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  • William Henry Sternberg: The Architect and Builder of Wichita’s Pratt-Campbell Mansion in KS.

    Pratt-Campbell Mansion in Wichita, KS - designed-built by William Henry Sternberg

    The Pratt-Campbell Mansion, located on North Emporia in Wichita, Kansas, is a brick mansion built in the late 19th century by William Henry Sternberg. The mansion features ornate wood porches, multiple fireplaces, and corbelled chimneys, and has a roofline with a variety of angles and pitches. It is confirmed to have been designed and built by Sternberg, who was both an architect and a builder.

    The mansion was built for George Pratt, a prominent lumber baron, who moved there in 1889 after living in another house on North Emporia. Pratt had worked for years as the manager of the Chicago Lumber Company, which was one of the largest lumber yards in Wichita. Later, M.C. Campbell purchased the house from Pratt, and the mansion became known as the Pratt-Campbell Mansion. Campbell was a developer of the Kansas livestock industry.

    The mansion has 13-foot-high ceilings on the first floor and features hand-detailed woodwork throughout. It also had a gas lighting system that was outfitted with electric sparking igniters to give an instant on/off capability to the gas lighting. The mansion was the first in Wichita to have a laundry chute, which was a step-saving feature designed for the comfort and ease-of-use of its occupants.

    The mansion’s tall chimneys have been taken down to the roofline, and the carriage house is no longer there. However, the mansion still stands tall and elegant compared to the surrounding homes in the neighborhood. It is a designated Local Landmark and has a rich history.

    Sternberg was not only a contractor, but also an architect and designer. In the late 1860s and early 1870s, Sternberg and his firm, Sternberg, Hall & Co., promoted themselves as architects and builders who knew what was needed to design and create a first-class house. Sternberg consulted with homeowners and drafted designs himself, making his architecting and designing services a substantial part of his business.

    Overall, the Pratt-Campbell Mansion is a stunning piece of history with a rich past and unique characteristics. As a Local Landmark, it will continue to be preserved and admired for years to come.

    Posted by kendahlarama on 2010-05-02 17:39:20

  • Residence of John A. Wallace in Wichita, KS

    John A. Wallace Residence; Wichita, KS

    The John A. Wallace Residence at 1021 North Lawrence was designed and built by William Henry Sternberg in the mid-1880s. It was a brick residence with a limestone foundation and had a single-story heated carriage house finished with a small belvedere. The Wallace Residence had stylistic features consistent with other confirmed Sternberg designs including two-story bay windows, double multi-tiered decorative fountains flanking the front entryway, double front doors, decorative porches on the third floor, three main porches on the ground level, three highly corbelled chimney flues, and fancy milled gingerbread woodwork. The house had an ornate slate roof comprised of bands with varying tile shapes and different slate colors for each band. Sternberg used different colors of slate tiles for the roof of his own house at 1065 N. Waco Avenue. The sidewalks in the image appear to be paved with cement which was certainly available at that time. Portland cement had been around for about 50 years when the Wallace home was built.

    Sternberg was promoting himself as both an “architect and builder” of homes, specifically “designing and drafting” services. He was a contractor, but designing and drafting services that he did himself were a substantial portion of his business. At Sternberg’s millwork factory in Norwich, New York, his designing and drafting business was co-located in the same building as the millwork factory. The multi-tiered fountains, stone carriage step, iron fence and dual decoratively carved stone hitching posts were a symbol of a fine address. Mr. John Wallace was a dealer/agent of agricultural implements for the Walter A. Wood Harvesting Machines business at that time.

    Unfortunately, the Wallace home has been torn down to make way for commercial “development.” Any thoughts, comments, ideas, or additional information about this residence are welcomed and appreciated!

    Posted by kendahlarama on 2010-05-14 17:58:21