Generator — Summer 2023

The Vault on Main has two full sides of terra cotta with color on its exterior — a rarity in the state.
“After we took it all out, we did the
math to find it was 72,500 pounds of
concrete that we removed,” she said.
Then she put in custom windows
and a new front entrance.
The work is still getting done in
spurts, with Olmer driving from
Omaha on the weekends. She has help
from family and friends.
“It’s getting to be a long list, but
my mom is almost always there
working on it with me,” Olmer said.
“My uncle, Jim Scheffler, and cousins
Anthony and Austin Bruhn, and
boyfriend, Daniel Primi, have put in a
lot of hours as well.”
After the major repairs, she began
to work on designing the interior
spaces. She sent a survey in Creston
residents’ water bills asking what
use they envisioned for the building.
She also posed the question on social
media. The overwhelming response
was a small event venue.
Others mentioned the need for an
Airbnb rental, a library, and a gym.
Olmer plans to merge the ideas
— creating an event venue on the
main floor with an Airbnb on the
mezzanine. She also wants to include
a free library with bookshelves lining
the walls. Once that is done, she would
like to create a gym in the basement.
But all this comes at a significant
cost. “At this point I have $193,000 in
this building and it still is not usable,”
she said.
Above: Olmer custom designs tiles to
raise money for the building’s restoration.
The tiles will be displayed along
the west wall.
Of that, the majority is a personal
loan. The rest she has funded herself
or paid for through donations.
Olmer was surprised at the number
of people who wanted to donate to
her private project. They even asked if
she’d do a fundraiser.
“I told them, ‘If you want to donate
to a privately owned building, then
your name is going to be in there,’”
Olmer said.
From that, she got the idea to sell
tiles. For donations of $100 or more,
Olmer custom designs and engraves
3-inch by 6-inch ceramic tiles. She
has made more than 100 tiles so far
and they will be installed on the west
wall.
“Funding is obviously one of the
biggest barriers in a project like
this,” she said. And that’s why the
completion date is uncertain.
But it has been worth it and Olmer
is looking forward to the day when an
old building will finally have new life.
“People have often been surprised
by my willingness and determination
to take on such a daunting project,”
Olmer said. “I joke all the time that
someone does have to be some sort
of crazy to try to do something like
this.”
But in all seriousness, she said
her work is really a reflection
and continuation of her family’s
dedication to the community of
Creston.
Her grandparents, John and
Nancy Scheffler, were involved in
starting the Rescue Unit, served
on various boards and community
groups, started the annual 4th of July
fireworks display, and volunteered
countless hours for community
celebrations and events.
“I grew up volunteering right
alongside them along with many
other family members,” Olmer said.
“This is just another way the Scheffler
family is giving back to Creston. I
am so excited for the day when the
community can use this beautiful
building again.”
LEARN MORE:
Visit “The Vault on Main –
Creston, NE” on Facebook to
follow Olmer’s progress on
the building.
6 | GENERATOR