Redick Mansion facts for kids

The Redick Mansion was a famous building in North Omaha, Nebraska. It was also known as the Mayne Mansion or Redick Hall. This grand house was the very first home of Omaha University. Today, that university is called the University of Nebraska at Omaha.

The mansion was used by the university from 1909 to 1917. A tall, five-story tower stood at the front of the building. This tower was a well-known sight in the area.

Building the Mansion's History

In 1875, Henry and Mary Meyers built a simple wooden farmhouse. It was located on North 24th Street, which was a rural area back then.

From Farmhouse to Mansion

Ten years later, in 1885, a businessman named Clifton E. Mayne bought the house. By this time, the area had become a new suburb called Kountze Place. Mayne used money from his successful real estate projects. He transformed the small farmhouse into a huge, 20-room mansion.

The new mansion had a five-story tower, just like a castle! A wide veranda wrapped around the entire first floor. Inside, guests were welcomed by a large parlor, a dining room, and a big entry hall. The house also featured tall chimneys, fancy woodwork, and elegant decorations.

New Owners and a University Home

In 1889, John I. Redick bought the mansion from Mayne. This happened after Mayne faced money problems. Later, in 1898, the mansion was located right across the street from a big event. This event was called the Trans-Mississippi and International Exposition.

John Redick's son, Oak C. Redick, sold the house in 1907. He sold it for $30,000 to the new Municipal University of Omaha.

The Redick Mansion as Omaha University

Omaha University paid for the building and moved in during 1909. They renamed the mansion "Redick Hall."

First Classes and Campus Life

The very first classes at the university were held there on September 14, 1909. There were twenty-six students, and most of them came from Omaha Central High School. The mansion was used for classrooms and offices. The building next door, which was a carriage house, became the science laboratory.

The parlor inside the mansion was changed into a chapel. There was also a special resting room made just for female students. Teachers for the new university often came from the nearby Omaha Presbyterian Theological Seminary.

Growing Campus and Moving On

The university campus quickly grew around the Redick Mansion. New buildings like Jacobs Gymnasium and Joslyn Hall were added. A College of Law was also started on the same property.

In 1917, the Redick Mansion was sold again. A local grain dealer bought it. He had the mansion taken apart and moved by train! It traveled to a resort on Keeley Island in Lake Shetek, near Currie, Minnesota. There, it became a dance hall and cafe called the Valhalla Dance Pavilion. Sadly, it burned down on March 3, 1928.

Omaha University eventually moved to its current location on Dodge Street in 1936. Today, the land where the Redick Mansion once stood is home to King Science and Technology Magnet Middle School. It is located across the street from Kountze Park.