I love old homes that have been turned into museums. So when I read about the Harvey M. Vaile Mansion in Independence, I knew it had to be part of one of our local excursions. When I discovered it, the mansion was not open to the public. It is only open from April 1 through October 31 on Thursdays through Sunday for regular tours, although it does have a holiday season in December.
We planned our visit to the Vaile Mansion for May and took a short trip over to Independence to check it out. It was worth the trip! The mansion is lovely. It was built in 1881, the mansion has 31 rooms. But what surprised me is that only two of the rooms were bedrooms! There were not many people who lived there, but they had plenty of places to use to stay away from each other!! The brick hoe also has nine lovely marble fireplaces of different colors. Important to keep warm with in the 1880s.
The house was designed by a local Kansas City architect, Asa Beebe Cross. It was the height of modern technology for its time. It has flushing toilets, fueled by a 6000-gallon water tank. Copper bathtubs were installed in the bathrooms. The room where the tank was later used as an informal dining area. The kitchen had hot and cold water!!!
Unfortunately, Harvey Vaile and his wife, Sophia, did not enjoy the mansion for long. Sophia, who had stomach cancer, died in 1883. Vaile continued to live there, but he died in 1894. They did not have any children. But Harvey Vaile did have nieces and nephews that contested his will which led to a legal battle and their being unable to pay the attorney, who then acquired the mansion!
Over the years it was used as a sanatorium and a nursing home and owned by the attorney Carey May Carroll. After she died and it was to be demolished a local couple, Roger and Mary Mildred DeWitt, purchased the mansion and began making repairs and restoring it. Mrs. DeWitt donated it to the City of Independence in 1983.
I loved it. The building looks like a mansion should look. It has a gothic air of mystery! In fact, my husband commented that it looked a lot like the house in a lithograph I have made by a local artist (Randal Spangler, see link below.) about a spooky Halloween house! We are sure it is the inspiration! In fact, in October they do hold Spooky Tours, and supposedly the house has a resident ghost!
I loved the massive wooden entrance door, and the beautiful leaded glass throughout the house. The staircase that goes up three stories and ends in a skylight at the top is wonderful. All the carved wood bookcases and cabinets, along with the painted ceilings, which were part of the original house, makes it truly a gem. The bathrooms, with the cooper tubs and toilets are so unusual for the time! Colonel Vaile was forward thinking!
The furniture is all from the period, but none of it was original to the house. But there are many lovely pieces included an organ, piano and music box. Throughout the house there are little pieces of history to experience. The best part is that a docent takes you on a tour of the house to point out special objects and to answer questions.
The grounds of the house are also lovely. In early spring a Strawberry Festival is held there. Local couples can rent the house and its grounds for weddings. It would be a great place to be married.
In all you just need about an hour or so to go through the house. The day we went we were the only people at that time. As we were leaving more guests were arriving. It is very close to the Independence Square, so we headed over to complete our day by eating lunch at the Court House Exchange.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vaile_Mansion
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asa_Beebe_Cross
Trick or Treat House: https://www.randalspangler.com/store-2-1/p/sanctuary-of-knowledge-tplyf-j8pyx-mmn56-8et9k-k4tkm-cshzd-b6res-r9t4e-3fes4-23a3n-59ghm
zicharonot 
So what were all those other rooms used for if not as bedrooms?
It sounds like it was worth the trip to Independence!
There was an office, a sitting room, a smoking room, a parlour, a cooking kitchen and a warming kitchen, a formal dining room and an informal dining room, a sitting room to each bedroom, a sewing room, a music room. And more. It was worth it. A day in independence would include the Truman Library and home which both are close to this mansion.
Wow! A room for every function most of us do in one or two rooms!
Exactly! Men and women were separate. Also “the help” were separated. But there were 2 bathrooms one for each bedroom!