 25, 1932), 40 (with illustration).
17. "7 Local Firms Seek $10,000 Penney Job," Omaha (Nebraska) World-Herald (December 27, 1932), 2.
18. "New Resident Area Planned--Elwood to Build on Farnam Tract," Omaha (Nebraska) World-Herald (October 29, 1939), 9.
19. "Block-long Row of New Apartments," Omaha (Nebraska) World-Herald (November 8, 1942), 59 (illustrated).
20. "Bellevue School Bids Due Today," Evening World-Herald (Omaha, Nebraska) (May 25, 1944), 3.
21. "Architect Files Suit for Plans, Bid Fees," Evening World-Herald (Omaha, Nebraska) (June 16, 1950), 9.
22. "Perelman Shopping Center Shown," Omaha (Nebraska) World-Herald (April 5, 1959), 26 (illustrated).
23. "Motor Hotel at 31st, Dodge--1.25 Million Project to Start in Spring," Evening World-Herald (Omaha, Nebraska) (November 8, 1960), 1.
24. "Elwood Apartment Being Built in Dundee by Drake Realty Co.," Omaha (Nebraska) World-Herald (March 25, 1917), 25 (with perspective rendering).
Page Citation
E. F. Zimmer, “James Lloyd Conley (1889-1984), Architect,” in David Murphy, Edward F. Zimmer, and Lynn Meyer, comps. Place Makers of Nebraska: The Architects. Lincoln: Nebraska State Historical Society, January 2, 2025. http://www.e-nebraskahistory.org/index.php?title=Place_Makers_of_Nebraska:_The_Architects Accessed, January 4, 2025.
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