Neither a granite obelisk, nor a simple bronze plaque, the Murphy-Bromelsick house, relocated to Hobbs Park near the site of the John Speer farmstead, is a genuine artifact from the era that saw Lawrence rise from Quantrill's ashes, during the American Civil War. Its preservation as a public monument pays tribute to the spirited rebuilding of Lawrence, and to the courage and sacrifice of our early settlers, in an age now obscured by the passing years.

Reflecting the modest structures of the surrounding residential district, the once-crumbling icon was moved from its original location a few hundred yards away, to prevent its demolition and loss as a symbol of the achievement of self-made architects and builders. It’s a vintage vernacular dwelling, the likes of which have virtually disappeared from the local landscape.

Flanked to the south by a mid-20th century baseball stadium and to the north by the city’s old industrial heart, the new memorial is only the second monument to the founding of Lawrence in its nearly 150-year history.

• An Account of the House and its Inhabitants
• Site & General Layout
• Murphy-Bromelsick House Exterior
  • East Facade
  • North Facade
  • West Facade
  • South Facade

Murphy-Bromelsick house at its original location, 909 Pennsylvania, Lawrence, Kansas.

Site elevation 909 Pennsylvania, Lawrence, Kansas