Shawnee North Community Center, Topeka KS

Shawnee North Community Center was a pretty big part of my senior year of highschool, my friends and I hung out there almost every single day our last few summers before college began.  I've always known it to be a very ominous structure, with a haunting feeling about it, but until now I haven't known where those feelings were derived.

My little sister Micaela has recently began a new job as a receptionist at the community center, she is there after school and has has a few experiences of her own, but before I get into that I will review the history of the building.

 

Shawnee North Community Center History

From Poor Farm to County Infirmary to Community Center in over 80 years, the building which now houses the Shawnee North Community Center has a history.

The origin of the building dates back to August 19...18 when Shawnee County voters approved a $50,000 bond issue to build a county home and hospital on 119 acres on Indian Creek. Construction was completed in 1920.
When residents of the Poor Farm moved into the completed building, they enjoyed examples of modern conveniences that few of the surrounding farms enjoyed such as electric light plant, water and sewage system, steam heat, a modern kitchen and dining room and an all-stone and concrete construction. The Poor Farm was closed in 1941. In 1942, the County Poor farm became the County Infirmary, essentially becoming a nursing home for the aged indigent. Many poor farms statewide were converted into small care institutions and then they were phased out in favor of direct nursing home placement. The Shawnee County Infirmary was staffed with LPN’s and nurses until it finally closed in 1974. In 1975, the building was converted into a community center. Presently, the Shawnee North Community Center is host to many classes and special events. The community center currently houses a center director, 3 recreation programmers, 2 recreation leaders, 3 preschool teachers and our athletics office.

 

As we all know, there have been many hauntings reported across the country in previous poor farms and Infirmary's.  The conditions were not ideal for the patients due to overcrowding and lack of resources, many individuals died in these facilities and many of their bodies were not claimed by family.  Because of this, there are many unmarked graves outside of these buildings, which is very unfortunate and seems to cause a lot of activity in the vicinity. 

 

Unfortunately, I have not gotten the opportunity to investigate this particular building on my own, but plan to in the near future during my next visit to Kansas.

 

Now, back to Micaela's experiences.  It seems as though both of my sisters, as well as myself have a knack for sensing paranormal energy.  We are all familiar with the usual claims of cold spots, feeling watched, seeing a shadow out of the corner of our eye, as well as hearing unusual sounds.  Lindsay even claims that she can smell a haunting :) Recently I believe Micaela has been sensing these almost every night she has been working at Shawnee North.  She has described feeling cold spots as well as having a shadow-like apparition follow her up the stairway. (I have posted a photo of the stairway).  She has also told me of an old coal room located in the building, which she has heard strange scratching noises resonating from.  I have posted photos of both the coal room, as well as the outside of the building, and will post more later. 

 

If anyone else has had any experiences in this building I would love to hear from you!  I can't wait to investigate!!