Thursday, October 29, 2009
In July, Josh Schoenfelder, 2008 graduate, moved out of his house at 1146 Ohio St. Making a final sweep over the house, he spotted a small cabinet door in the back of his laundry room. Double-checking to see if there was anything left behind, he discovered a box that had been hidden there more than 50 years ago.
Historic housing: When Josh Schoenfelder, 2008 graduate, moved out of this house in July, he found a box of artifacts dating back to the early 1900s, including love letters and bank statements. The items belonged to a former owner of the house, who moved there in 1919.
Schoenfelder and his roommates sat for hours digging through the box, which contained items dating from the early 1900s to the 1950s including hundreds of love letters, musical concert fliers from various events across the country, bank statements and a copy of a Lawrence Journal-World.
Schoenfelder discovered the box belonged to Emil Schumann, a former owner of the house. Schumann and his family moved into the house in 1919, when he was in his early 20s. He kept the house in his family until 1977.
The streets that make up a core section of where students live today — Ohio, Tennessee, Kentucky, etc. — were built on in the 1850s. Many of these houses were present during William Quantril’s famous raid of Lawrence, and eight areas on Tennessee Street alone are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. But students often disregard the historic value of the century-old houses they live in.
Open your eyes to the history that Lawrence has to offer. Here’s a list of a few of the many sites and where to find them.
THE BELL HOUSE: 1008 Ohio St.
Built in 1863 and owned by Captain George and Annie Bell and damaged by Quantril’s Raid in August 1863. George Bell was killed during the raid defending his family. The house was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983 for the historical event and for the house’s architecture.
THE MILLER HOUSE: 1111 W. 19th St.
Built in 1858 and owned by Robert H. Miller, who reportedly used the home during the Civil War as a hideout for the Underground Railroad. The house was added to the NRHP in 1984 for the significance of the person and the architecture.
THE JOHN N. ROBERTS HOUSE:
1307 Massachusetts St.
Built in 1894, the house is now known as the Castle Tea Room, it hosts tea parties and various gatherings. The building was added in 1974 to the NRHP for it’s architecture and engineering.
THE USHER HOUSE: 1425 Tennessee St.
Built in 1872 and owned by John Palmer Usher, the Secretary of the Interior during Abraham Lincoln’s presidency and former mayor of Lawrence. Converted int o Beta Theta Pi Fraternity in 1912. Added to the NRHP in 1975 for the historic person who lived there and the Italianate architecture.
The Watkins Community Museum, 1047 Massachusetts St., contains archives of the history of Lawrence. Curator Helen Krische is concerned that students don’t appreciate their homes. She says students and landlords don’t take an interest in the history of their homes and therefore neglect them. “It’s a shame to see them deteriorate,” Krische says.
On the National Register of Historic Places is a house at 923 Tennessee St., which is still used as a rental property. Known as the Benedict House, it was one of the first Lawrence homes with a stick architectural style, characterized by exposed beams and trusses. Jamie Ferris, Shawnee senior, lived in the house last year. The home was split up the middle to accommodate renters, modifying its original state. Ferris lived on the side that her landlord believed to be the original servant’s quarters, evidenced by the steep staircase and the servant’s bedroom converted to the bathroom. Ferris could tell it wasn’t as nice as the other side of the house, which her landlord assumed to be the owner’s quarters. Ferris enjoyed knowing that her home had some history. “It wasn’t a typical college apartment. It was cool to be a part of something that was that substantial for Lawrence,” Ferris says.
Though many students live in historic homes, it’s rare that someone makes a find like Schoenfelder did. Rita Napier, associate professor of history, values unexpected discoveries such as this. She says they tell the story of what was important to the owner and reflect the values of the time.
The houses themselves can also lend a snapshot of the artistic tastes and lifestyles, though Napier has concern for the care of the homes. “Historic memory is built into the houses. Students might be excited about that but (the homes) aren’t being taken care of as they should,” Napier says.
Schoenfelder knew that his house was old, but finding the box of items put it into perspective. The age of the house appealed to him and his roommates — along with the location for tailgate parties — and finding the box was a great moment for them. “It was icing on the cake before we moved out. We all loved that house and we appreciated the history and the good times we had there,” Schoenfelder says.
In Schoenfelder’s eyes, he and his roommates didn’t erase the history at 1146 Ohio; they added to it. “I don’t think people should stop having parties and enjoying their houses,” he says. “I just think they should appreciate it more.”
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