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A Joslyn Castle Publication
Spring 2015
Table Of Contents
Why Joslyn Castle? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Guild Activities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
New Tenants in the Carriage House . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
From the Archives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Grounds and Buildings Report . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Message from the President . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Program News - Last Winter
Turkey Trot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Miracle on Farnam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Holiday Decorations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Castle Guild Patron Party and Boutique . . . . . . . . . 5
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
George Kleine, President
Nathan Bronson, Treasurer
Ron Crampton, VP Grounds
Polo Davis,
Castle Guild Representative
Catherine Demes-Maydew
Ben Harvey
Mary Jewell, President-Elect
Ric Klaas
David Levy, VP Development
Sharon McGill, Secretary
Holly Mulkins
Francie Prier
Joan Standifer
Matt Wegener,
VP Property Management
ADVISORY Council
David Ambrose
Brad Ashford
Castle Guild Board
Polo Davis, President
Annette Huff,
Corresponding Secretary
Cocktail Reception Honoring LB191 . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Teddi Kennedy, VP Fundraising
Program News - Upcoming Events
Maureen Lee, Treasurer
Calendar of Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Mattress Mayhem Murder Mystery . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Jeanie Owen, President Elect
Edi Pierce, VP Education
Rentals at the Castle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Omaha Gives! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Laura Worick, VP Membership
Summer Fun Activities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Save the Date: 2015 Joslyn Castle Classic Car Show . 10
Special Thanks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Back Cover
Membership Form . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Back Cover
STAFF
Social Media . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Back Cover
Julie Reilly, Executive Director
Cole Hokanson,
Facilities Assistant
Sherri Moore,
Program and Tour Coordinator
David Levy
B. J. Reed
Penelope Smith, Archivist
Bryan Zimmer
Big Muddy Urban Farm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Suzanne Shehan-Ames,
VP Social
Mary Parrish, Accounts
Receivable and Reservations
Connie Spellman
Save the Date Annual Castle Guild Luncheon . . . . . 9
Tours at the Castle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Bonnie Martin,
Rental and Event Coordinator
Mary Jewell
Scotch Tasting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Francie Prier, Advisor
Carol Gendler
Tim Holland
Lute Concert . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Valentine Dinners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Trevor King, Facilities Manager
Margie Heller
Paranormal Investigation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Judy Alderman,
Recording Secretary
Doug Bisson
George Haecker
Holiday Historic Home Tour . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Amy Trenolone, Membership and
Communication Coordinator
page 1
www.joslyncastle.com
Why Joslyn Castle?
The Castle is a place of excellent architecture and design.
The Castle reflects the finest craftsmanship in stone masonry,
wood carving, joinery, stained glass, ironwork, bronze casting,
and mosaic tile work. It is an excellent and rare example of the
Scottish Baronial architectural style in America. Part of the last
romanticized, turn of the century, Gothic Revival schools of
architecture, the Castle was created on the cusp of a new
day as Victorian design gave way to Arts and Crafts and
Art Nouveau.
The Castle is a place of great natural beauty.
The magnificent grounds were initially designed and planted
with the consultation of John Thorpe, an internationally
renowned floriculturist, and Charles G. Carpenter, a local
landscape expert who had worked with rising visionary
landscape architect H. W. S. Cleveland at the time of the
creation of the Omaha Parks and Boulevard System. Later,
internationally renowned landscape architect and naturalist
Jens Jensen influenced the Conservatory and grounds. As
a result, the landscape was a blending of three innovative
landscape styles: the Picturesque, the Gardenesque, and the
Prairie styles. With exotic and local trees, shrubs, and plantings,
many over 125 years old, the grounds represent a significant,
historic landscape in Nebraska.
The Castle is a place of significant national
and local history.
George A. Joslyn was the first “Media Mogul” in America,
controlling the “…most successful and far reaching media
service company in America...” The breadth of his national
influence even outreached that of his successor, William
Randolph Hearst. George and Sarah Joslyn built a small local
branch print business into a national media monopoly replete
with Senate Sherman Antitrust Act hearings. Before radio and
television, the Joslyns’ publications reached millions of
Americans each week “to educate, inform, and entertain.”
With such a large audience, Joslyns’ hand in choosing news,
literature, and stories impacted the mindset of the rural
American in ways that are just now being investigated by
scholars. Locally, the Joslyns’ impact as community leaders
and philanthropists was even greater. Involved with the Chamber
of Commerce, the Omaha Club, the Country Club, AKSARBEN,
the Society of Liberal Arts, and numerous other civic
organizations, they provided philanthropic support to and,
in many cases, helped found most of Omaha’s social service,
arts, and cultural organizations.
The Castle is a place to celebrate milestones
in personal and professional lives.
Tens of thousands of people have celebrated marriages,
anniversaries, birthdays, receptions, and other social events at
the Castle. Thousands have worked and visited the Castle as
headquarters for the Omaha Public School system, Nebraska
Arts Council, Landmarks, Institute for Sustainable Communities,
Restoration Exchange, and the Joslyn Castle Trust.
The Castle is a place to share great arts, culture,
and educational experiences.
Thousands have been enriched by musical, theatrical, cultural,
and social programs at the Castle - from the Joslyns’ private
salons to the 1990 Designer Showhouse. In recent years, eleven
Murder Mysteries, hundreds of theatrical performances,
thousands of concerts, hundreds of fundraisers, four blockbuster
Car Classics, four Literary Festivals, and decades of tours for
children and adults have amazed, educated, and entertained.
The Castle is a place that is loved and cherished by many.
Thank you for being a part of the Castle family!
page 2
www.joslyncastle.com
Guild Update
The Holiday Patron Party and Boutique and the Holiday Historic
Home Tour, our major fundraisers, were a huge success in 2014,
and dates are set for 2015 – Thursday, December 3 through Saturday,
December 5. Be sure to save the dates.
Your Castle Guild has been very busy. Stop by the Castle and
see the improvements the Guild has accomplished. The beautiful
chandelier featured on the cover of this newsletter is just one of the
recent additions. Because of the generosity of Jerry Pabst, owner of
Collector’s Choice, the Guild was able to purchase this chandelier,
and it is now hanging in the grand staircase hall. Although it is not
original to the Castle, it is a perfect fit with the Castle style, and I am
sure Sarah Joslyn would approve. (For more information on this
exquisite piece, please refer to the article below.)
JOIN THE CASTLE GUILD and continue to preserve the legacy
of the Castle to the Omaha community.
Polo Davis, Castle Guild President
New Tenants
In addition to this chandelier, there are also beautifully
refurbished restrooms.
Carriage House
We recently have allocated Guild funds to paint the kitchen and
butler’s pantry and the upstairs hall and are working on other projects,
but we need your support and ideas.
We are excited to announce the Castle has new tenants in the
Carriage House basement—Jacque Denney LMT, RN owns
Pampered by J. and Sarah Middleton owns Middleton Aesthetics.
Our new tenants join Legacy Preservation, Mundy and Associates,
and Sterling Financial Advisors.
Our membership drive is currently underway, and we hope you have
sent in your dues. This year, for the first time, we will be publishing a
Castle Guild directory and certainly want you to be included. If you have
any questions, please call the Castle at 402-595-2199.
After our facilities team repaired the ceiling and repainted the
basement space, we advertised for tenants and quickly found
wonderful new “neighbors” for the Castle. You can find more about
Middleton Aesthetics and Pampered by J on Facebook.
From the Archives
It’s no exaggeration to say the Castle’s “cup runneth over.” We’ve
received three superb yearend gifts; (from Jerry Pabst and our
wonderful Guild) an amazing Art Nouveau chandelier for the
staircase hall, and in memory of Ethel Coleman Shea and Nina
Coleman Rogers (sister-inlaw and wife of Mrs. Joslyn’s chauffeur
and steward, George Rogers) one of the Castle’s original Limoges
Jean Pouyat jardinières and two original occasional chairs.
Saved from a grand Council Bluffs house over twenty years ago by
Jerry Pabst and his late partner Bill Burress, the bronze and art glass
chandelier meshes seamlessly with the Castle’s style. Five flower-form
lights with a central bud tremble gracefully from two rings hanging from
a center canopy ornamented with tulips and lights. Suspended ring
chandeliers are typically Gothic Revival (think iron bands and
Medieval castles), but this unique piece blends medieval style with
an Art Nouveau sensibility for natural forms. The signed glass shades
were designed by one of Tiffany’s major competitors, The Quezal Art
Glass and Decorating Company, known for creating opaque glass with
iridescent “feather pulls” in a variety of jewel-like hues. Three luxury
firms designed fixtures using Quezal shades: Edward F. Caldwell and
Company, Stuart-Howland Company,
and The David J. Braun Manufacturing
Company of Chicago. We hope in the
coming months to identify which made
our chandelier.
The two 1906 maple occasional chairs
made by the Grand Ledge Chair
Company of Grand Ledge, Michigan,
are a wonderful remnant of the Joslyns’
busy world. Occasional chairs, as the
name implies, are easily transportable
pieces brought out as the occasion
demands, not unlike folding chairs
today. Sarah not only entertained society, she was a tireless
philanthropist, holding meetings, giving teas, picnics, and concerts
for various worthy charities. The Joslyns had seventy of these chairs
and they were moved in groups of two or three or all together up the
backstairs from the billiard room, to the morning room, to the ballroom,
the music room, and outside on the lawn. Eventually even sturdy
furniture will break down, and our chairs sport birch veneer replacement seats. When beyond repair the original seat caning was replaced
with a “quick fix;” a Gardener & Company three-ply birch wood veneer
seat applied with tacks. The damaged caning, which would have taken
hours to repair, was replaced with a standardized replacement seat in
minutes and the show could go on!
Sarah’s greatest indulgence was
flowers, and she was known for
entertaining in rooms heady with
scent. The monumental (a 42 inch
circumference) Jean Pouyat
Limoges jardinière, handpainted
with full-blown roses, was one
of five that graced the den and
library on gilt flower stands, (there
was also a sixth gilt three-handled
jardinière in the dining room and a
large cloisonné piece in the
drawing room, not to mention
myriad vases and “flower
glasses”). These magnificent pieces would have brought the garden
indoors in massive bouquets of roses, peonies, chrysanthemums, lilies,
and lilacs, no matter the season. The golden wallpaper would have
shimmered; gilt on Crown Derby, Minton, and Limoges would have
glinted; and the entire effect would have been one of a flower-filled
gilded shell.
Thank you Jerry Pabst, Castle Guild, and our anonymous donors for
these priceless donations to the Castle!
page 3
www.joslyncastle.com
Grounds and Buildings Report
stained glass window between the balcony and the
conservatory. The window is being restored by
Lambrecht Glass Studio with a generous grant from The
Questers that was shepherded by Lorraine Jeffus. While
the window is out for repair, a plastic insert has been
installed. Please come visit to see therestored window
back in place.
By the time this newsletter arrives in your mailbox,
the Castle grounds team will likely be busy at work
making the grounds come alive now that (we hope)
winter has moved on. We were thrilled to be able to
secure the necessary equipment to handle our own
snow removal in-house this past winter. This enabled
us to better control timing and care of the roads and
sidewalks for our programs and rental events at a
significant cost saving.
Special thanks to McGill Restoration for consulting and
repairing several serious drainage issues on the lower
level parking lot and behind the Carriage House as well
as for undertaking a repair to the main stairs leading to
the third floor. McGill’s scaffolding for the stair repair was
generously left in place to allow for the repainting of the
second and third floor stair halls – a fantastic painting
project funded by the Castle Guild.
As we have had mild winter weather, the grounds have
already been prepared for the blooming of over 1,100
tulip and daffodil bulbs that were purchased with a gift
from the LeJardin Garden Club. The bulbs were lovingly
planted by our super volunteers Sharon McGill, Ron
Crampton, Diane Harder, and Jennifer Duncan. It is sure
to be a glorious spring! Please remember to stop by.
Special thanks to Deidre Evans and the Joslyn Castle
Neighborhood Association for securing the funding to
purchase dog stations for the grounds. We now have two
in place for use by the owners of our four-legged visitors.
We are so pleased to announce that the Castle has been
awarded a wonderful grant to install a sprinkler system on
the Castle grounds. Our grounds committee, volunteers,
and staff have spent hundreds of hours hauling hoses
and buckets about the grounds to water the 5.57 acres
to ensure that our plantings and historic trees thrive,
so the sprinkler system will be a much welcome
improvement. Plans are to begin installation in March.
We cannot wait!
In late February, Castle Board Member and woodworker
extraordinaire, Ben Harvey, helped remove the original
The Carriage House roof is slated to be replaced
beginning in mid-March, pun intended! Our tenants in
the Carriage House will be happy to see the leaky roof
go! The slate to be installed is Grand Blackburn and
Appalachian Ascent which will create a close match for
the original Castle roof (for which we have samples) and,
as a result, will not exactly match the replacement roof
currently on the Castle itself.
We also want to thank staff Trevor King and Cole
Hokanson for working so hard to clean, paint, and
make many improvements to our theatrical storage and
dressing spaces below the west end of the Music Room!
We will be able to offer these newly improved spaces for
our programs and for those that we host.
We hope you will check out all of these great
improvements next time you visit the Castle.
Message from the President
I was dining in the Gold Room on Valentine’s Day enjoying a
wonderful meal at a Castle event, and I overheard others talking about
the mansion and the mystique and beauty of the rooms. It made me
think about the Joslyn family and what it must have been like sitting in
the Gold Room chatting with them about business or life in general.
How proud they must have been sharing their beautiful home and
entertaining their family and friends. I also thought how organized they
must have been to be organized in an age of no cell phones or
computers to file our emails or other personal records. Sarah ran the
house and kept track of everything with ledgers and notes. How
sensible and organized she must have been to keep a house of this
size going – even with help from servants and others.
The Castle Board is entrusted with caring for this beautiful place and
sharing it with the community. There is no place like it in the city. How
organized and sensible we must all be to preserve the Joslyn Castle
and its legacy. With your help we can keep this house going with our
own “ledgers and notes.”
Come enjoy the Castle often,
George Kleine
page 4
www.joslyncastle.com
Program News — Last Winter
4th annual Turkey Trot
On November 21, Thanksgiving morning, 423 runners
braved the bitter cold temperatures to help make the
fourth annual Joslyn Castle Turkey Trot a huge success!
This family-friendly event welcomed all ages to burn some
calories before their holiday meal. Turner Park marked the start and finish line for the trotters as they
made their way through Midtown Crossing for this 5K family Run/Walk. Joslyn Castle staff, along with
loyal volunteers, were thrilled to cheer on dedicated runners ranging from ages 9 to 72. Along with
generous donations from Wohlners, Cantina Laredo, and Prairie Life Fitness, Joslyn Castle ensured
a great day for friends and family to get fit together for the upcoming holiday season. Joslyn Castle
gobbled their way to a successful day and are excited to bring in more trotters this November!
2014 Miracle on Farnam
The theme for the 2014 Miracle on Farnam windows display was “Holidays Past, Present, and Future,”
the perfect theme for the Castle. Our window was a 3-dimensional winter scene of the Castle and
grounds produced from photographs taken last winter just after a deep snowfall when the grounds and
the Castle were wreathed in a magical wonderland – just as it might have looked in the past and will
look again in the future. Depth was created by bringing the trees and fence line toward the viewer and
lighting the construction internally. The Joslyns’ Saint Bernard, Modjeska, frolics in the snow wearing her
ever present, huge, starched red bow. Because the Joslyn Castle is an organization whose essence is this
historic property, our past is both our present and our future. This timeless image captured the Castle
Holiday spirit—past, present, and future of the Castle.
Holiday Decorations Volunteer Thank You!
Designers Susan McMannama of Susan McMannama Interiors and Diane Luxford of D-Lux Interiors
generously donated their time, expertise, and even personal holiday decorations, to deck the halls of
the Joslyn Castle for the 2014 holiday season.
The Castle boasted 8 trees throughout the first floor. Each room had a tree that coordinated
with the room’s décor. For example, the tree in the Morning Room featured sprigs of laurel
leaves which are a key element in the wallpaper border. Even the Music Room had a custom
wreath adorned with horns, trumpets, and other musical instruments.
Susan and Diane spent an entire week directing and decorating the Castle before our Patron
Party, Holiday Historic Home Tour, and Boutique. We had so many guests at the Party and
Tour compliment the Castle decorations, stating they were the most beautiful they had ever
seen. We cannot thank Susan and Diane enough for their thoughtfulness and generosity.
Thank you!
Castle Guild Patron Party & Boutique
The Castle’s Holiday Historic Home Tour kicked off with the Guild-hosted Patron Party. The
Patron Party offered an evening of merriment, and a sneak peek for the Boutique that would
remain open for the duration of the Tour.
Photo courtesy of Maureen Fritts
The Castle Guild Patron Party had an attendance of 98 guests. 2014’s Party attendance
surpassed 2013’s by over 30 guests. The evening included live music provided by Duchesne
Strings, appetizers catered by John Ford’s My Personal Chef Catering, a bar hosted by the Guild,
a silent auction with over 18 items, shopping throughout the Boutique, and a festive time for all.
The decorations for the Patron Party tables were supplied by Guild members, and the decorations for the Castle were provided and overseen by
interior designers Susan McMannama and Diane Luxford. The Holiday Boutique had 13 vendors this year. The vendors were The Afternoon, Voila,
Togs, Bellezza Salon, Chefs^2, Stella&Dot, MAM Candy, Wildtree, Family Jewels, Origami Owl, TT Inspire, Soups by Omaha Steaks, and Early to Bed.
Omaha Steaks donated Frontier Soups for the Guild to sell. Many gift items were crossed off holiday lists! The Patron Party and Boutique were
excellent fundraisers and “fun-raisers” for the Castle.
page 5
www.joslyncastle.com
Holiday Historic Home
Tour
Boutique
This year our guests enjoyed four amazing historic homes beautifully decorated for the holidays. Patrons
visited the Neo-Classical Revival S.B. Doyle House, the striking Ephraim W. Dixon Home, the elegant
Reinhold B. Busch House, and the beautiful Joslyn Castle. It was a great way for everyone to start their
holiday season.
The tour ran from 10 am to 5 pm on Friday, December 5, and Saturday,
December 6. The Doyle House on 520 North 38th Street is owned by
Brad and Amy Schaap, the Dixon House on 426 North 38th Street by
Michael and Diana Petzar, and the Busch House on 604 North 38th
Street owned by Mac McLaughlin and Heather Gomes. These homes
were all within walking distance, and all the homeowners are close
friends, which contributed to the overwhelming success of the weekend.
Approximately 1,470 people were awed by these beautiful homes.
The efforts of the Castle staff, 45 volunteers, and Mother Nature herself,
lent a huge hand to the overwhelming success of this fundraiser. This event was quite a showcase for the
Castle and its mission, not only drawing new faces to the Castle itself, but promoting the preservation of
other historic homes.
Attendees were thrilled with the three magnificent homes that were featured, and were even more delighted to visit with the homeowners. An
article in the Omaha World Herald featuring The Doyle House and its homeowners, Brad and Amy Schaap, aided in marketing efforts. The Holiday
Historic Home Tour opened the holiday season through the wonderful hospitality and generosity of the homeowners.
Paranormal Investigation
Love was
in the air on
Valentine’s Day
weekend
The Joslyn Castle opened its doors on October 3 and November 7
to a Paranormal Investigative Class lead by Paracon. Brian
Kent, the founder and lead investigator, was pleased to return to
the Castle. Both nights sold out within weeks to enthusiastic
ghost hunters, some of whom had never seen the inside of the
Castle before.
The Castle has become a popular paranormal destination. Minimal lighting and
open spaces create long shadows on walls, heighten the experience, and cause
imaginations to run wild. This class covers the preparation, details, research, and
study surrounding paranormal investigation and invites guests to learn about the
equipment and techniques first-hand by participating.
Dive into the world of unexplained occurrences….if you dare! Keep your eyes
open next fall for more paranormal investigations at the Castle.
Lute Concert
The Castle was pleased to host a Lute Concert on
February 11th, 2015. Ronn McFarlane and Kenneth Bé
performed “Music for a Scottish Castle,” which featured
composers John Dowland, John Johnson, and Ronn
McFarlane. McFarlane is a Grammy-nominated lutenist, and
this performance was Bé’s second at the Castle. “Music for a
Scottish Castle” sought to evoke a bygone era when the lute was considered
the “King of Instruments.”
The Concert was held in the Music Room, which was a splendid atmosphere
acoustically for the instrument. Over 40 guests attended this magical event.
One guest commented “Stupendous!”
The Castle hosted Valentine’s Day
dinners on February 13th and 14th.
The evening included a four-course
meal catered by Patricia’s Catering,
two drinks, a romantic atmosphere, a vintage Valentine
display by Archivist Penelope Smith, and a take-home
treat. Cellist David Downing performed from the Piper’s
Gallery, the landing on the staircase in the Stair Hall—his
cello music floating throughout the space was nothing
short of magical.
We also had lovely local businesses help to make the
evening a success. Kyle Robino of Old Market Habitat
donated a floral centerpiece of roses and tulips for the
Stair Hall. Candy Wrappers provided chocolate-covered
strawberries for the evening, Old Market Candy donated an
assortment of chocolates, and Comfort Inn donated one
free night in a suite to give away to a couple.
More than 35 couples attended the dinners. We are
pleased that so many guests wanted to share their
Valentine’s Day with us, and we are excited to plan for
next year.
page 6
www.joslyncastle.com
Mardi Gras at the Castle featuring the 1970’s
There was Mattress Mayhem at the Castle!
The Joslyn Castle proudly presented its 2015 Murder Mystery
production—“Mattress Mayhem: Mardi Gras at the Castle” on
Thursday, February 19 through Saturday, February 21. This was an
original performance, written and directed by Colleen Fogarty, in which
our guests were transported back to New Orleans during the 1970
Mardi Gras celebration to answer the infamous question…WHODUNIT?? Bell Bottoms, fringe, and disco attire were pulled out of the
closets to bring the 70s back to life. Marilyn Hansen and The Designers
embellished the Castle with masks, beads, and everything Mardi Gras,
bringing out the signature colors of purple, green, and gold.
The Murder Mystery festivities packed the Castle each night spreading
the Mardi Gras spirit to over 360 revelers! The Joslyn Castle Players,
an enthusiastic cast and crew of 20, performed a three act play for the
guests in which clues were provided to solve a murder. River-Bottom
Bonnie, Bayou Beau, and Shoester were some of the characters
helping the audience solve the plot. For the closing finale, the Joslyn
Castle Players paraded down the aisle, handing out beads, while
dancing to the classic, “When The Saints Go Marching In”.
For their generous support of the Murder Mystery, a grand thank you
goes to sponsors, Brad and Sherri Moore, Fogarty Creative Group,
United Rent-All, George Kleine, Mary Parrish, Dundee Bank, and
Borsheims Fine Jewelry and Gifts, Don and Barb Lieberknecht and
Heafey-Heafey-Hoffmann-Dworak-Cutler Funeral Chapels. The
committee led by Chair Sherri Moore included Mary Ann Ramge,
Jeanie Owen, Judy Alderman, Janet Stibor, Cheryl Cavel, Jan Farha,
Deann Zens, Elizabeth Schmidt, and Bonnie Martin. A ‘krewe’ of over
40 volunteers also generously donated their time making the 2015
Murder Mystery a remarkable success and a ‘Carnivale at the Castle!’
Joslyn Castle Board & Advisory Council
Scotch tasting
Cocktail Reception Honoring
LB191 On March 12 from 5 to 8, the Joslyn Castle Board and
After a three year hiatus, the Castle has
reintroduced Scotch Tasting at the Castle.
Our event on March 5th was chaired by Board and
Advisory Council member David Levy and Advisory
Council member BJ Reed and hosted by Monique
Huston.
Advisory Council hosted a cocktail reception for guests,
members, and stakeholders at the Castle in celebration
of LB191. Governor Dave Heineman signed LB191 on
April 16, 2014, creating a historic tax credit at the state
level to incentivize real property owners and developers
to revitalize properties of historic significance across
Nebraska.
Special recognition was given at the reception to
David Levy, Joslyn Castle Board Member, for the lead
role he played in the drafting and passage of the
legislation. Thank you, David.
Grane was our partner for the event - with
their nearby location at Midtown Crossing and
wonderful scotch selection, the partnership was a
natural fit. The night was informative and fun and
allowed our guests to sample and learn about scotch in the rich,
beautiful setting of the Joslyn Castle. We had more than 40 tasters a great response from our patrons! Thank you for joining us and stay
tuned for future Scotch and wine tastings.
page 7
www.joslyncastle.com
Program News — Upcoming Events
Calendar of Events
Tour Sundays
1st and 3rd Sundays of Every Month
Enjoy an hour-long tour of 3 floors of the Joslyn Castle and a stop at our Gift Shop.
We offer tours on the 1st and 3rd Sundays of each month.
May
Wednesday, May 20Omaha Gives!
Donate to the Castle during this 24 hour online fundraising event organized
by the Omaha Community Foundation.
June
Sunday, June 7 Kids at the Kastle Sunday
Enjoy outdoor games, food, and tours of the Castle as we say hello to summer!
Thursday, June 18 Annual Guild Luncheon Castle and Garden Tour
Join us for the Annual Castle Guild Lunch followed by a tour of the grounds & garden.
July
Sunday, July 26 Joslyn Castle Classic Car Show, 10 am to 4 pm
Come see the best classic vehicles on the beautiful Castle grounds!
October
Saturday, October 31 Halloween Ball
Spend All Hallows’ Eve at the Castle at the Halloween Ball.
November
Friday, November 13 Paracon
Come and experience paranormal investigation at the Castle.
Thursday, November 26 Turkey Trot
This year will be our 5th annual partnership with Midtown Crossing to host our 5K run
on Thanksgiving morning.
December
Thursday, December 3 Holiday Patron Party and Boutique Sneak Peek
Join the Guild’s exclusive sneak peek party to help kick off the holidays.
Friday and Saturday, December 4 and 5
Holiday Historic Home Tour And Boutique
Tour the Joslyn Castle and other historic homes decorated for the holiday season!
page 8
www.joslyncastle.com
Save the Date
Annual Castle
Guild Luncheon
Big Muddy
Urban Farm
We are thrilled to report the Big
Muddy Urban Farm will partner with
us again and set up stakes, literally,
in the northeast garden plot where
the Joslyns grew their vegetables
and herbs. The Big Muddy Urban Farm is a collectively-run urban farm
in Omaha that provides fresh and diverse fruits, veggies, and herbs
to our local community. Check them out: http://bigmuddyurbanfarm.
blogspot.com.
Garden Tour to Follow
at the
Rentals
June 18, 2015
Non-members welcome
Castle
Photo courtesy of Erin Dunaway Photography
We would like to invite you to follow along with the upcoming
“wedding season” at the Joslyn Castle! Please check out the Castle’s
Wedding Blog, http://joslyncastleweddings.wordpress.com.
The Castle becomes more beautiful every year with garden
developments and indoor painting projects. Within the last few
months the Castle was the venue of wedding ceremonies, receptions,
fundraisers, luncheons, and corporate dinners. Martha Stewart
Weddings Online recently listed the Joslyn Castle as one of 14 Castles
in the United States to host a “Fairy-Tale” wedding!
We encourage anyone interested in hosting a wedding or event
in the future to please contact us at [email protected] or
402.595.3209 to learn more about our rentals and how the
Joslyn Castle can fit your unique needs.
Tours at the Castle
Our Sunday tours seem to bring in more
newcomers every time. The Castle is open
to the public for tours on the first and third
Sunday of every month. Tours are held at
1 pm, 2 pm, and 3 pm. If the weekends
are tied up, and your yearning for a castle
tour persists, we also offer tours by
appointment on Tuesdays and Thursdays!
Schedule permitting, private groups, families,
co-workers, or just a bunch of friends can
tour by appointment. Our prices changed
effective January 1, 2015, so please visit www.joslyncastle.com
for admission information. We welcome you to come for a tour and
see what you’re missing!
page 9
www.joslyncastle.com
PETER KIEWIT
FOUNDATION
SUMMER FUN
PROGRAM &
VIOLET’S WORLD
TOURS
The Peter Kiewit Foundation Summer Fun Program provides
educational and fun summer activities for thousands of youngsters in
the metro area. Beginning June 10 through July 22, the Joslyn Castle
will provide an amazing tour of the entire three stories of the mansion.
During the tour, the children explore our ‘Discovery Trunks’ filled with
relics from the early 1900s, items that would have been in common
use at the turn of the century. The day continues with a healthy, brown
bag lunch and the opportunity to color pictures of the Castle. Finally,
an outdoor scavenger hunt sends the children around the gardens of
the 5.57 acre estate led by clues relating to their earlier tour.
Omaha Gives!
“Discover Violet’s World” is a program designed to enhance the OPS
curriculum for students studying Omaha and Nebraska history. We
provide insight into life in the 1900s from Violet Joslyn’s perspective.
After an informational guided tour, the children are invited to explore
the ‘Discovery Trunk’—always a favorite! Participating teachers receive
pre-visit materials to prepare their classes for the tour. The groups are
also sent home with reading materials to encourage their continued
interest in the Joslyns and the Castle.
The Joslyn Castle Trust has completed our enrollment to once again
participate in Omaha Gives! Now in its third year, Omaha Gives! is an
online, 24-hour charitable challenge organized by the Omaha
Community Foundation. Omaha Gives! will be held on May 20, 2014
from midnight to midnight. Nonprofit organizations across Douglas,
Sarpy, and Pottawattamie counties have an opportunity to compete
for matching funds based on the volume of gifts they receive
during the fundraising period. The Castle Board and Staff would
greatly appreciate your support on May 20. For more information
visit www.omahagives24.org.
These programs are designed to bring even more children to the
Joslyn Castle and hopefully make a return trip with their family
and friends!
Sa ve the D a te
Classic Car Show
Sunday, July 26, 2015
Mark your calendars for Sunday, July 26, 2015.
The Joslyn Castle Classic Car Show returns to the
Castle grounds that day. Each year 1,000 people
visit the Castle to see the best vintage and classic
cars and motorcycles. The show runs from 10 am
to 4 pm. If you are interested in exhibiting a
vehicle or learning more about the show visit:
www.joslyncastlecarclassic.com.
page 10
www.joslyncastle.com
_________________
Non-Profit Org.
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
OMAHA, NE
Permit No. 1709
_________________
Special thanks
to the following organizations
who have made wonderful
contributions to the
betterment of the Castle!
3902 Davenport Street
Ace Hardware on Saddle Creek
Omaha, NE 68131
Amanda Kreutzer
Beth Bratches
Borsheims Fine Jewelry and Gifts
Britt Jorns & Family
Candy Wrappers
Cantina Laredo
Colleen Fogarty
Creighton University Shuttle Service
Deirdre Evans
Douglas County
Duchesne Academy of the Sacred Heart
Fairytale Costumes
Jeanie Owen
Jim Rhodes, Jim’s Seek & Save
Joslyn Castle Neighborhood Association
KPMG LLP
Legacy Preservation LLC
LeJardin Garden Club
Marilyn Hansen FASID/The Designers
Mary Ann Ramge
Mary Carlsen
Mary Parrish
Maureen Fritts
McGill Restoration
Mike McNealy, Omaha Bee Club
Monte Thompson
Nelson & Nelson Painting and Papering
Nils Erickson, Rainbow Recording Studios
Old Market Candy
Old Market Habitat/Kyle Robino
Omaha Comfort Inn
Omaha Steaks
Prairie Life Fitness
Santa Monica House
The Alliance Group
The Joslyn Castle Players
Weird Wild Stuff
Wohlners
Join the Joslyn Castle Trust
and help preserve a part of
Omaha’s history.
n
n
n
n
$1000 Partner
$500 Benefactor
$250 Patron
n
n
n
$50 Supporter
$40 Family/Household
$30 Individual
$100 Donor
Name_________________________________________________________
Become a Castle
member today!
Joslyn Castle members are some of our most dedicated
supporters. Members receive invitations to member only events,
discounts on tickets to selected Joslyn Castle sponsored
programs, a 10% discount in the gift shop and a copy of the
Newsletter. Annual Castle memberships run from January 1st –
December 31st. Fill out the form to the right today!
Address_______________________________________________________
City______________________________State_______ Zip______________
Email__________________________________________________________
Phone_________________________________________________________
Send this form with your contribution payable to: Joslyn Castle Trust, Inc.,
3902 Davenport Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68131
or visit www.joslyncastle.com
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