Castle Tea Room

  
 

by Karissa Pinegar

 
 

The Castle Tea Room is located at 1307 Massachusetts Street in Lawrence, Kansas. At 107 years old, it was built in 1894. Currently, it is being used as a place of service for breakfast, lunch, dinner, drinks, and conversation.

The castle was owned by a retired civil war general, Joseph N. Robert. He made his money by making containers to hold butter and lard. Joseph N. Robert and his family lived there until 1919. Later, it was sold to a Mr. John J. Simmods.

  
  The castle earned its name because there is a huge tower located at the northeast corner, high above the roof line. The tower includes the stairway which leads to the 3rd floor. The 3rd floor is where the large and quite beautiful ballroom can be found.  
  The castle has a total of fifteen rooms used for various purposes. Each room is done in a different types of wood. The dining rooms are made in birch, cherry, oak, walnut, sycamore, and pine. There are wood carvings around the house that were hand carved by Sidney Endacott. There are 5 unique working fireplaces throughout the
structure. 		 
  In 1947, Kiz Fioriti bought the mansion for $20,000. She was so satisfied with condition of the mansion, that she only made one improvement on the house; she added two shelves.  
 

Sources:

1.Marketplace Lawrence.
http://www.marketplace.lawrence.com/profiles/castle_tea_room.html 11/13/02

2. Castle Tea Room. Richard A. Smith. Historic Preservation Seminar. Fall 1976.

 
 
 
 

This is a Photo Explorations Project at West Junior High School, Lawrence, Kansas.
Karen Musacchio, instructor.

  
 

© Karissa Pinegar, 2002.

Historic Places / Student Projects / Community Connections / West Junior High / USD 497