Abandoned Kansas

02/20/2026

Location: Simpson Depot
History: This small frame building, hidden in the trees along the railroad, is the Simpson Depot. Relatively no history could be found on this particular depot, although it was a Union Pacific Depot.

While I can't confirm this is the same building, a newspaper from 1913 detailed a depot being built at Simpson for a cost of $700. This would have been a reasonable cost for the frame building, leading me to believe this is referencing this building.

https://abandonedks.com

02/06/2026

Location: Roosevelt Junior High School (DEMOLISHED)
Read Full History: https://abandonedks.com/roosevelt-junior-high-school/ ‎
Snippet of History: The new Roosevelt Junior High School was ready for occupancy at the beginning of the 1927 school year. Opening enrollment was just over 400 students. Roosevelt was the first school in the city to have only junior high grades, 7th-9th, in the building. Announcements to build two other strict junior high schools, Curtis and Boswell, were planned for the following spring. Newspapers indicate George Guerther as the contractor.

In the opening year, a newspaper was established by the school body, called the Roosevelt Rough Rider. It had a circulation of about 300, with more than half the school getting subscriptions. The mascot of the school carried the same name and had the colors yellow and teal-blue.

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01/23/2026

Location: H.D. Lee Flour Mill
Read Full History: https://abandonedks.com/hd-lee-flour-mill/
Snippet of History: Salina, Kansas, going into the 1900s, was setting itself up to become an empire. For what, you might ask? Flour. And at one point in time, it ranked as the top three in Kansas and 7th in the United States for flour production. But before they got there, they had to establish and build the industry.

One of the earliest to enter the mix was that of the Lee-Warren Mill, later to be known as the H.D. Lee Flour Mill. The brainchild of George Warren and Henry David Lee of "Lee Jeans". J.T. Wells was hired on behalf of the company to secure the properties of Richardson, Quincy, Stock and Wellslager and demo them to make way for the mill. A.E. Baxter of Buffalo, New York was flown in to create the plans. Construction started in 1899 and was heading for the finish line quickly after. The building was fully enclosed, and the painting was being completed by M.L. Baird in 1900.

Things were finally wrapping up by the end of the year, with machinery coming in by the carload. It took twelve millwrights to get it all unloaded and placed within the factory. The founders wanted to make certain that this mill reflected that of a United States company and insisted that all machinery used in its construction be from an American company. They hired the Great Western Manufacturing Company of Leavenworth for the job of producing the machinery. Contractor Spaulding was hired to install the elevator....

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One of the earliest to enter the mix was that of the Lee-Warren Mill, later to be known as the H.D. Lee Flour Mill.

01/09/2026

Location: Antioch Wesleyan Church - Miltonvale
Read Full History: https://abandonedks.com/miltonvale-church/
Snippet of History: Before this building became Antioch Wesleyan Church, and far before it was located in Miltonvale, this church was located in Rice County, Kansas. In my research, I was unable to find what town it originated in, when it was built and what the original name was.

This congregation was originally established on March 2, 1913 in the Wide Range School District No. 63. Leading the charter congregation of twelve was Rev. W.A. Smith. Having outgrown the Wide Range School, the services moved a few miles over to Elm Row School house. The name was officially chosen as Elm Row Wesleyan Methodist Church. They served in the schoolhouse for five years.

In 1920, Rev. W.L. Carkuff changed the course of the congregation. It was at this point that they were in great need of their own permanent church. They purchased a building side 1/4 mile north of the Elm Row Schoolhouse. This building, a church from Rice County, Kansas, was given to the congregation from the Church Conference and moved to the building site in 192o. It was then that the school was renamed the Antioch Wesleyan Church.

Antioch Wesleyan Methodist Church 1920-1997
The original site of this church was just southeast of the Mt. Liberty Church. It was here that they were able to greatly expand their vision and the word of the gospel.

Rev. T.F. Child was pastor in 1930-31, he was responsible for bringing the next chapter of growth. It was around the time of the annual Conference that year that he started a tent revival lasting three weeks at this site. "Many were saved, reclaimed and sanctified...

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12/27/2025

Location: Monument United Methodist Church
Full History:https://abandonedks.com/monument-united-methodist-church/
Short History: The small town of Monument didn't get much press, so researching the Monument United Methodist Church has proven difficult. I was able to find a small bit of information that detailed the church was constructed in 1930 with the help of community donations and labor.

The Tudor Revival church has long been a popular photography spot given its interesting construction. Michael Lynn Baughn remembered attending the church growing up, "I attended the Monument United Methodist Church from the time I was small until it closed in 1966. Many fond memories like being baptized, Sunday School, and VBS. We had meals in the church basement and annual Christmas programs. I really hate to see my church in ruins."...TO CONTINUE READING THE HISTORY OF THIS CHURCH GO TO https://abandonedks.com

12/13/2025

12/13/2025

Location: Southwestern Bell Telephone Co. Station
Read Full History: https://abandonedks.com/southwestern-bell-building/

This location is making its rounds again and alot of people are wondering the history so time for a repost!

Short History: This building sits alone, vacant and abandoned on the outskirts of Fort Scott. While the building itself history is little to none that could be found it is a part of history much bigger, that of the Southwestern Bell Telephone Company. Southwestern Bell purchased this property in March 1930 and constructed the building shortly after.....CONTINUE READING BELOW

AbandonedKS.com

12/12/2025

Walnut Valley Presbyterian Church - https://abandonedks.com/walnut-valley-presbyterian-church/
Construction on the new Walnut Valley Presbyterian Church, on what was known as the Winfield and Eldorado stage route, began in 1879. The building committee consisted of Rev. Graham, Messrs. C**n, and Larkins. Rev. Graham had fought a hard campaign, traveling all over the county to raise money for the church and materials. Meanwhile, C**n with his water wagon, cold or hot, wet or dry, had stuck to his post."

The last rock for the building was laid by Archie Stewart. Next, the roof would be added by the carpenters. The work on the subscription church was not at all delayed, other than for weather-related events. This was largely in part to R. Hanlan's boarding house and others in the community that accommodated the workmen.....CONTINUE READING THE HISTORY OF THIS CHURCH AT https://abandonedks.com

12/08/2025

I found this while researching the Hotel Stamey in Hutchinson, Kansas.

11/28/2025

Location: Henson Mill
Read Full History: https://abandonedks.com/henson-mill/
Short History: Long before this became Henson Mill, this was constructed as the Eagle Roller Mill owned and operated by the Ritter Bros. Ground was broken on a new 50-barrel flouring mill with meal and feed attachments around March 1897. The brothers' work was completed quickly, with the foundation being laid in April, machinery arriving and enclosing the building in July, and the project being essentially finished and ready for business by August.

The building was three stories and a basement, built of brick. There were four double rolls for wheat with a fifty-barrel-a-day capacity to start. Two sets of rolls were for grinding their signature cornmeal. All the machinery was powered by a 40-horsepower Reynolds Corliss engine with boilers and heaters from the same manufacturer. Given the proximity to the Neosho River, water needed for milling was pumped directly from the river.

Called the Eagle Roller Mill, also the Eagle Mill, both Joseph and brother John Ritter ran it to the best of their ability for the next decade. That was until Joseph bought the interest of his brother in the mill and became the sole owner. It was his mission to make things thrive for Chetopa and the surrounding towns through his work at the Eagle Mill....TO CONTINUE READING THE HISTORY OF THIS MILL GO TO https://abandonedks.com