Historic Smauel D. Kilpatrick Mansion

The home was built by Samuel Davenport Kilpatrick. He was one of 6 brothers who were well known in the area. Their father, Samuel Kilpatrick, Sr., was one of the first settlers in Gage County, Nebraska; and reportedly #2 homesteader in the nation after Daniel Freeman. Samuel was born March 21, 1859, and was married to Mary Eloise Bradt on September 28, 1898, in Beatrice. He died July 18, 1925.

During his first 20 years Samuel worked on the family homestead and then in 1879 joined his brothers in the Kilpatrick Brothers Firm. The brothers had many business interests including railroad contracting, coal mining, sheep and cattle ranching, bridge building, pipelines and irrigation reservoirs, and roadbed grading. Their chief business interests were in building the railroad and coal mining. Their last railroad construction work was done in 1916.

The Kilpatrick’s were business and civic leaders in Beatrice. The Beatrice Fire Department was started by John David Kilpatrick, the oldest brother. John’s house stood where Samuel later built his home, both at 701 North 7th Street. The Kilpatrick’s grades the first football field in Beatrice and were on the Board of Directors of area banks.

Mary B. Kilpatrick (she used Bradt as her middle name) was born September 26, 1870 and died November 13, 1951. During her lifetime, Mary was a leader in social and political affairs and local civic groups. She was an accomplished singer, painter & sculptress.

Samuel & Mary did not have children of their own; but did adopt their niece when Mary’s sister died in childbirth in 1912. This family traveled widely and were influential people. They were friends of governors and other notable people around the world. They lived full and happy lives.

The Kilpatrick’s made a great contribution to the westward expansion and growth of American industry and business.

Structure of the House

The brick and concrete Renaissance Revival home was built by Beatrice architect Richard W. Grant in 1904-1905. Mr. Grant was well known for his construction of schools, churches and businesses. The home, which has always been a single-family dwelling, was occupied by the Kilpatrick’s until 1951. Since that time, there have been six other families residing in the home.

This grand example of Renaissance Revival style architecture is one of only a few built in Nebraska around the turn of the century. The other surviving one in this area is the Ferguson Mansion in Lincoln, which is now a museum. This style developed in reaction to the Victorian Picturesque styles of the late 1800’s.

Characteristics of Renaissance Revival include formalism, massive block styling, raised basement, low-hipped roof lines covered with clay tiles, cornices, pilasters, urns, arches, ornamentation, key stones & bas-relief carvings.

The interior floor plan includes 11’ ceilings on the first floor, colonnades, french doors, oak and walnut woodwork in the formal areas, pine woodwork in the service areas, Italian mosaic tile, transom windows, beamed ceilings, leaded and beveled glass, stained glass, pocket doors, pedestal sinks and gas-operated hot water heat with more than 30 radiators of various sizes and shapes.

The Kilpatrick carriage house was converted to a home in the 1950’s and is still a separate private residence.

House Features

Main Floor

Entry – circular ceiling beam, original cross-cut glass light globe, original mosaic tile floor, sculpted wall covering, oak paneling, arched leaded and beveled doorway glass

Foyer/Vestibule – called reception hall in early days, beamed ceiling, original alabaster and brass light fixture, oval brass doorknobs and doorplates in formal areas, round bronze doorknobs and rectangle doorplates found in service areas, oak woodwork, large coat closet, butler closet, now converted to be a phone booth, hardwood floors

Formal Living Room – walnut woodwork and fireplace with Italian tiling, pocket doors are walnut on the living room side and oak on the foyer side, leaded and beveled east window, original center ceiling brass light fixture, 8 original brass side wall light fixtures made half gas-half electric

Music Room – off living room also used as a solarium and plant room in early days, sleeping porch above this room, reportedly added on in 1910, antique brass ceiling fixture is of the period, but not original to the home

Sun Porch – enclosed at the same time the home was built and has 2 doors leading east to veranda or west to the back yard

Dining Room – octagon shaped with recessed area on the north wall, original alabaster and brass ceiling fixture, leaded glass china corner cupboards, unique ornate stained and leaded glass pocket doors, in the early days had a floor buzzer to ring kitchen for service

Butler Pantry – oak & german silver butler sink with white marble sides, antique brass light fixture of the period but not original to the home, corner cupboards and built-in recessed cupboards

Kitchen – remodeled in the 1970’s, north wall chimney was for an old stove pipe, used to have box on the west wall lighting up the rooms ringing for service

Maid’s Pantry – pine woodwork, floor to ceiling cupboards, space for icebox

Back Porch – has small door where milkman and iceman put their deliveries, used to be partially screened but now is fully enclosed

Bathroom (under formal stairs) – original silver half gas-half electric wall fixtures, stained and leaded window, original tall stool and pedestal sink

Den/Parlor – Samuel Kilpatrick’s gun collection was encased here, used for Mary’s bedroom in her later years, oak woodwork, bay window with leading and beveling on the east wall

Formal Staircase – colonnade with carvings, oak banister, landing mid-way, features extra large picture window with arched leading and beveling

2nd Floor

Upper Foyer – oak woodwork, globe light suspended with square iron chains is of the period but not original to the home, wardrobe stands in front of area where a door was sealed up in the 1970’s, which had led into a bedroom connected with the master bedroom (used as the nursery in early days and later a bedroom)

Northeast Bedroom – used by Mary Kilpatrick for her painting, sculpting and writing, beveled and leaded window on the east wall

Master Bedroom – fireplace with green tiling, beveled and leaded windows on east wall and on each side of the fireplace, master bath was remodeled in the 1950’s

Dressing Room – off master bedroom, formerly the nursery and later a bedroom, access to hall was sealed in the 1970’s to install large closets and converted to dressing room, beveled and leaded glass doors to balcony

Study – above the music room & off the master bedroom, added in 1910, built as a sleeping porch the windows have sliding glass which drops down the inside walls to expose screens for cool summertime sleeping

West Bedroom – originally the Kilpatrick guest room, located above the octagon dining room, connects to hall bath that was remodeled in the 1950’s

Northwest Bedroom – originally servant quarters, gas pedestal sink and reverse-flush hanging wall tank toilet set-up, original brass wall lamps that are half gas-half electric

Back Hall – service area with pine woodwork, clothes chute in corner and part of the floor, leads to maid’s staircase up to third floor or down

Third Floor

pine woodwork, finished area has been used for various purposes: servant’s quarters, storage, recreation and dancing, original brass ceiling fixtures, full bath has claw foot tub, large storage areas outside of finished section which looks as though it was built to resemble a depot

Basement

playroom (formerly Kilpatrick billiard room), furnace room with 1980’s boiler, laundry room with 3 large original wash sinks, maid’s bath and the remains of a clothes ringer, cool storage room/wine cellar with “mysterious arch” low to the floor along the north wall, former coal storage rooms and trunk/window storage rooms