A Brief Look at Abilene's Historic Buildings: the Lebold Mansion

The Jeffcoat Photography Studio Museum recently featured the exhibit City on the Plains: A Look at Abilene Architecture.  The following is a brief look at the Lebold Mansion.  Photographs are courtesy of the Jeffcoat Photography Studio Museum.

This beautiful Victorian home was constructed on the original site of the home of Timothy and Elizabeth Hersey, founders of Abilene.  Conrad H. Lebold had great success as an Abilene banker and land agent.  He later became Mayor of Abilene, Treasurer for Dickinson County, and a member of the state legislature.  The Lebold Mansion was built in 1880 for a cost of $18,000.  At one time, it was said to be “the finest dwelling house west of Topeka.”  After business failure, Lebold moved away from Abilene and the mansion saw a number of different owners and uses.  In the late 1920s, the mansion became known as the Girls Club.  The Girls Club was owned by C.L. Brown, and was a residence that offered female employees of the United Companies a place to live.  The Lebold Mansion also saw life as an apartment building and historic tour home.  Today, it is a private residence.

A Brief Look at Abilene's Historic Buildings: the A.B. Seelye Medicine Company, Plaza Theater

The Jeffcoat Photography Studio Museum recently featured the exhibit City on the Plains: A Look at Abilene Architecture.  The following is a brief look at the A.B. Seelye Medicine Company, also known as the Plaza Theater.

Courtesy of the Jeffcoat Photography Studio Museum.

This theater was known by several names over the years: the Seelye Opera House, Bonebrake Opera House, and Plaza Theater.  In addition to being a theater, the building was also utilized as the laboratory for the A.B. Seelye Medicine Company close to the turn of the twentieth century.  One of the most important events to happen in the Plaza Theater’s history was when Dwight D. Eisenhower visited his hometown of Abilene June 4-5, 1952.  Upon the Plaza Theater’s stage, Eisenhower made the announcement that he would run for President of the United States.  In 2000, the theater suffered catastrophic damage when one of its walls collapsed.  The damage was too severe that the entire building was demolished shortly after.

Courtesy of the Jeffcoat Photography Studio Museum.

A Brief Look at Abilene's Historic Buildings: the Belle Springs Creamery

The Jeffcoat Photography Studio Museum recently featured the exhibit City on the Plains: A Look at Abilene Architecture.  The following is a brief look at the Belle Springs Creamery.

Courtesy of the Jeffcoat Photography Studio Museum.

This longtime Abilene business actually began in the small Dickinson County town of Belle Springs, a community settled by River Brethren families from Pennsylvania.  The original creamery was developed for the purpose of manufacturing butter.  In 1892, a new creamery was built outside of Abilene in Prospect Park.  The large brick creamery that is pictured here was built in 1902 in Abilene close to the original location of the Drover’s Cottage, Abilene’s largest hotel during the cattle town days.  The Belle Springs Creamery produced ice and many dairy products, including butter, cheese, and ice cream.  The David and Ida Eisenhower family moved to Abilene due to David acquiring employment at the creamery.  He would hold a position there for over twenty years.  His son Dwight, future General and President, also worked for the Belle Springs Creamery before leaving Abilene to begin his military career.

Courtesy of the Jeffcoat Photography Studio Museum.

Happy Holidays!

Below are a few photographs courtesy of the Jeffcoat Photography Studio Museum that should hopefully bring you some winter cheer.

A small girl visits Santa Claus.

Bill Jeffcoat's aunt, Winifred Metz Cale, bundled up for the cold.

The Hutchins household decorated for the holidays with Santa Claus on the roof.