TAWGS tours the Ward Meade mansion

As years went by, the family moved away and the house deteriorated, the business people in Topeka decided to tear the mansion down, but the garden clubs of Topeka wanted to save the house for a place to hold their meetings and flower shows.

 

The replica of the first cabin for the family is actually three cabins joined together. It is now used to serve hearth dinners to people that want to experience the flavor of the early days. One of the cabins was originally located in Gage Park and was dismantled piece by piece and put back together at the present location.

Some members wanted to wander in the 6 acre botanical gardens which feature several water gardens and streambeds, plus a dry streambed. Trees and plants, both perennial and annuals, create a beautiful scene for visitors to enjoy.

Ray said he and his family lived at the park for about 12 years when he was the caretaker of the house and gardens. They did not live in the mansion rooms with the period furniture, but in rooms attached to the north side of the house. He said he raised his children in that house and he can tell many entertaining stories of things that happened in years gone by.