Story #42: 2032 N. 55th Street (Built 1928)
Some homes were designed to impress.
This one became one of Omaha's most celebrated model homes.
In 1928, architect Charles W. Rosenberry completed this striking English Tudor residence at 2032 N. 55th St. Built of brick veneer with a slate roof, the home featured six rooms, two tiled baths, and a dramatic center hall highlighted by a large circular staircase. It quickly attracted attention when it was sold to Robert H. Wallace of Columbia Fire Underwriters.
But the house's most famous chapter was yet to come.
In 1930, furniture executive Elmer L. Corzine purchased the home and turned it into a fully furnished model residence. For one week in March, the public was invited to tour the house and explore decorating ideas created by the Corte-Corzine furniture company. Newspaper advertisements urged Omahans to "Inspect Our Model Home," promising rooms filled with warmth, charm and ideas for modern living. The event was a sensation.
More than 5,000 people toured the home during its week-long run. Visitors admired the furnishings, oriental rugs, draperies and decorative schemes, but one feature stood above all others—the magnificent circular staircase with its wrought-iron railing sweeping around the second-floor balcony. Decades later, real estate advertisements were still highlighting the staircase as the home's defining architectural feature.
The Corzine family would leave a remarkable mark beyond Omaha.
During World War II, Elmer Corzine served as a Navy commander and spent nearly three years in military service. He directed operations at the vital port of Casablanca in North Africa before being assigned to the Pacific. In 1945, newspapers reported that Commander Corzine was helping oversee the reopening of Shanghai Harbor to Allied shipping as World War II came to a close.
After the Corzines, the home was occupied by members of the Haskell family, whose careers were tied to Omaha's building supply and business community. By the 1970s, it became home to Robert and Virginia Creek, longtime members of the Creighton University faculty. The Creeks would steward the property for more than four decades.
Today, under the care of the current owners, this Rosenberry-designed Tudor remains one of the architectural gems of the Country Club Historic District.
Photo Captions:
Announcement that 2032 N 55th St is sold to Robert H. Wallace dated September 29, 1928.
The May 14, 1929 Omaha World Herald published a death announcement for Robert H. Wallace, first owner of 2032 N 55th St.
Elmer L. Corzine purchases 2032 N 55th Street.
Advertisement for the "Model Home" open for inspection at 2032 N 55th St from the March 16, 1930 edition of the Omaha World Herald.
Advertisement from the March 20, 1930 Omaha World Herald.
Commander Corzine is home on leave during World War II as reported in the December 30, 1944 edition of the Omaha World Herald.
Current photo of 2032 N 55th St. courtesy of the Douglas County Assessor website.
