History of Field Club Celebrating Field Club Homeowners

History of Field Club Celebrating Field Club Homeowners League 70 th Anniversary 9/20/2017 Serving Field Club Neighborhood for 70 years!!

Hansom Park History – Eastern Border • In 1872, one of the city founders, Andrew Jackson Hanscom, donated a large tract of land located at the terminus of one of their trolley lines to be used as a park. • It was not until 15 years later in the late 1880’s that the park would be developed as part of a citywide park and boulevard system by renowned landscape architect, H. W. S. Cleveland. • Because the park was accessible by the trolley system and one of only two developed parks in Omaha before the turn of the century, it was widely used by the townspeople for recreational strolls through the gardens in the summer time and ice skating parties in the winter. The park included a pavilion, a bandstand, greenhouses, extensive flowerbeds, and lakes with fountains. (NRHP, 2000) 9/20/2017 Hanscom Park's open-air pavilion stands in the background as ice skaters stop to pose ~1900 Serving Field Club Neighborhood for 70 years!!

Field Club of Omaha History – Western Border • In the 1890’s the County poor farm was transitioned into a cricket field and soon converted to a golf and outdoor sporting club. • Later named Field Club - founded in 1898. • Although at times controversial this recreational use so near a developing neighborhood proved an important asset for the residents of its namesake neighborhood. • More than once the fate of the Field Club became a rallying issue for the residents of the neighborhood. 9/20/2017 Serving Field Club Neighborhood for 70 years!!

Presidential Visit “Former President Theodore Roosevelt addresses a crowd at the Omaha Field Club in September 1910. Roosevelt stayed busy during his Omaha visit, with The World. Herald headline proclaiming: “Theodore Roosevelt Puts In One of His Most Strenuous Days in Omaha Friday. ” The story noted Roosevelt’s famous toothy smile and reported that his visit included an “elaborate breakfast” at the Omaha Club. He also addressed a crowd of 400 during a luncheon at the Field Club and then spoke briefly on the club’s lawn to veterans. ” (Omaha World Herald) 9/20/2017 Serving Field Club Neighborhood for 70 years!!

Houses of Field Club The First “West” Omaha suburb • In the late 1880’s to avoid the hustle and bustle of downtown Omaha, affluent residents began building homes in the “new west” Omaha. • Famous architects built Queen Anne style homes for the affluent overlooking Omaha’s first park, Hanscom Park with the first home built in 1889 through 1910 along 32 nd Avenue and then later along Woolworth Avenue (1905 to 1920) to fill in between Hanscom Park and Field Club of Omaha boundaries. • Construction halted during the Great Depression – only 7 houses were built in the 1930’s. • Building resumed through 1962 as housing was needed after the war. It was these homes that filled in the rest of Field Club’s 16 square blocks. https: //fieldclubomaha. wordpress. com/history/architectural-history/ 9/20/2017 1878 City of Omaha Map: Orange is the future Field Club District – Green lines are streets added in later development Serving Field Club Neighborhood for 70 years!!

Field Club Homeowners League - 1947 Front Porch Neighborhood and Values • The extremely intact nature of the neighborhood is partly in thanks to the development of a now well-established neighborhood association. • The Field Club Homeowners League deserves credit for maintaining the residential fabric of the neighborhood. Many times within the past seventy years, the Field Club itself has been threatened by modern development. Early plans attempted to locate a Veterans Hospital on the site of the Field Club itself, which was successfully opposed and currently resides some five blocks west of the district. • Following this the grounds of the golf course were slated for housing the military veterans returning from their service in World War II. This was a serious threat because of the availability of federal funds in the late 1940 s to accommodate this type of housing. The neighborhood association successfully defeated this proposal, yet again securing the future of the Field Club. • It was at this time that the Field Club Homeowners League was officially established, becoming known as one of the earliest organized neighborhood groups in this area. 9/20/2017 Serving Field Club Neighborhood for 70 years!!

• Primarily important to the group was retaining the continuity of the neighborhood by strongly supporting single family, owner-occupied residences. • To accomplish this goal the Homeowners League successfully persuaded the city of Omaha to impose strict zoning regulations within their boundaries. • The only rentals allowable to date in this neighborhood are whole buildings occupied by single families. • Currently one other neighborhood in the city has more strict zoning, and that is the Happy Hollow neighborhood where rentals are not permissible. • Overall, the Field Club Residential Historic District is a product of the expansion and development of the suburban community in the city of Omaha, and is an exceptional example of the craftsmanship and talents of local builders and architects. • Contextually it relates to the influence of early city planners on the residential landscape of the city and of the organized construction movement in later suburban development. The district retains an exceptionally high degree of historic Integrity – (98% of contributing structures – most outstanding in the state). (NRHP, 2000) file: ///C: /Users/kporter/Downloads/FHCL%20 National%20 Registry%20 Doc. pdf 9/20/2017 Serving Field Club Neighborhood for 70 years!!

9/20/2017 Omaha World Herald – June 23, 1971

Omaha World Herald – May 20, 1979

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OWH – March 6, 2010 9/20/2017

9/20/2017 Serving Field Club Neighborhood for 70 years!!

FCHL BOD Panel Moderator: Peggy Pavlik Panel: Patty Zieg, Bob Perrin, Annika Phillips, and Val Himes 9/20/2017 Serving Field Club Neighborhood for 70 years!!