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150Th Anniversary Part 2 Sheriff’s Office Buildings & Courthouses Through the Years LAW ENFORCEMENT CENTER 1855-2005 320 South Kansas Topeka, Kansas 1998-Present In the early 1960’s, Urban Renewal hit Topeka and a large section of town known as ‘the bottoms’ was demolished so that urban blight could be cleaned up, residents could move to better housing, and an industrial park could be constructed. The area for Urban Renewal was generally from Fourth and Kansas Avenues east to Adams and north to Crane Street. On the northeast corner of 4th and Kansas stood the ‘Owl Drug Store’, a fixture in Topeka for decades. Above the drug store on the 2nd floor was ‘The Cozy Rooms’, said by many to be a ‘house of ill-repute’ since the early 1900’s, if not some years before then. Everything in the area was leveled and construction began. The Montgomery-Ward Company, already located downtown, constructed a new building surrounded by a large parking lot at the northeast corner of 4th and Kansas. The business thrived until the early 1980’s when Topeka followed the lead of other cities and began construction of Westridge Mall on the west side of town. Montgomery Ward was one of the anchors for the new mall and soon closed the store at 4th and Kansas Avenues, leaving the building unoccupied. By December 1995, the Topeka Police Department had moved into the west end of the building from their former location at 5th and Jackson Streets and plans were underway for the Shawnee County Sheriff’s Department to move from the crowded basement of the Shawnee County Courthouse to the east end of the old Montgomery Wards building. That plan was put on hold until a traveling museum, The Treasures of the Czars, could be installed and complete it’s run at the location. After The Treasures of the Czars exhibit was over, planning began in earnest to move the Sheriff’s Department into the building. Construction on the Sheriff’s Department offices began in November 1996, but the move wasn’t complete until September 1998 because of design and construction problems. A new Shawnee County Sheriff’s Department badge was issued to commemorate the move and an open house was hosted for the public on September 12, 1998. The cost of the construction of offices in the building was $3.1 million dollars. The large “plaque” (at left) is a replica of the Law Enforcement Center commemorative badge and is proudly displayed in the receptionist area and lobby at the Sheriff’s Office. The LEC commemorative badge was designed by Sheriff Dave Meneley and Reserve Major Joe Iarossi. 1965 Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office Entrance at the Courthouse – 200 East 7th Topeka State Journal - Staff Newspaper Articles Photos Deputy Roster 54 55 150th Anniversary 55 SNSO 49-64.indd 55 10/8/2005 12:57:57 PM appreciated. His office is in the District Clerks September 30, 1863 In 1854, the New England Emigrant Aid Society 1850’s room, his residence on Harrison Street. KANSAS STATE RECORD paid Hickey’s expenses to Lawrence, Kansas to help make Kansas a state free of slavery, Quite a flock of quails were flying around our sponsored Hickey. Hickey arrived in Lawrence, Atwood, M. W. Deputy 1859 streets this morning. Our sporting gentlemen Kansas Territory November 23, 1854 at the age Castleman, Benjamin Sheriff 1856 1857 January 7, 1863 brought down a good many of them. Deputy of twenty-one, and joined with a small group Curry, T. H. Deputy 1859 KANSAS STATE RECORD Sheriff Hickey, we believe was the most who planned to found a new town on the successful one. Kansas River west of Lawrence. The group that Disbrow, S. G. Deputy 1859 Sheriff Hale has purchased the Topeka House, Hickey joined became the founders of Topeka, Horner, John Sheriff 1855 1856 and will open it on Monday next. He will make Kansas. Maires, Thomas Sheriff 1859 a popular landlord. Previous owner John th Morse, William Deputy 1859 Stewart. Topeka House located at 5 and SNSO Personality James A. Hickey received a founder’s share in Kansas. JAMES A. HICKEY the city of Topeka and lived in residences at Thompson, S. P. Deputy 1859 412 Woodlawn in Potwin Place and later in a Undersheriff 1860-1863 Tyler, Jehial Sheriff 1857 1858 house at 21st and Madison where he died June Deputy 1864-1885 Whitaker, James B. Sheriff 1857 2, 1913. During Hickey’s life in Topeka, he was employed at times as a carpenter, but spent most of his time as a deputy sheriff of Shawnee 1860’s County, serving as Undersheriff under Alonzo H. Hale at the age of twenty-six. Hickey was a 3rd Lieutenant in the First Topeka Infantry and Adams, Franklin Deputy 1864 saw action in the Wakarusa War in defense of Archer, Thomas Jailor 1864 1874 Lawrence in 1855. He was also a combatant when 2700 Missourians attacked Lawrence in Boyce, L. J. Deputy 1860 1861 September 1856. James A. Hickey served as Billings, Tobias Deputy 1863 deputy under several sheriffs. Carter, John Jailor 1868 1869 August 2, 1866 Photo – Kansas State Historical Society Gray, L. M. Deputy 1860 1861 THE TOPEKA WEEKLY LEADER Hale, Alonzo Sheriff 1860 1863 James A. Hickey was born in Ireland October Broke Jail Hickey, James Undersheriff 1860 1863 28, 1833. By 1845, the Potato Famine had Deputy 1868 1869 become severe in Ireland and landowners were responsible for the care of their tenants. The “Twas a calm still night, and the moon shone Deputy 1884 1885 th landowners found that it cost them around $50 bright” – 27 of July – and the calaboose door Shields, Hiram Deputy 1866 1859 Alonzo H. Hale per year to feed one tenant, but for about $25 swang on its hinges; and Charles Gillison, who First elected Shawnee County Sheriff had been sentenced to the penitentiary for Steele, Jim Deputy 1866 1867 they could send a tenant on a ‘coffin ship’ for Photo – Kansas State Historical Society three years, stepped out into the bright Whiting, Charles W. Sheriff 1864 1867 an uncertain arrival in America or Canada and be free of further expense. Hickey’s father, moonlight, and probably needing exercise, Deputy 1859 June 10, 1863 Owen Hickey took James on a ship to America, commenced putting one foot before another as KANSAS STATE RECORD leaving his wife, two sons and a daughter in fast as he could make the muscles play. Mr. Ireland, intending to send for them later. Owen Archer and another gentleman who had the February 11, 1860 Candidates for County Offices prisoner in charge seeing the performance, they THE TOPEKA TRIBUNE Hickey died before the ship reached America, leaving the 12 year-old James penniless and went at it too, and the last we seen of the trio Madame Rumor has it that the following alone among strangers in a strange land. they were doing their purtiest on a race headed Our Sheriff gentlemen are willing to serve the people of toward the timber on the Shunganuga. Archer Shawnee County for two years, if they should James Hickey was able to get employment for drew a revolver and shot twice, but it is Our Sheriff- A.H. Hale, Esq., the successor in be selected as candidates; and get a majority of board and room with various farmers in New presumed that neither shot took effect. the Sheriffality to T.W. Maires, Esq., some votes next November, otherwise, they positively York and Vermont and was able to reach Gillison’s horse was grazing on the east side of weeks ago selected Topeka for his “abiding city” decline. the Shunganunga, and it is supposed that he and that of his family. He is a worthy citizen adulthood with an education from Brandon Seminary. got on the horses back and moved speedily – and an impartial officer, not withstanding he For Sheriff – A. H. Hale, J. A. Hickey, C. C. somewhere. owes his election to Republican votes. We wish Whiting, John Billings 57 he was in a party where his honesty would be 56 56 Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office SNSO 49-64.indd 56 10/8/2005 12:57:59 PM September 30, 1863 In 1854, the New England Emigrant Aid Society KANSAS STATE RECORD paid Hickey’s expenses to Lawrence, Kansas to help make Kansas a state free of slavery, Quite a flock of quails were flying around our sponsored Hickey. Hickey arrived in Lawrence, streets this morning. Our sporting gentlemen Kansas Territory November 23, 1854 at the age brought down a good many of them. Deputy of twenty-one, and joined with a small group Sheriff Hickey, we believe was the most who planned to found a new town on the successful one. Kansas River west of Lawrence. The group that Hickey joined became the founders of Topeka, Kansas. SNSO Personality James A. Hickey received a founder’s share in JAMES A. HICKEY the city of Topeka and lived in residences at 412 Woodlawn in Potwin Place and later in a Undersheriff 1860-1863 house at 21st and Madison where he died June Deputy 1864-1885 2, 1913. During Hickey’s life in Topeka, he was employed at times as a carpenter, but spent most of his time as a deputy sheriff of Shawnee County, serving as Undersheriff under Alonzo H. Hale at the age of twenty-six. Hickey was a 3rd Lieutenant in the First Topeka Infantry and saw action in the Wakarusa War in defense of Lawrence in 1855. He was also a combatant when 2700 Missourians attacked Lawrence in September 1856.
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