The Mid-Century Legacy: A Conference to Remember

On October 3, we gathered at the iconic Leo A. Daly headquarters for our fall preservation conference, the culmination of our Atomic Omaha: Summer of Mid-Century Modern series. And what a day it was!

We sold out the conference, welcoming 45 registered attendees, along with speakers, volunteers, and special guests, for a day devoted to exploring Omaha’s remarkable mid-century architectural legacy.

Our exceptional lineup of speakers explored everything from the origins of mid-century modern architecture and its influence on art and interiors to researching the history of our homes and preserving these important architectural treasures.

One of the most meaningful moments of the day was our recognition of Golden J. Zenon Jr., FAIA, a pioneering Omaha architect whose remarkable contributions deserve far greater recognition. Barbara Ingram of Rare Bird presented his work and legacy, and we were honored to have members of the Zenon family in attendance. The occasion became even more special when Omaha Mayor John Ewing joined us to present an official proclamation declaring an entire week in honor of Golden J. Zenon Jr. It was a wonderful moment for his family and an important recognition of his place in Omaha’s architectural history.

The afternoon concluded with a visit to the extraordinary Voyage House, where owners Ron and Gia welcomed us into their home and shared their restoration journey. It was the perfect ending to a day devoted to architecture, design, and preservation.

The feedback from attendees has been outstanding. A heartfelt thank-you to Leo A. Daly for hosting us, to our speakers, to Mayor Ewing and the Zenon family, to our wonderful college volunteers, and to Ron and Gia for opening their remarkable home. Most importantly, thank you to everyone who attended. Your enthusiasm and support allow Preserve Omaha to continue creating experiences that celebrate our city’s architectural heritage.

Houdini: A Night of Magic, Mystery, and History

On October 27, Preserve Omaha and the Omaha Magical Society joined forces for a very special evening commemorating the 100th anniversary of Harry Houdini’s death. Houdini: 100 Years Later — The Legend Unlocked was unlike anything we have done before.

Our guests began at the Field Club of Omaha, where strolling magicians entertained everyone with close-up magic during cocktails and dinner. The evening continued at the historic Abbott House, a place with its own remarkable connection to Houdini and Omaha’s magical history.

Dennis Stessman brought Houdini back to life through a captivating monologue, while Mike Ware recreated a Houdini-inspired escape. The combination of history, theatrical performance, and magic created something truly special. It reminded us that historic places are more than beautiful old buildings. They hold stories, and finding imaginative ways to tell those stories gives people new reasons to appreciate and preserve them.

We are grateful to Dave Arch and the Omaha Magical Society for their partnership and creativity, and to the Nebraska State Historical Society Foundation for grant support. Thank you also to our generous sponsors: Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate, Misty Hemphill-Wilson of CrossCountry Mortgage, and Nate Jaeger of Green Title & Escrow. And to our guests, thank you for embracing the spirit of the evening and supporting both organizations. We suspect we will be talking about this one for a very long time!

Remembering Larry Jacobsen, AIA (1945-2026)

Omaha’s preservation community lost a remarkable advocate with the passing of Larry Jacobsen on October 9. An architect, preservation leader, and mentor, Larry devoted years to protecting the historic places that give Omaha its character. We are grateful to Kristine Gerber, who worked closely with Larry for many years, for sharing this remembrance of his life, work, and friendship.

By Kristine Gerber

I met Larry in 2003, when we worked together on Building for the Ages: Omaha’s Architectural Landmarks book. He wrote in the book’s introduction that historic places helped define Omaha’s character and offered a way to build a better future while honoring the past. When Restoration Exchange Omaha formed in 2013, Larry joined its first board, served as its first advocacy chair, and became board president in 2014.

Larry brought his architectural knowledge and steady leadership to Restoration Exchange Omaha projects across the city. In the Prospect Village neighborhood, he led the effort to survey 736 properties, documenting their architectural styles, construction types and histories. He presented the findings to the city and community partners and helped create a neighborhood toolkit with historical context and resources for residents working to revitalize the area. He also worked to extend similar efforts along the Vinton Street commercial corridor.

Larry believed preservation work should offer practical help. When the Great Plains Black History Museum needed guidance on its building, he assembled a team that included himself as the architect along with a structural engineer, a mold remediation specialist and a developer to assess the property at no charge. The assessment helped the museum pursue a sale to a developer interested in restoration, though the plans ultimately fell through when ownership of the building could not be established.

He also helped bring Omaha’s preservation community together. In 2015, Larry emceed the first Preservation Awards, marking the 50th anniversary of the movement to save the Old Post Office and honoring both its early leaders and those carrying the work forward.

Larry spoke just as thoughtfully when a landmark was at risk. He argued in front of the Omaha City Council against removing landmark status from the Clarinda-Page buildings at Turner Boulevard and Farnam Street. He described the buildings’ relationship to the neighborhood and their potential for restoration, calling the site “ground zero” and saying, “With all of these elements, you’ve created a powerful sense of place.” Though the effort to save the buildings was unsuccessful, the advocacy helped raise REO’s profile and strengthen the tools the organization later used to save the buildings at 11th and Douglas Streets.

I will always be grateful for Larry’s support and mentorship as we built Restoration Exchange Omaha. He was also a wonderful writing partner—and a terrific co-conspirator for April Fool’s posts. One of our most memorable imagined the city admitting that demolishing Jobbers Canyon was a mistake and seeking proposals to rebuild it as riverfront housing. Larry’s wit was part of what made working with him such a joy.

We will miss his wisdom, generosity and friendship. His influence lives on in the people he encouraged, the work he helped set in motion and the places he fought to preserve.

Coming Up November 12th: Pop-Up at Clover 24

Thursday, November 12 | Clover 24 | 24th & Martha Streets

Our next Preserve Omaha Pop-Up takes us to one of Omaha’s most interesting examples of historic industrial reuse: the former Kitty Clover potato chip factory. Today, the building is finding new life as Clover 24, a creative workspace for local artists. Join us to explore the space, learn about its history, and see how preservation and creative redevelopment can work together. Tickets are $10 for Preserve Omaha members and $15 for non-members.

"Kitty Clover" in Omaha

By Jeffrey Spencer

The Kitty Clover Potato Chip Company began in 1932 in the midst of the Great Depression. Harold Lippold, then 18 years of age and having just lost his job at the telephone company, decided to start his own business, as other job opportunities were unavailable. With the help of his parents, he began making potato chips, which he then bagged and sold to local bars and movie houses. Soon, a rented room was secured at 16th and Cuming. They remained in this location for about three years.

As business expanded, they purchased an elegant building at 1105 South 24th Street in 1935. This building had been built by Italian immigrant entrepreneur V. P. Chiodo in 1925, designed by well-known architect Birgir Kvenild. Here, Chiodo opened a ballroom and entertainment venue.

Increasing production eventually made it necessary to seek larger quarters once again. In 1952, on a 3.5-acre lot situated on the northwest corner of 24th and Martha, the Lippolds built a large, purpose-built factory. This new building had approximately 85,000 square feet of factory floor space and was fully air-conditioned, unusual at that time. It incorporated many automated features and employed more than 200 workers. At its highest level of production, it processed 250,000 pounds of potatoes per day, producing 16,000 bags of chips.

By the time the facility finally closed in October 1987, it had been the largest single-purpose potato chip factory in the world. It was operated by the Lippold family until 1959, including a branch operation in Kansas City, Missouri, which opened in 1956. The entire business was then sold to Fairmont Foods Company.

After a period of vacancy, the factory building transitioned into warehouse and office space, including the Allied Oil and Supply Company, with some parts used to store truck tires.

In 2025, the building underwent extensive renovations and is being developed as a cooperative workspace for local artists. Its newest chapter is a fitting reminder that an old building can have an entirely new purpose.

Save the Date: Preserve Omaha Holiday Party

Thursday, December 10, 2026

Mark your calendars for our annual Preserve Omaha holiday party! We look forward to gathering with members and friends to celebrate the season, reflect on a remarkable year, and enjoy some time together. More details will be coming soon.

Thank You for Being Part of Preserve Omaha

As we approach the end of another year, we are especially grateful for the people who continue to show up for historic preservation in our community. Whether you attended an event, became a member, volunteered, made a donation, or shared one of our stories, you are helping us build something important.

Preserve Omaha continues to grow, and with that growth come more opportunities to recognize, celebrate, and advocate for the historic places that make our city distinctive. We have exciting ideas taking shape for 2027, and we look forward to sharing more in the coming months.

With gratitude,

The Preserve Omaha Board