Nathaniel H. Burt House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Nathaniel H. Burt House
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 Location in Kansas
Location in the United States
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| Location | 400 Fifth Avenue, Leavenworth, Kansas |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1895 |
| Architect | Feth, William P. |
| Architectural style | Romanesque |
| NRHP reference No. | 87001105 |
| Added to NRHP | October 27, 1987 |
The Nathaniel H. Burt House is a special old home located at 400 Fifth Avenue in Leavenworth, Kansas. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on October 27, 1987. This means it's an important building worth protecting because of its history and design. Much of what we know about the Burt family comes from the Leavenworth County Historical Society, which is right next door at the Carroll Mansion Museum.
Contents
Discovering the House's Design
Nathaniel H. Burt was a well-known businessman in Leavenworth. In 1895, he built this house for his wife and two sons. The architect who designed it was William Pratt Feth. He was from Leavenworth and had just returned after studying architecture in Chicago and working in Denver.
Who Was William P. Feth?
William Feth stayed in Leavenworth his whole life. He designed over 60 buildings there! Some of his famous works include the County Courthouse and City Hall. He was a very busy and talented architect.
What Style Is the House?
Mr. Feth designed the Burt House in the Romanesque Revival style. This style often uses strong, heavy shapes and materials like brick and stone. The house has an interesting, uneven look, which was common for homes built in the late Victorian period. It uses brick with limestone details and a strong foundation. The house is about 54 feet by 65 feet. The original drawings are still kept by the current owners and the city. A carriage house, built in 1920, is right behind the main building. It matches the style of the main house.
Exploring the House's Interior
The inside of the Burt House got a big makeover in the early 1980s. William and Annett McCollum, along with Leah S. Waage, helped with this project. They used special wallpapers from the Bradbury and Bradbury Victorian Wallpaper Company. These wallpapers were custom-made for each room.
Victorian Decor
The wallpapers show the style of the Victorian Era (1837-1901). This was a time of many different design trends. People loved historical styles, nature-inspired art, and even designs from faraway places. Sometimes, they mixed all these ideas together!
Special Features Inside
Some cool things inside the house include a large stained glass window. There's also a working curved radiator on the stairway. The house has beautiful pocket doors made of oak, cherry, and bird's eye maple wood. A fancy chandelier hangs in the main entrance area, called the foyer. Today, the house has five bedrooms, three and a half bathrooms, and three different levels.
The Burt Family Story
Nathaniel Henry Burt married Rosamond O. Pratt in 1876. Rosamond was born in 1854 at the Baptist Indian Mission near Leavenworth. Her parents, Rev. John Gill Pratt and Olivia E. Evans, were missionaries. They moved from Boston in 1837.
Nathaniel and Rosamond's Children
Nathaniel and Rosamond had two sons: Nathaniel Pratt (born 1877) and Eugene (born 1881). Nathaniel Pratt married Dorothy Gordon. He inherited the house when his father passed away in 1923. After Nathaniel Pratt's wife died in 1960, she sold the house in 1962.
Later Owners
Since then, three other families have owned the house before the current owners, Mr. and Mrs. Austin. The previous owners included Charles and Louise Moore, Robert and Audrey Wallis, and William and Annette McCollum.
Family Business and Legacy
Both Burt sons, Nathaniel Pratt and Eugene, worked in their father's company, the Great Western Stove Company. Eugene and his wife Edith had two daughters, Rosamond and Barbara. Rosamond married John Brock Taylor.
Nathaniel P. Burt gave many of the Burt family's old furnishings to the Carroll Mansion Museum. These items date back to around 1900. The famous "Keller Dog" statue on the museum's front lawn was given by Rosamond Burt Taylor. The museum also has old photos of the Burt family in its collection.
Nathaniel H. Burt's Career
Nathaniel H. Burt moved to Leavenworth in 1875. He started working for the Great Western Stove Company. He became the company's treasurer in 1885 and then its president in 1911. His house, built in 1895, was perfect for such an important city businessman.
Why the House is Important
In October 1987, the Burt House was added to the National Register of Historic Places. It was recognized because it was the home of one of Leavenworth's early and influential industrial families. In May 1997, the Leavenworth County Historical Society also gave the house a special historical plaque.
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