Historic Neighborhoods of Topeka

Kenwood History

• Kenwood is roughly 80acres, whose boundaries are Quinton, Broadmoor, I-70 and Willow.
• The bungalow/craftsman style is the prevalent architecture of Kenwood. Kenwood also features a number of Sears kit houses, and houses designed and built by L.F. Garlinghouse.
• Kenwood was purchased in 1858 by Morrell C. Keith, a real estate speculator from Alexander Beauchemie for $2,262.50. Beauchemie received the property which included Kenwood from a United State patent in accordance with a 1854 treaty with the Shawnee nation.
• Keith was not interested in developing the property and over the years it was used as a playground, circus ground, pasture and golf course. Many of these uses occurring simultaneously.
• In the 1880's with the development of Potwin Place and St. Francis Hospital the southwest corner of Kenwood became a baseball field known as Athletic Park, were the Topeka Giants played. (a semi-professional baseball team of the time)
• In 1907 Kenwood was purchased from the Keith estate by Thomas Keely. Keely was a banker/land speculator from Denver, he purchased the property for $66,000.
• S.E. Quinton, the brother-in-law of Keely developed the property. Quinton ran a competition in the State Journal to pick a name for the new development, Kenwood was chosen because it went along with Greenwood and Woodlawn of Potwin Place and Kendall was Mr. Quinton's wife's maiden name.
• Sales of Kenwood lots began in October of 1907 for $340-$485. People who bought one of the first twenty lots sold received a gift of a piano. Many people bought lots for $50down and $10/month.
• City water, natural gas, electric lights, city sewer, telephone service, and three street car lines were all amnenities that Kenwood offered
• 315 Courtland was the first house to be built in Kenwood, the building permit was taken out in November of 1911. The last houses built were in the 1950s