Old Courthouse nominated to list
Chase County's unique building draws attention
By Bobbi Mlynar
Saturday, April 26, 2008
The Chase County Courthouse in Cottonwood Falls is one of 24 finalists for the “Wonders of Kansas Architecture” competition. Representatives of the finalists attended a ceremony for the announcement, held Friday at the Kansas Sampler Center near Inman, according to a news release from the Kansas Sampler Foundation, which is sponsoring the contest.
The courthouse, billed as the oldest one in use west of the Mississippi, attracts numerous tourists because of its unique architecture. It currently is undergoing renovation.
The nominated wonders range from a clay brick house to a hyperbolic paraboloid church, according to Foundation Director Marci Penner.
The winners will be determined by public voting, which can be done online at 8wonders.org, or by calling 620-585-2374 to request a ballot; sites that have offices also will have paper ballots.
Voting will end Jun 15 at midnight and the winners will be announced on June 30.
This contest is the second sponsored by the Foundation in its “8 Wonders of Kansas” series. The Foundation uses 8 elements of rural culture — architecture, art, commerce, cuisine, customs, geography, history, and people — to help people see Kansas “with new eyes,” according to a news release from the non-profit organization.
The project is intended to educate the public about the state, as well as to spur travel. It will continue until all 8 elements have been featured.
Governor Kathleen Sebelius announced the original “8 Wonders of Kansas” on Kansas Day this year. The Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve was included in the 8 Wonders list, and the Chase County Courthouse also had been nominated.
Other buildings nominated, and their locations, are:
The Brown Mansion, Coffeyville; Chapel of the Veterans, Leavenworth; Cooper Barn, Colby; Dyche Hall, Lawrence; Fox Theatre, Hutchinson; Franklin County Courthouse, Ottawa; Fromme-Birney Round Barn, Mullinville; Holy Cross Church, Pfeifer; John Mack Bridge, Wichita; Kansas State Capitol, Topeka; Lebold Mansion, Abilene.
Also, Mary Queen of Peace Catholic Church, Ulysses; Masonic Center, Salina; Muchnic Home, Atchison; Ness County Bank, Ness City; OIborne county Courthouse, Osborne; Peter Paul Loewen House, Hillsboro; St. Joseph Church, Damar; Samson of the Cimarron, Seward County; Seelye Mansion, Abilene; Topeka High School, Topeka; Wichita Carthallite, Wichita; and Windsor Hotel, Garden City.