Q: Native Kansas limestone was used in the construction of Allen Fieldhouse at the University of Kansas, Ahearn Field House at Kansas State and the Kansas Statehouse. In fact, some of the limestone used in all three projects came from two rock quarries located in the same Kansas county (and less than a mile apart). Can you name the county that provided limestone to all three of these buildings in Lawrence, Manhattan and Topeka? 
(Flickr Photo by Brent Flanders) |
A: Geary County
Three men shape pieces of limestone for the construction of the capitol in Topeka. In the background are sections of the stone waiting to be assembled into columns. Work began on the capitol Oct. 17, 1866, when the first cornerstone was laid for the east wing. Thirty-seven years later the statehouse was completed at a total cost of $3,200,588.92. (Photo Courtesy of Kansas Historical Society / kansasmemory.org) The limestone used in the foundation of the Kansas Statehouse comes from a quarry in Geary County. Less than a mile away (and also in Geary County), lies another rock quarry that provided limestone for construction of K-State's Ahearn Field House and for Allen Fieldhouse at KU. How do we know? Research. Part of our research led us to Junction City resident Dave Walker, who used to work in the rock quarry business in Geary County. Dave's father, Sam Walker, ran a business called Walker Cut Stone and remembers cutting stone for K-State and KU. The limestone for the Kansas Statehouse was quarried well before Dave's time and Sam's time. Still, records were kept. And, Dave claims the statehouse limestone was taken from a quarry located less than a mile from the place where the stone was quarried for KU and K-State. And we believe him. But we can also reference the Kansas City Star as a secondary source. |