Roberts House, Overhill Road, Mission Hills, Kansas
Have you ever wondered why so many old houses have postcards of themselves? I ran across two of them just this week. I suppose I should have been more curious about this all along. I guess I just started taking it for granted that a fancy old house would have one. But why did they?
Here's a postcard for the Dr. Sam Roberts House in Mission Hills, Kansas. Sharp eyes might notice that although I said that this Italian villa is in Kansas, the card says that it's in Missouri. Was it a typo?
Sort of, but it was an intentional one. Mission Hills, Kansas is a suburb of Kansas City, Missouri. In 1914, when Mission Hills was being developed as an upscale neighborhood, Kansas was in prohibition, while Missouri had looser liquor laws. (Fun fact: Kansas had prohibition from 1881 until 1948, fifteen years after the 21st Amendment repealed the federal prohibition. Even then, Kansas didn't allow on-premises liquor sales until 1987.)
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Nov. 16- 1925. Dear Bessie: It certainly was hot here this summer the thermometer went up to 99 and 100, and forgot to come back down. The fall has been very cold and rainy. Lovingly, Minnie L. (Bessie's address is a 1960's apartment building now.)
Another way to sell your development? Print up postcards of the great looking houses already there. Tourism seems to be the primary reason that cities would circulate photos of prominent residents' residences. For some residents, it served as their stationery.
The postcard promotion certainly worked for the Roberts' house. I found the postcard before I found the house. As you can see, it's certainly worth promoting:
It was designed in 1929 by Texas architects Atlee and Robert Ayres for Dr. Sam E. Roberts and Ada Woodward Roberts.
Ayres and Ayres were known for their Italian Renaissance designs, like this one:
Dr. Roberts was an otolaryngologist (ear, nose, and throat doctor). He also practiced bronchoesophagology, which means he was probably also a very good speller.
The Italian marble floors and leaded glass windows are original, and the beams feature decorative tole painting.
If it were mine, I'd bring in even more of that romantic Italian style, like this:
Through the arched passageway is the dining room, and both have beautifully carved limestone.
Notice the bar -- not sure how it was stocked during prohibition:
The kitchen features a La Cornue range and a charming breakfast room.
We could go upstairs via the backstairs or the elevator...
but I wouldn't miss a chance to appreciate the beautiful grand staircase:
Upstairs are six bedrooms. The house also has nine bathrooms in 10,620 square feet.
The glimpses of these rooms show they already have plenty of style...
but this white bedroom doesn't live up to its painted ceiling:
Once again, if it were mine, I'd bring in more of that romantic Italian feeling (I'm writing this on Valentine's Day):
After all, it's got to live up to the fabulous basement and wonderfully decorated landscape:
It's adjacent to -- and appears inspired by-- the 1924 Sunken Garden of Verona Columns Park.
The Mission Hills neighborhood was developed by J.C. Nichols, which reminded me of a house I featured in Nichols Hills, Oklahoma. In that case it was named for G.A. Nichols, who apparently was a friend/fellow developer and not a relation. G.A. held a naming contest for his development and awarded a Shetland pony to the guy who came up with "Nichols Hills."
Makes you wonder which was the more effective early 20th century marketing strategy: Shetland ponies or postcards?
The Roberts house isn't currently for sale, but the listing is here.
