Osage Building Then and Now

Northeast Corner of First Avenue and Wyatt Earp Boulevard

I look at the Osage Building a lot, mostly while waiting for Sherman to consider the logistics of pigeon murder. There are so many details that it’s difficult to make sense of them. And if you’re obsessed with symmetry, it takes a minute to find it. But this building is beautiful. It’s also relatively young.

The 1884 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map shows a frame dwelling at what was then 818 First Street. A lot changed in three years and the 1887 Sanborn shows a two-story brick building with two storefronts at 727-728 First Avenue.

Between 1887 and 1905, this building saw rapid turnover. It housed a drug store, a printer, a tailor, an insurance office, and a grocery. The building was also renumbered again to 725-726 First Avenue. A complete remodel by Dr. Charles A Milton was finished in January of 1906. The medical office shared the second floor with a rooming house called the Annex, which was established for Fred Harvey Hotel overflow.

F. A. Etrick’s print shop was in the basement during this time.

The Midland Water, Light and Ice Co. also established an office in the space at the newly renumbered 502 First Avenue.

The 1911 Sanborn shows the new street numbers. You can clearly see the only staircase was outside and made of wood.

In August of 1912, the Fred Harvey lease expired and the rooming house portion was leased to Jack G Abbott. Dr. Winfield O Thompson had been Dr. Milton’s partner but the practice was listed as Drs. Thompson and (W. F.) Pine by 1913.

This circa 1916 photo of the Chalk Beeson Theater shows a tiny sliver of the old building to the far right. There was just a very narrow passageway between the two structures and that’s where the staircase was located.

A special hospital for influenza patients opened upstairs in the Milton Building on November 28, 1918.

P. Q. Hanlen’s tailoring and cleaning business moved into the old Midland spot in 1919.

Howell-Rhinehart Realty Company moved into the building in November of 1923. It was quite an event when the Southwest Motor Company moved to 502 First Avenue in May of 1924. They had to make ramps over the steps for cars to drive through the entrance.

A. L. Lyon then opened a tailor shop in the Milton Building in February of 1925.

I’m not sure why he thought the old building needed to be demolished but George D Cochran formed the Osage Building Company on January 24, 1927 with $50,000 in capital stock.

Demolition of the Milton Building began in March of 1927.

The architectural firm Cochran selected was Mann and Company and the builder was Julian N Parham.

The Osage Building was turned over to the occupants in September of 1927 and the Dodge City Style Shoppe was one of the first businesses to open.

Marthe’s Beauty Shoppe was close behind.

The building’s unusual appearance was quite well received by locals.

The budget had nearly doubled to $90,000 but Dodge City had a stunner on a very busy corner.

The Candy Inn was a popular spot to shop for homemade candy.

They were able to expand their space onto the mezzanine in May of 1930.

Rorabaugh-Wileys Music Store leased the spot at 502 First by October of 1930.

The 1932 Sanborn was the first to show the Osage Building. There were three main storefronts along West Chestnut Street (116, 118, and 120) in addition to spaces at 500 and 502 First Avenue.

You will notice that the Osage Building was still not touching the Chalk Beeson Theater at that time and the stairs were still outside.

Police seized nine gallons of bootlegged liquor from an apartment in the Osage Building in October of 1933. Local boxer, Angus Snyder, was one of the officers involved in the raid.

By 1939, Charles H Nolind’s Nolind Music Co was located in the corner space at 120 W Chestnut Street. During World War II, driver’s licenses were issued in the music store.

Tillie’s Beauty Shop was located at 500 First Avenue in 1947 and Mi-Lady’s Shop opened in the Osage Building in 1949.

Perrill’s Smart Wear was located at 118 West Chestnut in the early 1950s.

Jack’s Cafe, operated by Curtis Jacks, occupied the corner space for the majority of the 1950s and ’60s.

By 1980, Jack’s had been replaced by the Lariat Cafe and the Sport Kitt was next door at 118 W Wyatt Earp.

Courtney and La Mona Sherwood bought the Osage Building around 1985 and started Sherwood Realty in one of the store fronts.

In 1990, all but two apartments were vacant and the building was for sale by 1993.

Although it can’t be the case, it seems like Golden House has been on that corner ever since. Honey Nails was next door to the east but I believe they have since moved.

The building looks pretty good for being more than 90 years old.

These photos weren’t taken on the same day but I wanted to include the shot from the north so you can see that the Osage Building and old Beeson Theater are clearly connected. The Google Maps Satellite View shows a narrow strip on the roof where that staircase was enclosed.

This isn’t a building I ever hear people talking about and I’m amazed anyone could overlook one of the most distinctive structures in all of Dodge City.

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