National and State Registers of Historic Places
Reiff Building
513 Main St.
Dorrance (Russell County)
Listed in National Register
2007-03-15
Architect: Not listed
Category: museum; recreational district
Thematic Nomination: Historic Theaters and Opera Houses of Kansas
The Reiff Building is not only important for its social, civic, and cultural history, but also because it retains its architectural integrity as an early 20th century commercial style building. In 1910, Harvey Anspaugh purchased three lots in downtown Dorrance. With the assistance of his brother Hiram, they began the design and construction of the two-story limestone building, which would serve both commercial and entertainment functions. A.C. Reiff, who operated a farm supply business out of the building until World War II, purchased the property from Anspaugh soon after its construction. It now houses the collections and displays of the Dorrance Historical Society Museum. Reflective of many late nineteenth and early twentieth century opera houses across Kansas, the Reiff Building featured an opera house on the second floor of a commercial building in the heart of a downtown.
