Long ago on independence square (Kansas City, Raytown: how much, neighborhood, construction)

[CaseyMO]

Originally Posted by WCHS'59

Recall that Kiger going north from 23rd in the old days ran into Truman road east of current day Lee's Summit Road and via a narrow dangerous bridge over Spring Branch.

If you turned west on Truman and headed west the several blocks to where Kiger went further north to US 24, there was a mom and pop on the north side of Truman. I have not been able to pinpoint exactly where it was or if there is still something of it left.

I believe the store you are referring to was on the corner of Truman and Fransden Road, which was the only street between the two Kigers. There was a store and a garage. The store is long gone.

[WCHS'59]

Originally Posted by CaseyMO

I believe the store you are referring to was on the corner of Truman and Fransden Road, which was the only street between the two Kigers. There was a store and a garage. The store is long gone.

The "garage" may still be there.

There was another mom and mom at around Leslie and 23rd. It was in a roundish building, perhaps with a living area above. I think when the store went out, it might have became a shoe repair shop. It is long gone.

[Mad Anthonie]

Originally Posted by CaseyMO

I cannot recall any store at Truman and Sterling.

My Beloved's uncle managed that store during WWII. It was indeed the building currently occupied by Payless Shoes.

Originally Posted by CaseyMO

While I worked at 23rd and Sterling Safeway, I also worked at the one on Main.

My Beloved's mother worked there during WWII. After the war romance bloomed when a just out of the service meat-cutter started working there.

[WCHS'59]

There was also a Safeway at 110 East 24 Highway.

Sally36 told us there was a Safeway on Maple Street near the square and we all thought she might have been smoking something. However, MRG found a Safeway at 324 W Maple in Polks 1948 Directory.

Granada was at 323, or close to it, so 324 would have been where Lund Studebaker was across the street. So I guess the picture of that car dealership area is not yet complete.

The Allen Studebaker building shown in a previous photo posted by Doc was at 312 W Maple. So there had to be a building to the west of it that could have held the Safeway. Both the Allen Studebaker building and the Safeway building may have been torn down to build the larger Lund Studebaker building. I am guessing, anyway.

[WCHS'59]

Another Studebaker dealer across from the Granada.

[WCHS'59]

Another view of Lund Studebaker with a building to the west. These Studis are from the mid fifties. That building might have held Safeway.

[WCHS'59]

This location is where the Hudson dealer burned in '48 or '49 and the structure was never rebuilt.

Could there have been two Studebaker dealers in Independence and one time? Probably not.

[WCHS'59]

Wow. Studebaker dealers all over the place. This one is at 125 E Lexington, which would have been next door to Allin's Taxidermy.

[WCHS'59]

Blue Valley Studebaker in Independence owned by Harry Ek was listed in a 1963 edition of Studebaker News, but no address was given.

Studebaker ceased production in Indiana in 1963 and continued to produce in Canada until 1967.

[WCHS'59]

The old Studebaker proving grounds in Indiana with its tree display.

The Budweiser red beer wagons that the Clydesdale horses pull are Studebakers.

The last several thousand Studebakers to come off the assembly line in Canada in 1967 had Chevrolet motors and transmissions.