country club addition neighborhood historical …historical survey and report prepared for the city...

Country Club Addition Neighborhood Survey Report 1

Country Club Addition Neighborhood

Historical Survey and Report

Prepared for the City of Topeka, Kansas

By Susan Jezak Ford 3628 Holmes Street

Kansas City, MO 64109 816.531.2489; [email protected]

May 8, 2018


AcknowledgementsMayorMichelledelaIslaTopekaCityCouncilKarenHillerSandraClearSylviaOrtizTonyEmersonMichaelPadillaBrendenJensenAaronMaysJeffCoenMichaelLesserTopekaLandmarksCommissionGrantSourk,2017ChairPaulPost,2017ViceChairBryanFalkDavidHeitDonnaRaePearsonCheyenneAndersonJeffCarsonChristineSteinkeuhlerMarkBurenheideTopekaCityManagerBrentTroutCityofTopekaPlanningDepartmentBillFiander,Director,AICPTimParis,PlannerIIDanWarner,LongRangePlanningManager,AICPKrisWagers,AdministrativeOfficerThesurveyreporthasbeenfinancedinpartwithFederalfundsfromtheNationalParkService,adivisionoftheUnitedStatesDepartmentoftheInterior,andadministeredbytheKansasStateHistoricalSociety.Thecontentsandopinions,however,donotnecessarilyreflectthevieworpoliciesoftheUnitedStatesDepartmentoftheInteriorortheKansasStateHistoricalSociety.ThisprogramreceivesFederalfundsfromtheNationalParkService.RegulationsoftheU.S.DepartmentoftheInteriorstrictlyprohibitunlawfuldiscriminationindepartmentalFederallyAssistedProgramsonthebasisofrace,color,nationalorigin,ageorhandicap.Anypersonwhobelievesheorshehasbeendiscriminatedagainstinanyprogram,activity,orfacilityoperatedbyarecipientofFederalassistanceshouldwriteto:Director,EqualOpportunityProgram,U.S.DepartmentoftheInterior,NationalParkService,P.O.37127,WashingtonD.C.20013-7127.


TableofContentsIntroduction 4Methodology 6TopekaHistory 7HistoryoftheSurveyedArea 9 SurveyFindings 22 ArchitecturalStylesandMaterials 22 Eligibility 29 HistoricDistrictRecommendation 30 Sources 32


IntroductionTheCityofTopekacontractedwithSusanJezakFordinSeptember2017toconductanintensive-levelsurveyofhistoricresourcesinapproximatelysevenblocksinthewestportionoftheCountryClubAdditionneighborhood.ThesurveyedareawasselectedbytheCityofTopekawithsupportoftheneighborhoodresidents.Theareacontainsasignificantcollectionofpre-andpost-WorldWarIIhomes.1TheneighborhoodislocatedapproximatelytwomilessouthwestoftheKansasCapitol.TheCountryClubPlaceAdditionwasplattedin1924(Figure2.)ThesurveyalsoincludedarowofhousesonthewestsideofSWWesternAvenueintheQuintonandSteele’sAddition,plattedin1887.Thepurposeofthesurveywasto:

• Documenttheresourceswithintheneighborhood;• Tounderstand thehistoryof theneighborhoodand its ties to thedevelopmentof

Topeka;and• To determine which properties are eligible for listing in the National Register of

HistoricPlaces,eitherindividuallyoraspartofapotentialhistoricdistrict.TheCountryClubAdditionsurveyareacoversanareawestofSWTopekaBoulevard,southofSW24thStreet,thewestfrontageofSWWesternAvenueandthesouthfrontageofSWMerriamCourt(Figure1.)Thesurveyincludes53residentialpropertiesbuiltbetween1926and1968.Allofthesehouses,exceptfortheCrittentonHomeat2601SWWesternAvenue,werebuiltassingle-familyhomesandallremainsotoday.Approximately30properties(56%),haveancillarystructures,suchasanunattachedgarageorashed.Productsfromthissurveyprojectinclude:

1) Surveyinventoryformsfortheprincipalstructureswithinthesurveyareaboundaries.AllformshavebeenenteredonlineintotheKansasHistoricResourceInventory(KHRI);

2) Thisprojectreportincludingamethodologydiscussionandasurveysummarycompilinginformationfromthesurveyformsanddiscussingconstructiondate,formtypeandstyle.StyleandformtypedefinitionsarebasedonthoseinAFieldGuidetoAmericanHousesbyVirginiaSavageMcAlesterandtheNationalRegisterBulletin16,“HowtoCompletetheNationalRegisterForm.”

3) ArecommendationbytheauthorinconsultationwiththeKHPOforaNationalRegisterHistoricDistrict.

4) Twopublicpresentationstointroducetheprojectandtodiscussfindingstothepropertyowners.

SusanJezakFordservedastheprimeconsultantforthisproject,conductingthefieldsurvey,enteringtheinformationintotheKHRIdatabase,analyzingthedataandpreparingthesurveyreport.PhotographerBradFinchservedasasub-contractor.CityofTopekaplannerTimParisassistedwiththepublicmeetings.

1TheeastportionoftheCountryClubAdditionisprimarilysmaller,post-WorldWarIIresidences.Theareahasfarlessarchitecturalintegritythanthesurveyedblocks.


AnintroductorypublicmeetingwasheldonOctober9,2017atGraceUnitedMethodistChurch,2727SWWesternAvenue.Thirteenneighborhoodresidentsrepresentingeightpropertiesattendedthemeeting.TimParisandSusanForddiscussedtheprojectandansweredquestions.Fivepropertyownersgavepermissionfortheconsultanttowalkontheirdrivewaysorentertheirbackyards.AfinalneighborhoodmeetingwasheldonMay7,2018atGraceUnitedMethodistChurch.Figure1.Boundariesofsurveyedarea.(CityofTopekaandSusanJezakFord.)


MethodologyTheCountryClubAdditionNeighborhoodHistoricalSurveywasconductedaccordingtothemethodsoutlinedintheKansasHistoricPreservationOffice’s(KHPO)“HPFProductsManual”andtheNationalRegisterBulletin24,“GuidelinesforLocalSurvey:ABasisforPreservationPlanning.”ResourceswereevaluatedinaccordancewithNationalRegisterBulletin15,“HowtoApplytheNationalRegisterCriteriaforEvaluation.”HistoricalpropertyresearchbeganinOctober2017.CountryClubresidentsRhondaandRonCathey,whohadalreadyfoundbuildingpermitsandCityDirectoryinformationformanyoftheCountryClubhouses,aswellasafewnewspaperarticles,providedanexcellentbaseofinformation.SusanFordsupplementedtheCatheys’researchwithinformationfromadditionalCityDirectories,FireInsurancemapsfrom1913and1950andaerialphotographs.ShawneeCountyTaxAssessorrecordsalsoprovidedapproximateconstructiondates.ThesedateswereverifiedagainstCityDirectoryinformation.FieldsurveybeganinNovember2017.Eachpropertyintheneighborhoodwasviewedbytheconsultant,whorecordednotesonmaterials,formsandarchitecturaldetails.Theconsultantphotographedeachbuildingforherownrecords.PhotographerBradFinchtookhigh-resolutionphotographsofeachbuildinginlateDecember2017,meetingthestandardsforsurveysetforthbytheKHPO.AllinformationwasenteredintoanExcelspreadsheetandloadedintotheKHRIdatabase.Thedatabaseincludedaphysicaldescriptionofeachbuilding,historicalinformation,statementofconditionandownerinformation.Eachhousewasassignedastylebasedonform,materialsandconstructiondate.ThemostrecenteditionofAFieldGuidetoAmericanHousesbyVirginiaSavageMcAlesterprovidedreferenceforhousestyles.TheconsultantproofreadeachinventoryintheKHRIdatabase.Downsizedphotographsandsiteplanswereaddedtoeachinventory.Finally,eachhousewasreviewedforintegrityandeligibilityforlistingintheNationalRegisterofHistoricPlaces,eitherindividuallyorascontributingtoapotentialhistoricdistrict.AfterreviewbyAmandaLoughlin,KHPOsurveycoordinator,surveyformswereeditedandalteredasneededforapproval.AllinventorieswereapprovedJanuary22,2018.


TopekaHistoryInthewinterof1854,CyrusK.HollidayandCharlesRobinsontraveled25mileswestofLawrencealongtheKansasRiverinsearchofanewtownsiteforasecondKansascolony.TheywerelookingforasiteclosetorivertransportationandanappropriatedistancefromthetownofLawrence.Uponfindinganideallocationonalowbluffthatwouldaccommodateawharf,theyconvincedothermembersoftheNewEnglandEmigrantAidCompanytoformatowncompany.ThegroupagreedonthenameofTopekaforthenewtown.TheTerritorialLegislatureincorporatedTopekaasacityonFebruary14,1857.Thetown’spopulationreached450thatyearwithseveralcitizensmovingtherefromthenearbydiminishingtownofTecumseh.WhenthecountyseatwastransferredfromTecumsehtoTopeka,Topeka’spopulationroseto512in1858.2OnMarch26,1861,theStateLegislaturepassedanactdesignatingTopekaasthepermanentlocationoftheStatecapital.3Topeka’spopulationgrewtomorethan5000by1870.4By1880,thenumberofresidentshadtripledto15,452andthecityhadmorethan35,000residentsby1890.Newstreetcarlinesstretchingsouthfromdowntownfacilitatedthedevelopmentofnewneighborhoodsforthegrowingpopulation.Duringthisperiod,thecityplatted69newsubdivisions,includingCollegeHillandHighlandParksouthwestandsoutheastofdowntown,LowmanHillsouthwestofdowntownandQuintonHeightssouthofdowntownnearTopekaAvenue.5Bytheendofthe1800s,TopekaAvenueextendedapproximately20blockssouthoftheKansasRivertothesoutherncitylimits.Topeka,aswellastherestofthecountry,experiencedaneconomicdepressioninthe1890s,whichbroughtatemporaryhalttodevelopment.Thecityrecoveredandby1910thepopulationhadreached43,684.6Thecity’sstatusasthestatecapital,itslocationasthehuboftheAtchison,TopekaandSantaFeRailwayanditsdiverseindustriesofagriculture,healthcareandmanufacturingalllikelycontributedtoitsgrowthintheearly1900s.Themid-1920swasanespeciallybusyyearfortheconstructionindustryinTopeka.Nineannexationsexpandedthecity’slimitsduringthistime,creatingroomfornewdevelopments.7Mostoftheresidentialconstructionduringthisera,however,filledgapsinorbetweenolderneighborhoods.8CountryClubPlace,plattedin1924,created15irregularblocksbetweentheQuintonHeightssubdivisionandKansasAvenue.InitialdevelopmentoftheneighborhoodwaslikelyintendedtoattractTopeka’supper-andmiddle-classresidents,whowereincreasinglymovingfromneighborhoodsnearthestatecapitoltooutlyingdevelopments,suchastheWestboroneighborhoodinthesouthwestportionofthecity.AccordingtohistoriansDouglass2JamesR.Shortridge,CitiesonthePlains(Lawrence:UniversityofKansasPress,2004),73.3WilliamG.Cutler,HistoryoftheStateofKansas(Chicago:A.T.Andreas,1883).Accessedonlineathttp://www.kancoll.org/books/cutler/shawnee/shawnee-co-p1.html#TOC.4TheWPAGuideto1930sKansas(Lawrence:UniversityofKansasPress,1984)279. 5SallySchwenk,KerryDavis&CathyAmbler,NationalRegisterofHistoricPlacesNationalRegisterNominationForm,“CollegeAvenueHistoricDistrict,”2007,72.6RosinPreservation,“AuburndalePhaseIHistoricResourcesSurvey,”July2017.7Schwenk,Davis&Ambler,74.8DouglassW.WallaceandRoyD.Bird,“WitnessoftheTimes”TheBulletinoftheShawneeCountyHistoricalSociety,No.53,4July1976,244.


WallaceandRoyBird,nootherdevelopmentinTopekasymbolizedwealthorselectivity.TheWestborotract,developedin1927,includedhousesinavarietyofstylesdesignedtocreateastrikingeffect.9TheGreatDepressionandmidwesterndroughtshadanegativeeffectonTopekainthe1930s,stoppingnearlyallgrowth.TheAtchisonTopekaandSantaFeRailwaymovedmanufacturingandservicefacilitiesoutofthecity.Althoughthecompanyheadquartersremained,Topekahadlostitsnationalstatusasarailroadtown.Thecity’srecoverycamethroughadiversificationofindustriesrelatedtoWorldWarII,includingtheestablishmentoftheGoodyearTireandRubberCompanyplantin1944.10Afterthewar,increasinguseoftheautomobileexpandedsuburbanresidentialdevelopmentinthe1950sand1960s.Thecity’spopulationboomedfrom78,791in1950toalmost120,000in1960.11ThepopulationgrowthwasaccompaniedbyresidentialandcommercialconstructionthatspreadintofarmlandthatsurroundedTopeka.12CountryClubPlace’slargelots,landscapingandlocationjusttwomilesfromdowntownwerelikelyattractionsforthoseseekinganewhome.Twenty-sixofthe53homesinthesurveyedarea—nearly50percent—werebuiltafterWorldWarIIbetween1948and1968.Thesurveyedneighborhoodhasremainedstableandwellmaintainedinthedecadessincethe1960s.AfewofthehousesintheCountryClubWestareaarenowrentalsbutremainassingle-familydwellings.Traffichasincreasedonmainstreetssurroundingtheneighborhood—SW24thandSW27thStreets,aswellasSWTopekaBoulevard,officiallyrenamedfromTopekaAvenueinthe1980s.Theareaisawell-preservedhistoricenclavewithinthecapitalcity.

9WallaceandBird,244.10Schwenk,Davis&Ambler,75.11Rosin,14. 12Schwenk,Davis&Ambler,76.


HistoryoftheSurveyedAreaTheCountryClubPlaceadditionwassurveyedandplattedin1924bytheCentralTrustCompanyofTopeka13(Figure2.)Theplatincluded15irregularblockssouthof24thStreet,eastofUnion(nowSWWestern)Avenue,westofKansasAvenueandnorthof27thStreet,exceptforthesouthwestcorner,whichendedatthelotssouthofMerriamCourt.TheTopekaCityPlanningCommissionapprovedthesurveyonAugust28,1924andbytheTopekaBoardofCommissionersonAugust28,1924.Figure2.PlatoftheentireCountryClubPlacesubdivision,1924.

ThewestportionoftheCountryClubPlacesubdivisionretainsmuchofitsoriginalconfiguration.PolkTerraceextendingsouthof24thStreetwaseventuallyclosed.Manyofthestreetswererenamedin1938,accordingtocityrecords.CircleHillbecameSWTerraceAvenue,GrantRoadbecameSWGranthurstAvenueandUnionAvenuebecameSWWesternAvenue.Thecurvilinearstreetsandirregularlots,probablytheworkofalandscapedesigner,brokewithearliertrendsofneighborhooddevelopmentalongaregularstreetgrid.J.C.NicholsdevelopedsimilarlayoutsinKansasCityduringtheearly1900s.ThelayoutoftheCountryClubdevelopmentputfewlotsfacingnorthwinterwindsandlocatedmostofthehousesitesfacingintowardthenewneighborhood.Theblocksoriginallycontainedmoreandsmallerlotsthantoday.Forexample,Block13,surroundedbySWTerraceAvenue,SWWesternAvenueandSWGranthurst13TheplatwasapprovedbytheTopekaCityPlanningCommissionAugust28,1924andbytheTopekaBoardofCommissionersAugust29,1924.Noinformationwasdiscoveredaboutthelandscapedesigner.


Avenue,wasplattedwith18housesitesbut11houseswerebuilt.Block14,borderedbySWGranthurstAvenue,SWTopekaBoulevardandSWMerriamCourt,wasplattedwith22lotsbut15houseswerebuilt.TheCountryClubPlaceplatwassignedbyJ.R.Burrow,president,andChesterWoodward,secretary,oftheCentralTrustCompany.14TheCentralTrustCompanywascharteredApril8,1914byseveralindividualswhohadacontrollinginterestintheCentralNationalBankandTrustCompany.J.R.BurrowservedasthePresidentofbothfinancialinstitutions.15BurrowservedasKansasSecretaryofStatefrom1903to1907.AsaresidentofSmithCenter,hefoundedtheFirstNationalBankofSmithCenter.HeeventuallyservedaspresidentorontheboardofmanyKansasfinancialinstitutions,includingbanksinAgra,Bellaire,OsageCity,PortisandAthis.16Burrowdiedin1931.ChesterWoodwardwasaTopekafinancierandphilanthropistwhoestablishedhimselfinthebankingindustryduringthefirstdecadesofthe1900s.Heenteredthefarmloanbusinessintheearly1900sandin1919becamethesecretaryoftheMerriamMortgageCompany.WhentheMerriamCompanymergedwiththeCentralNationalBankandTrustCompanyofTopekain1920,heservedasthecompany’svice-presidentuntilheresignedin1928.HecontinuedtoserveaspresidentoftheTopekaMorrisPlanCompany,anationalloanandinvestmentcompany,untilhisdeathin1940.17ThesurveyedareaalsoincludeseighthousesonSWWesternAvenueontheeastedgeoftheQuintonandSteelessubdivision,mostbuiltbetween1950and1968.NowreferredtoastheQuintonHeightsSteeleneighborhood,theareawashistoricallynamedQuintonHeights.Theboundarieswere21stStreetonthenorth,27thStreetonthesouth,SWWashburnAvenueonthewestandSWWesternAvenueontheeast.AccordingtoCityofTopeka,QuintonHeightswasplattedin1887andannexedintothecorporatelimitsin1905.Theneighborhoodwastoutedina1909articleasoneofsouthwestTopeka’snewanddesirableneighborhoods.“PeoplearecomingmoreandmoretorecognizethisasoneofthecomingresidencesectionsofTopeka.WhatwasthefirstoftheTopekaboomadditionsisrapidlybecomingoneofthenicestportionsofTopeka.”18Thearea’slocationneartheTopekaCountryClublikelycontributedtoitsdesirability.Thearticlegoesontostate,“JustsouthofQuintonHeightsistheCountryclub,oneofthemostfashionableofTopeka’sclubs.ItistotheCountryclubthatfashionableTopekapeoplegoduringthesummer.ThepopularityofgolfinTopekaisduetotheCountryclub.”1914“J.R.Burrows”appearsontheplat,butthenameJ.R.BurrowappearsinseveralrecordsasthepresidentoftheCentralTrustCompany.15RichardPankratzandCorneliaWyman,NationalRegisterofHistoricPlacesInventory-NominationForm,“CentralNationalBank,”6January1976.16BiennialReportoftheBankCommissioners,Volumes14-15,566.Accessedonline17January2018athttps://books.google.com/books?id=xtEzAQAAMAAJ&pg=RA1-PA566&lpg=RA1-PA566&dq=jr+burrows+topeka&source=bl&ots=FrmHnMzLUD&sig=yd43CElA-NlCRlWSIY4EIOudfxE&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjH8LncyfHYAhVLS6wKHUNZA9oQ6AEINjAC#v=onepage&q=jr%20burrows%20topeka&f=false. 17MarthaHagedorn-Krass,NationalRegisterofHistoricPlacesNominationForm,“ChesterB.WoodwardHouse,”8May1992.18“SouthwestPartOfCityBooming”TheTopekaDailyCapital,27February1909,89.19Ibid,


ThesurveyedareacontainsonehomethatmaypredatetheCountryClubPlaceplat,2425SWGranthurst(Figure3.)Adwellingappearsinthenortheastcorneroftheareainthe1898atlasasbelongingtoMaryBradbury(Figure4.)E.H.andMaryBradburycametoTopekain1873andmadetheirhomesouthoftheShawneeCountyfairgroundsnearTopekaAvenue.20Thehouseat2425SWGranthurstmaybetheBradburyhouse.Thehouse’sstyleandconstructionareconsistentwithpre-1900construction.AninterviewwithRuthMohlermakesnoteof"anoldfarmhouse"inthenortheastportionoftheCountryClubaddition.21Itfirstappearsonacitymapin1935andfirstappearsin1935-37CityDirectoriesas520CircleHill,homeofRobertandTrissaMerrick.Figure3.TheE.H.andMaryBradburyhouseat2425SWGranthurst.

20“E.H.BradburyIsDead,”TopekaJournal,7January1928.21JamesH.Ransom,“BuildingonHerReputation;FromHome-MakertoHome-Builder;ABriefHistoryofRuthMcClintockMohler,”PresentedtotheJayhawkerClub,21January1998.


Figure4.The1898ShawneeCountyatlasshowingtheMaryBradburyproperty.

ThefirstnewhousebuiltintheCountryClubadditionwastheprominentJ.C.andRuthMohlerhomeneartheentrancetotheneighborhoodat2501SWGranthurstAvenue,designedbyarchitectW.E.Glover(Figure5.)Thehousewasbuiltin1926and,accordingthebuildingpermit,valuedat$10,000.JakeMohlerservedassecretaryofthestateboardofagricultureandRuthMohlerwasaTopekahomebuilder.TheTudorRevivalhouse,thesixthbuiltbyMrs.MohlerinTopeka,featuredanentrancesurroundedbynativestone,exteriorrough-hewnhalftimbersandtexturedstucco.Theinteriorincludedasouthlivingroomsunktwofeetbelowtheentrance,asouthattachedgarage,northdiningroom,threebedroomsandasleepingporch.TheMohlersinitiallyofferedthehouseforsalebutinsteadkeptitastheirownhome.22

22“MohlerHomeinNewCountryClubPlaceAddition,”TopekaDailyStateJournal,9November1926,6.


Figure5.TheMohlerhome,2501SWGranthurstAve.,ina1926newspaperarticleandin2017.

RuthMcClintockMohler(1881-1956)grewupinTopekaasadaughterofawell-to-docouple,surgeonDr.JohnMcClintockandhiswife,Ray.23RuthwaseducatedatBethanyCollege.Bythe1920s,shewassettledintoherdomesticlife,marriedtoJakeMohlerandthemotherofthreechildren—twosonsincollegeanda10-year-olddaughter.Shebeganbuildingherbusinessofdevelopingproperty,buildingherfirsthousesinTopekain1925onlandshepurchasedontheedgeoftown.Shegrewproficientinbuyinglandandbuilding,employingarchitectsandforementofulfillherplans.ShereferredtoherownCountryClubhouseasdesignedintheEnglishCountryCottagestyle,likelyinfluencedbyhertravelsabroad.Theconstructionofthehouseservedasapromotionalspringboardforhernewbusiness.SheadvertisedapublicopenhouseattheGranthurstAvenuehomethatwasattendedby2500Topekans.2423PrincipalWomenOfAmerica(London:TheMitrePress,1932)88.24Ransom.


Mohlerbuilt12housesintheCountryClubneighborhoodbetween1926and1940,includingtwohousesforhersisters.ForGertrudeWhitcomb,shebuiltabrickTudorRevivalhouseat810SWTerraceAvenuein1929valuedat$8000(Figure6.)ForHelenMcClintock,shebuiltaSpanishEclectichouseat2421SWCrestviewStreetin1937,valuedat$4800(Figure7.)Figure6.GertrudeWhitcombhouse,810SWTerraceAve.


Figure7.HelenMcClintockhouse,2421SWCrestviewStreet,2017.

Developmentwasinitiallyslowintheneighborhood,withonlyfourhousesbuiltinthesurveyedareabefore1930.AnadvertisementfromtheBrosiusInvestmentandNeiswangerInvestmentcompaniespromotedhomeownershipintheareaasawaytoimproveone’sstatusandasaffordablefor“anyonewhoearnsanaveragesalary.”Thead,whichhasaphotographoftheneighborhoodshowingonlytheMohlerhouse,goesontostate,“Themodestdownpaymentandequallymodestweeklyormonthlysumsarenobarrier—ifyouhavethedeterminationtostepoutoftheclassofweaklingswhoclaimtheynevercangetanywhere.”(Figure8.)25Theadvertisementmayhaveindicatedashiftfromtryingtoappealtoupper-middle-classresidentstoreachingforthosewhowantedtobeuppermiddleclass.

25“ObservetheMonkeyWrench,”undatednewspaperadvertisement.


Figure8.Circa1927newspaperadvertisement,sourceunknown.

HomeconstructionallbutdeclinedorstoppedacrossthecountryduringtheGreatDepressionandearly1940s,but20additionalhouseswerebuiltinthesurveyedareabeforetheonsetofWorldWarIIin1942.Atleastoneofthesehomes,2504SWGranthurst,wasprobablybuiltonspeculation.ThehomeappearedinanadvertisementintheTopekaDailyStateJournalinMay1930butfirstappearsinthe1933CityDirectoryasoccupiedbyRobertandMarjoireOwthwaite


(Figure9.)Twoofthearea’shomes—2500SWGranthurstand2532SWGranthurstbuiltin1931and1933—canbeattributedtotheGarlinghouseCompany.26Figure9.Advertisementfor2504SWGranthurstin1930andhousein2017.

TheformerFlorenceCrittentonHomewasbuiltin1930at2601SWWesternAvenue(Figure10.)ThefirstCrittentonAgencywasestablishedinTopekain1900onJewellStreet.AhomewaslocatedintheQuintonHeightsneighborhoodby1909.27TheFlorenceCrittentonHomeislistedatthislocationinCityDirectoriesasearlyas1921.NoticeoftheconstructionofanewhomeappearedinKansasConstructionNewsin1930.Thearticlestatedthatthethree-storybrickandconcretebuildingwouldcost$26,000.28TheFlorenceCrittentonhomeprovidedresidentialservicestopregnantortroubledteenagegirls.Itofferedhealthcare,educationalservicesandcounseling.Thefacilitywaslicensedtocarefor20girls:15troubledteensages13to17andfivepregnantgirls.29ThehouseservedasCrittentonHomeuntil2003.

26TheL.F.GarlinghouseCompany,establishedinTopekain1907,promotedhouseplandesignsthroughthedistributionofplanbooks.Plan#2210isat2500SWGranthurstandplan#1246isat2532SWGranthurst.“BungalowHomesfortheNation,”ShawneeCountyHistoricalBulletinNo.83(2008).27Mrs.JohnMcFarland,“ForMany,AHomeAwayFromHome”TopekaMagazine,December1976,34-37.28KansasConstructionNews,22March1930.29Mrs.JohnMcFarland.


Figure10.2601SWWestern.

AnaerialphotographtakenfortheCityofTopekain1942showshousesonabouthalfofthelotsontheinnerstreetsofthesurveyedarea(Figure11.)Noconstructionoccurredintheareabetween1943and1948.The1950Sanbornmapshowslittlechangeintheneighborhood’sdensity(Figure12.)


Figure11.AerialphotographoftheCountryClubWestarea,1942.


Figure12.Surveyedareaon1950SanbornFireInsurancemap.

Thenumberofhousesinthesurveyedareanearlydoubledbetween1948and1959.Twohouseswerebuiltin1948,twoin1949,and17inthe1950s.Theneighborhood’slocationjusttwomilesfromdowntownandneartheTopekaCountryClublikelyprovedtobeanattractionfornewhomeowners.Thecurvingstreetsandmaturinglandscapingcouldalsohavedrawninbuyerswhowerelookingforadevelopedsettingfortheirnewhomes.The1950salsobroughtnewhousestotwounoccupiedstreetswithinthesurveyedarea—SWTopekaAvenueandSWWesternAvenue.Fourofthefivewestlotsinthe2500blockofTopekaAvenuewerebuiltonintheearly1950s.Thefirsthouse,aRanchat2535SWTopeka,wasbuiltin1950.Threehouseswerebuiltin1955at2517,2525and2531.Thefinalhousewasbuiltin1966at2521.Thelocationonabusythoroughfaremayhaveinitiallybeenunattractivetohomeowners.The1950sTopekaAvenuehousesweresmallerandsimplerthanmostofthoselocatedintheneighborhood’sinterior,indicatingperhapsalowersalepriceforthelots.


FiveofthesevenhistorichousesonSWWesternAvenuewerebuiltinthe1950s.AccordingtoGeraldGraves,whogrewupintheareaandrecentlypurchasedahouseonthestreet,AfricanAmericanswerenotallowedtobuyhomesintheCountryClubPlaceadditioninthe1950s.WesternAvenue,locatedintheQuintonHeightsplat,wasavailabletoupper-andmiddle-classblackfamilies.Thestreetwasdesirable,hestates,foraffluentAfricanAmericanswhowantedtoliveveryclosetooneofTopeka’smostdesirableneighborhoods.30Asamplingofthestreet’sinitialowneroccupations—clergy,DuPontemployee,ownerofanelectriccompany—providesevidenceofthis.Thelasthistorichousebuiltinthesurveyedareawasthesubstantial1968RanchhomeofDonaldandEarleneRedmonat2519SWWesternAvenue.AfterservingintheKoreanWar,DonaldRedmonbeganworkingwithhisfather,Fred,buildinghouses.HebecameTopeka’sfirstlicensedAfrican-Americanelectricalcontractorandwentontobuildseveralcommercialbuildings.31Justfivehouseswerebuiltonvacantlotsinthesurveyedareainthe1960s.Twoweresmallhousesbuiltat701and555SWMerriamCourtin1962and1963.AsubstantialRanchhousewasbuiltforJohnandRuthieArthurat2520SWGranthurstin1965.In1966,thelasthousewasaddedtothosefacingSWTopekaAvenueat2521.In1968,DonaldandEarleneRedmonbuilttheneighborhood’slasthistorichomeat2519SWWestern(Figure24.)Threehouseswerebuiltinthesurveyedareaafter1968:815SWTerracein1976,605SW24thStreetin1978and2501SWWesternin1998.Thefirstresidentsofthesurveyedareaworkedinmiddle-toupper-middle-classprofessions.Occupationslistedincitydirectoriesidentifyinitialandlaterhomeownersasamixofmanagementpositions,attorneys,companyowners,professionalsandemployeesoftheAtchison,TopekaandSantaFeRailway.Thestabilityofthesejobsalmostcertainlycontributedtotheexcellentmaintenanceoftheneighborhood’shistorichomes.Figure13.Estimateddateofconstructionofprimaryresources.

Era TotalBuilt1926-1929 41930-1942 201942-1947 01948-1959 211960-1968 51970-present 3

30GeraldGraves,telephoneconversationwithauthor,10January2018.31DonaldRedmonObituary,TopekaCapital-Journal,25December2016.Accessedonline8February2018athttp://www.legacy.com/obituaries/cjonline/obituary.aspx?pid=183206739.


SurveyFindingsArchitecturalStylesandMaterials Allofthesurveyedhouses,exceptfortheFlorenceCrittentonHome,wereconstructedassingledwellingsandallaresingle-familyhomestoday.Thedevelopmentoftheneighborhoodisclearlyreflectedinarchitecturalstylesfromthefivedecadesofthe1920sthroughthe1960s,beginningwithhomesbuiltinRevivalstylesandendingwithRanchhouses.Materialsweretraditional.Mosthouseswereofframeconstructionwithsidingofwood,brickorstone.32Ahandfulofhouseshavestuccoorconcretesiding.Surveyedancillarystructuresincluded23detachedgaragesorsheds.Threeofthefourearliesthouseswerebuiltbefore1930inTudorRevivalandColonialRevival,stylesquitepopularinthe1920s.TheneighborhoodalsohasoneCraftsmanhome,aslightlyold-fashionedstyleforthetime(Figure14.)Figure14.The1929BernardoandMinnieWegeleresidenceat2525SWWesternhastexturedconcreteblockcladdinginthefirststory.

Revivalstylesdominatedthepre-WorldWarIIera,especiallythesymmetricalColonialRevivalstyle.EightColonialRevivalhomeswerebuiltinthesurveyedareaduringthistime,includingthe1932JamesandFredaLippitthouseat2532SWGranthurstandthe1936H.BernardandJaneFinkhouseat711SWMerriamCourt,designedbyT.R.GriestandbuiltbyRuthMohler(Figure

32Twohousesareshownonthe1950Sanbornmapasmasonryconstruction:2531SWGranthurst(concrete)and2532SWGranthurst(stone.)Elevenofthe53resourceshavesyntheticorasbestossidingaddedafterinitialconstruction.


15.)Twoofthearea’sColonialRevivalhomes—2500SWGranthurstand2532SWGranthurst—canbeattributedtotheGarlinghouseCompany.Figure15.ExamplesofColonialRevival,2532SWGranthurstbuiltin1933,and711SWMerriamCourtbuiltin1936.

ThreeTudorRevivalhomes,suchasthe1930EarlandKathrynJoneshouse(Figure16)at801SWTerracejoinedtheearlierhousesinthisstylewiththeirprominentfrontgables,multi-panedwindowsanduseofdecorativestone.Constructionduringthistimealsoincludedexamplesofcombinedstyles,suchastheMiltonandMontieFullerhouseat807SWTerrace,withatwo-storyNeoclassicalporchbutwithaclearColonialRevivalform(Figure17.)TheHelenMcClintockhomebuiltin1937(Figure7)hasaSpanishEclecticappearancebutaformthatnodstoTudorRevival.The1936ForestandHelenLovelandresidence,2526SWGranthurst,displaysasteepFrenchEclecticroofandarchedwalldormers,butretainsthesymmetryoftheColonialRevivalstyle(Figure18.)The1937JosephandOdettBrelsfordhouseat503SWMerriamCourtalmostdefiesarchitecturalclassification,displayinganearlyRanchformbutalsoincludingspareMinimalTraditionaleavesandacurvedArtModernesunporch(Figure19.)


Figure16.801SWTerracebuiltin1930.

Figure17.807SWTerrace,builtin1937byCharlesTrueblood.


Figure18.2526SWGranthurst,builtin1936byRuthMohler.

Figure19.503SWMerriamCourt.


TwoexamplesofmodernhousestylesthatlaterdominatedtheneighborhoodwerebuiltbeforeWorldWarII.Thearea’sfirstRanchhousewasbuiltat515SWMerriamCourtin1941(Figure20)andaMinimalTraditionalhousewasbuiltin1942at2435SWGranthurstAvenue(Figure21.)BothareearlyexamplesofformsthatwouldbecomeverypopularintheCountryClubneighborhood,aswellasacrossthecountry.Figure20.515SWMerriamCourt.

Figure21.2435SWGranthurstAvenue.


AfterWorldWarII,themodernMinimalTraditionalandRanchstylesmultipliedthroughoutthesurveyedarea.Inall,10houseswerebuiltintheMinimalTraditionalstyleand22houseswerebuiltintheRanchstyleintheneighborhood.33Theformsclearlydivergedfromhistoricdesigns.Bothstyleswerereadilyavailableinpatternbooksandwereeasilybuiltduetotheiruseofbuildingmaterialswithstandardmeasurements.ThecompactMinimalTraditionalhousepromotedsimplicity,givingtheownerplentyofinteriorspacewiththeappearanceofasmallhouse.The1955GeorgeandIsabelWellshouseat2413SWWesternisalateexampleofstylewithatidyappearance(Figure22.)NoMinimalTraditionalhouseswerebuiltintheareaafter1955.Figure22.2413SWWesternAvenue.

ThesprawlingRanchstylewasclearlyamodernlookthataccommodatedthefamilyautomobilewithanattachedgarage.TheRanchcouldbemodest,likethehouseat515MerriamCourt,(Figure20)ormuchgrander.ThesurveyedareahastwoexamplesofoutstandingRanchhomes.WillisandDorothyLundgren’s1955houseat2415SWCrestviewwasdesignedbyarchitectWilliamSuerkandbuiltbyMr.Lundgren’scompany,J.A.Lundgren&SonConstructionCompany.Thehousehascypresssiding,multi-panedcasementwindowsandastrikingnorthfaçadewithanorthentrancepatio,(Figure23.)Thelasthistorichousebuiltinthesurveyedareaistheimpressive1968RanchhomeofDonaldandEarleneRedmonat2519SWWestern.Thehousefeaturesacentercourtyardbehindafronttilescreen,casementwindowswithdiamondpanesandredstonesiding(Figure24.)ThehouseremainedwiththeRedmonfamilyin2018.

33Thiscountincludes2401SWWesternAvenue,builtasaRanchbutlaterexpandedtoaSplit-Level.


Figure23.2415SWCrestview.

Figure24.2519SWWestern.


EligibilityThearchitecturalintegrityofeachprimaryresourcedeterminedeligibilityforindividuallistingintheNationalorKansasRegistersorasacontributingbuildingtoapotentialhistoricdistrict.Houseswiththehighestarchitecturalintegrity—retainingsignificantoriginalformandmaterials—weredeterminedtobeindividuallyeligible.Houseswithminimallossofintegrity—somereplacementsoforiginalwindows,forexample—butthatretainmostoftheirhistoricappearance,weredeterminedtobecontributingstructures.Contributingbuildingsarelesssignificantandmayhavelessarchitecturalintegritythanindividuallyeligiblebuildings,butinassociationwithotherbuildingsinthearea,theyarerepresentativeexamplesofhistoricbuildingtypes.Consideredinthematicgroupsorasdistricts,contributingbuildingsmaybeeligiblefortheKansasorNationalRegisters.Buildingsdeterminedasnon-contributingtoahistoricdistrictsufferfromaseverelossofintegrity.Themostcommonreasonforahouseinthesurveyedareatobeconsideredasnon-contributingistheapplicationofnon-historicsidingandtheremovalofallhistoricwindows.34NoresourcesinthesurveyedareaarecurrentlylistedintheNationalorKansasRegisters.Inthesurveyof53resources,14wereevaluatedaseligibleforindividuallistingintheNationalorKansasRegistersduetotheirarchitecturalsignificance.Inaddition,20wereevaluatedascontributingstructures.35ThefollowingpropertiesareconsideredpotentiallyeligibleforindividuallistingintheNationalRegisterbytheKHPOstaff:36

• J.C.&RuthMohlerHouse,2501SWGranthurst;• GertrudeWhitcombHouse,810SWTerrace;• Earl&KathrynJonesHouse,801SWTerrace;• FlorenceCrittentonHome,2601SWWestern• James&FredaLippitHouse,2532SWGranthurst;• Robert&TrissaMerrickHouse,2425SWGranthurst;• Forest&HelenLovelandHouse,2526SWGranthurst;• HelenMcClintockHouse,2421SWCrestview;• Milton&MontieFullerHouse,807SWTerrace;• Leslie&HelenOverhelmanHouse;600SWTerrace;• Jas.DePriestHouse,2427SWWestern;• Walter&BerniceLuttrellHouse,612SWTerrace;• Willis&DorothyLundgrenHouse,2415SWCrestview;• Donald&EarleneRedmonHouse,2519SWWestern.

34Theremovalofnon-historicsidingmaychangethestatusofaresourcefromnon-contributingtocontributing.35OnlytheStateHistoricPreservationOfficeandtheNationalRegisterprogramthroughtheNationalParkServicecanmakefinalrecommendationsastohistoricdesignationandthedefinitionofpotentialhistoricdistricts.36Interiorphotosandmoreinformationabouteachbuilding'ssignificancemaybeneededtohelpsupporteligibility.


ThefollowingpropertiesareconsideredeligibleascontributingtoapotentialhistoricdistrictbytheKHPOstaff:

• Frank&EdithMoyerHouse,2508SWGranthurst;• Charles&AltaPuttHouse,2500SWGranthurst;• Robert&MarciaClarkHouse,2416SWGranthurst;• EmilyGaultHouse,717SWMerriam;• Joseph&OdettBrelsfordHouse,503SWMerriam;• Peter&CarmenWeberHouse,724SWMerriam;• Harold&EulalieGranberryHouse,515SWMerriam;• Frank&MableSmithHouse,705SWMerriam;• Richard&HazelMayHouse,2535SWGranthurst;• Chris&MarieHenriksenHouse,500SWMerriam;• Cecil&PearlCollierHouse,510SWMerriam;• William&ErnestineNowlanHouse,711SWTerrace;• Dean&BasilWildsHouse,2400SWGranthurst;• Louis&SadieGleichenhausHouse,720SWMerriam;• George&IsabelWellsHouse,2413SWWestern;• WebsterReeseHouse,2517SWTopeka;• Thomas&MalissaLovellHouse,2419SWWestern;• Richard&OlgaHolbergHouse,701SWMerriam;• Willard&VelmaBellingerHouse,555SWMerriam;• John&RuthieArthurHouse,2520SWGranthurst.

HistoricDistrictRecommendationAhistoricdistrictisagroupofbuildingsunitedhistoricallybyplanorphysicaldevelopment.Buildingswithinadistrictmustbecontiguous.Inahistoricdistrict,atleast51percentofthebuildingsmustbeconsideredascontributingstructures.Thebuildingsmustfallwithinaperiodofsignificance.AperiodofsignificanceisthelengthoftimewhenadistrictattainedthecharacteristicsthatqualifyitforNationalRegisterlisting.Therecommendedperiodofsignificanceforthesurveyedareais1926-1968,beginningwiththeconstructionoftheJ.C.andRuthMohlerhouseat2501SWGranthurstAvenueandendingwiththeconstructionofthelasthistorichouse,theDonaldandEarleneRedmonhouseat2519SWWesternAvenue.Thesurveyrecommendsahistoricdistrictconsistingoftheentiresurveyedneighborhoodof53houses.Thirty-fouroftheseresourcesareconsideredindividuallyeligibleorascontributingtoapotentialhistoricdistrict.Thesurveyedareaisacohesiveneighborhood.Nearly65percentthehousesareconsideredaseligibleorcontributingstructures.Severalofthenon-contributingstructureshavethepotentialtohavetheirstatuschangedwiththeremovalofnon-historicsiding.AmapoftheproposeddistrictwithindividuallyeligibleandcontributingresourcesidentifiedcanbeseeninFigure25.Individuallyeligiblepropertiesarealsoconsideredascontributingresourcestoapotentialhistoricdistrict.


Figure25.Mapofindividuallyeligible,contributingandnon-contributingresources.CityofTopekaandSusanFord.


SourcesBiennialReportoftheBankCommissioners,Volumes14-15.Accessedonline17January2018at

https://books.google.com/books?id=xtEzAQAAMAAJ&pg=RA1-PA566&lpg=RA1-PA566&dq=jr+burrows+topeka&source=bl&ots=FrmHnMzLUD&sig=yd43CElA-NlCRlWSIY4EIOudfxE&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjH8LncyfHYAhVLS6wKHUNZA9oQ6AEINjAC#v=onepage&q=jr%20burrows%20topeka&f=false.

“BungalowHomesfortheNation.”ShawneeCountyHistoricalBulletinNo.83(2008).Cutler.WilliamG.HistoryoftheStateofKansas.Chicago:A.T.Andreas,1883.Accessedonline

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WoodwardHouse,”8May1992.Henriksen,Marie.Interviewbyauthor.9January2018.KansasConstructionNews,22March1930.McAlester,VirginiaSavage.AFieldGuidetoAmericanHouses.NewYork:AlfredA.Knopf,2013.McFarland,Mrs.John.“ForMany,AHomeAwayFromHome.”TopekaMagazine,December1976.“MohlerHomeinNewCountryClubPlaceAddition.”TopekaDailyStateJournal,9November1926.“ObservetheMonkeyWrench.”Undatednewspaperadvertisement.Pankratz,RichardandCorneliaWyman.NationalRegisterofHistoricPlacesInventory-

NominationForm,“CentralNationalBank,”6January1976.PrincipalWomenOfAmerica.London:TheMitrePress,1932.Ransom,JamesH.“BuildingonHerReputation;FromHome-MakertoHome-Builder;ABrief

HistoryofRuthMcClintockMohler.”PresentedtotheJayhawkerClub,21January1998.RosinPreservation.“AuburndalePhaseIHistoricResourcesSurvey.”July2017.


SanbornMapCompany.InsuranceMapsofTopekaKansas.NewYork,1915;1950.Shortridge,JamesR.CitiesonthePlains.Lawrence:UniversityofKansasPress,2004.Schwenk,Sally,KerryDavisandCathyAmbler.NationalRegisterofHistoricPlacesNational

RegisterNominationForm,“CollegeAvenueHistoricDistrict,”2007.“SouthwestPartOfCityBooming.”TheTopekaDailyCapital,27February1909.StandardAtlasofShawneeCountyKansas.Chicago:Geo.A.Ogle&Co.1898.Vogel,Steven.Telephoneinterviewbyauthor.11October2017.Wallace,DouglassW.andRoyD.Bird.“WitnessoftheTimes.”TheBulletinoftheShawneeCounty

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country club addition neighborhood historical …historical survey and report prepared for the city...

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