National Register of Historic Places

Johnston Library

Baxter Springs, Cherokee County, Kansas
Listed
November 21, 1976
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
76000817

About this property

The Johnston Library is a historic library located at 210 W. 10th St. in Baxter Springs, Kansas. The building was constructed in 1872 to serve as a courthouse during Baxter Springs' unsuccessful attempt to become the Cherokee County seat. Though Baxter Springs had lost an election to choose the county seat in 1869 to Columbus, supporters of both cities had attempted to fraudulently swing the election in their favor, and Baxter Springs hoped it could still become county seat in the future. The building initially served as the county jail and sheriff's office until Columbus completed its jail in 1880. After this, Baxter Springs ultimately gave up its attempts to become the county seat, and the building became its city hall. In 1905, resident Niles P. Johnston bequeathed $5,000 to the city to start a library, and the city hall building was chosen to house it. The two-story brick building's design is a mixture of the Classical Revival and Richardsonian Romanesque styles. Key features of both styles appear in the library's main entrance; its pediment and pilasters are typical Classical Revival elements, while the Syrian arch doorway is a Richardsonian Romanesque feature. The library also includes a gable roof and a cornice with ornamental corbels and brackets. The library was added to the National Register of Historic Places on November 21, 1976.

Location

210 W. 10th St.
Baxter Springs, Cherokee County, Kansas
37.02639, -94.73691

Categories

EDUCATIONPOLITICS/GOVERNMENTARCHITECTURE
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Nearby Historic Sites

Baxter Springs Independent Oil and Gas Service Station
Industrial
0.1 mi
Niles, Rial A., House
Industrial
0.5 mi
Baxter Springs High School
Industrial
0.5 mi
Brush Creek Bridge
Listed
3.3 mi
Williams' Store
Industrial
3.9 mi

Nearby Battles

Baxter Springs Massacre
1863Civil War
0.1 mi
Quantrill at Baxter Springs Kansas
1863Civil War
0.1 mi
Battle of Baxter Springs (Quantrill)
1863Civil War
0.1 mi
Baxter Springs Massacre – Ambush of Blunt's Escort
1863Civil War
0.2 mi
Battle of Baxter Springs – Fort Blair Assault
1863Civil War
0.3 mi

Questions about this property

When was Johnston Library listed on the National Register?

Johnston Library was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on November 21, 1976.

What type of historic resource is Johnston Library?

Johnston Library is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Johnston Library?

The period of significance for Johnston Library is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Johnston Library?

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