ATHOME
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LANDMARK HOMES
The Eli Hopkins House
Stone home built in 1859 part of territorial history, Page 6 [SUBMITTED]
LONGER-LIVING BOUQUETS, PAGE 2
BIRDFEEDER WARS, PAGE 9
RED ACCENTS, PAGE 10
2 Saturday, February 9, 2019 The Topeka Capital-Journal | homes.cjonline.com
Maximize the life of your bouquet Ariel Whitely-Noll
M
any people will receive bouquets on or around Valentine’s Day as a symbol of love and devotion. While flowers have fallen behind greeting cards and candy as Valentine’s gifts, they are still the gold standard in many people’s eyes and hearts. Although a popular gift, most recipients don’t know how best to care for cut flowers. Proper care of cut flowers can take your bouquet from lasting 4-5 days to lasting up to two weeks — depending on the type of flowers you have and their age and condition when you receive them. The first and most important step when you’re purchasing flowers (or seeds, bulbs, trees, etc.) is to start with a quality product. This is always the first, critical step in everything horticulture. Many people hold sacred their relationships with their doctor or handy man, and so too should you hold your relationship with your local florist. Your neighborhood florist may make bouquets for your wedding, a family member’s funeral and all your special occasions. If you forgot Valentine’s Day is next Thursday, a florist who knows you personally will be much more willing to find something for you to give your sweetheart than someone you’ve never met. This cherished florist will also hold sacred your business and would never sell you brown-edged roses or lilies at the end of their bloom. If you don’t have this relationship established, look for fresh, tight flowers. Avoid anything
Carnations often carry a bad reputation for being a “cheap” flower, but when properly used, they can look as elegant as a rose and you get more for your money. [METRO CREATIVE CONNECTION]
brown, wilting or with flowers that appear fully open. The next step in having a long-lasting bouquet is selecting long-lasting flowers. Although roses are the traditional Valentine’s Day flower, don’t be afraid to pick out a bouquet with other florals, even if roses are still in the mix. Zinnias, dahlias, chrysanthemums, peonies, orchids and lilies can all be statement flowers that will last much longer than roses. Accent flowers,
such as freesia, alstromeria and carnations, can also add a longer-lasting punch of color. Carnations often carry a bad reputation for being a “cheap” flower, but when properly used, they can look as elegant as a rose and you get much more for your money. Greenery, such as ferns and eucalyptus, will almost certainly outlast your flowers and should play a role in the bouquet, although they should never take center stage. If you purchase your
Although roses are the traditional Valentine’s Day flower, don’t be afraid to pick out a bouquet with other florals, even if roses are still in the mix. [METRO CREATIVE CONNECTION]
bouquet without a vase, get the flowers in water as soon as possible. The drive from the florist to your home should be the maximum amount of time the stems are without water. As soon as you get home, fill a vase with cool, clean water and add a packet of floral food. Floral food should be complementary with any flower purchase and is the best option for cut flowers. Next you’ll want to re-trim the stem ends while holding them underwater and then quickly place each stem in the vase. The water in your vase will
play a key role in your bouquet’s longevity. Water should always cover all the stem ends and be clear and debris free. If you notice any leaves down in the water, remove them. As your flowers use water you can top it off, until you begin to see discoloration, then it’s time to replace. When you replace the water in your vase, it’s a good idea to re-trim the stems, but it isn’t totally necessary. If you have more floral food, you can add it to the fresh water. See BOUQUET, 3
The Topeka Capital-Journal | homes.cjonline.com Saturday, February 9, 2019 3
BOUQUET From Page 2
If you don’t have more floral food, just leave the water plain. Pennies, bleach and sugar have not been shown to prolong the life of cut flowers. Cut flowers should be kept away from windows, air vents and warmer spaces of your home or office. Cooler areas help flowers last longer but flowers should never be exposed to freezing temperatures. A little extra care for your bouquet will reward you with many more days of enjoyment. As flowers in your bouquet begin to die, remove only the brown and wilting flowers. After two weeks, you may still have greenery and a filler flower or two still holding on. Transfer the leftovers to a smaller vase (I always keep bud vases on hand just for this occasion) and enjoy the hardiest parts of your bouquet for much longer.
MARK YOUR CALENDAR The Shawnee County Master Gardeners are presenting several programs at the Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library, 1515 S.W. 10th St. All of the programs are free and start at 7 p.m. Scheduled are: • Feb. 21: “Pruning Ornamental Trees” • March 7: “Community Gardens 101” • March 14: “Spring Lawn Care” • April 4: “Organic Management of Weeds, Pests and Diseases” For more information, call the Shawnee County Extension Office at (785) 232-0062.
Ariel Whitely-Noll is the horticulture agent for Shawnee County Research and Extension. She can be reached at arielw@ksu.edu.
4 Saturday, February 9, 2019 The Topeka Capital-Journal | homes.cjonline.com
When should I splurge for the best materials? By Paul F.P. Pogue Angie's List
You get what you pay for, as the saying goes, and there are some areas where you shouldn't skimp on quality — building materials and contractor services, for example. When you cut corners in important areas, you'll typically end up paying a lot more in the long run. You might have higher operating costs, have to pay extra to fix the mistakes made the first time around or replace something years before you should have to. • Insulation. Properly insulating your home improves comfort, increases energy efficiency and reduces heating and cooling costs. According to the Energy Star program, 9 out of 10 American homes are
A man removes an old window in order to replace it in a home improvement project. [DREAMSTIME/TNS]
under-insulated, so this is an easy way to boost efficiency. Aim for the highest R value achievable within your budget. • Caulk. Less expensive caulking materials aren't as flexible as higher-quality options, and they typically won't adhere to surfaces for as long. For a lasting result, use the best possible caulk for the job. The higher quality
makes a big difference; premium caulk can last 10 times longer than cheaper options. • Windows. Windows are expensive and laborintensive. You also don't tend to replace them for many years after you install them. So, this is a job you definitely want to get done right the first time. Choose the most efficient windows you can afford
specific to your climate. You can cut heating and cooling costs by as much as 33 percent by paying extra for low-e storm windows. • Paint. Not all paints are created equal. Lower-quality paint tends to fade faster and require more volume for coverage than higher-quality options, particularly in highly saturated colors. This is one area in which the benefit is immediately obvious. Economygrade paint may require 2 to 3 additional coats to achieve the same effect. • Roof replacement. Roofing is one of the biggest and most expensive jobs you'll do on your house, and
the consequences of a poor roofing job can be catastrophic. So, hire a reputable roofing contractor to install the best quality product you can afford. Also, higher quality materials generally have longer warranties, sometimes 50 years or more, so you'll likely only have to pay for this project once. • Kitchen appliances. You'll be putting appliances through heavy use for years, especially the bigger ones like a refrigerator or oven. Higherend models are likely to last much longer, and you'll get a longer warranty. Space matters, too. You might save a few bucks by reducing the storage space of a
fridge or the usable area of an oven, but over the years you might regret the small savings at the cost of convenience. • Hiring a qualified professional. The lowest bid won't necessarily be the cheapest. Check references carefully and always be sure you're working with a contractor who's licensed, insured and experienced. You want someone who has done your specific kind of job before and knows what they're doing. Also, never skip important permits and inspections. If a contractor waves off the permitting process as no big deal, that's a red flag.
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6 Saturday, February 9, 2019 The Topeka Capital-Journal | homes.cjonline.com
LANDMARK HOME
Hopkins House a piece of territorial past Stone house built by slave owner, Unionist who settled in Tecumseh By Shanna Sloyer Special to The Capital-Journal
Editor’s note: This is part of an ongoing series on landmark homes in Topeka. Stories about other landmark homes can be found at CJOnline.com. Topeka was founded in 1854, and since that time, many historical figures have chosen Topeka as their place of residence. Along with backgrounds of significance, they brought a variety of architectural styles to what would become the capital city. Through the efforts of many who have rescued them from disrepair and potential destruction, the homes still stand today. The Hopkins House, 6033 S.E. US-40 highway, is among them. Territorial history A stone house sits off the road just east of Topeka off US-40 highway. Over the years, it has become a familiar part of the landscape for residents of Tecumseh, but the stories it holds inside its walls are lesser known to others. “It’s important as a slave owner’s site and as the home of a man that played a pivotal role in the decision to make Kansas free,” said the house’s current owner, Franklin Shirrell. Tecumseh was established in 1852, two years before Kansas was opened as a territory to settlers. It would later become a crossroad in the struggle between anti-slavery activists and proponents of slavery, who hoped to settle Kansas as a slave state. By 1854, railroad development pushed Congress to act
Exposed stone walls mark the transition between the original structure and the 1903 addition, which included an upstairs kitchen. [CHRIS NEAL/ THE CAPITAL-JOURNAL]
on the future of the territory. The Missouri Compromise was repealed, and the KansasNebraska Act allowed residents of these territories to decide for themselves whether to allow slavery within their borders. Settlers from both sides rushed to claim land with the hope of determining Kansas’ future. Eli Hopkins, an early founder of Tecumseh, was originally from North Carolina. A Southern sympathizer and slave owner, Hopkins was a staunch Unionist who believed in a united country despite
his pro-slavery views. Hopkins constructed a stone house and moved his family in around 1859. Built in the Greek Revival style of architecture with attention to balance and symmetry, matching brick chimneys and columns support a double, wooden front porch at the entrance. The house would have been an unusual choice for Kansas at the time because most houses built in the territory weren't permanent dwellings. The Hopkins House was built entirely of stone, with walls consisting of two layers
with mortar between them. By 1861, many slaveholders in Kansas had left the area, while others, including Hopkins, pledged their loyalty to the Union and stayed. Kansas entered the Union as a free state, and Topeka was named the state capital. Hopkins and his wife were early founders of the Tecumseh Methodist Church and raised their many children in the stone house they built, living there until his death in 1894, and the death of his wife, Susan, in 1897.
House nearly lost to disrepair The property also includes a barn, as well as a coal shed, which was added sometime in the early 1920s. The property was placed on the National Register of Historic Places and the Kansas Register of Historic Places in 2009. It has also received the designation of being a Kansas Historic Agricultural Resource as an example of an intact farmstead. See HOPKINS, 7
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HOPKINS From Page 6
Six-over-six windows were traditional in Greek Revival-style period houses. The Shirrells have selected antique furnishings in keeping with the era in which the house was built. [CHRIS NEAL/THE CAPITAL-JOURNAL]
Exposed stone walls mark the transition between the original structure and the 1903 addition, which included an upstairs kitchen. [CHRIS NEAL/THE CAPITALJOURNAL]
Original stained glass windows from the 1903 addition allow light to filter into the Hopkins House, 6033 S.E. US-40 highway. [CHRIS NEAL/THE CAPITAL-JOURNAL]
There were six fireplaces in the house when it was built. Darkening on the lower cabinets in the northwest parlor room is an indication of a past fire inside the structure. [CHRIS NEAL/THE CAPITAL-JOURNAL]
The farmstead stayed in the Hopkins family for two generations before a second family purchased it. Despite its significance to Kansas history and the Bleeding Kansas political conflict, the house was nearly lost when it fell into disrepair. By 1994, it had been abandoned for three years and was in such bad shape that some of the original stone walls were crumbling inward and had to be removed. “You couldn’t even see it from the highway, it was so overgrown,” said Shirrell. He and his wife, Sabra, are the third family to own the home. The Shirrells began the first round of renovations that would bring the house back to its original state. Sabra recalls Franklin saying at the time that it would take at least five years to completely renovate the house. Nearly 25 years later, they are now on their second round of renovations. “It’s a process that’s never done,” Franklin Shirrell said. Inside, the floor plan of the house resembles the capital letter I, with a parlor and screened in porch at the south end, and two rooms at the north end, connected by a central hallway that runs through the middle. The southeast parlor was added around 1903 and features exposed stone walls, wooden ceiling beams and brick archways, uncovered by the Shirrells during renovations. Original stained glass windows allow daylight inside. The house didn't have a kitchen when it was built, and the family used a fireplace located in the basement to prepare meals until a kitchen was added during the addition in 1903. Six-over-six windowpanes topping extra-wide sills are a nod to the home’s architectural style. In the
northeast parlor, built-in cabinetry is held together using wooden pegs, as was customary for the time. The original wood mantel has been stripped of paint and restored to its natural beauty. “I love the wood,” said Sabra. “It’s all walnut, and I love the cabinets.” Because little lumber existed naturally in Kansas at the time, wood features in the house would have come from logs that were sent to Tecumseh from Leavenworth. Darkening on the lower areas of the cabinetry in the northwest room suggests there was a fire in the house at some point. At one time, the house had six working fireplaces. A central staircase leads to the second level of the home, which mirrors the floor below in design, and includes two bedrooms with original wide-plank hardwood flooring. Each room has a wooden linen press for storage. Sharing the home's history From 1997 to 2012, the house operated as the Old Stone House Bed and Breakfast, and the upstairs bedrooms were rented out to guests. The Shirrells lived in an apartment in the basement, and weddings and other events were frequently held in the barn. During a drought several years ago, the Shirrells heard a loud splitting sound coming from one of the parlors. An entire exterior wall crumbled, and the house closed as a bed and breakfast while structural repairs were made. While they still get calls from prospective guests for rooms and to host weddings, the house is now a private residence. The Shirrells recently partnered with the Freedom’s Frontier National Heritage Area to offer tours of the Eli Hopkins House as a Star Site location along what was See HOPKINS, 8
8 Saturday, February 9, 2019 The Topeka Capital-Journal | homes.cjonline.com
HOPKINS From Page 7
once part of the Oregon Trail. “We are now the Old Stone House Along the Oregon Trail Conservancy with the option for overnight stays,” said Franklin. As they move away from bed and breakfast toward historical education and preservation, the Shirrells encourage others to consider investing in historical homes like the Eli Hopkins House. “There is a reason to preserve these sites,” said Franklin. “Even buildings as late as the 1960s and '70s are architecturally significant. The historic registry is not what people think it is. For every site lost, it’s potential revenue that has to go somewhere else.” Franklin and Sabra have done the majority of the work on their home themselves, including reconstruction of the double front porch, which is now in its sixth incarnation. They hire out electrical, plumbing, and infrastructure work and adhere as accurately as possible to code and to the historic registry's recommendations for restoration of historic buildings. “You have to be a person who likes to be active. I’m more into design and ideas for decorating,” said Sabra, who has furnished the house with period antiques in keeping with the era. Current and future renovation projects include the front porch, replacing the modern kitchen and adding a new roof, which will be needed within the next year. The Shirrells plan to apply for grant funding in the future to help with the renovation efforts, which can be costly. Since purchasing the house, the couple has crossed paths with people who remember it during earlier periods. They recounted stories about the Hopkins Family Cemetery, which was located
on the property until 1954. Eli Hopkins, his wife and son were buried there under a large cedar tree in the front yard until the Interstate Highway System made it necessary to widen the road. According to Franklin Shirrell, Penwell-Gabel was hired to move the bodies and reinter them in the Topeka Cemetery. During the process, a number of other bodies were discovered, which Franklin said wouldn't have been uncommon. One story says the 12-yearold daughter of a family traveling along the Oregon Trail around 1900 died, and her family asked the Hopkinses if they might bury her somewhere where they could come back and visit her grave someday. She was buried outside the hurricane fence surrounding the family plots in an unmarked grave. Others who lost their lives on the trail may have met similar ends. Although Franklin and Sabra say they haven’t personally had any supernatural experiences in the house, others have reported seeing the image of a young girl dressed in period clothing in the east bedroom window on more than one occasion. The Shirrells look forward to sharing their home’s history with anyone interested in learning more about the men and women who influenced some of the most pivotal moments in American history. Their love for their home is driven by a deeper desire to preserve the past for future generations. Franklin quotes from a book by Nigel Hutchins on historical preservation: “The desire for an old house was obviously built on a love for the past. The new owner must leave the mark of that earlier lifestyle and period intact, while sympathetically and harmoniously meshing his own family’s impact with that mark. Together they should present an important legacy for the generations to come.” Shanna Sloyer is a freelance writer from Topeka. She can be reached at ssloyer@yahoo.com.
A central staircase leads from the first floor to two upstairs bedrooms that were used for guests when the house operated as The Old Stone House Bed and Breakfast. [CHRIS NEAL/THE CAPITAL-JOURNAL]
ABOVE: Brick arches over the windows in the 1903 addition were uncovered by the Shirrells during renovations. [CHRIS NEAL/ THE CAPITAL-JOURNAL]
TOP LEFT: A coal shed, added around 1903, sits outside the Eli Hopkins House. Along with the house and the coal shed, a barn on the property is also part of the protected structures on the historic register. [CHRIS NEAL/THE CAPITAL-JOURNAL]
BOTTOM LEFT: The northeast parlor fireplace mantel and cabinets are original walnut brought from Leavenworth when the house was built. [CHRIS NEAL/ THE CAPITAL-JOURNAL]
The Topeka Capital-Journal | homes.cjonline.com Saturday, February 9, 2019 9
Think bird health, safety in managing feeders using different kinds of seeds and feeders. Nyjer seeds, for instance, attract goldFeeding birds in winter finches, while tube feeders is one of the nation’s most with wire covers prevent popular wildlife-watching large birds from entering. activities, yet many orniPay attention to seed quality thologists say it’s often and freshness. Unprotected more rewarding for people seed left too long in feeders than for birds. And it might will turn moldy, and mold even put wild birds at risk. can kill foraging wildlife. “Feeding birds is not Refresh your feeders every necessary for their surfew days and clean them vival except in extreme frequently by soaking in a weather conditions,” said solution of 10 percent bleach. Stephen Kress, vice presi“You can feed more effecdent for bird conservation tively and efficiently by using at the National Audubon black-oil sunflower seeds, Society. “Feeders can defias it is the preferred seed by nitely help them get through most feeder birds,” said Adam that kind of weather.” Rohnke, a senior Extension Most birds are insect eatassociate at Mississippi State ers and aren’t attracted University. “An added benefit to backyard feeders. “For is reducing waste seed (on those birds, I recommend the ground) from seed mixes planting natural habitat and which can attract rodents.” native plants,” Kress said. “Boost the number and Besides, birds who do eat diversity of bird species by seed “will be more likely to providing different types come to feeders if there is of feeders to resemble their some cover nearby. They’ll be natural feeding behaviors,” able to feed and dodge back Rohnke said in an email. “For into the safety of shrubbery.” example, ground-dwelling The most common error birds such as doves, towhees people make when managand others prefer low plating bird feeders is incorform feeders because they rect placement — putting feed on the ground.” them in locations where Along with black-oil birds are frightened by foot sunflower and nyjer seeds, traffic, vulnerable to prefeeder-friendly birds like suet dation by cats, or at risk (woodpeckers, jays, songof flying into windows. birds), fruit (orioles, bluebirds, “If a feeder is within 3 feet of waxwings) and mealworms a window, it’s better,” Kress (robins, chickadees, wrens). said. “If a bird is spooked, it Do not feed wild birds won’t be killed when it strikes anything salty (whole peathe glass. And keep your cats nuts, crackers, potato chips) indoors so they can’t stalk or food that could choke vulnerable birds and animals.” them (plain bread, fats). Learn which bird species Provide a steady supfrequent your area so you can ply of clean water but shop avoid feeder wars and underaround for shallow birdstand the pecking order. bath designs. Most are too “Some birds are more deep for birds, Kress said. aggressive at feeders,” Kress Placing a few large said. “Their eating habits stones in a birdbath can are such that they can conprovide perches. sume a lot and not leave “Hummingbirds like to much for the others.” bathe in leaves, so spray One answer to that is to large leaves to attract feed at multiple locations them,” Kress said. By Dean Fosdick
The Associated Press
This Oct. 4, 2014, photo taken near Langley, Wash., shows a Northern Flicker feeding at an oversized suet feeder built especially for woodpeckers. Some birds are more aggressive eaters than others so it’s wise to feed at different locations using different kinds of seeds and feeders. [DEAN FOSDICK VIA AP]
Adam Rohnke, a senior Extension associate at Mississippi State University, said people can feed birds more effectively and efficiently with black-oil sunflower seeds. That is the seed preferred by most feeder birds. [METRO CREATIVE CONNECTION]
10 Saturday, February 9, 2019 The Topeka Capital-Journal | homes.cjonline.com
Red powerful as accent color By Cathy Hobbs Tribune News Service
From ruby to rich burgundy, red is a powerful accent color when used purposefully in a space. One key design tip to remember is that it isn't taboo to mix shades and tones of red. So where to begin? Here are some design recipes tips to help get you started. Do's • DO use a technique called "color mapping." This involves repeating the same or similar color, in this instance red, throughout a space. • DO mix different shades and tones of red in the same room. • DO use red as an accent color. • DO layer your color, by creating different "color opportunities" throughout a space. • DO infuse color in a space through the use of accessories, such as artwork, toss pillows, blooms and books. Don'ts • DON'T overwhelm a space with
Red flowers give a vibrant pop. [DESIGN RECIPES/TNS]
too much color. Often, "less is more." • DON'T forget that red can be blended in a space with foundation colors such as black, white and taupe. • DON'T overlook the opportunity to use bright shades of red in dark spaces, which often can serve to help "cheer up" a space. • DON'T miss small design opportunities to introduce a "pop of red" — often small touches such as a single bloom or coffee-table book can make a powerful statement. • DON'T use color as an afterthought. Successful color schemes are often achieved through thought and planning.
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12 Saturday, February 9, 2019 The Topeka Capital-Journal | homes.cjonline.com