2006 Archive, Shawnee County Historical Society, Topeka and Shawnee County, Kansas

SCHS 2006 Historic Preservation Awards, May 9
Marvin Auditorium, Topeka/Shawnee County Pub. Library
On May 9, 2006, an awards ceremony was held, including three short lectures by local architects involved in historic preservation:

Greg Allen, “Free State Constitution..In The Beginning”
Barry Greis, “The 1866 Kansas Capitol”
Vance Kelley, “Recent Renovations of the Kansas Capitol”

2006 Historic Preservation Awards were presented by the Shawnee County Historical Society to:

Don and Nova Cottrell for the Curtis House, 1101 SW Topeka Blvd.
Todd Manning and Rick Baker for CD compiliation of historic music from Marshalls Band
David Leamon, Anderson and Edith Chandler, and Sherwood Smith for the Anderson Library Pavillion
Kansas Auto Dealers Association for restoration of 731 Kansas Ave.
/The Pioneer Group / Rick Kready for restoration of Curtis Junior High School
Rev. Richard Taylor, Lifetime Preservation Award for numerous historic projects

A special plaque — Ritchie House
   President Doug Jones conducted a news conference at 10 a.m. Saturday April 1, 2006, at the Ritchie House, 1116 S.E. Madison.
   Jones presented a plaque to Frank Rice and Gene Schroer, former owners of the house, which is now being restored.
   The house was built in the 1850s by John ritchie and was a stop on the underground railraod that helped escaped slave fee to the North.

Ritchie House receives Landmark designation!
Bill Wagnon is pleased to report that the Topeka City Council
voted 9-0 to approve the Landmark designation for the Historic Ritchie
House on August 15, 2006.
An open house was held at the historic Ritchie House on Saturday, September 30, 2006 from 10 AM until 3 PM. The event was pen to the public. Educators were encouraged to attend. Educational materials have been developed to show how the Ritchie story can be integrated into the curriculum. Contact Robin Shrimplin for more information. —10/1//2006

The Annual Meeting of the Society was held December 3, 2006. This event was held at Charles Curtis Home , Nova Cottrell was hostess and gave a short of history of the life of Charles Curtis, Vice President of the United States under the Hoover administration and the only Vice President of Native American ancestory. SCHS President Doug Jones ran the business meeting. Coffee and cookies were served. Educational materials gathered for the John Ritchie Home were shared with attending members. There was also a round table discussion on the underground railroad from surounding counties as well. Read 2006 Annual Report [26 pgs., pdf file] —12/10//2006

Festivities