Around Omaha

 Who wants to go sightseeing on a beautifully rainy day in Omaha? Really? Great! Let's Go!

First stop-Swanson Tower.

I was showing some of the more interesting mid-century buildings in my neighbourhood on Instagram, and though it might be interesting to readers over here as well. So  much of the Indian Hills and surrounding neighbourhoods were farmland until the 50s, it is like living in a time capsule of sorts. Many of the buildings are the work of the same architecture firm (Leo Daly) and they certainly left a mark on the area. The company is still in operation. 

(Not my photo)

The building in the top photo is the Swanson Tower where I hope to buy a unit when I'm elderly and have won a lottery because you're not moving to the Swanson Tower unless you're old and rich as a  three bedroom unit goes for upward of a million dollars. But I can dream. As a bonus, you're literally just feet from the emergency entrance to the hospital-which is perfect for the pensioner set. The towers were one of the first things built in the neighbourhood and while I'm sure no one could have anticipated how the hospitals have taken over the 84th street corridor, it isn't a bad thing living next to a hospital.  I live across Dodge a few blocks away, and can't tell you how happy I am to have Children's hospital nearby. Methodist hospital is next door, where Danny was born. They've since built a dedicated maternity hospital in the western part of the city. We didn't live here then, and had to drive in from our rural home. But imagine growing old feet from a hospital, a supermarket, a Walgreen's (chemist), a bank, and most importantly, an Amigos/King's Classic. Well, you have to eat, don't you? 

Yes, that's my rear-view mirror. I was stopped in traffic when I snapped the photo. It was a rainy day as I drove around, but as a non-professional photographer I find overcast days easier than bright sunshine. Personally, I think Omaha looks better on a grey day. 

Making our way up 84th Street...

At 84th and Pacific, there's the beautiful St. Andrews Episcopal Church built around the same time. I've seen the basement of the church (there's a thrift shop three days a week in the afternoons) but I haven't seen the sanctuary. It must be beautiful on sunny days with afternoon light streaming through the windows. After having not visited the thrift shop for over a year, I stopped on Friday to kill some time before picking Danny up from school. I came home with an antique ring with seed pearls (three dollars!) and four pieces of vintage Pyrex for .50 cents a piece. The lovely women ringing out my purchases were pleased to see someone buy the Pyrex because it is so useful. It absolutely is. A while back, there was a bit of a hysteria/urban legend floating around that the vintage Pyrex is poisonous because of the lead used in paints long ago. It has been repeatedly debunked, but the rumour is hard to kill. As a result, I'm able to purchase Pyrex for .50 cents a piece, though that's a rather exceptional price, online hysteria or not. Even if there were a bit of lead in the paint, unless you're licking the outside of the casserole, the amount of lead you're likely to encounter is negligible. You'd get more lead from touching the binding of old books. Anyway, the Nearly New Shop is open Thu-Sat and worth a stop if you're in the area. 

Another driving photo (I'm delivering the realism here). 

At 90th and Pacific we have the Pacific Hills Lutheran Church built in 1963. Westside High is located between the two churches on Pacific. I used to drop Dan at the Lutheran church in the morning, and pick him up at the Episcopal one in the afternoon. It worked out well as he could get a short walk, I could avoid the drop off/pick up chaos and he could get a little religion if he felt moved. Sadly, he hasn't felt moved, but the Lord works in mysterious ways I'm told, so we never know. If nothing else he got some exercise.  Then Covid happened and he never walks anywhere.

(Not my photo)

Look at that organ!!!

Don't laugh, but I like the landscaping. The trees mirror the  tall straight lines of the church and are standing there like worshipers heading off the church. They have an extremely retro Nativity they put on the lawn each Advent that probably came with the church. It is wonderful.

I also love the light fixtures. Lutheran churches always look so restrained from the outside and then you get inside and it is all high ceilings and stained glass. They've been doing extensive work on the building over the past year, and it will be interesting to see how it ends up. Such a stunningly beautiful Mid-Century church. 

Enough religion for now? 

Shall we visit Westside High School?

(Not my photo)

There's Westside now. Home of the Warriors and a "Nationally Recognized Show Choir" which I know because it says so right on the side of the building. The high school was built in 1961. The front hall and cafeteria are the only part of the building with windows. The rest is a windowless, carpeted, three story cube like so many mid-century brutalist buildings. It is dire inside. The hallway layout is vertigo-inducing as well. But the front hall is nice. Heaven help you if you're there for a meeting and get caught in the landing during a passing period-that was intense! Oh, and they have Modular Scheduling, which is absolutely as bonkers as it sounds. I'm glad I'm not a student today-I'd never make it to the right class. 

Leaving Westside behind for now, let's drive up 90th Street towards Dodge Street to visit one of my very favourite spots in Omaha, the Swanson Library. Click the link to take a virtual tour of the main floor of the library. 

The Swanson Library (like the Swanson Tower) named for the Mr. Swanson of frozen dinners fame who hailed from Omaha. Originally, the new library was to be built near the high school on Pacific, but the Swanson family donated a plot of land they had a disused house on. It is an awkwardly shaped parcel of land and how they managed to angle a library onto it is a feat of drafting (I suppose free land did make it worth trying). From the outside, the library looks like a concrete block, but unlike the high school, it is light and beautiful inside. The reading room at Swanson is one of my favourites in our library system. 
 

Not my photos: In season the planters to the left are always blooming with something. The Master Gardeners from the Extension office keep it beautiful along with the rest of the gardens around the building. 

See how light and beautiful it is inside? To the left is the children's department which is just a fantastic place to spend an afternoon. 

This mural is in the basement where the Friends of the Public Library Book Sale used to take place every week. I cannot wait for that to resume again once the pandemic is under control. The volunteers are like family and I miss them all so much. 

I saved the best for last...

This is Christ The King Church across the street from Westside High. It was also built in 1961. I love this building so much. 

(not my photo)

The stained glass was recently restored. How absolutely gorgeous is that?! I don't want to go to mass (sorry) but if you did want to go to mass, I imagine that would be a spiritually uplifting place to do it. I do honestly feel that there's something to be gained from just sitting and taking in the environment of a house of worship, no matter the denomination. The places are built for quiet contemplation. 

Interesting use of breeze-blocks! It certainly doesn't scream, "Catholic Church" does it? The absence of spires and arches must have raised a few eyebrows at the time. Sixty years on, it still looks striking and original. 

I will try to do a few more of these, perhaps as walking video tours as the weather warms up. There's so much to see and I've only just started. I hope you enjoyed the tour.