fire station no. 4

Drive by this beautiful 1858-built stone building at 2819 Stonebarn Terrace if you like early Kansas history. The building was originally a barn on abolitionists Joel and Emily Grover's farm during the territorial Kansas period. It was an important "station" on the Underground Railroad where fugitive slaves from Missouri and elsewhere were sheltered on their trip north.Here the notable abolitionist, John Brown and his men came in January of 1859 on his last trip through Kansas bringing 11 slaves they rescued from Missouri and a free-born baby.The Grover barn was modified in the 1970s and later used as an artist studio and still later as Fire Station #4. Today it is no longer a Fire station but continues to be owned by the City of Lawrence. The building is NOT open to the public but it is worth driving by for those interested in early-day Kansas history or architecture. This is one of only two former Underground Railroad stations still standing within the city limits of Lawrence.