Mason School

Mason School is located at 1012 South 24th Street in south Omaha, Nebraska, United States. Designed in the Richardson Romanesque style by the architectural firm of Mendelssohn, Fisher and Lawrie, the school was built in 1888 by the brick manufacturing and construction firm of Hadden, Rocheford & Gould. The school closed in the late 1970s and was converted into apartments. It was designated an Omaha Landmark in 1986 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places that same year.

Mason School
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Omaha Landmark
Mason School, seen from 24th Street
Location	1012 South 24th Street, Omaha, Nebraska
Coordinates	41°15′01″N 95°56′52″W
Built	1888[1]
Architect	Mendelssohn, Fisher and Lawrie
Architectural style	Richardson Romanesque
NRHP reference No.	86000339 [2]
Significant dates
Added to NRHP	March 13, 1986
Designated OMAL	January 28, 1986[1]

About

Mason School is a two-story brick building named in honor of Charles Mason, a Nebraska Supreme Court Justice in the early years of the state.

When the school was built in 1888, it was located on the western fringe of Omaha on an unpaved South 24th Street. At the time it was opened, it was the largest elementary school in Omaha, with sixteen classrooms.[3] The first principal was Jennie McKoons, with a staff of five teachers.[3] When it first opened the school had 326 students; however, within a few years it expanded so rapidly that three wooden additions had to be constructed to accommodate the student body. They were replaced in 1936 with a brick addition.[4]

In 1989 the building was renovated and turned into apartments.[5][6]

Industrialist and philanthropist Peter Kiewit was among the school's notable students.[7]

See also

• History of Omaha

References

1. "Omaha Landmarks". Omaha Landmarks Heritage Preservation Commission. Retrieved 2013-03-05.
2. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. January 23, 2007.
3. "A New School it is Situated on Mason St. and Will be Opened Monday". The Omaha World-Herald Newspaper, Omaha, NE, USA. February 9, 1889. p. Volume: XXIV Issue: 139 Page: 5.
4. Landmarks, Inc. (2003) Building for the Ages, Omaha's Architectural Landmarks. Quebecor Printing - Omaha Books. p 69.
5. More Nebraska National Register Sites. Nebraska State Historical Society. Retrieved 9/19/07.
6. More Tax Incentive Program Projects. Nebraska State Historical Society. Retrieved 9/19/07.
7. "Mason School". City of Omaha Landmark Heritage Preservation Commission. Retrieved 9/19/07.