Black Jack Battlefield (Pearson Farmhouse)
Wellsville, KS (2012, 2024)
163 E 2000 Rd
Black Jack Battlefield is a historical battlefield and nature park in Douglas County. It marks the location of the 1856 Battle of Black Jack, where abolitionist John Brown and his Free State militia defeated a pro-slavery force in what many historians consider the first battle of the Civil War. Black Jack’s rehabilitation mission was simple: to share the story of America’s first battle of the Civil War, restore the site’s tallgrass prairie ecosystem and retell the story of the national agricultural heritage.
Hernly assisted with site restoration and the National Historic Landmark nomination. The first step was rehabilitating the historic Pearson Farmhouse while maintaining its historical integrity. The two-story National Folk house received a new sawn shingle roof, modern crown molding, and updated windows. Generally, the interior plan stayed intact. To enhance openness, the door from the front parlor was removed. Plywood paneling was installed on the walls and vinyl flooring replaced older materials. The ceiling was replaced and new ceiling fans were added to both front rooms. Additional site improvements included new restrooms with a covered picnic area, featuring a fiber cement panel exterior covered in cedar and a standing seam metal roof.
The battlefield was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2004. Hernly assisted with the National Historic Landmark nomination in 2012. Open year-round from dawn to dusk, the park offers guided and self-guided battlefield tours.
