KCRag Forum

FangKC wrote: No gravestones.

Cyclops wrote: Is that a gravestone in the front yard?

HypnoRaygun wrote: .
Changes to Hoel House:

The brick surrounding the fireplace in the living room of the Hoel house was painted in the 1980's by my grandfather's (Carl Rice) second wife (Virginia Docking-wife of Papa Doc).  He wasn't happy, but didn't fight it.  Obviously the natural brick looked a lot better.  She also took up the carpet and exposed the hardwood floors. 

My grandparents enclosed the front porch & turned it into a music room.  It was notable because there was a full size harp in the window that was visible from the street.  The main entry then became what had been a door to the patio, entered by going up the steps to the right.  The original front porch was dark and recessed and no one ever used it. 

They also built the now-gone tennis court.  It wasn't regulation size (no back court) because my grandfather didn't want to cut down the tree at the end of it.  I don't know what was there before the tennis court. 

The property extended down N. 22nd and around the corner to Oakland Ave.  The corner lot was sold off and a house was built there.  My mother was upset because she thought her father should have put a swimming pool there.  I don't know if the original property extended beyond the corner lot.  I always thought it was odd that there was no back yard and the neighbors' back yards on Oakland were about 5-6 feet from the back of the house. 

The next owners remodeled part of the basement 'rec' room.  I don't know if it was original to the house.  When I saw it in 2001, the stairs to the basement still had the linoleum tiles I remember from the 1950's.
They had also left the vines painted on the walls of the master bedroom.  My grandmother had those done and there paintings of the two of them hung in the middle. My grandfather didn't much like them because he said he felt like he was sleeping in a jungle. 

The interior of the house looked much different in the 1940's through the 1970's.  My grandmother had lovely antiques and expensive furniture and it had a very formal and elegant appearance.   


This is what I found regarding Topeka, KS. Most, if not all, appear to be gone, or they were just a remodel. So I don't know if they are still around or not.

David Mulvane residence, 1035 Van Buren, Topeka, Kansas, c. 1904 (demolished).

A. Fassler residence, Topeka, Ks.  C.5. (blueprints)

A. Morse residence alterations, Topeka, Ks.

Bethany College stone and concrete porch addition, Topeka, Ks.

Topeka Country Club, Topeka, Ks. 

I liked the Harry G. Miller Sr. home the best. It appears it is the most "complete" or semi period restoration of the two. (vs. Jesse A Hoel house). I believe the owner of the Hoel home, hasn't owned it very long. So I don't know if he intends to try to revert modern cover ups of historic designs or not. (I got his information, so I will try to check with him).

The Miller home was just great. You really can't tell from outside, but (you can see in the pictures) once inside, there is a dark yellowish glass incorporated into the designs, that casts a great light into the home. This is mainly seen in the entry way.

I was told the wall designs are all original. I didn't post a lot of these designs, due to the pictures being blurry. It was dark in there, and I don't like to use flash. But a lot of the wood works along the walls and on the walls themselves, arts and crafts type designs were painted on them. VERY cool. There was even a clock built into the woodwork!

The ceiling of the living room was Barrel Vaulted. It was a gold color and had a really neat design on it. To me the entryway and main living room were the highlights. It was way beyond my expectations. Just great.

The Jesse A Hoel home is also very nice. I really like the external designs of that home. Once inside it is also very nice, but it does not feel ...period to the design. There were some historic photos showing the house inside from a long time ago, and there were designs on the walls which are covered up now. They really reminded me of Charles Rennie Mackintosh designs. Small squares in a linear design. It would nice to see this home restored to a more period feel.

Overall.. both were very nice homes and they have wonderful owners! I feel very fortunate to be able to go inside and take photos.

I can't wait to see the Bernard Corrigan residence.

We are thrilled to be working with developer Richard Reding and Boti Studio while they transform this jewel of a building into mixed use (residential apartments and commercial). Stay tuned for periodic updates!

FangKC wrote: ↑Wed Dec 13, 2023 5:18 pm There is movement on the Louis Curtiss Studio building. A plan appears to be forming for a renovation.

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We are thrilled to be working with developer Richard Reding and Boti Studio while they transform this jewel of a building into mixed use (residential apartments and commercial). Stay tuned for periodic updates!

https://www.facebook.com/RosinPreservation

Interior photos.

https://www.instagram.com/p/C0zxzCdsSRB ... BiNWFlZA==