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Sennett and Bertha Kirk House is a 1913 Colonial Revival house in Garnett, Kansas, United States. It is currently operated as The Kirk House, a bed and breakfast. ==Chronology== A banker for more than half a century, Sennett Kirk was cashier of the Garnett State Savings Bank from the time his father, Lester K, Kirk, opened it on September 6, 1889 until Sennett Kirk became bank vice-president in 1947. Sennett Kirk also served as secretary of the Garnett Mutual Loan and Savings Association organized in October 1894. The Garnett State Savings Bank moved into the northwest room of the Kirk Building in 1901. Sennett Kirk married Bertha Mellen of Garnett on June 12, 1901 and they lived on Fourth Avenue their entire married life. Bertha was born January 11, 1873 in Greeley, Kansas, the daughter of William and Emma Mellen. She attended the University of Kansas and graduated from the Tulton and Trueblood School of Oratory in Kansas City, Missouri. She taught in the State School for the Deaf in Jacksonville, Illinois and then in the Kansas School for the Deaf in Olathe. Bertha Mellen Kirk was a member of the Congregational Church. Sennett and Bertha Kirk's first child, Leta was born November 19, 1903. Another daughter, Bertha, was born January 4, 1906. A son, Sennett Kirk, Jr., was born September 14, 1909. Because of their wealth, education, and social connections, the Kirks were influential in the local Garnett community. Sennett Kirk's father, the Hon. Lester K. Kirk, was elected on April 4, 1870 to be the first mayor of the city of Garnett when it was granted third class status (in Kansas this means it had a population between 2,000-5,000). When Lester Kirk died on July 4, 1902, he was known as a prominent attorney and "one of the foremost citizens of Anderson. County." He also served as county attorney, state representative and state senator. A long-time friend Manford Schoonover wrote in Kirk's obituary, "there are a score or more of men in Anderson County who owe their start in life to his help financially, and by council and friendship." Martha Lindsay Kirk, wife of L. K. Kirk, died April 7, 1908. She was well known in Garnett and Anderson County and had been prominent in social and church circles since the early days of settlement. Bertha Kirk's father was William H. Mellen, one of the oldest and best known businessmen of Garnett and Anderson County. He taught school at Greeley in 1871 and was elected Register of Deeds of Anderson County. Mellen then finished an unexpired term as County Treasurer. His wife died in 1889, and after that time he lived with his three daughters. In an obituary September 29, 1899, William Mellen was described as "a highly educated man, a poet of merit, and a progressive man in business circles." On July 8, 1913, the Garnett Evening Review reported,. Sennett Kirk has a force of men at work preparing to move his house to the rear of the premises preparatory to building a handsome new house of modem style and appointments." A few days later on July 16, the Review noted, "Ground was broken today for Sennett Kirk's new house. Jake Barnett and George Ashburn and their men are preparing to put in the foundations." In a front page notice July 31, "A Fine Residence," the newspaper reprinted a report from the Ottawa Herald. "George P. Washburn & Son, architects, have drawn the plans for a $15,000 residence at Garnett for Sennett Kirk of the State Savings Bank. The building will be the finest in Garnett and will be a three story structure with basement. The building will be of wood, and the plans are drawn for the most modem residence in eastern Kansas. The location will be at Fourth and Walnut, in the principal residence district of the city." Construction of the Kirk House was associated with the development of municipal services in Garnett. The town began to supply water in 1890-1891. Streets first were paved in 1898. Gas service was developed for cooking, heating, and lighting in 1904-05 and the town began producing electricity in 1914. With the installation of electric streetlights, Fourth Avenue in front of the Kirk House became the "great white way" of Garnett and Anderson County. After the family moved into the new house, the large and stately Colonial Revival residence became a gathering place for the community. According to local reminiscences, the Kirks often entertained high school students in their home on significant occasions with refreshments followed by entertainment such as dancing or music in the top floor "ballroom." When Mrs. Bertha M. Kirk died intestate on September 14, 1951, the three Kirk children inherited the Kirk House. On June 1.5, 1957, the heirs sold the property to Herman G. and Emma S. Brandenburg. The Brandenburgs sold to Effie M. Graham on November 28, 1960. Mrs. Graham died at Kansas City, Missouri on October 23, 1970 and her son, William S. Graham inherited the property. In March, 1988 Robert Logan and Robert Cugno purchased the property. They lived in the house and ran a successful bed and breakfast for 11 years until selling to present owners Mike and Eileen Burns. Since that time, Mike and Eileen have been diligent to restoring this historical icon to its original grandeur. The Graham family has generously loaned many antiques, once owned by third owner of the house Effie Graham, back to The Kirk House. Rich, colorful, period wall coverings and décor in the Arts & Crafts motif have been used to continue to evoke a “walking back into the past” atmosphere. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Sennett and Bertha Kirk House」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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