|
|
|
Photo by Elliot J. Sutherland/The Ottawa Herald
The Franklin County Courthouse has been named one of 24 finalists in a public vote on the Eight Architectural Wonders of Kansas by the Kansas Sampler Foundation. The finalists were announced Friday afternoon, locally on the steps of the courthouse. Beginning Friday, Kansans can vote for their favorite buildings through June 15.
|
Courthouse in the running for state’s 8 architectural wonders
By CLEON RICKEL, Herald Senior Writer
|
|
As they say in Chicago — vote early, vote often.
Deb Barker, director of the Franklin County Historical Society, kicked off her political campaign Friday afternoon — for the Franklin County Courthouse.
The courthouse has been nominated as one of the Eight Architectural Wonders of Kansas and the polls are open, Barker said.
The Kansas Sampler Foundation announced 24 finalists for the top architectural sites in the state at the Kansas Sampler Center at Inman Friday.
“I think the courthouse has a good chance to win,” Barker said. “... We want everyone in Franklin County to vote.”
Although other courthouses designed by George P. Washburn were nominated, the Franklin County courthouse is the only Washburn-designed building to make the final cut, she said.
The courthouse is the oldest surviving Washburn courthouse in Kansas and because it was in his hometown and because he paid particular attention to make it a display for his skills, the Franklin County Courthouse was put on the list of finalists, she said.
“It’s his most outstanding work,” Barker said.
It’s one of the favorites of Kathy Elliott, Iola. Elliott is the only descendant of Washburn who lives in Kansas and she attended Barker’s announcement on the courthouse steps Friday.
Elliott frequently attends ceremonies and celebrations involving buildings designed by her great-grandfather.
“We have had several fun weekends,” she said.
Washburn was a self-taught architect and many of his descendants became architects or artists, she said.
“His architect gene was passed on,” Elliott said.
Over the years, some counties demolished their Washburn-designed courthouses, she said.
“I think they regret it now,” Elliott said.
Johnson County knocked down their Washburn courthouse and replaced it with a “concrete-50s” style building, she said.
But when they built an administrative addition, the county dusted off Washburn’s original plans. Although it’s a modern building, it copied much of the original courthouse, complete with Washburn flourishes, she said.
“I think it’s an interesting building,” Elliott said.
The Franklin County Courthouse was completed in 1893 and has kept many of its original features, including elaborate oak woodwork and stairs, encaustic tile, old courtroom and even the old glass sign for the Grand Army of the Republic, Barker said.
“People who work here will you how many people come in and take pictures,” Barker said.
Two other courthouses — the Chase County Courthouse at Cottonwood Falls and the Osborne County Courthouse, Osborne — are on the list of finalists.
Other buildings include the State Capitol, houses such as the Lebold Mansion and Seelye Mansion, both in Abilene; Kansas University’s Dyche Hall, Lawrence; the round Fromme-Birney Barn, Mullinville; Topeka High School and the John Mack Bridge, Wichita.
The full list, with photos and descriptions are on the Kansas Sampler Foundation’s Web site at www.kansassampler.org/8wonders/architecture.php.
“This is a tremendous group of finalists,” Marci Penner, director of the Kansas Sampler Foundation, said. “We have everything from a clay brick house to a hyperbolic paraboloid church.
“We hope people will travel across the state to see these amazing structures before they vote.”
Finalists had to meet a list of criteria, including that all of them had to be accessible to the public, Barker said.
That eliminated the Frank Loyd Wright-designed home in Wichita, which would have otherwise been a finalist and maybe even one of the final eight, she said.
Voting ends midnight June 15, with the results announced June 30.
Voters can either go on-line at www.8wonders.org, or pick up ballots at the Franklin County Visitors Center, 2011 E. Logan; or the Old Depot Museum, 135 W. Tecumseh.
Three votes are allowed from each e-mail address and voters must vote for eight buildings, she said.
Earlier, Gov. Kathleen Sebelius announced the Kansas Sampler Foundation’s Eight Wonders of Kansas and the foundation plans other “Eight Wonders” lists.
|
|
