Ness County Bank building
My first jobs in high school and through college were mostly related to historic preservation. Thanks in part to that, I have a great appreciated for historic architecture and those who work to keep these structures standing.
I guess you could say I “collect” old buildings in that I always strive to document good examples as I travel the state. One of my all-time favorites is the Ness County Bank building in Ness City. Known locally as the “Skyscraper of the Plains,” I think this has to be one of the best preserved exteriors of a nineteenth century Kansas building. It is nearly unchanged in appearance, with the exception of a missing second tower roof, which was apparently lost to a wind storm. Even that was handled gracefully and the current building looks no less impressive for its loss.