It can be said that beer built North Omaha. One of the most influential names in the community belonged to the Storz family. Storz settlers in Omaha arrived early, built their enterprises steadily, and retired wealthy. This is a biography of Charles Storz (1859-1932), an early German immigrant and one of the businessmen who helped build North Omaha.
Introducing Charles Storz
Born in Benningen, Germany, in 1859, Charles was originally named Karl Gottlog Storz, and was renamed Carl Gottlob Storz when he landed in the United States. In his native Germany, young Charles was part of a brewing family and learned the beermaking trade from his father. He was the youngest of 10 siblings. At the age of 16 in 1882, he immigrated to Omaha and took the name Charles. His older brother Gottlieb had arrived six years prior and was already woven into the city’s emerging beer industry. In 1885, Charles married Wilhelmina Esswein Storz (1866–1919), and their five children were Minna Matilda (1886–1976), Bertha Margaretha (1892–1986), Carl F (1894–1915), Frederick A (1896–1983), and Emil A. (1898–1989). His kids and grandchildren lovingly referred to Charles as “Papa” Storz throughout their lives.
Charles was involved in the retail distribution of the Storz label, and was listed as the point-of-contact for wholesale distribution and more. He was also invested in several other industries besides beermaking including banking, automotive parts, and other areas. He was a union buster and was credited with stopping labor organizing at the brewery and his saloon in 1910.
The Charles Storz Saloons
Operating several bars in North Omaha, Charles was more involved in the retail aspects of the industry than the production side, which his brother ran. However, the two were nearly inseparable in their business. The first Storz Brewery was at North 18th and Burdette Streets in 1876, and in the 1880s, Gottlieb Storz (1852–1939) built a massive new plant at 16th and Clark Streets.
It was at the massive newly built Storz Brewery on North 16th Street that Charles kept a saloon for more than 35 years starting in 1885. Three doorways emptied from the saloon into a green space to the north of the building and German waitresses delivered beer to customers arriving in droves every night of the week for decades. A 1932 obituary said, “On summer nights cars by the score lined both sides of the street and crowded the ‘Park’ to the north. Heavily laden trays moved to them from three doorways.” During the Great Depression, Charles fed hungry people out of the brewery bar. “Countless numbers of poor were fed, and even hungry dogs and cats learned to know him.” He was quoted saying, “They are hungry! Somebody must feed them! I’ll feed them!” His obituary also said, “‘Papa’ Storz was a Democrat and he would have voted for Roosevelt.” Of course, this institution became a “soft drink parlor” during the long years of Prohibition.
He didn’t just own one saloon though. In 1889, he opened a bar in the Near North Side at 1401 N. 24th Street on the southeast corner of N. 24th and Paul. It was at this address in 1890 that Charles was denied a liquor license by the City of Omaha. However, on his objection the newspaper reported that a policeman recommended against the license after Storz had found him drunk in another bar and removed the officer’s star. The Omaha Bee newspaper then said, “He claims further that his application has been signed by the best people in that neighborhood.” Reports said he was rejected because he sold liquor on a Sunday. He got his license back and kept operating there.
By 1898, Charles moved his saloon a few blocks north at 1801 N. 24th Street on the northeast corner of 24th and Clark. Charles Storz’s family, including Emil, lived in an apartment above the saloon until the house on Wirt was built. All of his children were born there, and he operated a saloon at this address for at least another twenty years. In 1911, he was operating the saloon at 16th and Clark again when he was robbed of three Canadian nickels. He called the police, but apparently never found the loot. This building has been demolished.
Thoroughly German, Charles Storz was an active member of several German organizations in Omaha, including the Omaha Schwaben Verein, the Omaha Musik Verein, and Plattdeutscher Verein. He was also president of the Sons of Herman, a German heritage organization.
The Charles Storz House
Located at 1901 Wirt Street in the Kountze Place neighborhood, the Charles Storz House is a custom-built Arts and Crafts style home that was designed by the Omaha architectural firm Fisher and Lawrie and built in 1909 for Charles and his wife.
Wilhelmina died at 53 years old. It was then in 1919 that, “two men posing as deputy sheriffs entered the home of Charles Storz… and stole seven cases of bonded liquor while the family was attending the funeral of Mrs. Wilhelmina Storz… at the Forest Lawn Cemetery.” The robbers were eventually caught and convicted of the crime.
Later that same year robbers returned and stole liquor from the basement again, this time doing the raid at night. In 1922, when Charles and his kids were out watching the AkSarBen parade nearby, his house was burgled again. This time he lost a watch and other valuables totaling $300 in value.
The house and was designated an Omaha Landmark in 1984.
Remembering “Papa” Storz
In early October 1932, Charles was hit by a car when he crossed N. 16th St. on a busy Saturday night. Originally said to have a broken nose, he was reported in fair condition the next day. A later report the same day said he was doing better; two days later he died though. Charles was 72.
Gottlieb kept running the brewery though, and the saloon Charles started there stayed open for several more decades. After the brewery closed permanently in 1972, the entire facility sat empty for decades. However, in the last 20 years, much of it has since been demolished or repurposed. Today the site is still the location of a large original smokestack with the Storz family name on it. This facility has largely been demolished, but there is a historic smokestack standing.
When Charles died in 1932, he joined his wife Wilhelmina at a lavish gravesite in Forest Lawn Memorial Park, and today you can visit their site.
His custom-built Arts & Crafts style house in the Kountze Place neighborhood still stands today and is listed as an official Omaha Landmark.
In 1997, the Robert H. Storz Family Rose Garden was opened within Omaha’s Lauritzen Gardens in south Omaha. Named in honor of the Storz family, this garden is intended to celebrate the contributions of Gottlieb, Charles and other Storz family members to the city. The garden features a diverse collection of vibrant roses and serves as a serene destination.
Thanks to Joan Holmes for her donation supporting this article.
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MY ARTICLES ABOUT THE HISTORY OF KOUNTZE PLACE
General: Kountze Place | Kountze Park | North 16th Street | North 24th Street | Florence Boulevard | Wirt Street | Emmet Street | Binney Street | 16th and Locust Historic District
Houses: Charles Storz House | Anna Wilson’s Mansion | McCreary Mansion | McLain Mansion | Redick Mansion | John E. Reagan House | George F. Shepard House | Burdick House | 3210 North 21st Street | 1922 Wirt Street | University Apartments
Churches: First UPC/Faith Temple COGIC | St. Paul Lutheran | Hartford Memorial UBC/Rising Star Baptist | Immanuel Baptist | Calvin Memorial Presbyterian | Trinity Methodist Episcopal | Mount Vernon Missionary Baptist | Greater St. Paul COGIC | Plymouth Congregational/Primm Chapel AME/Second Baptist | Paradise Baptist
Education: Omaha University | Presbyterian Theological Seminary | Lothrop Elementary School | Horace Mann Junior High | Omaha Presbyterian Theological Seminary
Hospitals: Salvation Army Hospital | Swedish Hospital | Kountze Place Hospital
Events: Trans-Mississippi and International Exposition | Greater America Exposition | Riots
Businesses: Hash House | 3006 Building | Grand Theater | 2936 North 24th Street | Corby Theater
Other: Kountze Place Golf Club
Listen to the North Omaha History Podcast show #4 about the history of the Kountze Place neighborhood »
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