Richard Howe House & Farmstead
Introduction
Text-to-speech Audio
Operated by the Lyon County Historical Society as a house museum, this home is one of the oldest in Emporia. The home was built in 1867 by Richard Howe, a Welsh immigrant. Howe was also a skilled stone mason, as demonstrated by the structural integrity of the home which has changed little since its completion. Visitors to the home can see why the home was so sturdy with its solid beams and 18-inch limestone foundation. Visitors can also see antique furnishings from the 19th century and learn how some of the earliest settlers to the region lived their lives through exhibits and guided tours.
Images
The home was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1986.
Backstory and Context
Text-to-speech Audio
In 2013, researchers from the historical society and Emporia State University produced a documentary about the home and its inhabitants. Sarah and Richard Howe were the first Welsh settlers to the area. Their success inspired others, giving rise to a small but significant Welsh population in Emporia by the 1870s that included a Welsh church that served as the center of the community.