About the Historical Dr. Frank R. Burroughs Home
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Dr. Frank R. Burroughs was one of Ritzville's first physicians; he practiced
here from 1889 to 1925. Town lore has it that Dr. Burroughs was simply
passing through Ritzville by train in 1888 when a local medical emergency
required him to detrain here. The story goes that the doctor liked what he
saw so much that he never got back on that train.
In his nearly 40 years of practice in Ritzville, Dr. Burroughs delivered about five thousand babies. He was quite active in community affairs, serving at times as mayor and as postmaster, as well as on the city council and the library board. His immediate family line ended with the death of his only child in 1923; a nephew bequeathed the doctor's house to the city of Ritzville in 1962. The house was placed on the United States National Register of Historic Places in 1975; in 1987-88, it was extensively and lovingly refurbished by local volunteers, and opened as the Burroughs Museum. 
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Begun in 1889, the Burroughs home was completed in 1890, then enlarged and
remodeled in 1902, when electricity came to Ritzville.
Dr. Burroughs, his wife Julia, and their daughter Ellen lived in the home during his career. The house survives today with few alterations and with much of the original wallpaper, floor coverings, and furnishings intact. |
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The house was designed in an unusual hybrid style. The remodel in 1902
enlarged the basic structure and added walk-in closets, an enlarged kitchen,
and the Italian beam in the parlor.
The front entry shows off the beautiful wallpaper hung in 1902; the parlor has one of several wood stoves, plus some of the original 13 of the wooden rockers owned by the family. The dining room and most other rooms have the original light fixtures. Dr. Burroughs' study contains his medical instruments and records, plus his camera collection and personal possessions. This room also has the original wallpaper. |
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The historic-home museum can be seen at any reasonable hour by appointment, often (but not invariably!) on short notice. To set an appointment, please call the historic-home museum at (509) 659-1656, or--if there's no answer and it's during business hours--the Ritzville Chamber of Commerce at (509) 659-1936. The museum is owned and operated by an incorporated, IRS-certified non-profit volunteer organization. There is no formal admission charge, but these donations are suggested: $3.00 for adults ($2.00 for seniors), and $1.00 for children; but no donation is expected from scheduled visits of school groups. Donations (which are tax-deductible) above those amounts are always welcome and deeply appreciated. |
