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.