After our first night at the Ball of Twine Inn in Cawker City, Kansas, we wandered over to the site of the restoration of an architectural and historical gem, the original limestone Hesperian Library built in 1884. The Victorian building is now being restored as the Cawker City Museum. Missing ornamentation of chimney, roof and ornate gables are being faithfully recreated using historic photographs. The goal of the restoration is to return the building to its original condition and adapt it for the preservation of historic artifacts of local interest.As you look at the photo above, you will see the ladder at the front door. What you can't see is the man behind the ladder who stepped out to greet us as we approached the building. It was Steve Richardson, third generation Cawker City resident, local historian, and primary restorer of the museum. Steve invited us in to the building and showed the photo below as he shared some of the details and challenges of the restoration.
This photo was taken about 7 years after the library was built. I'm impressed by the Woman’s Hesperian Library Club dressed in their finest clothing posing proudly in front of the lovely building. When asked how he gained his skills in historic restoration, Steve told us he had watched every episode of the television show, This Old House! I would say there is more in his background than being an avid do-it-yourself television viewer...Recognizing our interest in the city history, Steve asked if we wanted to see something really special in the United Methodist Church located next to the library/museum.
We were stunned when Steve led us into the sanctuary and showed us the oldest church organ in Kansas built in 1884. Henry Pilcher's Sons of Louisville, Kentucky built the organ for the Congregational Church in Kinsley, Kansas. In 1931, the Cawker City Methodists bought the organ and placed it in their native limestone church. In 1976, a new sanctuary was built, and the organ was restored by Reuter Organ Co., Lawrence, Kansas.
Steve Richardson is the church organist, European-trained master builder of pipe organs, and owner of Richardson Pipe Organs in nearby Downs, Kansas. After changing into his organ-playing shoes, he sat down and played a familiar hymn on this marvelous 127 year-old organ.
Steve told us he was in high school in 1976 when the organ was restored. He was fascinated by the restoration, and it prompted his life's work. I said, "Who knew?" and Steve replied, "God."
Sid looks on as Steve plays the pipe organ with masterful skills. This beautiful organ literally fills the front of the sanctuary. Such an unexpected treasure. My photos don't do it justice.
This close-up shows the oil lantern on one side of the organ. There's another lantern on the opposite side.
When Sid asked Steve about getting one of the native limestone blocks, Steve said there were some good ones at his home. We drove a few blocks to this old home being restored which Sid and I had noted earlier in the morning. The lot adjoins Steve's lot. He has purchased the home and is gradually restoring it with the same attention to detail he is using with the library restoration. Steve gave Sid an excellent example of the historic limestone.
When we asked about the unusual native limestone, Steve showed us this book, Land of the Post Rock, and explained that when towns in the Great Plains were settled, there were no trees for making fence posts. So, the resourceful settlers quarried the native limestone (aka post rock), which was plentiful. The photo above shows a barbed wire fence using post rock as fence posts. This rock was also used for many buildings as settlers moved out of their sod homes and dugouts to homes made of stone.
Steve generously gave us a grand tour of the town and Waconda Lake, sharing fascinating history about the early founders, Lincoln Park, Waconda Springs, famous former residents, and changes in the land brought about by the dam in the 1960s. We even saw the two town mansions...built next door to one another for the same family...but that's a long story. In case you are interested, the mansion made of post rock is currently for sale. We felt blessed to have met Steve who spent so much time with us sharing treasures we would never have seen on our own! He was one of the highlights of our trip. Thank you, Steve.
Here's another interesting building, now it is Lakeside Liquor Store.
It used to be a gas station. This building is just a few hundred feet from the limestone home Steve is restoring. So much history in this small town.
We were stunned when Steve led us into the sanctuary and showed us the oldest church organ in Kansas built in 1884. Henry Pilcher's Sons of Louisville, Kentucky built the organ for the Congregational Church in Kinsley, Kansas. In 1931, the Cawker City Methodists bought the organ and placed it in their native limestone church. In 1976, a new sanctuary was built, and the organ was restored by Reuter Organ Co., Lawrence, Kansas.
Steve Richardson is the church organist, European-trained master builder of pipe organs, and owner of Richardson Pipe Organs in nearby Downs, Kansas. After changing into his organ-playing shoes, he sat down and played a familiar hymn on this marvelous 127 year-old organ.
Steve told us he was in high school in 1976 when the organ was restored. He was fascinated by the restoration, and it prompted his life's work. I said, "Who knew?" and Steve replied, "God."
Sid looks on as Steve plays the pipe organ with masterful skills. This beautiful organ literally fills the front of the sanctuary. Such an unexpected treasure. My photos don't do it justice.
This close-up shows the oil lantern on one side of the organ. There's another lantern on the opposite side.
When Sid asked Steve about getting one of the native limestone blocks, Steve said there were some good ones at his home. We drove a few blocks to this old home being restored which Sid and I had noted earlier in the morning. The lot adjoins Steve's lot. He has purchased the home and is gradually restoring it with the same attention to detail he is using with the library restoration. Steve gave Sid an excellent example of the historic limestone.
When we asked about the unusual native limestone, Steve showed us this book, Land of the Post Rock, and explained that when towns in the Great Plains were settled, there were no trees for making fence posts. So, the resourceful settlers quarried the native limestone (aka post rock), which was plentiful. The photo above shows a barbed wire fence using post rock as fence posts. This rock was also used for many buildings as settlers moved out of their sod homes and dugouts to homes made of stone.
Steve generously gave us a grand tour of the town and Waconda Lake, sharing fascinating history about the early founders, Lincoln Park, Waconda Springs, famous former residents, and changes in the land brought about by the dam in the 1960s. We even saw the two town mansions...built next door to one another for the same family...but that's a long story. In case you are interested, the mansion made of post rock is currently for sale. We felt blessed to have met Steve who spent so much time with us sharing treasures we would never have seen on our own! He was one of the highlights of our trip. Thank you, Steve.
Here's another interesting building, now it is Lakeside Liquor Store.
It used to be a gas station. This building is just a few hundred feet from the limestone home Steve is restoring. So much history in this small town.
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