'Castle on the Kaw' for sale at $888,000 in Topeka

TOPEKA (KSNT) - A home packed with history, modern amenities and a fortress-like look is up for grabs in Topeka's Oakland neighborhood this year.

27 News got in touch with Coldwell Banker American Home this week to learn more about a unique home for sale in Topeka. The house, located at 1400 Northeast Sardou Avenue, is on the market for $888,000.

Real estate agents with Coldwell, Dee Anderson and Annette Harper, explained what is so special about the home and what some of its best features are. The pair said the kitchen area is especially impressive with labradorite countertops and an expansive pantry.

"The kitchen is to die for," Harper said.

The two-story home has five bedrooms, three bathrooms, nearly 5,500 square feet of space and a backyard comprising just over two acres of land. It also has a wood-burning fireplace in the basement and an electric fireplace on the main floor. Anderson and Harper said the current owners invested heavily into upgrading the home and giving it a modern feel inside.

"The bathrooms are high, high end," Harper said. "On the main floors the showers are huge."

Anderson said the home was constructed out of native limestone by Gilbert Billard sometime in the late 1850's. She said he was exiled from France and eventually found a new place to call home in Topeka. Anderson said Gilbert used local stones to build the home.

Gilbert's grandson, Philip Billard, later gained local fame and notoriety. A nearby park and airport in Oakland are named after Philip who was an early military aviator in World War One, according to the Metropolitan Topeka Airport Authority (MTAA). He died in 1918 after a deadly crash landing.

Anderson said that many different stories came up during research on the home. She said the house may have served as a stop on the Underground Railroad due to its close proximity to the Kansas River and that it once served as a speakeasy during the prohibition era.

"It's got the history but it's got the comforts of modern-day living," Anderson said. "I mean, it's luxurious."

Harper and Anderson said the home has gained some titles over the years such as the Billard Chateau. The current owners, who are moving out of state, refer to the house as the "Castle on the Kaw" due to its exterior appearance.

"It looks like a fort with a four-car garage," Anderson said. "It just 'wows' you."

You can view the property listing and learn more about the home online by clicking here. You can contact Coldwell Banker American Home at 785-267-2700. Photos of the home were taken by Eddy Van Vleet with First Showing Photography.

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