ENTERTAINMENT
University Daily Kansan, November 15, 1984 Page 7
November
15
"1776" will be presented at 8 p.m. at the Craftier-Preyer Theatre in Murphy Hall. It will also be performed Nov. 16 and 17. The Jahyak Singers will perform its
The Jayhawk Singers will perform its fall concert.
"Talley's Folly" will be presented by the Lawrence Community Theatre, 15th and New Hampshire streets. The production will run through Nov. 18.
The Chicago Jazz Quintet will be at the Jazzhaus, 928; Massachusetts St.
The University of Missouri-Kansas City is presenting "Harboreddown" through Nov 18 at the Helen F. Spencer Theatre, 4946 Cherry St. On Nov. 15, 16 and 17 the play will begin at 8 p.m., and it begins at 2 p.m. on Nov. 18.
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The Kansas Music Teachers Association is having its state convention in Murphy Hall. It will run through Nov 18
The University Dance Company will be performing at the Kansas Cae Festival at Hilber Concert Hall at Wichita State University group will perform through Nov. 18.
Victor Borge will perform at 8 p.m. at Midland Center for the Performing Arts.
The Lonnie Brooks Blues Band will be at the Jazzhaus, 92612 Massachusetts St. The band will be performing there through Nov. 17.
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in REO Speedwagon and Survivor will be in RECO at 7:30 p.m. at the Salina Incidental Center. Reserve tickets cost $13
Glenn Dicterow, concertmaster of the New York Philharmonic, will perform Brahm's 'Violin Concerto' in D Major with the Kansas City Symphony through Nov. 17. The concerts, which begin at 8 p.m., will be in Lyric Theatre, 11th and Central Streets.
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Musical Offering, featuring Lucy Shelton, soprano vocalist, will perform at 3:30 p.m. in the Crafton-Preyer Theatre in Murphy Hall.
Auditions for spring theatre production will begin at 7 p.m. Auditions are open to all KU students enrolled in six or more hours. The plays to be cast for are: "The Arkansaw Bear," "The Miser," "Susanah" and "Pot-Pourri Productions."
The house that Usher built
Chris Magerl/KANSAN
The Beta Theta Pi fraternity, 1425 Tennessee St
Railroad brings Italian villa to Lawrence
By GARY DUDA Staff Reporter
Sitting a little off Tennessee Street, crouched on the skirts of The Hill, sits an old mansion — one that reminds Lawrence of what it used to look like in the late 19th
The old mansion, formerly the home of John Palmer Usher, former secretary of the Interior to President Abraham Lincoln, was purchased by the Alpha Nu chapter of the Beta Theta Pi fraternity for $9,000 in 1042. He put a new desk on it, looking almost like it did 100 years ago.
Usher wanted to be part of the growing Midwest, so after he resigned from the cabinet in 1965, he took the position of general manager of the Pacific Railway and moved to Kansas.
And in exchange for his legal services, the railroad built Usher a squared-off, Italian, villa-style house in 1872. This was a popular building, but at the time was unknown to Lawrence.
Jeff Long, president of the fraternity, said that Usher's wife, Margaret, laured Kansas University. She lived in the house with Vermont horticulturalists that were 18 inches thick. That way she
thought that her house was "tornado proof."
thought that her house was "tornado proof." Usher left his mark on the inside of the house, too. The golden inlaid monogram on the newel post is one such example.
The dark walnut woodwork, trimmed with gold leaf, stands out around the high windows and tall ceilings. It was made and installed by Union Pacific boxcar carpenters. The walnut wood in the house is the same that was used to build bay windows. I love said.
Through the door to the immediate left of the entrance is the music room, even though
there isn't any music there any more. The old Ushouse used to have five fireplaces, the old Guild Hall had six.
Ulysses S. Grant
Members of Lincoln's cabinet gave this carved, red marble fireplace to Usher. The fireplace is still in the Beta house. Long said.
Through the music room and to the right is the old library. An old wooden mantel clock hung here one wall long pointed to it, saving that at one time it belonged to the wife of
As rumor has it, Grant had given the clock to the wife of Abraham Lincoln, but Lincoln did not like Grant. So, Lincoln gave the clock to Margaret Usher, who was a friend of hers.
Long added that the clock still kept time even though the chimes did not work.
Back in the foyer, a wooden staircase curves up toward the second floor. The railing is the original. Long said, "It's really hard to imagine about it because it is old and, hard to replace."
Scott Deeter, Denver junior, said that about ten years ago the Betas had a chance to get a new house, but the idea was turned down by the house members.
He said that he liked the house because it was so old.
Francis B. Jensen was initiated into the Beta fraternity in 1916, three years after the Betas moved into the Usher House. Since then, the house has changed some, he said.
"When I attended KU we only had the original building," he said. And back then, only 40 men lived in the house, whereas more than 70 do now.
The house that Usher built is now a, official historical point of interest. In 1974, the United States Department of Interior put the house on the list to help preserve the landmark.
Chris Magnet/KANSAN
The three initials carved in the banister are one of the marks that John P. Usher left on his house.
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