Tour to feature loft living in Holton

The eighth annual Art Walk will be held Friday, April 26, in Holton’s Historic Courthouse Square.

The Jackson County Arts group invites artists to display their work in buildings around the square and the courthouse. The event will include a juried art show, as well as live music, and is free to the public.

Shops and restaurants around the square will be open late, and a number of vintage bicycles will be on display, which will welcome Bike Across Kansas riders later this summer when they stop in Holton.

New this year, 10 loft living spaces around the square will be open for the public to tour during the art walk with the purchase of a tour ticket. Organizers Joni White and Betsy Gilliland have worked in cooperation with Jackson County Arts and Holton Community Theater to make this event a reality.

“There are 21 loft apartments around the square. Some are for rent, and some are owners’ residences. At least four more are in the planning stages,” White said. “That is a very unique number for a town the size of Holton. People living and investing on the square bring a certain life, vitality and pride to our square that other small towns lack.”

White believes that each of the lofts on the tour this year has its own personality, artistic flair or inspired history to go with it.

Frank and Betsy Gilliland own the two-bedroom loft above The Golden Fleece Fiber Arts shop on the west side of the square. Before its second life as a loft living space, it was a turn-of-the-century opera house.

“Guests will see parts of the history of their building,” White said. “Windows that were built in by the stage, the opera house ticket door, pictures, and other original features.”

The Gilliland residence is a lofty, artistic space that features exposed native limestone and installed skylights, as well as a baby grand piano.

Les and Jan Brandt’s loft, which is located above Red Rooster Crafts and Gifts, will be on the tour this year as well. The public can learn more about how the one-story building became two stories when a second floor was added.

White and her husband, Dennis, also plan to open their loft to the public. The space was originally a bakery and meat market and includes a chandelier from the Senate chambers of the Kansas State Capitol building and a window from the governor’s office, as well as many original features and antique furnishings.

The Whites collect Holton memorabilia, which will be on display along with photos of the loft renovation process and pictures of the building and its residents from the early and mid-1900s.

“We love our loft space, spinning old vinyl on our record player when we stay there,” said White, who also owns a house in Holton. “The square is a community of its own with a heartbeat that keeps our community vibrant.”

The loft tour theme is “Step Up to Support the Arts,” and all proceeds from this year’s tickets sales will benefit the Holton Community Theater, which is raising money to buy a building in Holton for its performances and summer camps.

“My dad performed in community musicals when I was growing up, and I was always so very proud of him,” White said. “I have a heart for the arts.”

In addition to the revenue raised through ticket sales, three Holton restaurants will donate to the Holton Community Theater when diners show their loft tour tickets that evening. Participating restaurants are Boomer’s, Off the Street Grill and Trail’s Café.

“I think that every building owner who has invested their time and money into improving the square is inspirational to all the others,” White said. “Each of us putting in loft apartments is writing a second story for our buildings and for the square. These spaces used to be utilized as residences or second floor businesses, and we have brought that back in many of our buildings.”

Shanna Sloyer is a freelance writer from Topeka. She can be reached at ssloyer@yahoo.com.

HOLTON LOFT TOUR

Tour 10 residential lofts and enjoy a free art walk, juried art show, live music and street performers.

When: 4 to 7 p.m. Friday, April 26

Where: Holton’s Historic Courthouse Square

Cost: Tickets cost $20 the day of the tour or in advance at White Law Office, 120 W. 5th St. in Holton, or by calling (785) 364-7153.