Photo by George Lauby Looking out of Dr. Redfield's window

Photo by George Lauby Checkerboard tiles leading to offices

Courtesy Photo­Image Dedmore's second floor skylight

Courtesy Photo­Image Exterior of the Dixon building, 1930s

The first floor of the historic downtown Dixon building is home to three businesses -- JJ's Bridal, Golden Creations and the Art and Gift Gallery.

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The second floor, with its beautiful checkerboard tile hallway floor and dark woodwork has 10 offices, some of them connected in suites.

Original light fixtures are still used. Office doors still have much of their original hardwood luster.

This report is part of an ongoing series about the upper floors of historic buildings in downtown North Platte. The Dixon building is at 514-518 N Dewey.

In earlier times, the second floor offices were occupied by attorneys and doctors. Today they are home to artists and small businesses.

Artist Tiiu Swan had a painting studio in the north front office. The studio has large windows facing the east, providing good light. Swan enjoys her time, listening to music while painting in her studio.

In 1934 Lucky Dedmore moved a photo studio into the second floor of the building. The owner, Harry Dixon, allowed Dedmore to put a skylight into the second floor hallway so there would be "available light" for Dedmore's studio on the second floor, according to archived newspaper reports.

The skylight that Dedmore installed is still there.

Not all the upstairs offices are occupied. A "For Rent" sign is posted on the south front office window overlooking the bricks of Dewey St.

The history of the building goes back to the early days of North Platte. In 1873, Louis Thoelecke bought two lots where the building stands. Construction started right away. The building had three storefronts.

In 1879 Thoelecke moved to Omaha and his son Otto took possession of the building, according to library records.

In 1883 Thoelecke sold the building to Dr. Fredrick Nelson Donaldson. Donaldson kept the building until 1886, when Harry Dixon bought the building. Dixon owned the building for the next 77 years.

Dixon used two of the storefronts for his jewelry and optical businesses. The third storefront was home to many different business over the years, some with “back offices” on the second floor.