The Junior League Day Nursery

1929 photo looking north toward St. Mary's Avenue from Leavenworth Street.
I believe the brick home on the middle-left was originally the Meyer Hellman home,
(2405 St. Mary's Ave) he first home of the Day Nursery (1922-1926).

This research came about from finding an architectural print (pictured below) from 1891 for apartments at 24th and Landon Court, built for investor Thomas Swobe. This beautiful building no longer stands, so I always thought it was a design that might never have been built. Doing a bit of research, I found the gorgeous Victorian house just east of it, 2240 Landon Court. This got me started on these stately homes on Landon Court. Unfortunately, nothing emerged as to the original owner of this house or anything of interest about the Swobe apartment building. I did learn, however, about the long history of the Day Nursery, which served families for nearly 40 years on Landon Court.

The idea of a daytime nursery in the 1920s was a relatively new concept, born out of necessity during the war years when women left the homes to enter the workforce. One of Omaha's first daycare institutions was instituted by the National League of Womens Services, though the daycare fell on hard times after World War I as volunteers became scarce and many looked down on the idea of women working outside the home.

The Day Nursery at 2240 Landon Court

The Junior League, then 3 years old, stepped in to prove its value to the community taking over on June 1, 1922. For 23 years, they ran the Day Nursery, catering to working mother's. Fees were assessed based on family budgets. To meet the need for volunteers, first-year provisional volunteers were required to dedicate their League service hours exclusively to the Day Nursery.

 From 1922 until 1926, the Day Nursery operated out of 2405 St. Mary's Avenue, a stately brick home built by Meyer Hellman, one of Omaha's pioneer businessmen. In 1926, the League spent $14,000 to acquire the property and another $1,000 to renovate the property. League funds paid for a case worker, house and grounds were kept up, and entertainment for the children was provided for. Children received an entrance examination and periodic check-ups, including vaccinations by the City Health Department.

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An October 26, 1930 Omaha World-Herald article about society women who often "leave their own babies in the care of attendants so they can render a larger service to less fortunate mothers and their babies." Here, Marcelle Folda, Queen of Ak-Sar-Ben and provisional member of the the Junior League, "serve[s] in every humble capacity to which she was assigned."

"We do not expect to make trained social workers out of all the provisional members. If we succeed in evoking a lasting interest in one newcomer and awakening in her mind a true concept of the opportunity this work offers to help humanity, we will be content," said Mrs. Thomas, the Chair of the Junior League's Day Nursery.

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February 23, 1929
(Omaha World-Herald)

In 1941, the Day Nursery began a break from the Junior League, becoming part of the Welfare Federation and Community Chest. The Chest took over the cost of running the institution and paying the salary of the staff members. At that point, the Day Nursery became an independent agency with its own budget and Constitution. The President of the Junior League and President of the Day Nursery Board of the League, as well as five League members and five non-League members made up the Board of the Day Nursery.

Marie Carlson in 1949
(Omaha World-Herald)

Since 1923, the Day Nursery had been headed by Marie Carlson. Born in Sweden, she came to the United States in 1906 and was trained as a children's nurse at the Michael Reese Hospital in Chicago, and was one of the first nurses trained specifically for child care. She came to Omaha in 1914, caring for the children of Willard Hosford, Sr. She retired from the Day Nursery after 26 years in 1949. Even after her retirement, she continued to stay active as a nurse, as Junior League mothers called on her to help care for babies in the first few days after birth. She passed away at age 95 in 1977.

In the 1940s, the League's direction changed and they began supporting a Children's Memorial Hospital, raising $500,000. By 1949, Family Services had taken over the direction of the Day Nursery.  As the Junior League moved in new directions, the Omaha World-Herald asked whether "it was smarter to pour repair funds down a rathole or to invest in a new building?" The United Red Feather-Red Cross Building Fund would answer that question with each dollar being "a vote for the safety of children." Nellie Hufford, Nursery director, pointed out sagging roof, holes in the porch, cracks in the plaster, steep steps which had already caused a child to fall and break her collarbone. High fuel bills added to the misery. "When the north wind blows," she said, "it is impossible to keep this old barn warm for the children."

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While not entirely confirmed, it appears the new 1959-1960 facility razed both the 2240 Landon Court property as well as this beautiful apartment complex directly to the west of 2240, built in 1891 for Omaha investor Maj. Thomas Swobe.

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1959 design for the new nursery by Wallace & Burrill, Architects

Based on the success of the drive, in 1956 the United Community Services approved the 2240 Landon Court site for a new family and child service building. By May, 1959, $184,000 in contracts had been let for a new building to house family counseling services and the day care. The old house would be razed and the new building would accommodate 60 children.

The Day Care continued to operate at 2240 Landon Court through the 1960s, with some renovations in 1967. A 1970 Omaha World-Herald article noted that the agency might have to close if it did not pursue federal funds. The facility struggled with local charitable funding and federal funding throughout the remainder of the 1970s and into the early 1980s.

By 2010, the 2240 Landon Court Day Care was part of Heartland Family Services. The property was sold for $350,000 to Nebraska Urban Indian Health, which continues to use the facilities. Heartland Family Services is now headquartered at 2101 S. 42nd Street, and continues to provide services for children, seniors and families.

Nebraska Urban Indian Health uses the 2240 property today.

Source Articles


Omaha World-Herald, October 26, 1930
Omaha World-Herald, October 3, 1940
Omaha World-Herald, January 13, 1946
Omaha World-Herald, January 27, 1946
Omaha World Herald, September 25, 1949
Omaha World-Herald, September 12, 1955
Omaha World-Herald, April 21, 1956
Omaha World-Herald, May 23, 1959
Omaha World-Herald, February 21, 1963
Omaha World-Herald, October 20, 1967
Omaha World-Herald, December 11, 1970
Omaha World-Herald, October 7, 1973
Omaha World-Herald, December 29, 1977
Omaha World-Herald, July 20, 2010