Northeast Quadrant Legend of Marshall County

Swedish and Irish churches, abundant limestone, thousands of flowers.

Beattie. This town and the surrounding area rests on a thick layer of limestone which covers more than 100 acres. Quarrying has gone on here since the earliest days. Local contacts: LaVada FitzGerald, 785-353-2575; Jean Floyd, 785-353-2463.
1. Beattie Heritage Museum and Archives. Open the first Sunday of each month 1-5 p.m., and by appointment. Call the number posted on the door.
2. FitzGerald kiln. Built by James FitzGerald in the 1860s. Restored in 1974. Limestone was burned in the kiln and the resulting powder was mixed with sand to make a mortar used in the construction of stone buildings. South side of Elm Street a short distance west of 21st Road.
3. FitzGerald house, 1875, built by James FitzGerald, founder of Beattie. The rock came from FitzGerald’s quarry, the mortar from his kiln. Private property. Drive-by only.
4. Hawk house. Started in 1898, the house took two years to build. Built by drugstore owner Marion Hawk. Private property. Drive-by only.
5. Guittard Station marker. In the 1850s and 1860s French immigrant Xavier Guittard operated a post office and stage coach station east of the marker. Part of the original boards from the station were used in the barn that still stands. The Pony Express Re-ride takes place along this route each year. The marker is on the east side of 21st Road between Frontier and Granite Roads, 3 miles north of Beattie. The site of the station a short distance to the east is private property.
6. Wuester house. Built in 1876, took five years to build. Private property. Drive-by only. About 3 miles north of Beattie on the west side of 21st Road between Frontier and Granite Roads.
7. Life School. Scene of the 1891 dispute during a school board election that led to the Goldsberry-Bender murder. The schoolhouse is now a private home. On Limestone Road east of 19th Road.
8 and 9. Two Lutheran churches located a mile apart in the area known as Swede Settlement. Salem Lutheran Church was founded by Swedish immigrants in 1874, but some of its members broke away to found Mission Covenant Lutheran six years later. Services are still held at both churches. 26th and 27th Roads on Navaho Road.
10. Shirley Farm and Garden. Thousands of flowers. Fruit and produce for sale in season. Tours of the garden by appointment. At Christmas a display of 35,000 lights along the driveway is open to the public. 1650 30th Road. 785-382-6357.
11. Axtell Doughboy statue, commemorating local men and women who served in World War I, is the only monument of its kind in the county. Northeast corner at 5th and Maple in center of Axtell.
12. Rose Hill Cemetery has an original Civil War cannon in the first driveway. From First Street on the west side of Axtell continue north, cross the railroad tracks, continue as the road turns to the left.
13. Marker for the site of the David Smith Inn, a stage station on the Overland Stage Route. 2 miles north of Axtell on 30th Road, just south of Granite Road.
14. St. Bridget’s Cemetery. On 30th Road ¾ mile north of Deer Trail Road.
15. St. Bridget’s Church. National Register of Historic Places. The first Catholic parish in the county, organized by the Irish community in this area. This building, dedicated in 1908, has a high vaulted ceiling with no visible supporting pillars. Only three churches in Kansas are built with this design. Two masses a year are held here, Memorial Day weekend and early November. On 29th Terrace between Bison and Cherokee Roads. For tours contact Terry Stallbaumer, 785-736-2910.
16. Summerfield. On Highway 99 on the Kansas-Nebraska border. Highway 99 through this area is a beautiful drive with light traffic and connects to major highway systems in both Kansas and Nebraska.