Omaha Exploration

After moving into the area more than five years ago I had heard rumors of the nearby magic house. I couldn’t resist the opportunity to step inside and get a glimpse of it myself after hearing that Preserve Omaha and the Omaha Magical Society were hosting a tour of the house as a part of its effort to restore it.

The house was built for David P. Abbot and his wife Fannie. David was a native of Falls City, Nebraska and grew up on the family farm. The multi-talented young man discovered a talent for music but became fascinated with magic after seeing his first performance at eight years old. 

He married Fannie in 1887 and was working as an ice dealer in Falls City in 1900. By 1910 the couple moved to Omaha where he found work in banking and finance. Meanwhile he continued practicing magic by traveling to nearby towns and counties to perfect his technique. In 1907 he even wrote the well received book Behind the Scenes with Mediums in which exposed the fraudulent practices of those individuals that were fleecing people through the use of magic.

The Abbott’s hired architect Birger Kvenild to design their home in the Craftsman Bungalow style. When it was finished in 1913, they moved in. This was at a time that Center Street was renamed Lincoln Avenue only before it was changed back. Referred to as the “house of magic” or the “house of mystery” it looked no different from the outside than the others in Field Club. The inside, however, was built as a theater in which David could perform and showcase his skills as both a magician and inventor. 

By design, the rooms were larger than most homes and the ceilings higher in order to provide a feeling of grandeur. The foyer served as his primary performance space. He rigged the rooms while utilizing its unique nooks and crannies. Doing so allowed him to perform illusions that entertained and delighted. Considered a master of the trade, he rarely performed outside of his residence.

Famous magicians including Harry Houdini, Harry Keller and Howard Thurston came to Omaha on the vaudeville circuit and often stayed with him to see what the inventor was working on. Among his inventions are the floating ball and a talking tea kettle. David was a founding member of the Omaha Magical Society as was Harry Houdini. David passed away in 1934 followed by Fannie two years later. Afterwards the remaining items were put up for auction. As for the house itself, it seems that there was a legal dispute over its ownership. 

Eventually the Abbott’s attorney, Edith Beckman, acquired the house. Her background is also quite impressive. After graduating from the Omaha University Law School and passing the bar, she was the only woman practicing law in the State of Nebraska. She was appointed to the Nebraska House of Representatives in a special session in 1935. She ran unsuccessfully for the Legislature in 1936 and 1938.

She rented the house for a time to Dr. C.C. Hall, a city veterinarian that was primarily responsible for the development of Omaha’s modern meat and slaughter house inspection system. He remained there until his death in 1942. At that point, Edith and her sister Annette moved into the house. Josephine, a second sister later moved in as well. By 1956 Edith moved her law practice to the magic house. She passed away 10 years later in 1966. 

Its next owner, Carl Schrat, installed a new furnace in the home in 1960 and expressed his desire to buy it at some point in the future. The owner of Carl Schrat Heating & Air Conditioning Company, he did just that in 1966. Carl and his wife Lenora lived in the house for the next 58 years and raised their four children in it. As it turns out many of Abbott’s belongings including photographs, letters, newspaper clippings and writing remained in the attic.

When the Schrat’s sold the house it was in good condition and retained many of its original features including the woodwork, beveled glass paneling and push-button light switches along with the original hardware. The second floor with its three large bedrooms still has an old gas lamp that functioned in the time before electricity was utilized in homes. The unfinished basement still has the exposed clay tile that lined the walls. 

The family sold the house to the Omaha Magical Society in 2024 courtesy of Teller of the legendary magic duo Penn & Teller. Teller, as it turns out, was a big fan of David P. Abbott and even wrote a two volume book set about him and the house. The Omaha Magical Society was formed in 1921 and included among its charter members both David and Harry Houdini. Teller donated the house to the nonprofit so that it could serve as a tribute to David, Fannie and their magical inventiveness. 

The society is in the process of restoring the house which was purchased for $387k. The entryway, parlor, library, dining room and workshop have already been refurbished with the bath and kitchen up next. Donors who help pay the ongoing maintenance costs have the option to use the house several times each year for private functions in addition to seeing featured magicians who perform for members-only events. The basement will be turned into an apartment for a property manager that will live on-site. 

Visitors can view some of the rare artifacts that they used for their in-home performances and see their most popular magic inventions. The house will open in the summer of 2026. It will not have regular hours and visits are limited to small groups and by appointment only. 

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