The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-07-28
BELvOIR PASSES.
Knox Homestead VIII Be a
Methodist Home.
After Long Delay Sale Is Made
Today.
PRICE is S23,5OO.
Originally Cost Rev. John D.
Knox $4,000.
known as One of the HandsOmest
Places in Topeka.

The Kansas Methodist Home for the
Aged is an assured fact.
A price has been made on the
part of H. E. Banner of Johnston
Pa, the owner, and accepted by the
board of directors of the institution.
The price paid for the property is
825,500 and includes the old John D.
Knox residence, 'Belvoir" and IS
acres of adjacent grounds. The first
cash payment of $1,000 falls due on
the Of November this year. The pay
ments after that time are not spe-
officially provided for as to amount or
time though in case of failure to raise
the total amount of the selling price
within a reasonable period of time the
property reveFts back to the former
owner. Banner purchased the place
from Eugene F. Ware who had
judgment against it of $4,000. The
price is considered cheap. The John
D. Knox residence, one of the show
places of the city cost originally $4O-
goo. 1t was built 20 years ago but it
u still in every sense both as regards
architecture and improvements, mod
ern- The house contains % rooms, is
three stories in height and construct
ed of pressed brick and frame. 1t is
situated at the north extremity of Pot
win, one of the choicest residence sec
tons of the city, and occupies a nat
ural eminence. From the towers one
CoAil sec iOT miles around ana gaze
down upon the valley and windings of
the Kansas river which lies almost al
Its base. For natural beauty as we'll
as accessibility to the city the site
could not be improved upon as a home
for the aged.
Rev. F. E. Belts. who has been placed
in charge of the home as superintendent
has resided at the Knox residence since
last winter and has been working up
the purchase and esta blishment of the
home ever since In speaking of the
purchase he said: L am intensely graft
flied with the result. The price is most
reasonable. There is a very fine op-
portunity for building up magnificent
institution here. There is practically
no other homo of like character under
auspices of the church west of the Mis-
souri, river. We have a number of like
institutions in the east and they have
grown to magnificent proportions. 1
would like to have it understood that
the home contemplates taking in the
INDECENT aged regardless of their religi-
Gus creeds or associations. 1t is pri-
marily a home for the aged without re-
spect to church or creed. They will be
all welcome.
OF course we extend out a particu-
lar welcome to the retired or superan-
nuated ministers of the church and their
wives. But this does not mean that
we bar others. AS rule the age limit
applicants will be IS for the minimum.
there will be exceptions of course but
these will be based on the merits of the
individual cases.
THE first thing we shall do is to
secure pledges for the amount of the
purchase price. Already we have Sc
cured a number of pledges. The board
of directors have pledged for Methodisrn
of Topeka $1,000 and am going to leave
this evening to see a party living in
the state who has offered to give $4,000.
We are also receiving money and prop
erty from aged couples who desire that
shall n q n c
they live. 1 have now the deeds to
$4,000 worth of property given to the
institution on that basis. I have also
an offer of a valuable farm worth So
OG0 under the same terms; this will be
decided over shortly. A widow lady
wrote me this morning offering property
worth $1,000 on the same terms. The
income from this property will be used
to take care of these people who have
donated it and after their death it will
go towards the endowment fund for the
maintenance of the aged couples who
cannot contribute anything to their sup
port. 1t takes about 50 cents per day
to support each individual and the
amount of the necessary endowment
fund is dependent upon the number
of people that we maintain. We eX-
pect to open up the home for inmates
by the first of October. OF course We
shall have to expend considerable money
in painting and fixing up the residence.
TT will cost $1,000 for repainting
of the necessary furniture.
"As soon as we have paid for the
property we shall erect additions to
the main residence. wing will be
added to the east and a similar one to
the west. The one wing will be MAIN
tanned separate for the women and the
other for the men. We shall take up
the orchard which surrounds the home
at present and replant it at another
location. In the cleared space we shall
erect a. number of cottages of five or
four rooms, modern in every particu-
lar for the use of the superannuated
ministers and their wives who can af-
ford to pay a small amount towards
their support. The place is well sew
cred and well watered- We have a
fine we'll on the place and city water.
In addition to this residence we have
a number of buildings on the grounds
which can be used for housing the
servants and also for laundry and
kitchen purposes.
II don't anticipate the least diff
Guilty in raising the money for the en-
terprise; we have the endorsement OF
all of the Kansas conference of the
church to the enterprise. OF course
these additions and other large i'm
provements will take time to complete
but we expect to have the home opeT
to accommodate about 25 persons by
the first of October. It is mag.
pificent residence, solidly constructed
I'm every particular Another feature
we expect to embody is rest home
Tor the deaconeSSeS OF the cnurcn
Rev. Mr.. Belts was formerly super
intendent of the Bethany hospital, {
Kansas City Methodist institution
Rev. John D. Knox, whose homestead
passes into other hands. was for
Inerly one of the leading financiers o
the city as well as the state. Reverse
came however, and in 1888 he wen
to the wall. He has resided at BEL
voir' ever since he built it. but lost i
recently on a mortgage. He has still
left some 35 acres of ground close t.
this former home, and will reside
there He may either rent or build ;
house.