We journeyed to Kansas a few days ago to take the dogs to the vet; a little over an hour each way. There were some nice clouds at sunrise, so I grabbed the Df and a bag filled with vintage glass. Every lens was older than me, and they were all fully manual, no auto exposure or auto focus. We find doing things the old-fashioned way is fun sometimes; like actually using a camera to take pictures instead of a phone.
Since I was shooting with old equipment it felt natural to shoot some old buildings, so as we moseyed across The Sunflower State we stopped to capture a few images.
This handsome limestone building was built in 1879 in Wallace, Kansas on the Kansas Pacific RR. It’s one of only two KPRR structures remaining. The Kansas Pacific Railway has a significant history in the development of transportation in the western United States. Established in 1855, it was originally known as the Leavenworth, Pawnee and Western Railroad. The railway was reorganized in 1863 and played a vital role in connecting Kansas with Colorado.
1863-1870: The railway began construction from Kansas City, Kansas, westward. By 1870, it had established a critical link from Kansas City to Denver, facilitating settlement on the Great Plains. Union Pacific swallowed up KPRR the year after this building was built, becoming part of a larger network that continues to operate today.
This Gothic Revival style home, was built in 1880 by H.A. Clark for his Vermont bride-to-be, Lila Carpenter. He chose this style of architecture, because it was similar to the homes on the east coast. Mr. Clark, a state representative in 1895, owned a large ranch south of Wallace and also the lumber yards in both Wallace and Sharon Springs.
In 1909 the home was sold to Peter Robidoux, a French-Canadian entrepreneur who came to western Kansas where he became a very prominent and influential business man. He modernized the home by putting in electricity and indoor plumbing, which was a luxury in the early 1900’s. Owning the largest mercantile store between Kansas City and Denver, Robidoux advertised as selling anything and everything, from postage stamps, spices and beer to saddles.
Decrepit derelicts always catch my eye and this old quonset with the crisscrossed doors reeled me right in.
Xam had a good time at the Doggie Doctor, enjoying a few biscuits with his yearly shots.