Charles Curtis House - History
The Curtis family purchased this house at 1101 Topeka Boulevard in Topeka in 1907, and it served as their home when not in Washington, D.C. This was the family's residence and official address until his death in 1936.
Built for Topeka Mayor Joseph C. Wilson, the house was completed in 1878. The Eclectic Italianate style architecture was an impressive addition to the city's growing residences. Located on a main north-south route southwest of the Kansas State Capitol, it became core to the neighborhood where leaders in business and politics resided.
The next owners, James and Irma Reddens, engaged architect Seymour Davis to add the ornate wooden banister and three types of stair spindles, two turrets, and stained-glass and jeweled-glass windows. The house features four fireplaces—two of white oak, one of solid cherry, and one of Italian marble, parquet flooring, and ornamental crown ceiling molding.
Charles and Annie (Baird) Curtis had three children, Leona, Permelia, and Harry. The prominence of Charles and Annie Curtis in the Topeka and Kansas society circles increased with his growing role in government. With this role came expectations of entertaining important and influential members of society and their families. Annie Curtis became involved in Topeka’s literary, civic, philanthropic, and religious organizations.
The Curtis family’s large three-story house at 905 North Van Buren accommodated guests after Curtis was elected to the U.S. Congress in 1892. They were temporarily forced to evacuate their North Topeka home during the flood of 1903. He served in the U.S. House of Representatives until 1907.
When U.S. Senator Joseph Burton resigned after being convicted of fraud, the Kansas legislature was required to select a successor. Even before votes for Curtis were finalized in January 1907, Topeka society leaders were honoring the Curtis family. Annie Curtis and her sister-in-law Dolly Curtis were honored with tea by mother and daughter Clementine Linn and Clemma (Linn) Mills in their home on Topeka Avenue in January.
The Curtis family purchased their residence at 1101 South Topeka Avenue in 1907, where they kept an active social calendar. The society column reported on a reception, which was the “largest and the most interesting one of its kind,” with a guest list of 600, held November 11, 1910. Hosts Annie and Dolly Curtis, Margaret Bristow of Salina, May Ewing Scott of Iola, Agnes Calderhead of Marysville, and Elizabeth Colvin of Topeka served as hosts. A greeter announced the name of each arriving guest. Senator Curtis was the only man in attendance. “There were four large rooms downstairs thrown open to the guests and one of the notable features in the rooms is that the walls are hung with a number of rare and interesting pictures.” A small ensemble at the head of the stairway provided music for the event.
She hosted state legislative spouses during the session in Topeka in February 1915. The social columns acknowledged an increased interest in the spouses’ participation after passage of the suffrage amendment. Tuesday afternoons were set aside in the month to welcome these women from across the state. Her involvement in numerous organizations like the Argonaut Club and Portia Club provided other opportunities for social gatherings.
One of the crowning events at their house on 1101 Topeka Avenue was the wedding of Dolly Curtis to Edward Everett Gann on June 14, 1915. The house provided an accommodating space for this fashionable event, trimmed with flower and palms. The stairs were adorned with ferns, brass vases filled with pink roses, and draped with tulle.
With Senator Curtis' rising prominence in Washington, D.C., the Curtis family spent fewer days in Topeka. During their absence, Charles Curtis' sister, Elizabeth (Curtis) Colvin, took care of the house. They would return home occasionally for family matters or to host events. Annie Curtis became ill while they were in Washington, D.C., and died there in 1924. Colvin continued to assist with the house during Senator Curtis' time away.
The Curtis House was thrust onto the national stage, draped in red, white, and blue, on Notification Day, August 18, 1928. Charles Curtis officially accepted his party’s nomination as a candidate for vice president. Republican Party leaders and Curtis’ supporters gathered at the Kansas State Capitol to propel their selection to the nation’s second highest office. His house became an important gathering place during his campaign, election, and term as 31st U.S. Vice President.
