It was at the place where the White Rock Creek met up with the Burr Oak Creek, in the western part of the White Rock Valley, that A.J. and Sarah Godfrey decided to settle in 1870. The valley land was fertile and the timber and water supplies were plentiful. Jewell County was growing fast and thanks to the Homestead Act of 1862, settlers were arriving every day. By 1871, the new settlement had its first store, owned and operated by John Faidley. The post office was started and the settlement needed a name, so the first post master, John McCormick, named the town after the strong rooted Burr Oak trees that grew along the creeks, as well as for the name of one of the creeks that ran through the settlement.
The town grew and in 1880, when the Missouri Pacific Train Line arrived the town grew even faster. During its boomyears the town was close to 1000 in population. Several people have commented that no matter which direction they came into Burr Oak, the sight of the White Rock Valley is beautiful. Nestled among the trees, the many Victorian white houses, grain elevator, and water tower stand out as a welcome mat. To the east of town the white bluffs of limestone rock stand out in contrast to the lush green grasses of the prairie, with some of the limestone hills taking on the forms of mushrooms.
Many of the historical business buildings are still in use. One of the most well known is the brick, two story building that was built in 1905 and served as White Hardware Company. This business was well known all over the northern part of Kansas for its windmills, horse drawn machinery, water supply tanks etc. The buggies and wagons were kept up on the upper story of the building and were taken up on an elevator. Another building is a native limestone two story building that was a general store and later a drug store. The large, unique three-story native limestone school house is still in use as the town's library and museum that includes a restored classroom of the school house era. The schoolhouse was built in 1899 with the limestone rocks being hand cut. It includes an open oak staircase and many of its Victorian features can still be seen.
Burr Oak still has many of its large Victorian and post-Victorian houses. Local history tells of a house war during the early 1900's when many of the prominent citizens decided to build their houses and each one tried to out-do the other, creating at least 13 of these elegant houses than can still be seen today. Many of these houses have turrets, stained glass windows, open staircases, columned porches and sun rooms.
The Burr Oak Museum was recently restored for the town's 125th birthday. It showcases many items from the town's past. It also has a restored classroom of past school days. The Museum is located in the native limestone school house and can be seen by appointment or during holiday times. Contact Burr Oak Library, Burr Oak, KS 66936.
The Burr Oak Library has moved and is now in the Rock Hills Middle School and is open to the public (look for the entrance sign).
Doctors and hospitals are located as close as 15 miles.
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Or visit one of the other Jewell County CommunitiesThis Web Page last updated September 3, 2007