Story #48: 2535 N. 55th Street (1928)
The Everett S. Dodds Home.
In 1927, Marvin A. and Geraldine E. Kohn obtained a building permit for a new Tudor-style home at 2535 N. 55th Street. The house was designed by architect Everett S. Dodds, with the Metcalfe Company serving as builder. At the time, Marvin Kohn was a cashier and member of the Board of Directors of Updike Grain Corporation, and the family lived just a few blocks away at 2609 N. 52nd Street.
Architect Everett S. Dodds was well known throughout Omaha and Lincoln for his residential designs. Rather than focusing on custom commissions, he specialized in "stock" house plans that could be purchased and modified to suit a homeowner's needs. His designs appeared regularly in the Omaha Bee and the Sunday World-Herald under the feature title "Some New Home Suggestions."
Around 1914, Dodds published a plan book showcasing dozens of designs ranging from modest bungalows to more elaborate residences. Advertising himself as a "Specialist in Up-to-Date Residences and Bungalows of the Better Class," he offered styles described as California bungalows, Colonial homes, Dutch Colonials, cottages, houses "of dainty English lines," and Tudors.
Dodds' work was especially influential in Omaha's Minne Lusa neighborhood, where many of his designs were built.
Interestingly, 2535 N. 55th Street appears to be the only known example of his work in the Country Club neighborhood.
The images included with this post show a Tudor design and floor plan from Dodds' 1914 plan book alongside a photograph of the completed Kohn residence. While the Country Club home is not an exact match, the steep rooflines, prominent front-facing gables, brick construction, and English-inspired character suggest that Dodds may have drawn upon ideas from his earlier published designs when creating the Kohn home.
What do you think? Do you see the family resemblance between the Tudor house in Dodds' plan book and the home built at 2535 N. 55th Street?
As a side note, by 1961 the house was being advertised as a "Pretty Street English Brick" home with three bedrooms, a fireplace, den, screened porch, attached garage, and a price of $22,950.
Visit this link to view the "Build a Dodds Home" plan book! Anyone else want to try to build a home using one of these beautiful plans?
https://drive.google.com/.../1YEq0GmG48qpqIFUQuoL.../view...
Photo Captions:
Tudor Floor Plan from Everett S. Dodds 1914 Plan Book.
Tudor Example from Everett S. Dodds 1914 Plan Book.
Photograph of 2535 N. 55th St as it appeared in the American Builder Magazine in 1929. From The Durham's Archives BF4157-004.
Current photo courtesy Douglas County Assessor website.
