The Fates of 144 Faculty Lane and 115 Hillcrest

Tobin Beck sent me some reports and photographs two years ago, in June 2014, and I am posting them belatedly now. Sorry for my long delay, Toby !!!

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Here’s an update on what’s happening with Faculty Lane. Yesterday [June 7, 2014] it was sad to see the end of 144 Faculty Lane. Jenny Mueller-Roebke’s old house, which was destroyed in a practice fire by the Seward, Garland and Tamora Fire Departments. 

The destruction of the home at 144 Faculty Lane
in Seward, Nebraska, on June 7, 2014.
Before the fire. 

The destruction of the home at 144 Faculty Lane
in Seward, Nebraska, on June 7, 2014.
During the fire.

The destruction of the home at 144 Faculty Lane
in Seward, Nebraska, on June 7, 2014.
After the fire.

I found some history of 144 Faculty Lane in the Blue Valley Blade. The house was built in 1924 by Concordia as a home for Prof. H.L. Hardt and his family. The newspaper said the house cost $10,000 to build and it was the first time brick veneer construction had been used for a house in Seward. 

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Here’s an update on what’s happening with Faculty Lane. The below three pictures taken today [June 24, 2014] show workers in the process of moving the house at 115 Hillcrest (southeast corner of Hillcrest and Columbia) to make way for the Heartfelt Memorial for families who have lost children. The roof over the breezeway and garage was taken off to facilitate the move. 

115 Hillcrest was built around 1958-1959 as a Concordia house for Walter and Margaret Hellwege (and I remember a bunch of us kids playing on the dirt pile when the house was under construction). 

The removal of the home (the white building, back side)
at 115 Hilcrest Avenue
in Seward, Nebraska.

The removal of the home (covered by a blue tarp, side view)
at 115 Hilcrest Avenue
in Seward, Nebraska.

The removal of the home (front side)
at 115 Hilcrest Avenue
in Seward, Nebraska.

Below is a photo of 115 Hillcrest being moved today [June 27, 2014] in the rain. The photo looks south down Columbia, with the house at the intersection of Columbia and Hillcrest just east of St. John’s. 

The transport of the home
from 115 Hilcrest Avenue
in Seward, Nebraska.

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The space cleared by removal of the two houses will be used for a memorial for families who have lost children.

Still remaining on the block are:

* the house just east of St. John’s -- 920 Columbia, which is a Concordia guest house and was built in 1919, before the current Faculty Lane became a street in 1924; 

* 158 Faculty Lane, which also has been used as a guest house; 

* 200 Faculty Lane, the former president’s house that now is the Global Opportunities Center, which includes a classroom and office space. 


-- Tobin Beck