Saturday, December 2, 2017 An advertising feature of The Topeka Capital-Journal
HISTORIC BUILDINGS
Landmark homes Restorations keep city’s heritage alive page 6 n Choosing a Christmas tree, page 2 n Doorbell buzz: Tech savvy, page 3 n Builders help less-fortunate, page 9
November 2016 File Photo/The Capital-Journal
2 | Saturday, December 2, 2017 | The Topeka Capital-Journal | homes.cjonline.com
Look at needles before purchasing Christmas tree Thanksgiving is behind us, and thus the holiday season has officially begun. For those celebrating Christmas, or those who just enjoy having an evergreen tree indoors for a month, selecting a tree and properly caring for it is an important process. When purchasing a cut tree, there are important signs to look for to help determine whether the tree is suitable. Dull needles that are more gray than bright green or needles that are stiff and brittle mean the tree is on the decline. When you remove needles from the tree, they should ooze when broken open. This signifies moisture and life in the needles. When you get the tree home if needles are rapidly shedding, recut the trunk about an inch above the original cut. This may open up clogged, water-conducting tissues. Keep in mind that real trees are a messy affair and some needle drop will always occur. Once your tree is home, immediately place it in warm water in a cool spot in the house. Fireplaces, stoves, heat ducts and television sets are best avoided for the area around the tree. Regularly add water to the reservoir and recut the tree if the water dips below the bottom of the trunk. If you’re attempted to add aspirin, pennies, baking soda, sugar or bleach to the water to extend the life of the tree, don’t. None of these items have been shown to prolong the life of the tree. For those who’d like to use a live
Ariel Whitely-NOLL
arielw@ksu.edu
OH, TANNEnBAUM
For a few ideas on how to recycle your Christmas tree, read the horticulture page in December’s Extension News: shawnee.kstate.edu/news/. For more tree facts from the University of Illinois, visit extension.illinois.edu/trees/ facts.cfm. tree and plant it after Christmas, it’s best to bring the tree inside only a few days before the holiday to avoid a loss in dormancy. Some nurseries allow consumers to purchase a tree ahead of time and arrange for pick-up when you’re ready to bring the tree indoors and decorate. Immediately after Christmas — the tree should be inside no more than three days — move the tree to the garage to acclimate it to the cold weather. Digging the hole before the ground is frozen — sometimes well before Christmas — is always a good idea. If you dig ahead of time, backfill the hole with the soil and mulch to keep it from freezing. Once you plant the tree, water it well and re-mulch to prevent the water from freezing before the tree
can absorb it. If fake trees are your interest, care is much easier. Don’t worry about watering or trimming, although needle drop will still occur. Every year, the debate pops up about which type of tree — fake or real — is more environmentally friendly. The answer may surprise you. Although cutting down a tree doesn’t sound like the green choice, it is. Fake trees last an average of six years in your home — although I know many who’ve had them for decades — but they persist in landfills for centuries. Real trees have an extremely positive impact on their environment prior to harvest. These trees provide habitat for animals, remove dust and pollen from the air and provide oxygen. Once Christmas has ended, real trees continue to be the green choice. In the United States, 93 percent of real trees are recycled in some manner, according to the University of Illinois. This recycling can provide fish habitats, prevent erosion and be used to rebuild housing structures for wildlife. Each tree type has its own virtues and drawbacks, but the sentiment is the same for each. Whether real, fake or balled and burlapped, the most important part of any tree is the people around it. Ariel Whitely-Noll is the horticulture agent for Shawnee County Research and Extension.
METRO CREATIVE CONNECTION
When purchasing a cut tree, look at its needles to see if it’s suitable to take home. The needles should be bright green and not brittle.
Accent colors can transform a space
A red accent chair is the springboard for the use of red accents in this home office.
By Cathy Hobbs
Tribune News Service
Design Recipes/Tribune news service
Looking for ways to add a pop of color to your current environment? Accent colors can be a quick, easy and affordable way to infuse color and interest into a space without having to clean the slate. In general, accent colors can be used as enhancers that can
help to transform a space in a matter of minutes. Here are some tips to incorporate accent colors into your home. — Consider painting a wall with an accent color. Accent walls can add a bold color statement to a space. — Purchase portable decorative elements, such as vases and pillows. These easily can be transitioned into other spaces.
— Try metallic accents. Finishes such as nickel, brass or chrome are colors and can be used as accents. — Experiment with a technique called color mapping. Color mapping is a color blocking technique in which one creates a cohesive color scheme by repeating or mapping a color throughout a space.
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Doorbells with bells and whistles By Kim M. Cook
The Associated Press
Before electricity, doorbells rang via a complex rigging of mechanical pulleys. Visitors pulled a rope or turned a key-like affair — think Downton Abbey’s elaborate system to summon staff, but on a smaller scale for the masses. The electric doorbell was invented in 1831, and by the early 1900s was all the rage. Chimes and bells could be heard from anywhere in the house; a tremendous convenience for homeowners and visitors alike. Today, you can coordinate the look and sound of your doorbell to your home’s style. You also can embrace the Internet age with video doorbells that can be answered from thousands of miles away.
If you’re renovating an older home, the retailer Rejuvenation has several retro-style doorbells. There’s a round oak bell, popular in the late 1800s and early 1900s, with a porcelain button. A midcentury starburst style comes in chrome or brass. And a couple of vintage-look ones are stamped with a “ring” or “please ring” note, in oil-rubbed bronze or burnished finishes. (rejuvenation.com ) Got a vacation home near the water? Consider a doorbell shaped like a turtle, crab, scallop or starfish. There are castmetal ones shaped like hummingbirds, daisies and dragonflies. You could opt for a cabin-y look with a doorbell in the form of a pine forest or bear, or go DOORBELLS continues on 4
WAYFAIR.COM
An impish little gecko doorbell from Waterwood Hardware is cast in brass.
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Doorbells: Significant growth reported Continued from 3
full rustic with a truly old school bell on a rope, in brass cast like a horse’s head. (wayfair.com ) Rhode Island artisan Michael Healy, who crafts outdoor art and hardware, has a doorbell in the form of a fox head in nickel silver, brass or oiled bronze. He’s got little alligators, frogs and palm trees, and a monarch butterfly hand-cast in bronze and brass, with its wings a rich green patina. (michaelhealy.com ) Ready to go high tech with your entryway? Having a “smart” doorbell, with video, allows you to keep an eye on your front door area, not only for visitors but also for packages. With many of these units, you can speak with the person ringing your bell, chatting directly with the FedEx or UPS driver, for instance, about where and
WAYFAIR.COM
Watching the acrobatics of dragonflies while fly fishing in the pond near his cottage inspired Rhode Island artisan Michael Healy to design this doorbell. when to leave a delivery. According to Consumer Reports’ Eric Hager, the smart doorbell business has grown enormously in the last several years. He acknowledged concerns about tech systems’ vulnerability to hackers, but said homeowners seem willing to take on those risks for the convenience and other safety features
of smart doorbells. Adorne’s wireless video intercom kit includes an outside doorbell camera and an inside intercom. Homeowners can see who’s at the front door from different locations in the home. The unit can be powered by a long-life battery, or you can hook it up to existing doorbell wiring. (legrand.us)
NuTone’s Knock video doorbell has a motion sensor, night vision and optional alarm. It lets homeowners traveling anywhere in the world speak with visitors at their door. It’s also touted as rugged enough to withstand extreme weather. (nutone.com) The Ring doorbell has HD video, infrared night vision, and two-way chat from your phone, tablet or PC. Added features: customizable faceplates, and an optional plan for video cloud storage, video sharing and cellular backup if the Internet goes down. (ring.com) You probably have a custom ringtone on your mobile phone, so why not have a custom sound on your doorbell? A digital doorbell from iChime lets you record your own greeting or choose from their sound library. (ichime.com)
Metro Creative Connections
Tip of the week: Lighting up the holiday
The National Fire Protection Association offers these holiday lighting and decorating tips: — Choose decorations that are flame-resistant or flame-retardant. — Keep lit candles away from decorations and other things that can burn. — Some lights are only for indoor or outdoor use, but not both. — Replace any string of lights with worn or broken cords or loose bulb connections. — Use clips, not nails, to hang lights so the cords do not get damaged. Source: nfpa.org
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TOPEKA TRADITION
Landmark homes: History still standing By Shanna Sloyer
elaborate family homes and a French castle.
Topeka was founded in 1854 and since then, many important historical figures have chosen Topeka as their place of residence. Along with backgrounds of significance, they brought a variety of architectural styles to what would become the capital city. Through the efforts of many who have rescued them from disrepair and potential destruction, these buildings still stand today for Topekans to enjoy. Here is a trio of those historic buildings — two
Dillon House
Special to The Capital-Journal
404 S.W. 9th St. Across Harrison Street from the Capitol, this Italian Renaissance-inspired house was built by Hiram Price Dillon in 1911 as a home for his family, as well as a place to entertain guests. Originally from Iowa, Dillon was an attorney who made his money handling the divorce of an American Royal heiress in Europe. HOMES continues on 7
NOVEMBER 2016 FILE PHOTOGRAPH/THE CAPITAL-JOURNAL
Forty-eight images of lions are worked throughout the construction of the Dillon House, 404 S.W. 9th St. According to Julie Scott, events director, the Dillon name came from the word “Dalian,” which translates to “lion.”
KEITH HORINEK/THE CAPITAL-JOURNAL
A suit of armor stands guard outside Matrot Castle, 6424 S.W. Huntoon St., which was built in 1883 by Seraphim Matrot, a refugee who fled France after the Franco-Prussian War. An architect and contractor by trade, Matrot built the walls a foot thick.
KEITH HORINEK/THE CAPITAL-JOURNAL
The Anton-Woodring House, 1011 S.W. Cambridge Ave., was built in 1926 by Frederick Anton, who established the Topeka Tent and Awning Company.
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Homes: Ornate images seen throughout Continued from 6
He met his wife, Susie, a talented musician, and settled in her hometown of Topeka. Not one to flaunt his wealth, Dillon downplayed the grandness of the house he planned to build, considering it to be scaled down compared to other homes being built in neighborhoods, like Potwin during the same time period. It took three years to complete the home, which became known for its remarkable quality of craftsmanship, reflected in the materials used to build it. A stone, brick and clay tile exterior are flanked at the entrance
by lion statuary brought from Dillon’s family’s estate. There are 48 images of lions worked throughout the construction of the house. According to Julie Scott, events director at the Dillon House, the Dillon name came from the word “Dalian,” which translates to “lion.” Other forms of imagery at the home include the Greek god Hermes, who stands guard above the door, and carvings of strong male figures that flank the fireplace mantel in the grand hall. Made of marble and cast stone, the fireplace is adorned with figurines, cupids and garland. “There is so much detail,”
NOVEMBER 2016 FILE PHOTOGRAPH/THE CAPITAL-JOURNAL
Topekans Hiram and Susie Dillon were known for their hospitality, as demonstrated by the quote above their home’s grand hall fireplace.
Scott said. “The more you look, the more you notice different things in the carvings.” Hardwood floors and wood paneling give way to a handcrafted oak staircase that leads to the second floor. A backdrop of European stained glass windows lines the main staircase. Dillon’s library pays tribute to his love of literature, and includes built-in bookshelves, stained wood wainscot and a green tiled fireplace inscribed with a Shakespearean quote that translates to “My library is my kingdom.” Intricate stained glass windows feature publishers’ marks from major printing houses of the time, and portraits of renowned authors and artists. A leaded, stained glass series depicts scenes from Lord Tennyson’s “The Idylls of the King” and illustrates the story of Lancelot. The west wing was the former music and dining rooms, which were separated by a hallway that has been removed to create one larger space or two rooms for smaller events. The music room was where Susie Dillon entertained guests with beautiful music from her gold-gilded piano, affectionately known by house staff as “Goldie.” The piano is on display for visitors to see. The Dillons were known for their hospitality and a quote above the grand hall fireplace reads, “None come too early, none stay too late.” They were also philanthropists and Scott recounts the story of the Dillons going to the post office at Christmastime to collect letters that local children wrote to Santa Claus. They anonymously dressed as Santa and Mrs. Claus, and fulfilled these wish lists by delivering gifts around Topeka until a journalist exposed their identities. They also donated money to the district of Auburn to build the first multi-racial swimming pool in the area. “The Dillons were great people. They really believed in giving back to the community,” Scott said. Even the descendants of the Dillon House servants made mention of how well their ancestors were treated in their employ. Each servant had their own
Keith Horinek/The Capital-Journal
The family room of the Anton-Woodring House showcases one of the home’s four fireplaces and large windows that look over the property. closet in which to keep their possessions, a practice that was unheard of at the time. The servants’ quarters were on the third floor of the house, along with a laundry room and a room Hiram used as an art gallery. He took guests there to admire the art and smoke cigars. When Ross Freeman, of the Pioneer Group, purchased the house, it was falling apart. The ceiling support beams were bowing, making it dangerous for anyone to walk on the second or third floors. “It needed a lot of TLC,” Scott said. About $5.5 million was invested in its restoration, which took three years. The main goal during the process was to protect and preserve the house and its history, which is evident in the preservation of the original stained glass and the light fixtures. Today, the Dillon house is used as an event space for business lunches, rehearsal dinners, weddings and other events. It also houses the Dillon House staff and Pioneer Group offices. “The Dillon House is a really nice piece of Topeka’s history that shows how things are timeless,” Scott said. “You can walk into the home and feel how grand it would have been.”
Anton-Woodring House 1011 S.W. Cambridge Ave.
Built in 1926 by Frederick Anton, this house has an illustrious background. Anton established the Topeka Tent and Awning
Company, which was on Kansas Avenue. His wealth and expansion came from patents he received for improvements to awnings and awning arms. During World War II, Anton’s company secured a $500,000 contract to make tents, flies and cot covers for the U.S. military. Anton commissioned architect Ralph Scamell to design a house, which eventually incorporated features from many different architectural styles, including 20th century Revival, Italian Renaissance and Colonial with prairie accents. Originally known as Terrace Lake — a reminder of a lake on the property that was filled in in the 1950s — the Antons spent countless years and money on the design of the gardens, which were inspired by Italian landscaping. The gardens included stone, balustrades, a gazebo and a formal reflecting pool. Harry H. Woodring, the 25th governor of Kansas and secretary of war under former President Franklin Roosevelt, purchased the house after Roosevelt fired him from his post in 1942. According to Don Chubb, the home’s current owner, Woodring was campaigning for another term as governor in August 1946. His young son, Marcus, was away at Boy Scout camp suffering from what Woodring believed to be homesickness. However, Marcus died three days later of polio. The loss of his son devastated HOMES continues on 8
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Homes: ‘We like it when people drive up and walk around,’ owner says
KEITH HORINEK/THE CAPITAL-JOURNAL
A large open room in Matrot Castle features a spiral staircase with wood and stone steps.
KEITH HORINEK/THE CAPITAL-JOURNAL
The library in the Anton-Woodring home, on the landing between the first and second floors, features African walnut paneling and built-in bookcases. Woodring, and he quit campaigning and ultimately lost the election. Democrat Charlie Rooney was so angry with Woodring that he purchased the land adjacent to the house and built eight post-war houses. Still today, Chubb and his wife, Janet, look out and see homes rather than a front yard. Woodring good-naturedly responded by promising a $100 savings bond to the first wife who delivered a baby while living in one of the houses; he made good on his promise. The house spent some time as an office building until it was abandoned and fell into disrepair. An application for a demolition permit had been made. “My wife and I wanted to restore a house,” said Chubb, who has been active in several historic preservation projects. “We wanted one that was really in danger. We were looking for something we could rescue.” They purchased the house in 1988 with a 5- to 10-year plan to restore it.
Thirty years later, it’s finished. The Chubbs restored the first and second floors of the house, and stayed true to its period architecture. Thirteen-foot ceilings are adorned with molded plaster and the home has four fireplaces. Large windows look out over the gardens, which the Chubbs set about restoring when they purchased the property. Chubb’s favorite room is Woodring’s library, which is on the landing between the first and second floors. Although the library caught on fire when Woodring lived there, the African walnut paneling and marble fireplace still remain, as well as builtin bookcases and an open wall to the staircase. The first few Halloweens after the Chubbs purchased the house, a local radio station broadcast its “Ghost Watch” from the property. The employees who worked in the house when it was an office building reported strange phenomenon. When the house was on the Designer’s Showhouse
tour, the workers also noticed strange occurrences, including the shower door in the bathroom that was once Marcus Woodring’s bedroom opening without being touched. Chubb says he doesn’t believe in the ghostly folklore and instead encourages Topekans who are interested in his house to drive by or stop to admire the architecture and the gardens. “We like it when people drive up and walk around,” Chubb said. “We’ve even had two couples get engaged on benches in the garden.”
Matrot Castle 6424 S.W. Huntoon St.
Seraphim Matrot was a French refugee who fled France — narrowly escaping with his head because of his socialist views — following the FrancoPrussian War. Convinced his enemies would follow him, he sought asylum in the United States and decided to move as far inland as possible to ensure his family’s safety.
In 1883, Matrot came to Kansas and chose a quiet valley away from other homes to build a 19th century French Normandystyle castle. An architect and contractor by trade, Matrot built the walls a foot thick, with slits for guns in the turrets facing in all directions. The front door design is a French fleur-de-lis molding with a fake keyhole. The real keyhole is concealed beneath a brass plate. Inside, Matrot conserved space and materials by building large open rooms flanked by smaller turret rooms three stories high and employing the use of a spiral staircase. He also built a large wine
cellar to store his homemade wines. The wine cellar served a second purpose as a safe room in case the castle was attacked, complete with an underground tunnel that could be used to flee. Matrot planted grapevines on the estate and planned to enter the wine business. However, Kansas had voted for Prohibition in 1881 and wine could only be purchased with a physician’s prescription. When he died in 1898 on the second floor of the castle, folklore says his coffin couldn’t be brought down the spiral staircase, so a window was removed and it was lowered to the ground. The castle has gone through several owners since Matrot, and central air, electricity, plumbing and a kitchen have been added to allow for modern use. It underwent a major renovation beginning in November 2004 that included brick and mortar work, and the addition of grape arbors. The interior of the castle was redone in keeping with the period in which it was built. The castle’s structural exterior still stands much as it did in Matrot’s day. Matrot Castle was purchased most recently by
the Kansas Heritage Foundation, which plans to use it for charity events that fund educational initiatives. “They are working with different charities in Topeka on ways the foundation can support education, with a focus on international education,” said Clint Whitney, president of Midwest Management Group. Davenport Winery also uses the wine cellar space as an outlet for its wine, which is produced in Eudora. The outlet is open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays. “(The castle) is closed to the public at this point, but the winery is a great way for people to come out and walk around the exterior of the castle, and be able to go down in the wine cellar and do the wine tastings with Davenport Winery,” Whitney said. In the future, Whitney hopes to use the castle to create an interesting space for weddings and other events. “I hope to further develop the property,” he said. “It has character and an interesting history. It has a chance to be a really neat asset for Topeka.” Shanna Sloyer is a freelance writer from Topeka. You can reach her at ssloyer@yahoo.com.
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THBA spreads holiday cheer throughout the year By Liz Montano
Special to The Capital-Journal
It’s time to hang the mistletoe and string the lights. Expectation fills the air for the young and old alike as we look forward to decorating for the season, firing up fireplaces, wrapping carefully chosen gifts and the gathering of loved ones to partake in the Christmas feast. However, not all ToWeichert peka residents are fortunate enough to enjoy the merriment of the holidays. The season of giving is a time the Topeka Home Builders Association — as well as other agencies and businesses in the community — takes seriously, stepping up to the plate to help those in need. CEO Ivan Weichert recently talked about the efforts of THBA and member companies to help those who may be facing a less-than-happy holiday. Q: We’ve talked briefly in the past about THBA’s philanthropic efforts. Highlight, if you will, some of the things you do to help make lives a little better or more comfortable for those facing hard times. A: The two basic necessities are food and shelter. Food, for the most part, is well taken care of by many agencies in the community. Our group has a good history of helping with shelter. Our Remodelers’ Council works with agencies who come up with special needs. We take on projects each year for Let’s Help, Cornerstone, the Topeka Housing Authority and Habitat for Humanity. Sometimes, they have the need for extra skills or workers and we make that happen. Then, there’s our Professional Women in Building. They work most every year
TOPEKA HOME BUILDERS ASSOCIATION
Address: 1505 S.W. Fairlawn Road Information about membership or upcoming events: Visit thba.com; email thba@thba.com; or call (785) 273-1260.
TOPEKA HABITAT FOR HUMANITY/RESTORE
Address: 121 N.E. Gordon St. Information: Call (785) 783-7670 or visit topekahabitat.org/restore. with the Topeka Rescue Mission. Sometimes, it’s not with housing. Sometimes, it may be Christmas shopping. They’ve also worked on a project for the YWCA’s Center for Safety and Empowerment. Q: Don’t you also have fundraisers for specific purposes each year? A: During our Christmas celebration dinner, when we install new officers, we hold a silent auction with funds raised going to families in need.
Q: Do you ever answer the call for help from individuals? A: From time to time, we do get calls about someone in dire need. We try to match them up with help. It may not always be free, but at the very least, it’s at a reduced cost. One time, we helped arrange for new windows to be installed in a home where they were needed very, very badly. A lot of our member companies are involved in helping make lives better. Golden Rule Remodeling does work in Haiti with building issues. Many of our builders and remodelers donate materials to (the) Habitat for Humanity ReStore. When they go into homes to replace cabinets, for example, they’ll donate the old cabinets. Q: Say an individual is doing their own remodeling. What kind of things would you encourage them to donate? A: Any still-usable items from DIY projects: sinks, faucets, cabinets, doors, plumbing parts or tools, even an unopened, leftover gallon of paint from a
‘‘
From time to time, we do get calls about someone in dire need. We try to match them up with help.” IVAN WEICHERT
Topeka Home Builders Association CEO
painting project. They can either drop them off to Habitat for Humanity ReStore or call them for a pick-up, if necessary. Habitat for Humanity also has a contribution program where you can donate money regularly to go toward their building fund. It’s also important to note you can give in other ways. ReStore has multiple volunteer efforts where anyone can provide some Christmas cheer throughout the year by just giving a little of their time. Liz Montano is a freelance writer from Topeka. She can be reached at (785) 230-3907 or newsbizliz@gmail.com.
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Save water while you shower By Ed Del Grande Tribune News Service
Q: I have an old showerhead I need to replace and would like some up-to-date water flow info. Can you please give me basic information on the amount of water a standard showerhead uses compared to a water-saving showerhead? — Tim, Ohio A: If you need to replace your old, washed-up showerhead, first check with your local building inspectors to find out the maximum showerhead water flow your town and/ or state allows. This can vary depend-
ing on where you live and some areas do have strict water use codes. But, in many places, standard showerheads can use 2½ gallons per minute and water-saving showerheads will naturally use less than that. A popular water flow choice for a high-efficiency showerhead is 1½ gpm. If you go that low, I recommend you look for a showerhead with air-infused technology. High-efficiency air-infused showers mix air and water together to create comfortable, puffed-up shower drops that in turn can help drop your shower water usage.
A popular water flow choice for a highefficiency showerhead is 1½ gallons per minute. Kohler
Master contractor/plumber Ed Del Grande is known internationally as the author of the book “Ed Del Grande’s House Call,” the host of TV and internet shows, and a LEED green associate. Visit eddelgrande. com or write eadelg@cs.com. Always consult local contractors and codes. homes.cjonline.com | The Topeka Capital-Journal | Saturday, July 29, 2017 | 9
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