Museum Campus Facilities

Dorothy's House

Dorothy's House is part of the guided tour for Dorothy's House and the Land of Oz. Farmer, builder, Seward County Historical Society board member and former Seward County Commissioner Jim Rice writes about growing up in Dorothy's House.    <images to be added>

 

     One of the main attractions at the Seward County Historical Society is Dorothy’s House.  The house is an old farm house built about 1907 northeast of Liberal and the first family to live in it were the Jennisons. The house was originally located on the southwest ¼ of section 27-33-33. In 1940, Robert and Leree Rice moved into the small four room house and, along with their two sons Jimmie and Jerrie, resided there until the early 1980’s when they built a new farm home and decided to donate their old home to the Historical Society. Today it is known as Dorothy’s House and each year thousands of visitors come from around the world just to see Dorothy’s House. 

 

    And here, as Paul Harvey used to say, is the rest of the story.

 

     Life in this old farm home was like many farm homes across the country. Growing up in the house as a young boy I recall many things about farm life and the safety and shelter this house provided our family. The house was located about eight road miles northeast of Liberal.  Unlike later years when a trip to Liberal could be as many as three times a day, there was one trip to town once a week.  That trip was usually to deliver cream to the local Fairmont Creamery located on East 2nd Street where the Brickhouse BBQ is now located.  Dad (Robert) had a few milk cows and that “cream check” was an important part of our income.  The trip to town usually included a trip to the grocery store, usually Safeway (which in those days was located where the law office at 5th and Kansas Avenue is currently located) to pick up groceries for the week or perhaps longer. A visit to the Frosty Mug on a Saturday night on South Kansas Avenue was considered a real treat.  A large frosted mug of Root Beer and a hamburger or hot dog was enjoyed by all.

     The original house consisted of four rooms: two bedrooms, a living room and a kitchen.     In the early 50’s Dad built the room on the back of the house where today you find the Cream Separator and the wash tubs.  In those days Mom (Leree) used that room to grow her African Violets. She loved her violets and seemed to always have a broken leaf sticking in water to grow another.  Come to think of it, Carolyn and I now live on Violet Lane.  Other activities in the room included the twice daily use of the Separator and more than likely a small pig which was better known as the “runt”.  Many a farm animal or chicken lived in that back room, getting special attention, until they were strong enough to survive outside.

     The current door used to enter Dorothy’s House was the front door to the house, but seldom if ever used.  The old saying “back door guests are best” rang true, as when a knock on the front door was heard, we all knew it was a salesman or someone that was lost.  The back door was always used as it was most convenient to other farm buildings, the windmill and the driveway where everyone parked.

     When the house was built in 1907, electricity was almost unheard of, so electric wiring was not a part of the construction nor was indoor plumbing.  I remember as a young boy there was a “Wind Charger” on the roof of what we called the “Shack,” just a few feet from the back door. The Wind Charger, a much smaller version of today’s giant wind turbines, was used to charge a series of 6 volt batteries which in turn provided a little power for a light bulb or two at night. Then along came a “power plant” which was housed in the Shack.  That called for electric wiring in the house. I remember my Uncle, Howard Miller, and his brother coming from Cimarron, Kansas to install electric wiring in the house.  I think his brother was an electrician?  Next along came the REA, or the Rural Electric Association, with power lines to the rural communities.

     As for indoor plumbing, that did not come along until perhaps sometime in the mid 40’s or perhaps the early 50’s.  Until that time a windmill was located just outside the back door and water was carried into the house. Dad dug a small cellar beneath where the Pantry is now located.  Above, he installed a concrete shower base, toilet, small sink  and the hot water heater.  I remember the shower base being something he got from the local Liberal Army Airbase.  I’m not sure how he got it, perhaps via one of the soldiers my grandparents, Ray and Iris Watson, rented rooms to while they were stationed at the Liberal Army Airbase.  They lived in the house on North Clay that Rick Rose currently lives in.

     Dad built the kitchen cabinets which lined the entire north wall and around the corner to the “Servile” gas refrigerator.  Then the gas cook stove sat next to it. All were propane fired until natural gas became available. A few of the cabinets can be seen in the current Pantry. Around the corner into the living room there was a heating stove which heated the entire house.  That stove sat where the piano now sits.  Many a winter night was spent wrapped up in a blanket next to that stove.  As you come into the house now, immediately to the right is a bedroom where my brother Jerrie and I slept in twin beds, one on the right and one on the left. We never thought about being crowded. Behind the door was a large closet that Dad built to hang our clothes. Also it had storage space above for bedding, etc. Below was a large drawer to store our games and toys.  I still have that closet that is now in the garage at the farm. 

     The Folks bedroom was where Dorothy's room is now.  It was about the same size as our bedroom but no one ever thought of it as a small bedroom.  Behind that bedroom door was their closet which is now part of the Pantry. 

     As for remembering different incidents in the house, one dirt storm comes to mind out of many.  Mom and I were home alone as I recall.  A dandy dirt storm hit.  We were seated at the kitchen table and it got really dark.  When the wind let up we looked out the front door window and a rather large tree had been snapped off a little above the ground. 

     I also remember the snow storm of ‘57, I believe?  Jerrie and I both had the mumps and it snowed and blew for three days.  When it finally subsided drifts were tremendous.  The folks dug for about three days to get the car out of the shed as the drift was near the top of the roof as I recall. The folks had a hard time keeping us in the house as what an opportunity to climb over the drifts of snow, never mind those mumps.  I also remember the National Guard going down the road, in I think an army tank, to pick up Mrs. Davis to get her some medical attention. The O.D. Davis family lived about a mile north and a quarter mile east.

     Another time a three day rain, maybe the last good rain we had, yielded about 15 inches as I recall. It filled the low spot out west of the house and Jerrie and I tried building a raft out of posts we got out of dad’s post pile.  Don’t think it ever floated, but it was the thought and experience perhaps that later became woodworker knowledge for Jerrie and I. To this day we both love woodworking which is an old family tradition. 

     Jerrie and I attended Liberty Rural School which was 2 1/4 miles from the house.  Sometimes we would walk home along with Ron Clodfelter who lived another two miles east.  I remember rushing home to get a snack out of the fridge and lay in front of the big old radio to listen to Tonto and the Long Ranger and Gene Autry.   At night we listened to Fibber McGee and Molly and a few more that I do not recall. Card games, an electric train and playing farmer out in the yard were sources of entertainment and education as well.   Weekend bicycle trips with school mates were very popular as mom would pack us a lunch and away we would go.  

     Yep, growing up in Dorothy’s house holds many a fond and special memory.  The above are only a few of those memories I wanted to share.  There is nothing better than growing up on the farm, the experiences and the education is something to be treasured.  As you go through Dorothy's House, imagine what it was like prior to Dorothy. I am sure it will be a rewarding experience.  I sometimes tell folks “Dorothy and I slept in the same house, just not at the same time”.

 

 

About Seward County Historical Society

The Seward County Historical Society provides historic and entertainment opportunities for the local, regional and international visitors to Southwest Kansas. From Dorothy's House to traveling exhibits and a repository of local history from the Spanish exploration of Coronado to current events, SCHS provides a venue and a committed group of staff and volunteers to insure local history is preserved and to reinforce the belief that Kansas truly is a place over the rainbow.

Get In Touch

Address: 567 E. Cedar, Liberal, KS 67901

Phone: 620-624-7624

Email: schs@swko.net

Website: www.sewardheritage.com

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The Seward County Historical Society provides historic and entertainment opportunities for the local, regional and international visitors to Southwest Kansas. From Dorothy's House to traveling exhibits and a repository of local history from the Spanish exploration of Coronado to current events, SCHS provides a venue and a committed group of staff and volunteers to insure local history is preserved and to reinforce the belief that Kansas truly is a place over the rainbow.

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