This week on History’s Attic. Imagine early 1904 you’re setting out on a life changing event. Homesteading on your own 160 acres. You decide to enter Gregory County on its eastern border by ferry or on the ice. You pull your wagon up the steep and winding river hills, till up on the flat Sully Flats it’s called now, east and north of Lucas.

And before you sits a Magnificent newly built mansion on the Prairie.

Ablaze with gas lights shining out its many windows. It just beckons you to stop, which was one of the goals of the Mullen Family land locators was their job. You would be welcomed into the front parlor area with its gleaming fireplace with imported tile work shining maple floors with polished natural oak woodwork and cut-glass windows. To the left passing the large oak stairway, you would get ushered into the library with lavish furniture and book lined walls.

All built to impress the lowly land seeker, and I am sure it did. A little about the construction of the home, all its lumber was brought by ferry and overland wagon from Platte. It featured a main oak elaborate stairway, imported cut glass windows, coal burning fireplace, maple floors, with oak trims and doors. Outside walk around balconies with a view of the river. It also was furnished with steam heat, and they say the large boiler almost swamped the ferry bringing it over. The house was host to many parties and gatherings, and was said to even host Pick and Sloan for discussions on the Missouri river dam project.

Fast forward to the early 1990s I was looking for a home to move so decided to inspect the home. What I found was a sad sight the flat part of the middle roof had a major leak and water had been pouring into the middle of the house down the main stairway for a few years. All the woodwork and doors had been painted battleship gray. But many of the original features were still there. I purchased the home with the plan to move, but another house was on the Horizon. Eddie Shaffer was looking for a large house to move so a deal was struck I would remove all the interior for my other home. And he would get the gutted shell and that’s what happened.

And to see it now just drive to Gregory (maybe not in your buckboard wagon but in your car) and Gaze up at the Gray House Inn from Highway 18 and imagine the grander those first Homesteaders saw.

Next week on History’s Attic:  Did Herrick Really have a stone man?

 

Author Richard Papousek