When the former Topeka Woman’s Club building went up for auction in 2020, two sisters saw a diamond in the rough. Courtney Stemler and Shelby Irick, along with their husbands Chris Stemler and Nic Irick, decided to take a chance on the property. At the time, the building was covered by carpet, broken up with drywall and full of cubicles. Underneath the clutter and behind the drop ceilings, there were original light fixtures, white oak floors, intricate plasterwork, colorful stained glass and so much more.

With respect to Topeka history and some help from Falk Architects and Senne Company, the new owners are working hard to restore this architectural gem. That way, Topeka can party like it’s 1924 in 2022.