From the Lawrence Daily Journal-World for April 20, 1971:

• It was reported today that the Douglas County Historical Society had voted to acquire title to the old Watkins Bank Building, 11th and Massachusetts. The City of Lawrence had recently vacated the old building to move to leased quarters in the new First National Bank office tower at Ninth and Mass. New permissions were needed from the original nine beneficiaries of the Watkins estate, who had already agreed to turn the building over to a non-profit. Rough estimates of remodeling costs had also been discussed, with a price tag ranging from $25,000 to $125,000 mentioned. The renovation would include elevators to increase access to the exhibits. The building recently had been included in the National Registry of Historic Places, possibly making it eligible for federal funds for the remodeling.
• The Carriage Lamp Restaurant, 711 W. 23rd, which had recently closed due to tax liens, had reopened. The cafe and private club had been able to resume operations after the liens had been settled by its owners, J. J. Kieltyka Jr. and D. L. Ebeling.