Blair in Washington County, Nebraska — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

Pilot Building

1890

— Washington County Heritage Trail —

Pilot Building Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 16, 2025

1. Pilot Building Marker

Inscription.
This red sandstone structure has been a landmark of the downtown since 1890. It was originally built with two corner turrets on the roof. For years a flagpole was fixed to one turret, with the flag being raised by a rope accessible from the sidewalk. The flagpole also contained a "red light" for the police department. If the officer on duty saw the red light on, he knew to return to the station for a message.

When Perry Seldon built this building, he named it the "Pilot" as he owned the Pilot newspaper. Six years later Seldon passed, and the building was leased to the Nebraska Telephone Company. By 1906 the building sold to the Pilot Printing Company. After many years of leasing office space here, the O'Hanlon Law firm eventually purchased the building in 1934. For the next 50 years it was owned by the O'Hanlon Family Law firm, with four generations of O'Hanlons occupying the Pilot Building.

Erected 2023.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Communications • Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1890.

Location. 41° 32.615′ N, 96° 8.155′ W. Marker is in Blair, Nebraska, in Washington County. It is at the intersection of Washington Street (U.S. 30/75) and South

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16th Street, on the left when traveling west on Washington Street. The marker is mounted at eye-level on the northwest corner of the Pilot Building, facing Washington Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1565 Washington Street, Blair NE 68008, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Eastern Nebraska and in Greater Omaha.

It is also in the American Midwest,

in the Lewis & Clark Corridor,

in the Corn Belt,

and on the prairies.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Louisiana Purchase.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Blair State Bank Bldg. (within shouting distance of this marker); Post Office (within shouting distance of this marker); Blair City Hall and Fire Hall (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Blair Firehouse (about 300 feet away); Congregational Church of Blair (approx. 0.2 miles away); Central School 1899 (approx. 0.2 miles away); Washington County Courthouse 1891 (approx. ¼ mile away); Blair Depot 1880 (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Blair.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 16, 2025

2. Pilot Building Marker

The marker is mounted on the northwest [right] corner of the building, facing Washington Street.

Pilot Building (<i>north/front elevation</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 16, 2025

3. Pilot Building (north/front elevation)

Looking south across Washington Street; South 16th Street is in the right background.

Pilot Building (<i>west entrance</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 16, 2025

4. Pilot Building (west entrance)

The west entrance is near the southwest corner of the building, facing South 16th Street.

Pilot Building (<i>west elevation</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 16, 2025

5. Pilot Building (west elevation)

Credits. This page was last revised on November 22, 2025. It was originally submitted on November 22, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 66 times since then and 37 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on November 22, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.