Topeka Aviation History---the Meisingers

The Meisinger Mansion at 5 way intersection of Westover, 15th and Stratford is one of the legends of the city. According to he historic resources inventory at KSHS, the Gatsbyesque manison was built "According to the owner, construction of the home began with John Morrel, a meat packing industry executive. It is unclear if this individual was associated with the John Morrell & Co meat packing plant in Topeka. Morrel died before the home was completed and its construction was resumed by Daniel L. Meisinger (1915-1997), who was Morrel’s former private pilot. In 1940, Meisinger married Morrel’s widow, Pauline Connelly (1917-1996). The home was completed the prior year, in 1939. Meisinger was born in Naperville, IL, attended the Dallas Aviation School, and briefly traveled the country as a barnstormer and flight instructor. He established the Topeka Aircraft Company in 1938 at Billard Airport in Topeka. In 1945, Meisinger began a 60-year career as an executive at Beechcraft Aviation. Meisinger maintained this residence in Topeka until his death in 1997, when it was sold to his son, John “Jack” D. Meisinger (1944-2019), who maintained the home until his death." Legend always had it that there was airfield/stip in back. But I have never found solid documentation of it. I doubt that I can say it better, but here are the listings on Dan Meisingers from the National Air and Space Musuem. https://airandspace.si.edu/support/wall-of-honor/daniel-l-meisinger-sr and on Jack Meisinger https://airandspace.si.edu/support/wall-of-honor/jack-arthur-meisinger Remembering the Meisingers--" I remember seeing Dan Meisinger at Billard in the 1950s. Thrilling. All of it. He offered charter flights, I do believe. When I saw him at Billard, I was a child. My mother pointed him out, saying, "See that man carrying that other man's bag to the plane? That's the richest man in town." Her point was that she admired him for humbling himself to give full service when he was hired for a job. It was a life lesson for me that a job well done matters more than rank, status, or privilege."