Robertson House (Eureka, Kansas) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Robertson House
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 Location in Kansas
Location in the United States
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| Location | 403 N. Plum Street, Eureka, Kansas |
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| Built | 1923 |
| Architectural style | Prairie Style |
| NRHP reference No. | 10001207 |
| Added to NRHP | February 7, 2011 |
The Robertson House is a historic home located at 403 N Plum Street in Eureka, Kansas. Its story is closely tied to the ups and downs of the oil business in Kansas.
The Robertson House Story
The Robertson House was built in 1923. It has a special design known as the Prairie style. This style was quite unique for Kansas at the time. The house's grand look showed how successful its first owner was.
Built During the Oil Boom
The house was built by Russell Roy Robertson, who worked as an oil drill contractor. He spent $40,000 to build it. This was a lot of money back then! In the 1920s, the oil business was booming. Many oil workers, who used to live in temporary camps, started settling down in towns like Eureka. People thought the oil industry was a very stable and respected business.
A Change of Owners
Another oil contractor, Roy Clair Patton, bought the house from Robertson. This happened just as the Great Depression was starting. The Great Depression was a time when many people lost their jobs and money was hard to find.
Soon, too much oil was being drilled. This made oil prices drop very low. By 1933, oil was worth only 66 cents a barrel. People who made their living drilling for oil could no longer afford their homes. Because of this, the Robertson House had to be sold at a special sale called a sheriff's sale. This means the house was sold because the owner could not pay for it anymore.
The Robertson House is important because it shows the history of the local oil industry. It is also recognized for its unique Prairie and Mission architectural styles.
