Story #55: 2313 N. 55th Street (1928) - A Home Worth Staying In

Some houses tell their story through famous owners or dramatic events. Others tell it through the people who simply loved living there.

Built in 1928, 2313 N. 55th Street was designed by architect Charles W. Rosenberry and constructed by builder Alex Gustafson for Charles W. and Alice Rice. The building permit valued the brick Tudor home at $6,000.

Charles Rice was active in Omaha's business community, serving as vice president of the Nebraska Soda Water Manufacturers Association during the 1920s, back when the industry tried to convince Nebraskans to stop calling soft drinks "pop" and instead use the more formal term "carbonated beverage." It didn't catch on.

The Rice family clearly embraced life in the Country Club neighborhood. Society pages followed their travels to Cuba and later winters in Florida, while their home hosted birthday parties, holiday gatherings, and family celebrations. During World War II, their son, Lt. Charles Rice, returned home from the Army Medical Corps for a week's visit with his parents.

After nearly three decades in the home, Charles placed it on the market in 1958. Real estate ads described it as a beautifully maintained brick home on one of Omaha's "most admired streets," complete with a fireplace, formal dining room, breakfast room, and study or nursery.

In August 1986, the current owner walked through the front door for the first time—and knew she was home.

"The first time I drove down 55th Street in July 1986, I knew I had found something special. I fell in love instantly—with the historic lamp posts standing like quiet sentinels of another era, the beautiful old homes, each with its own story, and the trees arching overhead to create a canopy that wrapped the street in a sense of calm and belonging.

"The moment I stepped inside, I was struck by the light filling every room. The floors were hidden beneath carpet, but one of my first projects was pulling it up to reveal the quarter-sawn wood floors beneath. After refinishing them, it felt as though I had uncovered a piece of the home's history and brought it back to life.

"Over the years, the house has grown along with me. The original tile roof—often called a 'hundred-year roof'—eventually had to be replaced. An addition to the back of the house created a new kitchen, dining area, mudroom, and half bath, while the guest bath and primary suite were thoughtfully remodeled, blending modern comfort with the home's timeless character.

"Yet my favorite place has always been the backyard. When I moved in, it was a blank slate except for a single pine tree that neighbors told me had once been someone's Christmas tree. Today it towers more than 20 feet above the roofline, a living reminder of how both trees and people put down roots over time.

"The backyard has become a place for family gatherings, quiet reflection, and countless memories. The front porch, on the other hand, belongs to the neighborhood, for conversations, waves, and the everyday moments that turn neighbors into lifelong friends.

"That's what makes the Country Club neighborhood so special. It isn't just the beautiful homes, the mature trees, or the history. It's the people. It's a place where neighbors become friends, where connections deepen over time, and where a house becomes so much more than a place to live.

"After nearly 40 years, this isn't simply my house. It is, and always will be, home."

Sometimes the best measure of a great home isn't its architecture or its history. It's the fact that someone falls in love with it on the first drive down the street, and 40 years later, can't imagine living anywhere else.

Special thanks to the current homeowner for sharing her memories of life at 2313 N. 55th Street. It is these personal stories that help preserve the living history of the Country Club neighborhood.