Olathe in Johnson County, Kansas — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
There's No Roost Like Home
Our reproduction chicken coop is based on an original coop built in Missouri in the mid-1800s. The sloped gabled-ends provide a perfect place for the chickens to roost, and the doors underneath make it easy to clean out the building.
The horizontal board running below the fence pickets is a typical feature of picket fences in the nineteenth century. Picket fences were not just for decoration - they kept small animals in, or out, of places they should or should not be. Only a system like this could hope to keep chickens, geese, piglets, and other determined, small animals where they belonged.
Like most of the animals on site, our Dominique chickens are of a historic breed appropriate for the 1860s.
The Dominique is the best fowl of common stock that we have, and is the only common fowl in the country that has enough distinct characteristics to entitle it to a name. These fowl are full medium in size, being but a little less in weight than the Dorking, have full breasts, roundish plumb bodies, double or single combs, and yellow legs. Their main plumage has a light gray ground color, while each feather is barred crosswise with a darker shade. They are frequently known by the name of "hawk-colored fowls." They are hardy, easily raised, retain their peculiarities with great tenacity, have yellow skins, a color preferred by many for a market fowl; and taking these fowls all in all, they are one of the best varieties for common use.
United States Department of Agriculture annual report for 1862
Erected by City of Olathe.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Animals • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1862.
Location. 38° 53.535′ N, 94° 48.064′ W. Marker is in Olathe, Kansas, in Johnson County. Marker is about 80 feet north of the Mahaffie homestead at the Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop and Farm. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1200 Kansas City Road, Olathe KS 66061, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Up In Smoke (a few steps from this marker); Fast Food (within shouting distance of this marker); Pit Stop (within shouting distance of this marker); Stagecoach Drivers (within shouting distance of this marker); Home Sweet Home (within shouting distance of this marker); State Your Business... (within shouting distance of this marker); Westward Ho! (within shouting distance of this marker); A Survivor (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Olathe.
Also see . . .
1. Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop and Farm. (Submitted on August 15, 2010, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
2. National Agricultural Center and Hall of Fame. (Submitted on August 15, 2010, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
Credits. This page was last revised on January 7, 2022. It was originally submitted on August 15, 2010, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 654 times since then and 3 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on August 15, 2010, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.