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A walk down memory lane
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| The Lott mansion, as it looked shortly after its completion. |
An abridged guide to Buffalo’s historic residences
By J.R. Logan
Editor’s note: The Buffalo Bulletin is featuring historic homes that the public can enjoy on a walking tour. Next week, look for residences on South Main.
Nothing helps settle a hefty Thanksgiving Day meal better than a pleasant afternoon stroll. And with a house full of aunts, uncles, grandchildren and nephews, a little fresh air is sometimes the perfect remedy to holiday cabin fever. For the enrichment of these leisurely walks, a short list of notable and historic Buffalo homes has been compiled to give some food for thought to those who are already stuffed with turkey.
Any attempt to include all of the century-old, iconic homes that line the streets of Buffalo would require pages, if not entire books. The following houses have been selected based on everything from unique architecture and historical importance to colorful residents.
Special thanks to May Dillinger, Bill Adams, Pam McFadden, John Pond, Bob Edwards at the Jim Gatchell Memorial Museum and the staff of the Johnson County Library for all of their help in researching these beautiful buildings.
The homes are listed in order, following a walk up and down north Main Street, starting across from the courthouse, walking until the stoplight at the intersection with Hart Street and walking back down the opposite side of Main Street.
North Main Houses
The Mansion House
(The Lott Mansion) — 313 N. Main St.
Work on this home built by Dr. John Howard Lott was completed in 1903 to the tune of $50,000 — a fortune at the time. The construction includes hand-carved oak mantles, handmade glass windows, elegant wood floors and an elaborate staircase.
Since its construction, the house has served a number of purposes. In addition to providing a residence for the Lott family, a room on the main floor is said to have grease and oil stains from an examination room for Dr. Lott. The parlor area of the house was also used from time to time for funeral services. Many stories are told of the Lott family’s generosity and their willingness to take in people in need.
Little is known of Dr. Lott. He was a well-respected man who was admired for the dedication he showed in his work and was an advanced member of the Masons.
Following his death, Dr. Lott’s widow, Ella, converted the home into a boarding house for bachelors and teachers to help cover the costs of maintaining the building and supporting the family.
In over 100 years of existence, the home has seen some changes both to the interior and exterior. However, much of the ornate décor and structure has been preserved.
Dr. Meldrum House — Southeast
corner of Main and Hart Street
Dr. Gordon B. Meldrum was convinced to move to Buffalo while visiting his parents in 1902. His father had come as a homesteader and had settled at the current location of the Paradise Ranch. The younger Meldrum graduated from medical school and Colorado State University and earned a medal of honor during his service in the Philippines.
After moving to Buffalo, Dr. Meldrum operated a drug store at 14 S. Main St., with an office and hospital rooms upstairs. The doctor also made house calls, and is said to have performed several appendectomies on his patients’ kitchen tables. Ironically, the good doctor himself died of appendicitis.
Lester Snow Cabin — 468 N. Main St.
Frontier lawman Lester Snow built this log cabin after moving to Buffalo to retire in 1939. Snow was a deputy sheriff in Laramie County in 1902 and became intimately involved in the trial of Tom Horn when he testified against the infamous killer in a case that eventually led to Horn’s hanging.
Snow was 68 when he came north to Buffalo and was often seen with fellow lawman and neighbor Joe LeFors (also a major player in the Horn case) whose house was behind Snow’s cabin.
A red “S” can be seen in the rock work of the chimney on the outside of the building, a touch added by Snow while building his home.
The Holland House — 312 N. Main St.
William H. Holland, who fought and was injured in the Civil War, first came to Wyoming in 1879. He worked as a cowboy on the Laramie plains before coming to Johnson County in 1880. He was appointed a county commissioner in 1882 and served as such until 1885 (his name appears on the cornerstone of the Johnson County Courthouse that was erected in 1884).
In 1883, Holland struck a deal with Juliet W. Hart who owned much of the land in Buffalo at that time. He was deeded the land as long as he agreed to build a house that cost at least $2,500. It was the first two-story brick home to be built in Buffalo and the Holland family moved into it on Christmas Day, 1883.
Rumor has it that Indians knew the Holland home as the “big tepee.” W.H. Holland planted the two giant cottonwoods in the front of the house when he first built the home.
Burritt House — 294 N. Main St.
Charles Henry Burritt was one of early Buffalo’s prominent citizens. A charming lawyer originally hailing from Vermont, he was said to always be dressed in a black frock coat, vest and striped pants. He became the legal representative for many of the areas cattle barons, leaving him on the side of the cattle companies during the Johnson County War. He also served as the mayor of Buffalo from 1886 to1896.
This small building was originally a cabin built by Burritt in 1884.
Nothing helps settle a hefty Thanksgiving Day meal better than a pleasant afternoon stroll. And with a house full of aunts, uncles, grandchildren and nephews, a little fresh air is sometimes the perfect remedy to holiday cabin fever. For the enrichment of these leisurely walks, a short list of notable and historic Buffalo homes has been compiled to give some food for thought to those who are already stuffed with turkey.
Any attempt to include all of the century-old, iconic homes that line the streets of Buffalo would require pages, if not entire books. The following houses have been selected based on everything from unique architecture and historical importance to colorful residents.
Special thanks to May Dillinger, Bill Adams, Pam McFadden, John Pond, Bob Edwards at the Jim Gatchell Memorial Museum and the staff of the Johnson County Library for all of their help in researching these beautiful buildings.
The homes are listed in order, following a walk up and down north Main Street, starting across from the courthouse, walking until the stoplight at the intersection with Hart Street and walking back down the opposite side of Main Street.
North Main Houses
The Mansion House
(The Lott Mansion) — 313 N. Main St.
Work on this home built by Dr. John Howard Lott was completed in 1903 to the tune of $50,000 — a fortune at the time. The construction includes hand-carved oak mantles, handmade glass windows, elegant wood floors and an elaborate staircase.
Since its construction, the house has served a number of purposes. In addition to providing a residence for the Lott family, a room on the main floor is said to have grease and oil stains from an examination room for Dr. Lott. The parlor area of the house was also used from time to time for funeral services. Many stories are told of the Lott family’s generosity and their willingness to take in people in need.
Little is known of Dr. Lott. He was a well-respected man who was admired for the dedication he showed in his work and was an advanced member of the Masons.
Following his death, Dr. Lott’s widow, Ella, converted the home into a boarding house for bachelors and teachers to help cover the costs of maintaining the building and supporting the family.
In over 100 years of existence, the home has seen some changes both to the interior and exterior. However, much of the ornate décor and structure has been preserved.
Dr. Meldrum House — Southeast
corner of Main and Hart Street
Dr. Gordon B. Meldrum was convinced to move to Buffalo while visiting his parents in 1902. His father had come as a homesteader and had settled at the current location of the Paradise Ranch. The younger Meldrum graduated from medical school and Colorado State University and earned a medal of honor during his service in the Philippines.
After moving to Buffalo, Dr. Meldrum operated a drug store at 14 S. Main St., with an office and hospital rooms upstairs. The doctor also made house calls, and is said to have performed several appendectomies on his patients’ kitchen tables. Ironically, the good doctor himself died of appendicitis.
Lester Snow Cabin — 468 N. Main St.
Frontier lawman Lester Snow built this log cabin after moving to Buffalo to retire in 1939. Snow was a deputy sheriff in Laramie County in 1902 and became intimately involved in the trial of Tom Horn when he testified against the infamous killer in a case that eventually led to Horn’s hanging.
Snow was 68 when he came north to Buffalo and was often seen with fellow lawman and neighbor Joe LeFors (also a major player in the Horn case) whose house was behind Snow’s cabin.
A red “S” can be seen in the rock work of the chimney on the outside of the building, a touch added by Snow while building his home.
The Holland House — 312 N. Main St.
William H. Holland, who fought and was injured in the Civil War, first came to Wyoming in 1879. He worked as a cowboy on the Laramie plains before coming to Johnson County in 1880. He was appointed a county commissioner in 1882 and served as such until 1885 (his name appears on the cornerstone of the Johnson County Courthouse that was erected in 1884).
In 1883, Holland struck a deal with Juliet W. Hart who owned much of the land in Buffalo at that time. He was deeded the land as long as he agreed to build a house that cost at least $2,500. It was the first two-story brick home to be built in Buffalo and the Holland family moved into it on Christmas Day, 1883.
Rumor has it that Indians knew the Holland home as the “big tepee.” W.H. Holland planted the two giant cottonwoods in the front of the house when he first built the home.
Burritt House — 294 N. Main St.
Charles Henry Burritt was one of early Buffalo’s prominent citizens. A charming lawyer originally hailing from Vermont, he was said to always be dressed in a black frock coat, vest and striped pants. He became the legal representative for many of the areas cattle barons, leaving him on the side of the cattle companies during the Johnson County War. He also served as the mayor of Buffalo from 1886 to1896.
This small building was originally a cabin built by Burritt in 1884.
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The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of buffalobulletin.com.
Far Away wrote on Nov 27, 2008 4:21 PM:
I am very glad that the historic architecture of Buffalo is being featured. Buffalo is a great place to live with a rich history that we can all be proud of. "