Free State Hotel - Lawrence Massacre - Lawrence, Kansas
Posted by: 
iconions
N 38° 58.265 W 095° 14.171
15S E 306275 N 4315945
Quick Description: This important site in the Lawrence Massacre is located at 701 Massachusetts Street.
Location: Kansas, United States
Date Posted: 7/2/2009 10:04:00 PM
Waymark Code: WM6PNM
Views: 0
Long Description:Excerpt from the Hotel Eldridge History Page:
(
visit link)
The Eldridge Hotel has been an integral part of the history of
Lawrence since its founding. The original building on this site was
the Free State Hotel, built in 1855 by settlers from the New
England Emigrant Aid Society. The Free State Hotel was intended as
temporary quarters for those settlers who came here from Boston and
other areas while their homes were being built. It was named the
The Free State Hotel to make clear the intent of those early
settlers: that Kansas should come into the union as a free
state.
In 1856, the The Free State Hotel was attacked and burned to the
ground by the infamous sheriff Sam Jones, heading a group of
pro-slavery forces. Colonel Shalor Eldridge rebuilt the hotel and
added another floor, vowing to do the same every time it was
destroyed. The hotel stood until 1863 when it was attacked and
destroyed once again, this time by Quantrill and his raiders.
Quantrill and his men rode into the community of Lawrence and
killed over 150 people. Tragically, they burned and destroyed the
city that stood as a proud symbol and home for the free state of
Kansas and the freedom and rights of individuals everywhere.
Colonel Eldridge promptly rebuilt the hotel and gave it his
name, the Hotel Eldridge. To this day, the seal of the city of
Lawrence depicts a phoenix rising from the ashes. Its motto is
"from ashes to immortality". The seal and motto exhibit the
determination by the people of Lawrence to stand and fight for the
rights and dignity of people everywhere.
The text from the marker out front of the hotel:
This marks the site of the Free State Hotel erected in 1855 by
the New England Emigrant Aid Society. Destroyed by Sheriff Jones
and his posse May 21, 1856, and rebuilt by Col. Schaler W.
Eldridge. Quantrill and his raiders destroyed Lawrence August 21,
1863, burned the hotel and massacred the citizens. Col. Eldridge
restored the hotel which stood until 1926 when it was rebuilt by
W.G. Hutson.
Erected April 4, 1940 by the Lawrence Rotary Club
