Our History

These buildings being converted to the Ridge Top II apartment complex, are on the National Register of Historic Places as part of the historic district named, “Western Branch, National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers.”  The District qualified for historic listing because of its architectural and historical significance, but also included some emphasis on the District’s landscape design.  In 2011 this Western Branch was awarded historic Landmark status.

The National Asylum (later renamed “Home”) for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers was signed into law by President Abraham Lincoln on March 3, 1865, (the month before his April 15 assassination). Its purpose was to provide care for volunteer soldiers who had been disabled through loss of limb, wounds, disease, or injury during service in the Union forces in the American Civil War. The president had recognized that the “professional soldiers” had benefits to help in those times, but many “volunteer” soldiers had little or no help, so he worked with Congress to establish care for these additional soldiers.

In the early 1880’s, shortly after the Civil War, the citizens and elected officials of Leavenworth raised over $50,000 to buy the 360 acres that began construction in 1885 as the Western Branch of the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers, the first “Old Soldiers Home” west of the Mississippi River.  By 1890, about 40 buildings were erected and comprised a coherent planned community for Civil War veterans.  Similar to other branches of the National Home, it included domiciliary barracks, mess hall and kitchen, staff housing, chapel, an administration and library building, hospital, amusement halls, quarters, shops, laundry, stable, greenhouses, agricultural buildings, and other facilities.  In 1930, the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers was incorporated into the newly created Veterans Administration, and this property was designated a VA Medical Center.  Since that change, medical programs predominated, rather than home programs.

In 1995, a new domiciliary building was built on the Leavenworth campus, and a majority of the 100-year-old barracks, mess hall, and other supporting facilities were vacated.  With the vacated buildings no longer used to support the medical center’s mission, they became available for adaptive reuse and redevelopment to serve new purposes.  Pioneer Group created ERA and successfully negotiated a 75-year Enhanced Use Lease for 38 historic buildings, and has won Local, Regional, State, and National awards in renovating those buildings.

 

 

 

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