ON COUNTRY CLUB
ON COUNTRY CLUB
Following down 56th street, there is Eddie Babcock, the Kavanaugh sisters, Judy, Jay, Joe Snell, Chip and Cathy Warren as well as Jack and Bob Andresen. Terry Goodkind was last. At the corner of 56th and Corby is Benson Presbyterian Church and across the street is Rose Hill Elementary School. On the other side is a small brick home and on the following on the other side is the Rose Hill Apartments with the Mama and Papa Ranz and Edna Snell. From 56th and Corby down to 56th and Blondo once was the Omaha Country Club. The land stretched up to 52nd and the Radial.
As you turned the corner on 56th street, Ron and Curt Armstrong lived in a brick duplex. Across from them was Wendell Heckerson. David and Dennis Brown lived on the corner. On the next block were Kathy and GeorgeJean Gates. Their house was the field house for the country club and the first year the Gates moved in the house did not have much heat. Mark Pence lived on the next block in a white rock two story. Across the street, Billy Kampfe lived with his many brothers and sisters.
Across from them were the Work ovens with Nick and has famous father Merrill. As he said “My time is up, thank you for yours.” Ron Macmaken lived next to them On the next block, were the Deere’s? The family included John, and Sister JoAnne and Carol. They had the newest house with a great big picture window. At the corner and across the street lived Nick Nolte the famous movie star. Catty corner from Nick was a large estate with a huge mansion and fence. It was called ‘Villa Acres” Before we arrive at Blonde, Joan Hill and Susie Falk lived there too.
The neighborhood has remained vital. Prices are still high and the downtown Benson has been turned into an old market area. The Snell house is priced way above its value given the impact of the Old Market.
My mother lived at 5647 Corby St from 1944 to 1994. The day she left, ironically was the day Harriet Nelson died of the “Ozzie and Harriet “show. Nearly all the cast and characters listed above have moved on or are now with the Ages.