Stone from the Foundation of the Koch House, circa 1985

Irregularly-shaped, rounded reddish-gray rock with some concrete on one side.

This stone was once part of the home of Mr. and Mrs. Harry A. Koch, located at 301 South Elmwood Road in Omaha, Nebraska. Because of the rounded stones that made up the foundation, the residence was sometimes referred to as "Greyrocks" or "Red Rocks" (accounts by staff vary). Prior to serving as the Koch residence, the house had been the residence of Henry Doorly, publisher of the Omaha World-Herald newspaper. Prior to that, the property had been used for the keeping of E. John Brandeis's polo ponies.

In 1983, Nebraska Legislative Bill 410 allowed UNO to purchase land adjacent to campus in order to expand westward. The properties sought by UNO included the homes of Edward K. Connors, John A. Rasmussen, Mr. and Mrs. Harry Koch Jr., William R. Hamsa, William and Eileen Boyle, Virgil Anderson, Florence C. Davis, Cynthia Schneider, Lonnie Mercier, A. F. Montmorency, Paul V. Shirley, Jr., and the Omaha Catholic Archdiocese bishop's residence. The acquisition was opposed by the owners of several of the homes, along with Frances Batt and the Citizens Action Association. In April 1984, The Board of Regents approved the purchase of the Koch home for $475,000, along with the Mercier home for $240,000. These were the fourth and fifth lots purchased among the 12. By mid-1985, UNO had acquired all 12 properties. While some of the houses were left intact and repurposed for various UNO campus facilities, the Koch residence was among those demolished.

Source: Hamer, Roger. "UNO expansion given preliminary approval." Gateway. April 13, 1983. Mahoney, Jerry. "'We were not forced,' University says - UNO adds trees to buffer edge of campus." Omaha World-Herald. August 30, 1985. Malnack, John, II. "Regents approve purchase of archbishop's residence. Gateway. October 17, 1984. "Regents OK purchase of two more properties." Gateway. April 18, 1984. "The 12 properties UNO will purchase." Gateway. October 26, 1983. Thomas, Doug. "King, Kin Are Steeped in State's History." Omaha World-Herald. October 19, 1997.