Endangered – Kansas Preservation Alliance

Endangered:
Girl Scout Little House –

Year(s) Listed: • 2024 | City/Town: • Independence

In July 1872, the Church of the Epiphany initially planned to rent City Hall for services but canceled the contract due to financial constraints. They began building a small chapel on August 26th 1872, 20 feet by 40 feet in size. Over the following year, as funds were raised, the congregation met in various public …

Endangered:
Stafford Santa Fe Depot

Year(s) Listed: • 2024 | City/Town: • Stafford

Photo Credit to https://kimscountyline.blogspot.com/2016/11/is-sun-setting-on-stafford-depot.html The Stafford Depot is a historic Sante Fe depot in Stafford Kansas. While many passenger depots have been abandoned in these smaller towns some have found new life as museums or even residential homes. This is the hope for the Stafford Depot but time is ticking. The Historic Preservation Alliance in …

Endangered:
Ft. Leavenworth Garrison Homes

Year(s) Listed: • 2024 | City/Town: • Leavenworth

Photo credit to The Kansas State Historical Society As many as 185 homes are on the chopping block in Fort Leavenworth. These properties include grand, gabled homes and multi-family barrack housing for soldiers, dating back as far as 1919. The reason given for their proposed demolition is due to raising costs to maintain them. Originally …

Endangered:
Elmdale City Hall

Year(s) Listed: • 2024 | City/Town: • Elmdale

The Works Progress Administration (WPA) provided the labor for the construction of the now-former city hall in Elmdale. As of 2023 the building appears to be abandoned. According to a historical marker, the city hall was built between 1936 and 1937 and funded jointly with the city of Elmdale providing $1,500 and the “Federal Government” …

Endangered:
Nick Chiles Buildings

Year(s) Listed: • 2024 | City/Town: • Topeka

These three Topeka buildings were owned by Nick Chiles, an African American entrepreneur, political and civil rights activist, and editor who moved to Topeka in 1886. Chiles founded, edited, and published the Topeka Plaindealer, which had the largest circulation of any Black newspaper west of the Mississippi River, from 1899 until he died at age 61 in …

Endangered:
Pospishil Building

Year(s) Listed: • 2024 | City/Town: • Luray

The was the first native stone building in Luray, KS, was constructed in 1898-99 using limestone blocks from the Pospishil farm. This two-story building with a full basement measures approximately 100′ by 50′. Its Italianate design features a Mesker Brothers Iron Works storefront with classic elements like double-rosettes and fleur-de-lis, and a self-supporting awning. Historic …

Endangered:
Doctor WB Jones Home

Year(s) Listed: • 2024 | City/Town: • Florence

PHOTO BY MIKE SPIVEY The abandoned homestead of Doctor W.B. Jones, located in a remote area, features a stone engraved above a window with “Doctor W.B. Jones 1878.” Dr. William B. Jones, born on May 5, 1836, in Kentucky, pursued a medical degree in St. Louis, Missouri, graduating in 1879 at 43 years old. The …

Endangered:
Howard National Bank

Year(s) Listed: • 2023 | City/Town: • Howard

In April of 1877, the Elk County “State” Bank was organized with George W. McKey as President. Just a few short years later the bank was converted to the Howard National Bank. And in May of 1888 work would start on a massive castle-like building for the bank. The Citizen newspaper states, “The Howard National …

Endangered:
Landmark Water Tower

Year(s) Listed: • 2022 | City/Town: • Manhattan

The 316,000 gallon Landmark Water Tower was constructed in 1922. The water tower helped expand the waterworks and equalize water pressure throughout Manhattan. It is no longer used as a water tower or viewing tower but serves as a historic landmark for the area. The water tower is a standpipe with a cylindrical tower over …

Endangered:
Marion County Poor Farm

Year(s) Listed: • 2022 • 2023 | City/Town: • Marion

Picture from KSHPO The poor farm’s main building was constructed in 1889-1890 on a parcel of land once owned by W.E. Glover. Glover’s house is still standing. The poor farm’s cemetery is located a few hundred feet north of the poor farm. The buildings on the property have fallen into serious neglect since being abandoned …

Current Status: Endangered