The Woodward

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The Woodward

ou'll certainly enjoy your stay at The Woodward -- a castle-like large chateau built in the early 1920s in replica of historic English buildings. The open 2 1/2 story library in this home is designed after the King Henry VIII Library at Hampton Hall in London. with imported timbers and stones from England. The Woodward is used often for wedding chapel services (holding up to 160 inside), wedding receptions (for up to 250 inside, 500 inside/outside), dinners (fully served for up to 66 in one room) as well as lodging, business conferences, and retreats. See the Special Offerings link above. The home is smoke-free although there are nice gardens and porches for our smoking guests. In the morning you will enjoy a full homemade breakfast. (Chocolate for breakfast is our specialty!) Other specialties that you will want to inquire about are: Murder Mystery Dinners, brunches, and The Woodward Tea Club. Make The Woodward your home away from home!

Most photographs courtesy of Colleen Logan Photography. Some photographs courtesy of The Woodward.

A Brief History of “Topeka’s Most Artistic Home”, The Woodward

The Woodward was built in 1923 for Chester Woodward and his wife Frederica. After traveling the world, Chester Woodward wanted his last grand estate to be as authentically English as he could make it. He imported the timbers and the large stones from England and designed his large Library after the Sir Walter Scott Library in Abbotsford, Scotland. The main feature of the home, according to Mr. Woodward, is the open two and one-half story Library which housed his 6,000-book collection. A safe in the back corner of the Library was used for his rarest books and prized collection pieces such as a first edition copy of A Midsommer Night’s Dream printed in 1623, a leaf from a Gutenberg Bible, the first book ever printed from moveable type. Also special to Mr. Woodward was an ink well used by Charles Dickens.

The Library was built to be 26’x52’ and would host a walk-along gallery on two sides of the second story whereby the family could display and view their fine art. The slanted ceilings of the Library are approximately 20’high and were covered in a new materials called “Celetex” similar to the modern material sheetrock. Hand-hewn timbers support the upper levels of the Library and are also used for decoration on the inside and outside of the home. The Library is adorned with mythical symbols similar to the zodiac around the perimeter and in the stonage of the large fireplace. Many other features of the Library include family crests, the historic paintings depicting the Tudor age of King Henry VIII.

To Mr. Woodward, the rest of the house belonged to Frederica. She had a sitting room on the second floor just at the top of the bi-directional stairway. In her day, she could overlook what was then Central Park from her sitting room. She dedicated the hand carved tile fireplace to the families who developed The Chisholm Trail as it is designed with covered wagons in subtle shades of teal and cream.

Mrs. Woodward also loved to entertain and did so even during the thirty years after the death of Mr. Woodward in 1941. At the age of 90, Mrs. Woodward died in the family home on August 6, 1971.

Upon settling of the family estate, the Woodward home was sold to the family dentist who never lived in the home. It then was sold to the Menninger Clinic which used it for patient care for about 19 years. In about 1991, the home was sold to Midland Hospice who used it for patient care and administration. In 1994, I bought the home at a time when it was in considerable need of exterior and interior renovation. After eight years of diligent attention, today – the year 2002 – the house is once again in its premier state of elegance with the exterior structure repaired to withstand another 80 years and with its interior inviting and warm to those who share their nights and celebrations in the home of Chester Woodward, now my home and home to all those who share its blessing.

Rooms at The Woodward
The Woodward Inns on Filmore are all equipped with Wireless Internet for guest convenience.

The Library The Library is a replica of The King Henry VII Library in London and the Sir Walter Scott Library at Abbotsford, Scotland. It is supported by hand hewn timbers imported from England. It features stained glass windows floor-to-ceiling on the front and back walls with library shelves made of imported old English Brown Oak on all other walls. A safe sits tucked into the back corner where Chester Woodward would keep his beloved rare books and prized possessions. A small circular stairway enabled Mr. Woodward to access his gallery above. A five-foot fireplace with a remote control switch allows the guests to be cozy and warm. The Library also features a large TV with VCR/DVD with great surround sound. The Chester Woodward Library was one of only four private prominent libraries in Kansas in its day. It held a 6,000-book collection. Today The Library can serve as a Chapel for up to 100 people seated plus 60 more standing in the Gallery above. For a sit down meal, The Library is full and comfortable up to 72 guests. For a reception and dance, the house with activities focused around The Library is full at 250 in poor weather or inside/outside 500. The Library is often used as well for a resort-style conference location either in conference style up to about 45, casual style (up to about 60), or theatre style (up to about 75). When the home is used more relaxed in style for Quiet Bed & Breakfast, The Library becomes a wonderful room in which to enjoy a roaring fire, a movie with theatre surround sound or just quiet, intimately lit massage/spa services.

The Dining Room The Dining Room features the original oak table made for the room and the two original buffet tables which were built for, but not built into, the Dining Room. Additional leaded glass windows open onto the front patio's fountain area. The original plaster ceiling is greatly detailed in its multi-level design. Today the Dining Room is used as seating for the evening dessert served to sleeping guest and for morning breakfast. For parties, the Dining Room is used for the main buffet table for meals or hors'douerve service. French doors with leaded glass lead from the Dining Room onto what is now Elizabeth's office but was once a screened in sun porch.

The Living Room The main feature of the home's original Living Room is the massive front door in solid Olde English Brown Oak. It has black iron hammered hardware. The chandeliers in the Living Room are also original and quite unique with one having posed sculpted men adorning the top edges and the tudor rose symbol of King Henry VIII along the lower curvature. Large stones were imported from England for molding into the bay windows and leaded glass encompasses the functional crank-style window opening. Today, the Living Room also features the joyous sound of the player baby grand piano and more of the cobalt blue glass collection. Comfort in the Living Room includes a scrunchy red velvet oversized sofa and matching red leather high-back swivel studded chairs.

The Chester Suite - with Private Roof-top Hottub Deck The Chester is The Woodward’s premier King sized room and is decorated in rich Ralph Lauren hues of olive, taupe, burgundy and navy with walls lined in political memorabilia left over from my days as the owner of the first woman-owned lobbying firm which I started in 1980 . The Chester has a King-sized leather and cherry sleigh bed with cotton and velvet clothes and a fabulous overstuffed leather comfortable large sofa and leather shag rugs. The new Chester Roof-top Hottub Deck is 20x40 feet, carpeted and furnished with canopied two-person oval hottub, canopied large daybed, loveseat, comfy chairs, firepit, wooden cooler, lots of landscaping, little lights and plenty of privacy. The Chester’s bathroom is done in chocolate and terra glazing with tub and shower. The Chester Suite also offers electric cherry fireplace with remote, mounted TV/DVD and CD stereo. Rates beginning at $150 for weekday business travel; $245 for personal travel.

The Queen's Chamber Available beginning October 10th, The Queen's Chamber is the largest of The Woodward rooms and offers the most privacy. Located on the mansion's third floor, it boasts a king-sized mahogany four-poster, cloth-canopied platform bed situated in the middle of the room. The Queen's Chamber is decorated in eggplant, copper and gold with luxurious linens and sheepsking rugs. It also features an electric fireplace, oversized leather reclining sofa, stuffed copper taffeta chair, and a jetted battub for one in the bedroom. The Queen's Chamber also has a separate bathroom with a shower and other standard fixtures. The Queen's Chamber has immediate access to the Caribbean Pool Garden (open and heated all year). The Queen's Chamber has a rate of $245 for business or personal travel.

The Master The Master is the home’s original master bedroom and features a King sized Mahogany bed with four posters and a canopy. It is highly carved and sits high off the ground (much like the story of The Princess and The Pea) with a matching desk. Other furnishings in The Master also include a soft loveseat built for two and a comfy Chaise with ottoman. The Master is done in hues of burgundy and cream and has a TV/VCR as well as a Bose Stereo/CD sound system and a beautiful mahogany fireplace to with fur-covered floor pillows to snuggle during the chilly evenings. The Master also overlooks the front fountain, so cool weather evenings allow you to enjoy the sounds of the water below. The bathroom for The Master features original imported European Tile and has a large easy-access shower along with other luxurious amenities. Rates starting at $125 for weekday business travel; $195 for personal travel.

The Chisholm The Chisholm is popular for its original tiled fireplace which is automatic and gas. The tile depicts the Chisholm Trail which Fredericka Woodward's family helped pioneer. The new Chisholm bed is highly carved mahogany, high off-the-ground with a tall half-canopy. The dressing of the room is dark teal, gunflint and chestnut brown with a cozy leather rug in front of the fire. Also popular about The Chisholm is the two-person claw-foot slipper tub which is six feet in length, custom made to match the color of the room (gunflint) with bronze claw feet and bronze faucets. The slipper tub sits between the front bay window and the bed with the fireplace at the tip of the slipper tub. The small Chisholm bathroom features standard amenities in rich sueded paint and bronze fixtures. Rates begin at $105 for weekday business travel; $175 for personal travel.

The Sisters The Sisters is known for its king-sized iron bed painted in dark teal with lion's heads, half-canopied overhead. It has colors of teal, white and pink. The Sisters is very popular because of the custom designed pink and white champagne (jetted) slipper tub in the bedroom between the fireplace and the bed. While the tub is big enough for two, some would consider it a large one-person tub. The Sisters is named for my sister, Mary Kai. Her picture adorns the room along with other sibling pictures. Other furnishings in The Sisters include an electric fireplace, an overstuffed pink satin chair and an ottoman. The Sisters features a custom-made two-person jetted slipper tub with claw feet in the bedroom. In addition to the tub in the bedroom, a full bath is one step into the hall and has a large, easy-access shower among other amenities. The Sisters offers TV/VCR and a CD Stereo system. Rates begin at $115 for weekday business travel; $145 for personal travel.
Special Features, Policies and Rates Wireless Internet provided for guest convenience. Adapters available if needed. Large guest rooms with private baths and in-room television Private whirlpool deck available Large English Library with fireplace Large meeting areas include chapel style (160 capacity) and reception style (250 capacity), and conferences (up to 75 theatre-style) Lap Pool available year-round, outside, heated to 91 degrees. Spa Services including Massage Therapy done late at night (after meetings, dinner, etc.) in the King Henry VIII Library. Also Pool-side Massage and other packages. Business services available upon request: Fax, copier, computer, wireless internet Homemade evening dessert and homemade breakfast provided Private dinner meals are sometimes available Private party facilities available for small to large gatherings Appropriate for well-behaved children if full house rental Located in Historic Holliday Park Near downtown, State Capitol, business district, Washburn University, Expo Center Close to the city's Bike/Hike Trail Reservations: 888-321-9407 (outside Topeka) or 785-354-7111 / FAX 785-354-4166 Price range: $105 to $245 Payment: Checks, cash, Mastercard, Visa, American Express Cancellation: Any party or lodging deposits will be fully refunded if and when the reservation rebooks to another party or guest. Check-in: 4-6 pm or by appointment Check-out: 10:30am or noon, depending on house party schedule Anniversary, wedding and other special occasion packages available Gift certificates available.