Last updated: November 4, 2024
Place
St. Francis Hotel
NPS Photo
Quick Facts
Location:
Nicodemus, Kansas
Significance:
Oldest building in Nicodemus, former business and residence
Designation:
National Historic Site
OPEN TO PUBLIC:
No
MANAGED BY:
Switzer Family
The St. Francis Hotel and private Switzer Family residence had many functions throughout Nicodemus history. The original owners were Zachary and Jenny Fletcher, who were part of the first group of settlers in Nicodemus. The two bedroom hotel was also used as the first post office, schoolhouse, general store and stagecoach station. Later the hotel was used by the Switzer family as a family residence.
Kansas prairies lack an easily accessible source of wood for building which led to the hotel being made of limestone bricks. These limestone bricks can viewed on the west side of the structure where the stucco has fallen away. Each brick is over twenty pounds and had to be hauled from quarries twenty miles away in Stockton, Kansas.
Former Green Bay Packers player Veryl Switzer was raised in the residence in 1930s and 40s. Veryl later became a community leader in preserving Nicodemus' historic buildings like the one he grew up in. Ora Switzer (1902-2009) lived and raised her family in this building. Today, many Nicodemus residents remember Ora telling stories of her visiting dugouts as a young girl and watching the Nicodemus baseball team, the Nicodemus Blues.
Kansas prairies lack an easily accessible source of wood for building which led to the hotel being made of limestone bricks. These limestone bricks can viewed on the west side of the structure where the stucco has fallen away. Each brick is over twenty pounds and had to be hauled from quarries twenty miles away in Stockton, Kansas.
Former Green Bay Packers player Veryl Switzer was raised in the residence in 1930s and 40s. Veryl later became a community leader in preserving Nicodemus' historic buildings like the one he grew up in. Ora Switzer (1902-2009) lived and raised her family in this building. Today, many Nicodemus residents remember Ora telling stories of her visiting dugouts as a young girl and watching the Nicodemus baseball team, the Nicodemus Blues.