14 NEWS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
WEDNESDAY, JULY 15, 2009
CHARITY
"Scream" actor raising awareness about hunger NEW YORK—Actor David Arquette is raising awareness about hunger by spending some
time inside a Plexiglas box atop New York City's Madison Square Garden marquee.
Arquette hopes to raise $250,000 for Feeding America.
Associated Press
HOUSE (CONTINUED FROM 8)
The Murphy-Bromelsick House, located at 10th and Delaware Streets, holds many important documents related to Civil War era history of Lawrence. The architecture is an example of the type of place where middle-class Americans lived a century and a half ago.
"Speer's Defy." The document is a one-page list of sentences and phrases printed by John Speer to strengthen Lawrence residents' resolve to keep Kansas a free state during the border wars with Missouri. Marty Speer said he had had the document since the '60s, but had no idea where it originated or what its historical value was. Now, with the Murphy-Bromelsick house as a focal point, Marty Speer wants to do what he can to educate anyone interested in Lawrence history about the influence John Speer had on the city and the history behind the house.
Chance Dibben/KANSAN
Jonathan Earle, associate professor of history, said the Murphy-Bromelsick house was a pristine and unusual example of "vernacular architecture"
He said it was the type of place where middle-class Americans actually lived and worked a century and a half ago. Most structures that have been preserved until now were owned by rich people who could afford to build grand houses and pass them down to their children, Earle said.
Earle said John Speer wanted Lawrence to be home to a university, and not some other facility such as
the jail in Leavenworth, or the state capital in Topeka.
"Like many anti-slavery partisans in Lawrence, he saw the future of the territory and the town as one with educational opportunities," Earle said. "It was not an obvious choice."
Kaplan said John Speer helped A.D. Searle survey the land where the University now stands. He said John Speer was obsessed with rebuilding the town after two of his sons were killed in Quantrill's raid. The University became part of his vision of a rebuilt Lawrence.
"He was pretty much a founding father of Lawrence," Marty Speer said.
Touring the Murphy-Bromelsick house is free and open to the public.
Edited by Steph Schneider
Your door to comfortable living is here
1900 sq.ft. at Lake Pointe Villas (Candy Lane)
- 3 & 4 Bdrm Homes,
3.5 Bath
- Close to Clinton Lake,K-10, & turnpike
- Pets Welcome
- $1200.00
Garber Property Management
785.841.4785
GARBERPROPERTY.COM