"The History of the Pilla House" (Eudora, Kansas)

The Pilla House, at 615 Elm Street in Eudora, Kansas, is an enduring Eudora Area landmark. The Pilla House was built by Charles Pilla in 1894. Charles Pilla, a German immigrant, was one of Eudora's leading residents, and a very successful businessman. Charles Pilla owned and operated the successful Pilla Department Store at 701 Main Street in Eudora. The Pilla House features many of its original historical features, and has been lovingly rehabilitated and preserved by its current owners, Sue and Monte Pearson. The Pilla House, which is on the National Register of Historical Places, is one of the most beloved and celebrated historical buildings in the Eudora Area. This short film features a biography of Charles Pilla, and the complete history of the Pilla House. This short film addresses the topic of the supposed tunnels that connect the Pilla House to other buildings in downtown Eudora (If tunnels do indeed connect the Pilla House to other buildings, they were likely built as utility tunnels for gas pipes). This short film features an interview with the current owners of the house (Sue and Monte Pearson), a guided tour of the interior of the house, and a Q & A session with the film's creator (Ben Terwilliger) and Sue and Monte Pearson.