Sam Mercer (preservationist)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Nelson Samuel Mercer (father)
Mark Mercer (son)
Sam Mercer | |
|---|---|
| Born | May 5, 1920 London, England |
| Died | February 5, 2013 (aged 92) Honfleur, France |
| Occupation | Preservationist |
| Relatives | Samuel David Mercer (grandfather) Nelson Samuel Mercer (father) Mark Mercer (son) |
Samuel David Mercer (May 5, 1920 – February 5, 2013) was an American preservationist. He was known for developing and preserving Omaha's Old Market neighborhood, of which he was known as the "godfather".[1]
Mercer was born in London, England, to Dr. Nelson Samuel Mercer and Anna Mary Mulholland. He was their third known child, after sisters Margaret and Nancy. He was educated at the University of Oxford and Yale University.[1]
Mercer's maternal grandfather was Dr. Samuel Mercer,[2] whose former home is now named in his honor, in Omaha, Nebraska.[3]
Career
After the death of his father in 1963, Mercer took control of the Mercer Management Company. Later in the 1960s, he began redeveloping the area around 11th Street and Howard Street in Omaha, Nebraska, with the assistance of designer Cedric Hartman. "He certainly had a great appreciation for old buildings and also a need to fill the empty places with new tenants," said Judy Wigton, Hartman's business partner.[1]
In 1994, Mercer wrote The Old Market of Omaha in collaboration with his son, Mark.[4]