Thursday, October 15, 2009

A Village named Dundee ...

It can be said that Dundee was the Omaha area's first planned suburb ...


The exact boundaries of Dundee are subject to the whim of the observer. :)

Dundee sits in midtown Omaha, approximately 3 miles west of the main downtown central business district.

The eastern boundary is generally agreed upon to be either Saddle Creek Road, the former right-of-way of the long-defunct Belt Line Railroad, or 46th. St. The western boundary is less clearly defined, since the posh Happy Hollow and Memorial Park neighborhoods, and the northern Carthage district are often included in recent definitions of what is and what is not Dundee.

From south to north, Dundee extends from between Leavenworth and Farnam or so, north to somewhere between Cuming (remember, gang, Cuming is singular!) and Hamilton or so.

Historically, Dundee was a separate village, founded in the 1880s by real estate developers as a planned upscale suburb. This included strict building codes and covenants, such things as a mandatory 25 foot set-back of all buildings, side-clearance regulations (discouraging row houses, tenements, and attached apartments) and prohibitions of houses of ill repute and drinking establishments.

Dundee was annexed to the City Of Omaha in 1915.

We'll be exploring the area from 46th. to 50th. along Dodge, then parts of 50th between Dodge and Underwood, and along Underwood within a short radius of 50th., the areas shaded green on the map below.



Dodge Street is the main drag of not only Dundee but of Omaha as a whole. It's the dividing line between "north" and "south" addresses, and has served as US Highway 6 for many decades.

In the heyday of two-lane highways, route 6 spanned the continent from Provincetown, Cape Cod, Massachusetts to Long Beach, California, with the midpoint being just west of Kearney, Nebraska. As of this writing, route 6 is still contiguous from Provincetown through Omaha, but terminates just east of the Bay Area in California.

Fortunately, the history of many of the buildings in this area is well-documented and easier to research than those in some of the neighborhoods previously explored in this blog. :)

From 46th. to 50th.

We'll begin walking westward from 46th. Omaha can be said to be hilly in general and Dodge runs uphill as the street numbers increase, peaking at the corner of 49th.

One of the first things we notice is that many of the commercial buildings are vacant!




Several of the business properties in this area are of a type of commercial vernacular where a storefront was tacked on to a residence. Original covenants in the Dundee area required buildings to be set back 25' from the street. The storefronts were most likely added when this restriction was relaxed.


A sole surviving unmodified foursquare just west of 46th. on Dodge.


Many of the businesses along this stretch, both consumer-oriented and commercial, are indeed open and thriving.






Notice that the tax office is an addition to a set-back residence.


The streamline moderne Pittman Animal Hospital is a designated city landmark. This was built in 1948 by the late Dr. Arthur Pittman.


Dr. Pittman was well-known as Nebraska's first African-American veterinarian.


For decades, Dr Pittman ran a very successful practice in what was then an almost exclusively white neighborhood.


The existing veterinary practice still bears his name.


The commercial building on the northwest corner of 48th. and Dodge was originally a shoe shop, with mini display windows along the east side.


The shop was built as an add-on to the proprietor's residence in the mid 1950s.


Yes, the traditional service station is alive and well in Dundee, with mechanics on duty.


Until the 1990s, this was a photo studio. In recent years it's seen a number of tenants, none of them being long-lived.


Opposite on the north side of Dodge, again, this building has been turned over countless times in recent years. It originally housed the Louis Sommer supermarket, dating from the mid 1950s.


Dating from the World War II era, the 49er has been the archetypal neighborhood bar, in continuous operation to this day.


The existing sign has a somewhat makeshift appearance compared to the one I remember, which featured a covered wagon, the outline of which is obvious.

The building to the east of the 49er, originally the Farmers National Management Company, is another which has seen countless generations of churn. Ditto for the one to the west of the 49er, on the northeast corner of 49th. and Dodge. It was originally a neighborhood drug store, complete with soda fountain, but has seen many other tenants.


Wake 'n' Bake, coming Real Soon Now.


On 49th. just south of Dodge, originally a residence, then a medical clinic (The WAY Clinic), and now a general office building.


On the northwest corner of 49th. and Dodge, Reiners Pianos And Organs has been a long-time member of the Dundee business community.






The complex on the southwest corner, now a general office and retail building, once housed the fashionable Hilltop House restaurant. (Uh-huh, it's right on the crest of the hill.)




I only remember dining at the Hilltop House once.


It was very nice, but the thing I remember most about it -- the other clientele. I was maybe 28 at the time, and I remember feeling conspicuous as we were decades younger than any of the other diners!


My recollection of the Hilltop House is that it was most definitely upscale, but this vintage postcard shows it being more of a family-type casual restaurant. Not the ambiance I remember.



We're now on the downhill slope, walking west between 49th. and 50th.

The building at 4922 Dodge has an interesting history.


I remember this mostly as Fenwick's, a restaurant and ice cream parlor of the retro-diner genre.

It began life as the Uptown Hardware, one of Dundee's two fiercely-competitive hardware stores, the other being Underwood Hardware, the site of which we will visit shortly.

The last time I was in Fenwick's, I remember the "Lost our lease, everything must go." sign. A few months later, Voila!


The lot just west of what was Fenwicks also has an interesting history. This salmon building was for years a rent-to-own furniture and appliance dealer, but in the post-WWII years the original building housed the Monsky-Louis Mercury-Lincoln dealership, which appears to have been the only new car dealer in the Dundee area.


Monsky-Louis survives, however. Over the years it morphed into the Omaha Auto Auction in the Millard area.

Next we come upon *THE* landmark of the Dundee community, the Dundee Theater.


The Dundee Theater, which began life as a Vaudeville house, is the Omaha area's sole surviving still-in-operation single-screen theater. It currently features foreign and art films, as well as midnight screenings of various cult films. (It's just a jump to the left!)

Immediately to the west of the Dundee Theater is a long-standing bar and grill, now signed as the Old Dundee Bar and Grill.


Long-timers will remember this as the original home of the Dundee Dell, which recently moved to a new location on Underwood. We'll visit this shortly.


Is this now a biker bar? (Look closely.) :)

To call this particular area (49 to 50 on Dodge) "walkable" is pushing it! The sidewalk is quite narrow and there's almost no clearance. Dodge is a major thoroughfare and there are cars and trucks zooming by at what I would guess to be 45-50 MPH just inches away!

On the corner of 50th. sits Merle Norman, occupying this storefront for at least three decades.

For the foodies among us, no, I haven't forgotten.

Yes, viewers, the good old greaso-spoono neighborhood diner is alive and well in Dundee!


Cecil's, only open for breakfast and lunch, has a very loyal, regular clientele.

Eat your heart out, Guy Fieri! :)

West of Cecil's ...

Cris Rexall Drugs originally occupied this building on the southeast corner of 50th. and Dodge.


They moved to the current larger catercorner facility in the mid 1950s. The current proprietor (Kohll's) retains the Cris name. Until the 1990s, Cris was home to Omaha's only surviving original drug store soda fountain. You now have to drive to Springfield (Nebraska) to find one.



Along 50th. to the north of Dodge are various small businesses in a well-maintained commercial flat row, a barber shop, a frame shop, etc.


Locals tell me that a side-business, underground OTB for the AkSarBen racetrack, thrived on this stretch for years. :)



End of Part One.

Intermission!

(Take a brief stroll, drive, actually, up 50th northward.)

End of intermission.

Part Two.

To Underwood and Beyond The Infinite. :)

Dundee's business community is disjointed. The hectic hustle and bustle of Dodge gives way to a nice walkable section centered around 50th and Underwood.


Several eateries, drinkeries, and snackeries (is that a word?) have sprouted up in the block just east of 49th. on Underwood.






The Blue Line Coffee Shop now occupies the former Forbes Bakery and Delicatessen.


An antique gas pump, guarded by four bollards, graces the area outside yet another convenience store, most likely as a momento to a long-standing Phillips station on this corner.






Get the lead out! :)




This was an old fire station, now a dry cleaner.


The building on the southeast corner of 50th. and Underwood was for many decades a hardware store, the Underwood Hardware, longtime competitor of the Uptown Hardware, the site of which we visited on Dodge just a few blocks to the south. It remained a hardware store through the mid 1990s and had an appearance as such in the film Citizen Ruth. It's now a bar, "Beer And Loathing", an awful pun!


The logo design has an obvious connection to the name.


It's styled upon the famous Yesco "Welcome To Fabulous Las Vegas" sign.


The hardware store moved catercorner to a vacant supermarket on the northwest corner of 50th. and Underwood. It remained in business until quite recently. The building now houses a medical clinic.


A few more eateries have appeared just south of Underwood, occupying what had been a barber shop and a shoe repair shop.


Cork and Bottle and Amsterdam Falafel and Kabob.


Amsterdam Falafel and Kabob?

Uh? Yeah, right!

Sounds almost oxymoronic. It might go well with Colonel Van Dijk's Dutch Fried Chicken! :)

The Harte Block occupies the southwest corner of 50th and Underwood. For the better part of a century, this housed the Carl Baum Drug Store, a "friendly competitor" to Cris down the street. It's now an ice cream parlor and Subway sandwich shop.



A 1950's view of the Harte Block appears Here. Notice the trolley wires and tracks. More on that below.

West of the Harte Block is the new Dundee Dell. Dundee Dell moved a few years ago from its original location on Dodge.


Dundee Dell is famous for fish and chips and single-malt Scotch.


Shades of SNL -- "If it's not Scottish, it's craaaaapp!" :)

I don't normally photograph strip malls. I loathe strip malls! Tres ordinaire! They are to architecture what McDonalds is to fine dining.

However, I'm making an exception here.


The bay now occupied by the "1020" for many years was Trovato's Italian Cafe. This was a neighborhood operation, similar to, but smaller than the many Italian restaurants covered in a previous item. Trovato's closed quite recently, but the new cafe "1020" is said to offer some of the Trovato's recipes.

Across Underwood to the north, we find the offices and studios of radio station KFAB (and FM station KGOR). KFAB is Omaha's only "Clear Channel" radio station, and is well-known for the broadcasts of the University Of Nebraska football games.

Except for the games which are not on TV, I very seldom listen to KFAB, which is a news-talk station, broadcasting mostly hardcore right-wing propag^H^H^Hgrams. In my not so humble opinion, the trio from Canada is the only Rush worth listening to! :)


KFAB does have a rather interesting history. KFAB began life as a sister station of Chicago's WBBM, the two stations simulcasting the same programming. They assumed their own identities in 1948 and KFAB moved into this facility at that time. Johnny Carson interned at KFAB while attending college.

For avid technoids, more about radio station KFAB can be found here.

The building at 5015 Underwood may not look familiar to you, but the name of the business here certainly will be. This was the "new" home of Buffett Grocers, operated by Sidney, Ernest ("nobody calls him Ernie"), and Fred Buffett.

Yes, it's *THAT* Buffett family!

Warren himself worked here doing such things as stocking, deliveries ("Buffett's - We Deliver!"), and cashiering.


Buffett's original location on 14th. St. was founded in 1869. The Underwood location finally closed in 1969 as one of the area's few surviving independent supermarkets. It's often said that Buffett's was the last survivor of this genre. Many shops make this claim. I do know, for example, that Clanton's on Center and Tony's Grand Central, both independent grocers, survived well into the 1970s, and A. Marino, the building of which was noted in a previous blog item, survived until around the turn of the 21st. century. However, one century of service, 1869 to 1969, is a hard act to follow and deserves to be commended!

The building now houses a bank.

The Dundee Line

In the 1890s, the Omaha and Council Bluffs Street Railway ran the Dundee Line from its then western terminus at 40th. and Dodge to the new suburb. Originally a horse-car line, it was electrified in the early 1900s and became part of Omaha's once-extensive trolley network.



From downtown, the line ran westward along dodge, turned north at 49th and thence to Underwood, then west to 50th., where it turned south and headed back to Dodge and downtown. Some runs continued further west via a one-track spur along Underwood to Memorial Park before returning via 50th. to downtown. The Dundee line operated until 1955.

A restored car of the type which ran on this line is on display at the Western Heritage Museum.


A brick haute relief, commemorating the Dundee Line, stands on the corner of Underwood and Happy Hollow Boulevard.


More photos of the haute relief appear here.

Notice the lamp post to the left ...

Most of the residential streets in the areas we've been exploring are graced by a very unique and unusual type of street lights, the elusive cast-iron "bubble gum machine" globe-top lamp post. These particular lamps are indigenous to Dundee, Twin Ridge, and the Country Club addition here in Omaha. (Yes, those are row houses in the background, but please note that they are indeed set back the required 25 feet.)


Since the city maintenance of the lamp posts can be spotty, local neighborhood associations have instituted an "Adopt A Lamp Post" program to help out. Some of the lamps have been cleaned and repainted by volunteers. Several of these adopted lamps are adorned with hanging planters during the spring and summer months.

The only other location where I can remember these lamps is part of Chicago's Gold Coast, just north of North Avenue, as seen below.



The subject of architecture in Dundee is a topic by itself.

Historically speaking, in the first third of the 20th. century, Dundee was one of the most upscale neighborhoods of Omaha in which multiple dwellings were permitted. Apartments were prohibited by building codes in such areas as Happy Hollow, Fairacres, and Memorial Park.


This led to a plethora of beautiful apartments, most of which are standing today and remain in excellent condition.

Although single-family homes do predominate, Dundee is sprinkled with various duplexes, row houses, and apartments of all sizes from six-flat to almost-highrise.


Recent apartments lack the character of the legacy multi-unit dwellings of Dundee.

Newer housing units, if placed in Astoria, might be known as "Queens Crap!" Yes, the habitat of the "Fedders Special" includes Dundee.



WW II Bombing raid over Dundee!

Yes, it's true. A Japanese balloon bomb exploded over Dundee in 1945. The incident was classified until the end of the war. A plaque commemorating the "bombing" lies just west of 50th. on Underwood.



More about the "bombing" appears here..


Technical information: Olympus Stylus Zoom, Canon GIII, Fuji 200; haute relief shot on Fuji 800 with Mamiya SD.

27 comments:

James T. said...

The strip mall that you showed, on the very east side was Manny's Record Store for years. Dad's best friend was close to Manny. His record store was first on 49th. St. just north of Dodge, then he moved to the new place. He then closed the record store and opened the pool hall which you shoed previouslyt.

James T. said...

I forgot to say thanks for the post. Excellent as usual.

Anonymous said...

Your forgetting Louis Market in Benson. Independent grocery. Still going strong

Anonymous said...

The 49 Bar is closing.

Omababe said...

Yes, a new CVS Pharmacy is going in where the 49er is/was.

It's unclear how much of the strip will be used for CVS or if they will demolish/build or remodel the existing building(s).

It will be interesting to see how CVS does there, with the long-standing Kohlls/Cris just down the street.

John McDevitt said...

Awesome blog post! I just moved into the Dundee area so this was a great history lesson :)

shoe shop said...
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Footwear said...
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Anonymous said...

Pittman was a good vet--our dogs loved him. Much tail-wagging when he came in.

My parents had their wedding reception at the Hilltop Inn, and we ate there at least a couple of times per year in the 1960s. It definitely catered to an older crowd and was fairly upscale--"dress-up" clothing was expected, if not required.

The other Dundee-area pharmacy besides Cris' and Baum's was Hamilton Pharmacy, aka "Phil's" at the corner of 50th and Hamilton, next to the old Country Club Grocery Store. It had a full-line soda fountain until 1966 or so.

Thanks for the post.

M McElroy said...

I am enjoying your blog very much - I am a teacher at Brownell and am trying to get to know the neighborhood more. Would you send me your contact information if you are willing to come in as a speaker sometime?
mamcelro@brownell.edu

Marsha said...

Thanks for your work here.

I am planning a 55th reunion for some of the girls in my 1958 8th grade class at Dundee school this spring. (Lewis and Clark opened two years later.)

I am searching for something about Cris Drug and its soda fountain.

Many days we left school and went directly there for things like Clown Sundaes.

Great memories of the best neighborhood in Omaha.

Anonymous said...

The building with the glass front, just below the full service service station in your post, according to my recollection, housed Werthman-Constable Studios.An old girlfriend from high school days got her senior picture from them. We also ate once at the Hilltop House. This was 1965...(D**n that was a long time ago!)

Photolibrarian said...

I have two nice street views of Dundee in the 1950s which I would like to share with you. 1. Cris Drug area and 2. Dundee Medical Clinic. Please email me with your contact information. I can be reached at Photolibrarian@yahoo.com

Unknown said...

I just got a copy of my Grandfather Elmer A. Johnson's from 1940 which said his grocery store was at 50th and Dodge. Called Johnson-Blind. Do any of the current buildings date back to the 1920 and 1930's. He quit the business in 1937 due to poor health.

Anonymous said...

I can remember in the 1930s and 1940s going to Chris Drug Store and stopping by on my way back home on South 49th Avenue from Dundee grade school. My folks had a charge account where I could buy a real ice cream sundae made with three scoops of Roberts or Reeds real ice cream and a topping for 15¢ each.

The 10¢ funny books were just to the left of the soda fountain when you walked in. The candy bars were in a case towards the end of the store that had a block of ice in it to keep them cool in the summer time.

Knowing human nature like I think I do, the locals who patronized the old Dundee Del next to the Dundee Theater probably had no problem striking up a conversation with members of the opposite, or in some cases, folks of the same gender. There was some beautiful apartment buildings within walking distance on south 49th Ave. such a the Casa Linda, et al.

http://www.vwplaces.com/37136

If a person wanted a good time the Dundee Del was the place to go.

A nice place to eat was the Old English Inn on Dodge Street next to the Safeway.

Old Ed of the Delta

Anonymous said...

I can remember in the 1930s and 1940s going to Chris Drug Store and stopping by on my way back home on South 49th Avenue from Dundee grade school. My folks had a charge account with the where I could buy a real ice cream sundae made with three scoops of Roberts or Reeds real ice cream and a topping for 15¢ each.

The 10¢ funny books were just to the left of the soda fountain when you walked in. The candy bars were in a case towards the end of the store that had a block of ice in it to keep them cool in the summer time.

Knowing human nature like I think I do, the locals who patronized the old Dundee Del next to the Dundee Theater probably had no problem striking up a conversation with members of the opposite, or in some cases, or folks of the same gender. There was some beautiful apartment buildings within walking distance on south 49th Ave. such a the Casa Linda, et al.

http://www.vwplaces.com/37136

If a person wanted a good time the Dundee Del was the place to go.

A nice place to eat was the Old English Inn on Dodge Street next to the Safeway.

Old Ed of the Delta

Anonymous said...

I grew up in the Dundee area and I can remember those beautiful bubble lamps in the neighborhood.

There was a Dandy's Hamburgers and the Rexall Drug store on Dodge Street.

I would go inside and sit at the fountain bar at the Rexall Drug store. I'd order a Cherry Coke with ice cream. I felt like a princess sitting there at the age of 10, 11 & 12 years of age.

Rexall even had a post office inside near the back entrance,
so you could purchase postage stamps or mail a letter.

Hinky Dinky grocery store was a huge staple to purchase all of our groceries. During Christmas they sold real Christmas trees out front. One year my mother didn't have a car. So my siblings,
mother and I took a taxi cab to do our shopping, then we had the
cab driver put the Christmas tree
we picked out in the trunk.

When I was younger I did attend
Dundee Elementary school. I remember the hard wood floors always being cleaned and shined by the janitors.

Mary Campbell said...

Found your blog when I was looking for a photo of Trovato's. This week I took some photos of Dundee Community Garden. Just posted on Facebook at
https://www.facebook.com/annagrammatica . You're welcome to use them if you like. Looking forward to perusing your blog.... I also posted your Trovato's photo and your blog URL. Thanks! -Mary

nils anders erickson said...

hello ... nils from rainbow recording studios here ... i own john sutters mill at saddle creek and dodge ... oldest building and sign structure on the lincoln highway highway 6 and highway 30 in america ... built by mormons in 1847 ... at one time it housed johnson blinds (jay johnson) ... love your blog and all the responses ... https://youtu.be/Hb8ChX4M4So .... here is a youtube i did of old postcards and cutrrent building from cb thru omaha to elkhorn ... many in dundee with an original song i did for the 100 year anniversary of the lincoln highway ...

Anonymous said...

I remember the gas station as Smiley's Texaco, and not Phillips.

Anonymous said...

I recall going to the back end of Baum's drugstore and buying groceries back in the mid 70's.

Anonymous said...

1/10/16
I spent way too many hours in the Golden Buddha bar on Friday afternoons back in the late 60's and early 70's. It was located just east of 50 th & Underwood on the North side of Underwood. It was a big Creighton hangout and the price was right -25 cent draws. Right next door was a Baskin Robbins ice cream shoppe. Is there anyone out there that remembers these days in Dundee?

Unknown said...

I remember Smiley's Texaco. Smiley and my Dad worked together for the Army in World War II. I can't say for sure if it was at Fort Omaha or the Mead Bomb Plant. I think there was a school of automative maintenance at Fort Omaha, and as Smiley owned the gas station after the war, maybe he was an instructor.

Unknown said...

More on Smiley. He is in the 1940 U.S. Census as Harry Eugene Smiley. In the Omaha City Directories of 1938-1940, he is listed as H. Eugene Smiley, and lives at 3526 Fontenelle Boulevard, and has a service station at 4163 Hamilton Street. In the 1948 Directory, he has a service station at 653 North 50th Street. My Dad was born in 1909, and Smiley in 1911, so they were indeed contemporaries. Smiley died in 1975, and is buried in Calvary Cemetery. His son, Gordon, was a race track driver, and was killed in an awful crash on the Indianapolis Speedway in 1982, and is buried with his parents.

FilthyMcNasty said...

‘... broadcasting mostly hardcore right-wing propag^H^H^Hgrams.”

How DARE there be opinions that differ from your own!

Anonymous said...

Yes, to anonymous, I also frequented the Golden Buddah bar and Baskin-Robbins ice cream in 1971-72 (north side of Underwood, just east of 50th). I worked at Wm Ruge interior design, on north side of Underwood west of 50th. I resided at converted house at 49th and Underwood, SE corner. Great neighborhood. Was able to walk to Crossroads shopping center. Love this blog.