Mendelssohn & Fisher, Architects
Partners:
Louis Mendelssohn, Omaha, Nebraska
George Lee Fisher, Omaha, Nebraska
Mendelssohn & Fisher was the successor architectural firm to Dufrene & Mendelssohn, an early Omaha practice. The firm continued to evolve with the addition of Harry Lawrie, until it segued into a partnership without Mendelssohn.
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
Omaha, Nebraska, 1885-1887
Lineage of the Firm
1881-1885: Dufrene & Mendelssohn, Architects, Omaha, Nebraska
1885-1886: Mendelssohn & Fisher, Architects, Omaha, Nebraska.
1887: Mendelssohn & Lawrie, Architects, Omaha, Nebraska.[a]
1888-1893: Mendelssohn, Fisher & Lawrie, Architects, Omaha, Nebraska.[b]
1893-1896: Louis Mendelssohn (1854-1935), Architect, Omaha, Nebraska.[c]
1893-1913: Fisher & Lawrie, Architects, Omaha, Nebraska.
Other Associations
1885: employed George A. Berlinghof (1858-1944), Architect, as draftsman.
Buildings & Projects
Dated
Duncan Finlayson house (1886), 2017 Binney, Omaha, Nebraska.[5][7] (DO09:0140-126)
Ramge Bldg (1886), 15th & Harney, Omaha, Nebraska.[1]
Ranch buildings for Standard Cattle Company (1886), for a 5,000 acre tract seven miles west of Fremont, Nebraska.[9]
Proposal for First Congregational Church (1886), 19th & Davenport, Omaha, Nebraska.[1][13][e]
Proposal for Y. M. C. A. building (1886), 16th & Douglas, Omaha, Nebraska.[13][e]
William A. Paxton Building (1886), 16th & Farnam, Omaha, Nebraska.[1][13][e]
Paddock Block (1886-1887), southwest corner of 10th & Douglas, Omaha, Nebraska.[1][13][e]
Plans for a six-story hotel proposed by George A. Joslyn (1886-1887), southeast corner of 10th & Farnam, Omaha, Nebraska.[10][11][12][13][d][e]
H. F. Cady house (1886-1887), 1020 3rd Ave., Nebraska City, Nebraska.[3][6][8] (OT06:B-50) Not extant.
First National Bank Building (1888), Omaha, Nebraska.[1][14]
House (1888), 3122 Chicago St., Omaha, Nebraska.[7] (DO09:0212-051)
House (1889), 831 S. 28th St., Omaha, Nebraska.[7] (DO09:0205-108)
Commercial Building (1889), 1207 Howard St., Omaha, Nebraska. (DO09:0121-061)
Undated
J. T. May house (n.d.), Fremont, Nebraska.[4]
Moline Plow Company Building (n.d.), Omaha, Nebraska.[1]
McCord & Brady Building (n.d.), Omaha, Nebraska.[1]
Morrison Building (n.d.), Omaha, Nebraska.[1]
Exposition Building (n.d.), Omaha, Nebraska.[1]
Union Pacific Hospital (n.d.), Denver, Colorado.[1]
Notes
a. Retirement of George Fisher announced, January 1, 1887.[1][13]
b. Fisher rejoins the firm, January 1, 1888.[2]
c. Mendelssohn's 1896 Omaha City Directory listing, "Moved to Europe."
d. The Sanborn Map Co. 1887 atlas for Omaha, Nebraska, shows "Joslyn Hotel" at the southeast corner of 10th and Farnam, labeled "To be built in 1887." After excavating for foundations, the hotel project was abandoned in 1887.[12] The 1890 Sanborn atlas shows the site standing vacant.
e. In December 18, 1886, Omaha Excelsior's "Christmas Number" was subtitled "Omaha Past, Present and Future." The masthead atop page 1 was a capriccio of Omaha landmarks drawn by Harry Lawrie and much of the contents of the 16-page edition focused on Mendelssohn, Fisher, and Lawrie, in text, an advertisement, and illustrations. The latter include the Paxton Block (page 1), a perspective for Joslyn's proposed Omaha hotel at 10th & Farnam (page 2), the Paddock Block (page 7, signed "Mendelssohn & Fisher"), sketch of "Hallway of Mr. Frank Colpetzer's Residence" drawn by Geo. Berlinghof of Mendelssohn & Lawrie (page 11), and YMCA building (page 12, signed by Harry Lawrie).[13]
References
1. “Mendelssohn & Lawrie,” The [Omaha] Herald (January 1, 1887).
2. “Mendelssohn & Lawrie,” Omaha Daily Bee, Annual Review (January 1, 1888).
3. Mendelssohn & Fisher, “Residence Built for H. F. Cady, Esq., Nebraska City, Nebraska,” American Architect and Building News 20 (October 2, 1886), plate 562.
4. J. T. May house, Plans & specs. (copy, NSHS Archives).
5. Landmarks, Inc., An Inventory of Historic Omaha Buildings (Omaha: Landmarks Heritage Preservation Commission, 1980).
6. Listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
7. City of Omaha Planning Department, Landmarks Heritage Preservation Commission, Database, Query on Architects, May 20, 2002; courtesy of Lynn Meyer, Preservation Planner.
8. St. Croix Architecture (May 24, 2011). www.stcroixarchitecture.com
9. "A Great Enterprise," The Schuyler (Nebraska) Sun (reprinted from the Omaha Republican) (February 25, 1886), 2.
10. "Plans for the Joslyn Hotel," Omaha (Nebraska) Daily World-Herald (September 21, 1886), 1.
11. "These, our Illustrations--What Omaha has been doing the past year...The Joslyn Hotel," The Omaha (Nebraska) Excelsior (December 18, 1886), 6.
12. "Don't Want a Hotel. The Joslyn House will Never be Built," Omaha (Nebraska) Evening Bee (November 2, 1887), 1.
13. "The Paddock Building" (illustrated as "The Paddock Block"), The Omaha (Nebraska) Excelsior (December 18, 1886), 7.
14. "A Noble Structure--One of the Finest Banking Rooms in the Country--Description of the Elegant New Quarters Which the First National Bank Will Occupy Next Monday Morning," Omaha (Nebraska) Daily World (July 28, 1888), 8 (with perspective sketch).
Page Citation
D. Murphy & E. F. Zimmer, “Mendelssohn & Fisher, Architects,” in David Murphy, Edward F. Zimmer, and Lynn Meyer, comps. Place Makers of Nebraska: The Architects. Lincoln: Nebraska State Historical Society, February 11, 2025. http://www.e-nebraskahistory.org/index.php?title=Place_Makers_of_Nebraska:_The_Architects Accessed, April 4, 2025.
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