About
Located at 2221-2225 North 24th Street in the Near North Side neighborhood of Omaha, the Jewell Building was built in 1923 by James Jewell, Sr., an influential man in the local African-American community. Architect Frederick A. Henninger designed the building in the vernacular Georgian Revival style. It originally featured commercial spaces on the first floor, as well as the Dreamland Ballroom on the second floor.
In 1945 Dreamland Ballroom was used as a USO center for African-American soldiers. It continued to be used for music performances until 1965.
The Omaha Economic Development Council restored the building in the early 1980s. It was designated a landmark by the City of Omaha on September 9, 1980, and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. For several years, the Jewell Building housed OEDC's corporate headquarters and served as an office center for professional people and small businesses. Two private apartments were kept in the building.
The Jewell Building was converted to the Love's Center for Jazz and Art, which opened in 2008 in honor of local musician Preston Love. In the 1940s he was recruited as a young musician by the nationally famous Count Basie Band and played with them for years. The building will be used to help preserve jazz history, as well as promote new jazz and art activities. Dreamland Plaza is located adjacent to the Jewell Building at 24th and Lizzie Robinson Streets. It is the site of a recent $2 million investment by the city, including the addition of public art, a sculpture of three jazz musicians.
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