Built by farmer O.W. Francis in 1909, this lovely home on the outskirts of town, stands out with its turret tower, wraparound and pillared porch, Palladian windows, and patterned siding and gables. (NRHP)

The story goes that an early-1900s coffee shop wager started a contest on who could build the fanciest and biggest house. Locals claim that the winner was the O.W. Francis home, 2264 KS-128 and the 1909 Wellman House, 242 South, was a viable competitor. Although additional contestants are no longer known, other large, decorative turn-of-the-century homes in the area might well have been contenders. Drive by only.