Lloyd D. Willis (1877-1926), Architect
Lloyd D. Willis was born in August 1877, in Planewell, Illinois, to Elizabeth and Isaac Willis. Lloyd's father was a hardware merchant. Nothing is currently known of Willis' education and architectural training. As a young adult, Lloyd apparently was ill, as the 1900 census listed the 23-year-old in the Illinois Western Hospital for the Insane. In 1905 he married Carolyn Barkworth of Jackson, Michigan, whose father Thomas was a leading local attorney. They located in Omaha by 1909 where Lloyd had a relatively short but prolific architectural career in Omaha, designing houses, apartment buildings, and other projects. Lloyd and Carolyn's only child, Richard Barkworth Willis, was born in 1916.[5][6][7][33] In 1917 his parents were divorcing and Lloyd relocated by 1918 to Los Angeles.[d] Willis died on April 6, 1926 in Los Angeles.[11]
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, 1909-1917
Educational & Professional Associations
____-1893: Unlisted, Omaha, Nebraska.
1909: architect and partner, Willis & Frankfurt, Omaha, Nebraska.
1909: announced contributor to proposed Western Home and Building Review magazine, Omaha, Nebraska.[21][22][a]
1909-1917: architect, Omaha, Nebraska.
1914: travel abroad/Europe with wife Carolyn.[32]
Buildings & Projects
Plans for "bungalow residence" for William G. Davis (1909), 33rd Street between Pacific and Poppleton, Omaha, Nebraska.[18]
Residence for the Misses (probably Martha and Nina) Sharp (c. 1909), 41st & Davenport (311 N. 41st), Omaha, Nebraska.[14]
C. D. Armstrong House (1909), 3322 Woolworth Ave, Omaha, Nebraska.[3:181][4] (DO09:0204-084)
Quadruple House/"Stratford Terrace" (1909-1910), 3302-08 Poppleton Ave., Omaha, Nebraska.[4][31] (DO09:0204-130)
Plans for fifteen new houses (1909), on "Holdrege property" at southwest corner of Hanscom Park, bounded by S. 32nd, Francis Ave., and S. 33rd Streets, Omaha, Nebraska.[19]
Building (1909), 1323 N. 29th Street, Omaha, Nebraska.[4]
Colonial Hotel Apartments (with H. D. Frankfurt (1909), 144 South 38th Streets, Omaha, Nebraska.[20] (DO09:0319-033)
Addition to Colonial Apartments (1910), 38th & Farnam Streets, Omaha, Nebraska.[26][b]
Bldg for L. Willis/Maryland Apt.(1910), 1136 Park Ave, Omaha, Nebraska.[3:159][4] (DO09:0203-011)
Quadruple House (1910), 1302 S. 33rd St., Omaha, Nebraska.[4] (DO09:0204-129)
Three houses for Edward Johnston in Field Club district (1910), northwest corner of S. 34th Blvd. & Poppleton, Omaha, Nebraska.[24][30]
Brick dwelling (1910), 215 N. 41st, Omaha, Nebraska.[25]
Stucco/frame residence for Mr. & Mrs. Frank Bacon (1910), probably 426 N. 38th Ave., Omaha, Nebraska.[27][c]
City Hall and fire department building (1910-1911), Broken Bow, Nebraska.[15-17]
North Side Christian/Paradise Baptist Church (1910-1911), 2124 Lothrop, Omaha, Nebraska.[3:142][4][23] (DO09:0142-004)
Jewell Schoolhouse (1911), 703 Bellevue Blvd., Bellevue, Nebraska.[2] (SY02-044)
Rowhouse (1911), 2913-15 Dodge St., Omaha, Nebraska.[4] (DO09:0209-059)
Lorraine Apartments (1911), 3105 Dewey Ave, Omaha, Nebraska.[3:113][4] (DO09:0208-009)
Residence for W.J.S. Neligh (1911), West Point, Nebraska.[8]
House (1911), Omaha, Nebraska.[10]
Proposed expansion and remodel of Bellevue College (1912), Bellevue, Nebraska.[9] Not built.
Rowhouse (1912), 3913 Farnam, Omaha, Nebraska.[4] (DO09:0319-045)
Bldg for J. Lichtenwahlner/Virgina Apt.(1912), 1148 Park Ave, Omaha, Nebraska.[3:159][4] (DO09:0203-012)
Pasadena Apartments (1913), 420 Park Ave., Omaha, Nebraska.[4] (DO09:0209-055)
Woodland Apartments (1913), 506 S. 31st St., Omaha, Nebraska.[4] (DO09:0208-017)
Russell I. Harris House (1913), 3541 Woolworth Ave, Omaha, Nebraska.[3:183][4] (DO09:0202-029)
Knickerbocker Apartments (1913), 702 S. 38th Street, Omaha, Nebraska.[4] (DO09:0317-037)
Dunbar School (1914), Dunbar, Nebraska. (OT03-003)
Duplex (1914), 3310-12 Davenport St., Omaha, Nebraska.[4] (DO09:0212-027)
Duplex (1914), 137-39 N. 38th St., Omaha, Nebraska.[4] (DO09:0321-045)
Duplex (1915), 133-35 N. 38th St., Omaha, Nebraska.[4] (DO09:0321-044)
Marion Ward House (1915), 106 S 52nd St., Omaha, Nebraska.[3:102][4] (DO09:0432-004)
Stromsburg Bank (1915-1916), 328 Main Street, Stromsburg, Nebraska.[12]
Greenfield Carnegie Library (1916), Greenfield, Iowa.[1]
Notes
a. Omaha newspapers announced a forthcoming publication "devoted to architecture, building, and home improvements," planned for early 1910. Horace W. Taylor was identified as the business manager and R. C. Hosmer as the editor. Several Omaha architects were named as giving their approval and planning to contribute to future editions, namely Fisher & Lawrie, John McDonald, George B. Prinz, F. W. Clarke, J. J. Davey, and Willis.[21][22] No indication has yet been found that the magazine was ever issued.(EFZ)
b. In an article on a number of apartment houses planned or under construction, World-Herald noted "The Colonial Apartment House company has recently begun additions to its present apartments at Thirty-eighth and Farnam streets which will represent, when completed, an investment of something over $80,000...brick, with trimmings of stone...four stories high and contain sixteen apartments...Architect Lloyd D. Willis designed the new building..."[26]
c. Frank W. Bacon obtained a building permit for a $7,500 frame residence on N. 38th Ave. north of the Joslyn estate, and the 1911 Omaha city directory located him at 426 N. 38th. The Excelsior's description of the location for which Willis designed a "very attractive residence...in the English style of stucco..." was "on Thirty-ninth street, near Chicago, just north of Mr. Joslyn's property." The Bacons' held a party in December 1910 "at their new home, 426 North Thirty-eighth avenue," so likely the stucco house still extant on N. 38th Ave. is of Willis' design.[28][29]
d. In December 1917 Carolyn Willis filed for divorce from Lloyd and also sued him, his father, and Willis Realty Company concerning various buildings, insurance funds, and other property matters.[34][35] Lloyd was listed in the 1918 Omaha city directory as "Enlisted" and that year he registered for the draft from Los Angeles, where he listed his occupation as "real estate" in both Los Angeles and Omaha.[36]
References
1. “An Architectural and Historical Survey of Public Libraries in Iowa, 1870-1940,” MS (Iowa SHPO, 1980).
2. Bellevue School Board of Director's Record (see Nebraska SHPO site file SY02-044).
3. Landmarks, Inc., An Inventory of Historic Omaha Buildings (Omaha: Landmarks Heritage Preservation Commission, 1980).
4. City of Omaha Planning Department, Landmarks Heritage Preservation Commission, Database, Query on Architects, May 20, 2002; courtesy of Lynn Meyer, Preservation Planner.
5. 1910 United States Census, s.v. “Lloyd D. Willis,” Omaha, Douglas County, Nebraska, accessed through HeritageQuestOnline.com.
6. 1900 United States Census, s.v. “Lloyd Willis,” Illinois Western Hospital, Rock Island County, Illinois, accessed through HeritageQuestOnline.com.
7. 1920 United States Census, s.v. “Lloyd Willis,” Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California, accessed through HeritageQuestOnline.com.
8. "Omaha, Nebraska," American Contractor 32:21 (May 27, 1911): 63.
9. "Great Improvements Planned for Bellevue," Sunday World-Herald (March 3, 1912): 6-E, description, and elevation drawing.
10. "Hints for Prospective Builders," Sunday World-Herald (March 3, 1912): 6-E, description, plans and photograph.
11. "Lloyd Willis" Findagrave.com Accessed February 21, 2018 via https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/140771727
12. "Bank Buildings...Stromsburg, Nebr.," American Contractor (July 24, 1915), 15; "Omaha, Nebr....Bank: 1 sty & bas. 25x70. Stromsburg, Neb. Archt. L. D. Willis...," American Contractor (July 24, 1915), 80.
13. "Artistic Brick in Vogue--Change in Style is Now Being Used by the Architects in Handsome Residences," Omaha (Nebraska) Daily Bee (May 8, 1910), 39.
14. "New Home of the Misses Sharp...At 311 North Forty-first street, designed by Lloyd D. Willis," The Excelsior (Omaha, Nebraska) (December 31, 1910), 3 (with photograph).
15. "Loyd [sic] D. Willis of Omaha has been engaged by city officials...," Custer County Chief (Broken Bow, Nebraska) (May 27, 1910), 4.
16. "Notice to Contractors," (Lincoln) Nebraska State Journal (October 6, 1910), 3.
17. "Lloyd D. Willis of Omaha, the architect for the city hall building...," Custer County Chief (Broken Bow, Nebraska) (January 13, 1911), 4.
18. "Omaha Realty Draws Foreign Capital...Home Building is on Increase...," Omaha (Nebraska) World-Herald (April 25, 1909), 16.
19. "Fifteen New Houses on Holdrege Property...Costing total of $75,000...Will Be Different in Design, but Conform in General Style of Architecture," Evening World-Herald (Omaha, Nebraska) (August 12, 1909), 1.
20. "Farnam Apartment House--E. S. Rood and T. D. Crane WIll Build at Corner of Thirty-Eighth Street," Omaha (Nebraska) Evening Bee (September 24, 1909), 13.
21. "Architects of Omaha to Launch a Trade Magazine--It Will Come Soon After First of Year--Western Home and Building Review," Omaha (Nebraska) Daily Bee (November 22, 1909), 8.
22. "New Magazine Will be Published in Omaha," Evening World-Herald (Omaha, Nebraska) (November 22, 1909), 5.
23. "Preparing to Build Modern Church Home," Evening World-Herald (Omaha, Nebraska) (March 29, 1910), 12.
24. "Edward Johnston is now erecting three houses...," Omaha (Nebraska) Daily Bee (April 10, 1910), 14.
25. "Building Permits...Lloyd D. Willis, brick dwelling, 215 North Forty-first, $10,000." Evening World-Herald (Omaha, Nebraska) (May 5, 1910), 3.
26. "Apartment House Building a Feature," Omaha (Nebraska) World-Herald (May 8, 1910), 34.
27. "Personal...Mr. and Mrs. Frank Bacon are building a very attractive residence on Thirty-ninth street, near Chicago...The architect, Lloyd D. WIllis, has designed...in the English style of stucco." The Excelsior (Omaha, Nebraska) (July 9, 1910), 13.
28. "Building Permits...Frank W. Bacon, 432 North Thirty-eighth avenue, frame, $7,500" Omaha (Nebraska) Evening Bee (March 25, 1910), 19.
29. "Cards were issued today by Mr. and Mrs. Bacon for a dancing party...at their new home, 426 North Thirty-eighth avenue...," Omaha (Nebraska) Evening Bee (December 14, 1910), 3.
30. "Art Home...Field Club District...Alone in its Class...by Lloyd D. Willis, Arch." (advertisement for Ed Johnston & Co.), Omaha (Nebraska) Daily Bee (July 17, 1910), 15.
31. "Welch Buys More in City and Will Come--Des Moines Owner of Realty and Restaurants Buys Stratford Terrace," Evening World-Herald (Omaha, Nebraska) (December 12, 1910), 4.
32. Ancestry.com. U.S., Passport Applications, 1795-1925, s.v. “Lloyd D. Willis,” [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2007; and Ancestry.com. New York, U.S., Arriving Passenger and Crew Lists (including Castle Garden and Ellis Island), 1820-1957, s.v. “Mrs. Lloyd D. Willis,” [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010.
33. “Where They All Are” (birth announcement), ‘’Omaha (Nebraska) Daily News’’ (January 20, 1916), 4.
34. "Legal Notices...In the district court of Douglas County...Carolyn Willis, plaintiff...," The Examiner (Omaha, Nebraska) (December 22, 1917), 17.
35. "Mrs. Carolyn Willis Sues Husband for Insurance," Omaha (Nebraska) Daily Bee (July 16, 1918), 5.
36. Ancestry.com. U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918, s.v. “Lloyd Don Willis,” [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2005.
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Acknowledgements
Thanks to Patrick Thompson, architectural historian with Restoration Exchange Omaha (REO), for the Bellevue College attribution, February 22, 2017.
Page Citation
D. Murphy and E. F. Zimmer, “Lloyd D. Willis (1877-1926), Architect,” in David Murphy, Edward F. Zimmer, and Lynn Meyer, comps. Place Makers of Nebraska: The Architects. Lincoln: Nebraska State Historical Society, January 4, 2025. http://www.e-nebraskahistory.org/index.php?title=Place_Makers_of_Nebraska:_The_Architects Accessed, January 4, 2025.
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