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Structures and Monuments in Which Kansas Stone was Used
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  • Finished Products from Kansas Stone in Colorado
    • Colorado – Stone Structure/Masonry Building in Kansas and Colorado constructed by Bluestem Stone Works & Quarry, presented by Randy Luallin. (The quotations below are used with permission.  The link to these sections are no longer available, although you can view the web site on the Internet Archive Wayback Machine.)
      <http://www.randyluallin.com/>
    • Denver, Colorado – St. John’s Episcopal Cathedral – Kansas limestone Altar and Lectern (history and photograph) “Local artist creates new altar for Christ the King Chapel – A year in the making, Kansas limestone altar and ambo works of art,” by Deacon John Neal, Denver Catholic Register, December 4, 2002. (The quote below is used with the permission of the “Denver Catholic Register.”) (The quote below is used with the permission of the “Denver Catholic Register.”  The link from which this information was obtained is no longer available, although you can view the site on the Internet Archive Wayback Machine.)
      <http://www.archden.org/dcr/archive/20021204/>

      After a year of working on the altar and lectern, Marion “Lucky” Jeffords III designed and installed these pieces for the Cathedral.

      “The new altar and lectern are cut from Silverdale limestone quarried near Wichita, Kan.

      “‘I prefer Kansas limestone because it has the more natural look of stone,' Jeffords said. He said the most common limestone quarried in Indiana looks artificial, almost as though it was formed in a mold.

      “‘It should look like stone,” he added.

      “The new altar weighs in at 4,000 pounds, while the lectern tips the scales at about 1,000 pounds. The detailed carving on both is intricate and all done by hand.

      “‘The only tools I have are my hands, some sandpaper, an air compressor and electricity,” Jeffords said. The electricity is for a router he uses for some of the more difficult angles and cuts.

      “When the limestone for the altar showed up at his shop, it was a rectangular block about 12 inches thick, 8 feet long and 4 feet wide. Today it is a work of art. Its carving, cutting and sanding is sure to be the equal of any altar in the state, if not superior.

      “Jeffords is a bear of a man with hands the size of frying pans and shoulders as wide as the garage door of his countryside shop located in the gently sloping hills south of Littleton. With his ponytail, mustache and powerful stature, your first impression might be that he has a Harley stashed somewhere behind his shop. After all, moving stone around that can weigh hundreds to thousands of pounds is no job for the weak. But his outward appearance belies a disposition that seems as gentle as a lamb.

      “As a second-generation stonecutter, Jeffords started his career in South Carolina, where he made headstones and monuments for graves. His father, at 72 years old, is still active in the business. After moving to Colorado about 22 years ago, the younger Jeffords decided that the "monument" business was no longer satisfying. Gravestones were beginning to be built by large monument companies in a mass-production atmosphere, not the place for an artist who likes to work slowly and skillfully.

      “There is no doubt that Jeffords is an artist. While he is quiet about his work, it can be seen in some of the most expensive homes in Denver.

      “‘I spent about five years at one house in Cherry Hills,” Jeffords said. “In 1990, architect David Tryba came to me and asked me to build an altar, ambo and tabernacle for the chapel at Regis High School. That was my first experience with church architecture.”

      “Since that time, Jeffords has done work at St. John's Episcopal Cathedral in downtown Denver and is currently working on a project for the new Our Lady of Loreto Church in southeast Aurora.”

  • Finished Products from Kansas Stone in Kansas

    NOTE: There are many buildings constructed of stone in Kansas that are not on the list below. I only placed the structures on the list when they were identified as constructed of native stone. You can view all of the photographs in the Kansas Geological Survey (KGS) Kansas Photo Display System.

    • Abilene, Kansas – the Eisenhower Presidential Center and Museum.

      the Eisenhower Presidential Center and MuseumAll of the buildings of the center and museum are built of Kansas limestone. The walls are covered with "Loredo Chiaro marble from Italy, and floors are of travertine quarried in Italy, trimmed with "reche d'Alep and Rouge Fleuri marble from France." (The above information is presented on the Dwight D. Eisenhower Foundation web site.) Photograph by Grace Muilenburg, KGS.

      The source of this material is the Kansas Geological Survey web site at <http://www.kgs.ku.edu/>. All Rights Reserved.

    • Abeline, Kansas – the Lebold-Vahsholtz House (photograph) (Scroll down to Figure 17.) This house was built of limestone quarried in Russell and Ellis counties, which is over 100 miles away. (This information is from "From Sea To Prairie," on page 7, Kansas Geological Survey.)
    • Achilles (east of), Kansas – Stone House of Julian C. Ufford. The house was constructed with stone quarried from the cliffs southeast of the property in 1885. (This information is presented on the Kansas section of the LASR web site.)
    • Alma, Wabaunsee County, Kansas – The following buildings in Alma were constructed of native limestone. Most of these entries include photographs of the buildings. This material is available on the LASR (Leisure and Sport Review) web site.
    • Alma (north of), Kansas – the Hinersville School, North of Alma (photograph) The schoolhouse is constructed of stone, but the type of stone and the origin are not stated. Photograph courtesy of Grace Muilenburg, KGS, June 1961. The source of this material is the Kansas Geological Survey web site at <http://www.kgs.ku.edu/>. All Rights Reserved.
    • Alma, Kansas – Limestone Buildings of Cottonwood Limestone – City of Native Stone: Alma, produced by Jim Kelly, on KTWU "Sunflower Journeys." This was an interview with Dennis Domer, Associate Dean of Architecture/Associate Professor of American Studies, University of Kansas, about Alma, Kansas, which is often called “The City of Native Stone." (The link from which this information was obtained is no longer available, although you can view the site on the Internet Archive Wayback Machine.)
      <http://ktwu.wuacc.edu/journeys/scripts/1201b.html>

      The limestone used in the buildings is called Cottonwood limestone which has "a rich creamy color."

    • Ashland, Clark County, Kansas – Limestone Garage at Ashland (photograph) Photograph courtesy of Grace Muilenburg, KGS. The source of this material is the Kansas Geological Survey web site at <http://www.kgs.ku.edu/>. All Rights Reserved.
    • Atchison, Atchison County, Kansas – the Atchison County Courthouse (photographs and history) This ashlar limestone building was completed in 1897. According to the Kansas Geological Survey web site, Kereford Limestone was used in the construction of the Courthouse. Click here to view a photograph of the Atchison County Courthouse; photograph courtesy of Grace Muilenburg, KGS, Oct. 1975. The source of this material is the Kansas Geological Survey web site at <http://www.kgs.ku.edu/>. All Rights Reserved.
    • Atchison, Kansas – the Post Office (7th & Kansas Avenue) The building is constructed of Cottonwood limestone in the Richardsonian Romanesque style. Click here to view another photograph of the post office. Photo courtesy Grace Muilenburg, KGS, July 1962. The source of this last photograph is the Kansas Geological Survey web site at <http://www.kgs.ku.edu/>. All Rights Reserved.
    • Atchison, Kansas – St. Benedict's Abbey, Benedictine College (photograph and history) The exterior of the Abbey is built with native Kansas limestone quarried from caves along the river; and the main hallway on the first floor is tiled with Carthage, Missouri, marble. The Abbey was completed in 1957. To view another photograph and more history, click here to go to the LASR web site. To view photographs of Benedictine College on the Kansas Geological Survey web site, click here and here, photograph courtesy of John Charlton, KGS. (Also click on the next screen to see additional photographs of the college.) The source of this material is the Kansas Geological Survey web site at <http://www.kgs.ku.edu/>. All Rights Reserved.
      • The Abbey Church (photographs and history) The following types of stone were used in building the church: Winona Limestone from Minnesota on the exterior of the building; Indiana limestone on the interior; Kasota bluff fleuri from Minnesota, and terrazzo for the floors. Marbles from Alabama, Vermont and Italy were used to create the altars.
      • St. Benedict Campus Virtual Tour (Click on the Abbey to view the information about the building.)
    • Atchison, Kansas – Trinity Episcopal Church (photograph and history) (The link to the web site from which the following information was obtained is no longer available, although you can view it on the Internet Archive Wayback Machine.)
      <http://members.cox.net/ksregphotos/Trinity_Episcopal_Church_Atchison.htm>

      Grey rock-faced, ashlar limestone was used in construction of the building which was constructed in 1868.

    • Atwood, Kansas – Stevens (Stone) Church. (This information is presented on the Kansas section of the LASR web site.)
    • Baldwin City, Kansas – Baker University Buildings. Photograph courtesy of John Charlton, KGS, August 2002. (The source of this material is the Kansas Geological Survey web site at <http://www.kgs.ku.edu/>. All Rights Reserved.)

      Case Hall (1904) (photograph)

      Case Hall (1904)

      The Hall was constructed of stone, but the type and origin of the stone are not stated.

      Memorial Hall (photograph)

      Memorial Hall

      The Hall was constructed of stone, but the type and origin of the stone is not stated.

      Parmenter Hall (photograph and history)

      Parmenter Hall Parmenter Hall was the first building to be constructed on the Baker University campus. Construction began in 1866 and was finally completed in 1881. The building was constructed of native sandstone. The Kansas Geological Survey web site states that the building was constructed of Ireland sandstone. Click here to view another photograph of Parmenter Hall presented by the Kansas Geological Survey web site.


      Stone Hall, Old Methodist Church (1868) (photograph)

      Stone Hall, Old Methodist Church (1868)

      Ireland sandstone was used in the construction of the church.

    • Baldwin City, Kansas – Old Castle Museum Complex (5th Street, Elm and Fremont) (photograph and history) The Castle was build in 1857 and 1858 of native sandstone. (This information is presented on the Kansas section of the LASR web site.)
    • Baldwin City, Kansas – the Palmyra Post Office and Old Castle (1857) (photograph) Ireland sandstone was used in the construction of the building. Photograph by John Charlton, KGS, August 2002. The source of this material is the Kansas Geological Survey web site at <http://www.kgs.ku.edu/>. All Rights Reserved.
    • Baldwin City, Kansas – the Women’s Bridge (11th and High Street) (photograph and history) The Women’s Bridge over Tauy Creek was constructed of native stone and brick in 1890. (To view the photograph, use the link above, choose “Attractions,” and then choose “Women's Bridge.” This information is presented on the Kansas section of the LASR web site.)

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