Fletcher-Switzer House, Washington & Second Streets, Nicodemus, Graham County, KS

See HABS No. KS-49 for list of structures that are contributing to the historic district & fieldnotes.
Significance: The Fletcher-Switzer site was an important focus of activity on the Nicodemus town-site. The existing house and outbuildings are remnants of a complex with historic origins and functions. The house is one of the few remaining examples of early residential architecture left on the town-site. The first owner of the site was Z.T. Fletcher who was secretary of the colony which arrived in Nicodemus in July 1877. He and his wife lived in a dugout on the northwest corner of Block 12; Lot 12. There he opened a post office and she ran a school. In 1880, Fletcher built the St. Francis Hotel on Lot 10 and a livery stable on Lots 13 and 14. A limestone structure was eventually built around the dugout where they continued the post office until 1886 and ran an emporium while living in a residence on Block 14. After rail service failed to materialize, he sold his town lots to the original promoter, W.R. Hill, but continued to run the businesses. The site reverted to Graham County for a time but was bought back into the family in the 1920's by Fred Switzer, a great nephew raised by the Fletchers. When Switzer married Ora Wellington in 1921 they made the hotel their home. He farmed in the township and she ran a restaurant in the residence and later rented out the bunk house.
Unprocessed Field note material exists for this structure: FN-6
Survey number: HABS KS-49-G
Building/structure dates: 1880 Initial Construction
Building/structure dates: ca. 1921 Subsequent Work
National Register of Historic Places NRIS Number: 76000820