Old Jefferson Town in Oskaloosa, Kansas

Old Jefferson Town in Oskaloosa, Kansas

Welcome to Old Jefferson Town in Oskaloosa, Kansas Kathy Weiser, September, 2005.

Old Jefferson Town in Oskaloosa, Kansas, Kathy Weiser, September, 2005.

Old Jefferson Town tells the story of Jefferson County, Kansas in a collection of eight restored and furnished vintage buildings moved from various locations in Jefferson County. Located in Oskaloosa, the Jefferson County Historical Society has moved and preserved these historic buildings to a nearly ten acre park on U.S. Highway 59. The historic village includes a blacksmith shop, jail, general store, church, school house, a Victorian home, and the John Steuart Curry boyhood home & museum. The site also includes an art gallery and genealogical research center.

Preservation of the village began in 1967 when Bill and Betty Leech donated 4 ½ acres to the Jefferson County Historical Society. Later the Leeches contributed another five acres. Over the years, these many buildings were refurbished, furnished, a genealogical library added, a native grass and wild flower prairie planted, and much more. All of the buildings are open on weekends in the summer. The Research Library is open year round on Saturdays, with extended hours from April through November.

The Museum Building, which houses historic displays, as well as the Research Library was once two separate buildings that served as the Kilgour and Plum Grove Schools before being moved to Old Jefferson Town. The front of the building houses the library which contains and abundance of information including newspapers and numerous records for the census, cemeteries, military, marriage, church and town histories, and resource books.

More Information:

Old Jefferson Town

P.O. Box 174 - Highway 59

Oskaloosa, Kansas 66066-0373

785-863-2070

Also See: Oskaloosa, Kansas

The Winchester Jail was relocated from Winchester to Old Jefferson Town in 1977. The building also served as a meeting place for the city council, police court and a voting site. Kathy Weiser, September, 2005.

Edmonds Chapel, originally located four miles north of McLouth, was completed in 1891. It was moved ot Old Jefferson Town in 1970. Kathy Weiser, September, 2005.

The Wellman School was built in 1887 on the homestead of Harrison

W. Wellman, in the southeast part of Jefferson County. It is typical of

the many one-room country schools that were located every few miles

within the county. Kathy Weiser, September, 2005.

Wellman School was moved to Old Jefferson Town in 1970 and is

furnished as an old county school complete with desks, chalk, slates,

and more. Kathy Weiser, September, 2005.

Nincehelser House - Built about 1885 by William Nincehelser, who moved from Ohio about 1880. He was a coal dealer and livery stable operator. The home stood in the 500 block of Cherokee Street in Oskaloosa until it was moved to Old Jefferson Town in 1980. Kathy Weiser, September, 2005.

John Steuart Curry Boyhood Home Museum - Curry was an American

painter whose career spanned from 1924 until his death in 1946. He

was noted for his paintings depicting life in his home state, Kansas.

Along with Thomas Hart Benton and Grant Wood, he was hailed as

one of the three great painters of American Regionalism of the first

half of the twentieth century. The home was built in 1900, when

he was just three years old. It was moved to Old Jefferson Town

in 1990. Kathy Weiser, September, 2005.

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