Otto John Hehnke (1870-1944), Architect

Scottsbluff-Gering, Nebraska, 1892-1944

DBA: O. J. Hehnke Company, Scottsbluff, Nebraska

Otto J. Hehnke, ca. 1938

Otto John Henke was born on May 29, 1870 in Hamburg, Germany.[3] He came to America with his parents, arriving in Grand Island in 1881.[3] Henke learned the ways of carpentry from his father and practiced his skills under the employ of Rittenhouse & Bragg.[3] His formal education occurred at the Saint Louis Academy of Architecture and Building, and architecture schools in St. Louis and Chicago.[3] Hehnke married Pauline M. Schultz in Grand Island of April 14, 1894; they went on to have eight children, including the Scottsbluff-Gering architect Arthur Hehnke.[3] He was construction superintendent for the Standard Beet Sugar Company in Aimes from 1899-1906, designing sugar mills and housing for the workers.[3] Back in Scottsluff, Hehnke built the town's first brick building sometime before 1910.[3] As an architect, he was known for designing many schools.[3] Hehnke was the organizer and charter member of the Scottsbluff Chamber of Commerce, a member of the Elks Lodge, a member and former director of the Nebraska Architects Association, and a member of the Methodist Church.[3] He died in 1944.[4]

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.

Compiled Nebraska Directory Listings

Scottsbluff-Gering, Nebraska, 1909, 1911, 1913, 1915, 1917, 1926-1928, 1938-1943

Educational & Professional Associations

1882-1886: student, Grand Island Public Schools, Grand Island, Nebraska.[3]

1888-1890: office work and drafting, Rittenhouse & Bragg, Contractors, Grand Island, Nebraska.[3][a]

1890-1892: student, Academy of Architecture and Building, St. Louis, Missouri.[3][b]

1892-1899: draftsman and construction, Hehnke ___ Company, Grand Island, Nebraska.[3][c]

1899-1906: draftsman and construction superintendent, Standard Sugar Company, Leavitt [Ames], Nebraska.[3][d]

1906-1908: draftsman and construction superintendent, Tri-State Land Company, Scottsbluff, Nebraska.[3]

1908-1910: architect and contractor, Scottsbluff, Nebraska.[3][d]

1910-1944: principal, O. J. Hehnke Company, Architects, Scottsbluff-Gering, Nebraska.[3]

1935: associated with Wayne K. Harrison (1909-1951), Architect.

1938: Registered Professional Architect, Nebraska, August 26, 1938; A-68.[3]

Buildings & Projects

Dated

2-tory brick store for Ed. W. Sayre (1908), Morrill, Nebraska.[38]

(First National Bank of Scottsbluff in the Bowen Building)

Bowen Building, including First National Bank of Scottsbluff (1909-1910), Main & Wapta Streets, Scottsbluff, Nebraska.[7][39][40][41[e]

Union Block "comprising five 28-foot business fronts" (1910), Gering, Nebraska.[1][8]

McCreary Brothers' Store Building (1910), Scottsbluff, Nebraska.[6][9]

C. M. Kearney residence (1910), Morrill, Nebraska.[10]

C. Fliesbach residence (1913), Scottsbluff, Nebraska.[18]

Gering National Bank (1913), Gering, Nebraska.[19]

Roman Catholic Church (1913), Mitchell, Nebraska.[20]

Garage for Gering Improvement Co. (1913), Gering, Nebraska.[21]

Residence for Charles Barbour (1913), Scottsbluff, Nebraska.[22]

Store building for A. R. Neeley (1913), Gering, Nebraska.[23]

Bungalow for James McCreary (1913), Scottsbluff, Nebraska.[24]

1-story store building for A. G. Ryan (1913), Scottsbluff, Nebraska.[12]

50x110 garage for Klentop & Hubbel (1913), Alliance, Nebraska.[13]

Bungalow for G. L. Carpenter (1913), Scottsbluff, Nebraska.[15]

German Lutheran Church (1913), Gering, Nebraska.[16]

2-story residence for G. T. Haas (1913), Minatare, Nebraska.[17]

Office building for Platte Valley Telephone Company (1914), Gering, Nebraska.[14]

Residence for Catholic priest (1914), Scottsbluff, Nebraska.[25]

Residence for William Harding (1914), Gering, Nebraska.[26]

Store building for Coors Brewing & Manufacturing Co. of Denver (1914), Scottsbluff, Nebraska.[27]

Garage for L. F. Howell (1914), Scottsbluff, Nebraska.[28]

Store for Leach & Edgerton (1914), Bayard, Nebraska.{29]

1-story office building for M. J. Huffman (1914), Gering, Nebraska.[30]

Store for Hearns & Benton (1914), Bayard, Nebraska.[31]

Store for J. F. Raymond (1914), Scottsbluff, Nebraska.[32]

Bank of Bayard (1914), Bayard, Nebraska.[33]

Store, Owner Bank of Bayard (1914), Bayard, Nebraska.[34]

Hall Bldg. (1914), Bayard, Nebraska.[35]

Office building for R. T. Neeley and M. J. Huffman (1914), Gering, Nebraska.[36]

2-story school 40x70 (1914), Broadwater, Nebraska.[37]

2-story school, 38x72...$9,000 (1915), Scottsbluff, Nebraska.[11]

Elquest Mercantile Co. Building (1915), Torrington, Wyoming.[42]

Fontenelle Apartments (1917, 1941), 1424 4th Ave, Scottsbluff, Nebraska.[2] (SF11-165) National Register narrative

Public Library Addition (1936), Scottsbluff, Nebraska. (SF11-010)

Undated

Scottsbluff High School (n.d.), Scottsbluff, Nebraska.[3][d]

Longfellow School (n.d.), Scottsbluff, Nebraska.[3][d]

Theodore Roosevelt School (n.d.), Scottsbluff, Nebraska.[3][d]

Notes

a. Evening work; during the day he worked construction.[3]

b. Attended Bryant and Fulton Business College, St. Louis, during the evenings.[3] The St Louis Globe-Democrat mentioned in 1889 that "The drawings, etc., made during the winter term by the scholars of the St. Louis Academy of Architecture and Building, 3066 South Ninth street, will be exhibited today...at the above place."[]

c. The second name of the company is given in illegible handwriting; the first available directory for Grand Island is 1903; listed therein is a Hehnke Company, hardware.

d. See undated obituary attached to Hehnke’s State Board file.[3][5]

e. The Improvement Bulletin noted in 1909 "C. [sic] J. Hehnke has completed plans for the First National Bank building. It will be 2-story, 50x80, of gray pressed brick, with stone window caps and lintels, and marble interior finish." The Scottsbluff Star-Herald confirmed Hehnke's involvement in the project in November, 1909.[7][39] Scottsbluff had two new banks with new buildings under construction in 1909, which Improvement Bulletin dutifully reported [40], but that trade journal was also confused by the two similarly named banks--First National Bank of Scottsbluff and Scottsbluff National Bank. Hehnke was identified as the designer of the First National in May of 1909, which was already under construction before the journal reported in October that J. P. Guth, an Omaha architect, was preparing plans for "First National Bank of Scottsbluff."[41] Guth presumably designed instead the Scottsbluff National Bank, as photographs of that building correspond to the much narrow footprint (25'x64') ascribed to Guth's building.(EFZ)

References

1. Gering Courier (February 4, 1910), 1 [front elevation drawing].

2. Listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

3. Application for Registration to Practice Professional Engineering and Architecture, Nebraska State Board of Examiners for Professional Engineers and Architects, November 5, 1937 Nebraska State Historical Society RG081 SG2.

4. “Arthur Hehnke, Sr.,” Scottsbluff Star Herald (August 31, 1980), 11:1.

5. "Local Brevities," St. Louis (Missouri) Globe-Democrat (February 24, 1889), 10.

6. "McCreary Bros' Open House--This Enterprising Firm is a Great Booster for the Valley--A Handsome Building, and A Lucerative [sic] Business," Scottsbluff (Nebraska) Republican (March 29, 1912), 1; illustrated with cut of "McCreary Brothers' Store Building."

7. "Scottsbluff, Neb.," The Improvement Bulletin" (May 29, 1909), 25.

8. "Business Buildings...Gering, Neb.," The Improvement Bulletin (February 19, 1910), 26.

9. "Business Buildings...Scottsbluff, Neb.," The Improvement Bulletin (February 26, 1910), 28.

10. "Morrill, Neb.--C. M. Kearney has plans by Mr. Hehnke...for a residence," The Improvement Bulletin (February 26, 1910), 29.

11. "Neb., Scottsbluff--Plans in progress by Architect O. J. Hehnke," The Improvement Bulletin (March 20, 1915), 27.

12. "Lincoln, Nebr....Scottsbluff, Nebr.--Store Bldg.," The American Contractor (July 19, 1913), 98.

13. "Alliance, Nebr.--Garage," The American Contractor (July 26, 1913), 30.

14. "Gering, Nebr.--Office Bldg.: 1 sty, 25x30," The American Contractor (August 2, 1913), 109.

15. "Scottsbluff, Nebr.--Bungalow," The American Contractor (August 16, 1913), 90.

16. "Gering, Nebr.--Church: 1 sty. & bas.," The American Contractor (August 30, 1913), 24.

17. "Minatare, Nebr.--Residence," The American Contractor (September 6, 1913), 98.

18. "Scottsbluff, Nebr.--Residence," The American Contractor (February 8, 1913), 67.

19. "Gering, Nebr.--Bank Bldg.," The American Contractor (March 29, 1913), 18.

20. "Mitchell, Nebr.--Church," The American Contractor (March 29, 1913), 25.

21. "Gering, Nebr.--Garage: 1 sty, 56x75...," The American Contractor (March 29, 1913), 29.

22. "Scottsbluff, Nebr.--Residence," The American Contractor (April 12, 1913), 82.

23. "Gering, Nebr.--Store Bldg.," The American Contractor (May 10, 1913), 89.

24. "Scottsbluff, Nebr.--Bungalow...Scottsbluff...Owner James McCreary, Shelton, Nebr.," The American Contractor (June 28, 1913), 87.

25. "Scottsbluff, Nebr.--Residence...Owner Catholic congregation," The American Contractor (April 4, 1914), 117.

26. "Gering, Neb.--Residence...Owner William Harding," The American Contractor (April 4, 1914), 117.

27. "Scottsbluff, Nebr.--Store Bldg...Owners Coors Brg. & Mfg. Co., Denver," The American Contractor (May 2, 1914), 116.

28. "Scottsbluff, Nebr.--Garage...Owner L. F. Howell," The American Contractor (May 9, 1914), 29.

29. "Bayard, Nebr.--Store Bldg...Owners Leach & Edgerton," The American Contractor (June 13, 1914), 84.

30. "Gering, Nebr.--Office Bldg.: 1 sty...Owner F. J. Huffman," The American Contractor (June 20, 1914), 89.

31. "Bayard, Nebr.--Store...Owners Hearns & Benton," The American Contractor (July 4, 1914), 104.

32. "Scottsbluff, Nebr.--Store....Owner J. F. Raymond," The American Contractor (July 11, 1914), 70.

33. "Bank Buildings--Bayard, Nebr.--Owner Bank of Bayard," The American Contractor (July 25, 1914), 15.

34. "Scottsbluff, Nebr....Store...Bayard, Nebr....Owner Bank of Bayard," The American Contractor (July 25, 1914), 85.

35. "Gering, Nebr.--Hall Bldg....Scottsbluff, Nebr. Owner's name withheld," The American Contractor (August 22, 1914), 17, 75.

36. "Gering, Nebr.--Office Bldg...Owners R. T. Neeley and M. J. Huffman," The American Contractor (September 5, 1914), 93.

37. "Broadwater, Nebr.--School," The American Contractor (September 12, 1914), 19, 59.

38. "Business Buildings...Morrill, Neb.--2-sotry brick store buildings for Ed. W. Sayre," The Improvement Bulletin (September 26, 1908), 26.

39. The First National," Scottsbluff (Nebraska) Star-Herald (November 12, 1909), 3.

40. "Scottsbluff, Neb.," The Improvement Bulletin (December 4, 1909), 26.

41. "J. P. Guth...is preparing plans for...the First National Bank at Scottsbluff,..." The Improvement Bulletin (October 23, 1909), 23.

42. "Torrington, Wyo.--Mercantile Bldg.," The Improvement Bulletin (March 6, 1915), 53.

Page Citation

D. Murphy & E. F. Zimmer, “Otto John Hehnke (1870-1944), Architect,” in David Murphy, Edward F. Zimmer, and Lynn Meyer, comps. Place Makers of Nebraska: The Architects. Lincoln: Nebraska State Historical Society, May 11, 2023. http://www.e-nebraskahistory.org/index.php?title=Place_Makers_of_Nebraska:_The_Architects Accessed, November 22, 2024.

Contact the Nebraska State Historic Preservation Office with questions or comments concerning this page, including any problems you may have with broken links (see, however, the Disclaimers link at the bottom of this page). Please provide the URL to this page with your inquiry.