|
Francis
"Simey" Simonds,
Jr.
1927 - (date uncertain but Simey has passed away)
Francis Simonds was born and raised
in Omaha. The son of a prominent doctor, he grew up in the Dundee
neighborhood.
Known to all as Simey, after
studying at Iowa State University, and Parsons School of Design, he opened
a floral shop on 17th Street in downtown Omaha during the '50s and soon
became the floral
designer. He moved his shop to Dodge Street in Dundee, and later to another
neighborhood, but his clientele would and did follow him anywhere. In later
years, Simey closed the shop and focused on
landscape design - where his "canvas" was even greater.
Simey was interviewed for the
Left Bank of Omaha on July 29, 1997 by Vicki Haas and told numerous tales
of the social interaction and shenanigans behind so many of the events that
were part of the times.
We share here with you a few of those tales.
|
Ballroom
dancing in the backroom of the bar.
  
Vicki
Haas interviewed Simey in July, 1997, during
which he regaled her with fabulous tales of this era. Click below to read
the excerpt describing ballroom dancing at Joe DiGiacomo's
Bar on South 10th Street, photos of which are shown above.
|
