Long ago on independence square (Kansas City, Center: retail, channel, distribution)

[MRG Dallas]

Originally Posted by SilverDoc

Taken in 1912




Taken in 2012

"What a difference a century makes . . . 876,000 little hours"

[Mad Anthonie]

WOW! 400 pages. Thanks Sally, for starting something great!

[WCHS'59]

Originally Posted by MRG Dallas

"What a difference a century makes . . . 876,000 little hours"

MRG, any indication of what might be on the second and third floor of the Masonic/Eagle building?

[MRG Dallas]

Originally Posted by WCHS'59

MRG, any indication of what might be on the second and third floor of the Masonic/Eagle building?

The Masonic building was the only listing for that address in 1932. Are you thinking of a more recent time, say 1960 which is the last year I have access to?


EDIT: 1960 Eagles Hall, 124 S. Main
City: Collector, Engineer, License Inspector, Motor Fuel Dept.
FOE: Indep. Arie No. 385 and Aux.
IOOF: Chosen Friends Lodge No. 21
Daughters of Rebecca: Rosebud Lodge No. 357, Sterling Lodge No. 625, Mt. Wash Lodge
Townsend Club No. 5

[WCHS'59]

Originally Posted by MRG Dallas

The Masonic building was the only listing for that address in 1932. Are you thinking of a more recent time, say 1960 which is the last year I have access to?

I was actually wondering whether those are apartments up there or are used for a business. Perhaps I was thinking of nowadays, not sure.

[MRG Dallas]

Originally Posted by WCHS'59

I was actually wondering whether those are apartments up there or are used for a business. Perhaps I was thinking of nowadays, not sure.

Great minds must have crossed in the emails:


EDIT: 1960 Eagles Hall, 124 S. Main

City: Collector, Engineer, License Inspector, Motor Fuel Dept.

FOE: Indep. Arie No. 385 and Aux.

IOOF: Chosen Friends Lodge No. 21

Daughters of Rebecca: Rosebud Lodge No. 357, Sterling Lodge No. 625, Mt. Wash Lodge

Townsend Club No. 5

[WCHS'59]

Originally Posted by MRG Dallas

Great minds must have crossed in the emails:


EDIT: 1960 Eagles Hall, 124 S. Main

City: Collector, Engineer, License Inspector, Motor Fuel Dept.

FOE: Indep. Arie No. 385 and Aux.

IOOF: Chosen Friends Lodge No. 21

Daughters of Rebecca: Rosebud Lodge No. 357, Sterling Lodge No. 625, Mt. Wash Lodge

Townsend Club No. 5

I'll be darned. I did not know they had overflow from City Hall in there.

[WCHS'59]

Center of photo to left of flag: that white bow window with two window panes showing is still there but bricked or boarded up and painted to match the current color of the building.

I believe the large building to the left where Bundschu's Department Store would later locate is the Opera House.

[Mad Anthonie]

Originally Posted by WCHS'59

Center of photo to left of flag: that white bow window with two window panes showing is still there but bricked or boarded up and painted to match the current color of the building.

I believe the large building to the left where Bundschu's Department Store would later locate is the Opera House.

It was built as the Wilson Opera House in 1873-74. In about 1887 Bundschu purchased the building and converted it to his dry goods store. In 1928 he razed the old building, but not before throwing one last party in the old auditorium. He then built the current structure, the store operated in the Masonic Building during this reconstruction.

[WCHS'59]

Originally Posted by Mad Anthonie

It was built as the Wilson Opera House in 1873-74. In about 1887 Bundschu purchased the building and converted it to his dry goods store. In 1928 he razed the old building, but not before throwing one last party in the old auditorium. He then built the current structure, the store operated in the Masonic Building during this reconstruction.

Ah yes, the store had but one cashier and cash register and he was hidden up stairs somewhere. A pneumatic tube sent the bill and the cash paid to the cashier and he would send any change back along with a copy of the bill. I saw that in operation in the early fifties. Not sure if the store was still using that method when Emery Bird bought the place in 62 or thereabouts.