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Wednesday, August 21, 1974
University Daily Kansan
Casbah Craftsmen Put Stress on Quality
The Casbah, a new group of stores and a cafe, may not have the intrigue of its namesake, but one customer called it Lawrence's little Crown Center. The Casbah's interior, especially the carpentry, is exquisite.
Since its opening in June at 803 Massachusetts has been published by Lawrence response.
David Mylinstein, the owner of Sunflower Surprise, said he originated the idea for the book to reflect his experiences.
stores with an integrated theme and an atmosphere that would compliment the merchandise. He wanted the stores be located by local craftsmen with a stress on quality.
IN JANUARY, Millstein, architect John
If you have ever received instructions on how to find a small town, then you have probably heard the expression, "if you blink, you miss it." Vinland and Clearview travelers drive through these small towns unaware of their residents and history.
"So many of them drive up, look
at the building, then go to our house.
Katharine King, a resident since 1946.
There are no signs along county road 1055 to direct you to Viland, which is about 10 km from the city.
No one remembers exactly when Vilandina was settled, but according to tradition Vilandina received the name from the first occupants settling around a large vineyard, said Anne Hemphill, who lives about one mile south of the town.
On Nov. 22, 1849, the citizens of Vinland established the Coal Creek Social Library Association for the "moral, social and intellectual improvement of its members." The idea for the library association came from the circulation of privately owned books by a private building and charter had been obtained for the Coal Creek Library. Hembill said.
The Coal Creek Library is believed to be the oldest subscription library in Kansas still in use. Hemphill said. Although the library doesn't have a paid librarian, it is kept open one morning a week during the fall and inland residents as a community project.
After the establishment of the library
after the establishment of the library
people edited and are by 1868 a per-
sonal library opened.
Today Vinland has an estimated population of 30 people. The general store in the village is to go to Baldwin or Lawrence. The majority of the residents are farmers. Vinland has a small airport that is used primarily for area crop farming, a school, two churches and a barn.
store, bank, grain elevator, butcher shop, a blacksmith and farming developed as the population grew. On June 1, 1884, Vinland married in the Douglas County Court House.
Clearfield once had a grocery store and other small businesses, but it now consists of one church and a cemetery. There are no actual residents. Area farmers use the church, which is about 16 miles southeast of Lawrence on county road 1061.
Lee and carpenter Bob Rosser began construction. They stripped the walls of the wallboard to expose the store and then filled them with a sealant that expose the wood underneath. After sand-blasting the walls and sanding and filling, they used the Casbah begin to take its present form.
Much of the uniqueness in construction and design is in the materials. Long stainless steel tubes extend from the ceiling in a triangular form and connect to the walls and posts that support wooden panels. The doors and windows transfer tubes made for B-42 bombers, and the steel covers for the lighting are smaller tubes also made for B-32s.
All of the carpentry has been under the direction of Rosser, and most of the work was, and still is, done by him. The stores were in March, but the deadline was delayed.
"We were in no hurry to finish," Rosser said. They wanted quality, not expediency.
Jim Connelly, owners of Silverworks, will sell his handcrafted jewelry and silver-smiths.
Of the five privately owned stores, four are operated by local craftsmen who have, or are now building, their own workshops in The Casbah.
specializing in wood sculpture and small pieces of furniture.
Jeff Polson owns Tupelo Woodworks.
JAY PATTERSON, the former leather
creator of the Hodge Podge, is owner of
the Leather Dog.
John Flotten, who previously sold some of his pottery in Chelsea Court in Crown Center, is operating the Flatrock Pot Shop.
Bengals, which sells imported and
sports equipment to the Ambor,
the owner of The Hodge Podge,
a local sports franchise.
Goodman said that they had been looking for the right spot to open a cafe for five years, and that when they heard about Millstein's operation, they joined in.
A few steps down at the rear of the building is the Casbah Cafe, owned and operated by Joe Goodman, Ron Sandhaus and the cook, Joe Quellet.
Millstein said that at first he was skeptical about having a cafe, but that it proved the most successful in getting attention because the owners showed as much dedication to the art of cooking as the other owners had to their crafts.
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