Guymon Petro Mercantile Co. Then and Now

314 Front Street – Dodge City, Kansas

Before you all start thinking I’ve lost my mind, this story is not about the building at Fourth and Trail. In March of 1884, the widow Anna Robbins bought a Front Street lot between Second and Third Avenues from Robert M Wright. There had once been a blacksmith shop on that site and Mrs. Robbins, mistress and business partner of the infamous Perry Wilden, had plans for a new grocery store.

The single-story wood frame structure faced Front Street and covered less than half the distance north to Chestnut. Wilden, sardonically nicknamed The Merchant Prince of South Dodge, opened the store that May.

Fraudster Wilden expanded rapidly and every single thing he purchased was on credit. His grocery store and around seven other buildings were destroyed by a fire on January 18, 1885.

Wilden was widely believed to have set the fire intentionally on a Sunday morning so it would burn undiscovered while most of the town was at church. Robbins carried insurance on the building and Wilden had a policy for the contents. Some of the neighboring business owners carried no insurance at all.

Within a week, newspapers reported Wilden planned to erect a two-story brick building on the same lot. However, Robbins was the one with the money and construction of her new building began in July of 1885. This new structure also faced Front Street and only covered about 60 percent of the lot space going toward Chestnut.

By August, creditors had seized the contents of Wilden’s South Dodge grocery. He left town with his wife and children later that month. Meanwhile, construction continued on the Robbins building and Ham Bell planned to use the main floor for his furniture and undertaking business along with the new Ford County Bank.

Bell did briefly occupy the Robbins building but he and Henry Sitler constructed the Sitler & Bell Block in 1886. The bank never really got off the ground.

Wilden fled to Syracuse to obtain a quick divorce from his wife, Mary, in June of 1886. He then married Anna Robbins in Colorado later that month, skipping the mandatory waiting period. The two were later arrested for bigamy.

T. C. Owen moved his barber shop from the Delmonico Hotel into the basement of the Wilden building in May of 1887. He closed the shop that August and it was reopened by Lawrence Leppert a couple weeks later.

The Wildens’ exciting personal lives left little time for property management and the Front Street property was sold to Fred T. M. Wenie in September of 1887, shortly after a cigar factory in the building failed to get traction.

Leppert’s barber shop moved to the main floor in the Summer of 1888 after a huge rainstorm flooded the basement.

The building was underutilized with Sims and Shinn (later Sims and Sims) using it as a warehouse for flour and feed. Fred Wenie moved to Kansas City around 1889 and stopped paying taxes. The building went up for sheriff’s sale in April of 1893 and creditor Charles Colladay took possession of the property at that time.

Patrick H Sughrue moved his real estate office to the second floor of what was being called the Sims building around 1902.

He and his wife, Margaret, owned the building for several years. It’s difficult to see but the sign at the far left reads “BUY TOWN LOTS & FARMS FROM P. H. SUGHRUE.” If you look closely, you can see the rear of the building didn’t extend to Chestnut.

James L Meairs moved his grocery store to the main floor of the Sughrue building around 1905.

Although he retained ownership of the building, Sughrue moved his office to the Hoover building in February of 1908. J. H. Evans moved his poultry, eggs, and hides business into a section of the Meairs grocery in 1911.

John Reynolds opened a general repair shop in the basement of the building in January of 1915.

In September of that year, the Sughrues sold the property to the Guymon Petro Mercantile Co. for around $6,300. An electric elevator was added along the east wall along with new office spaces. They just about rebuilt the entire structure.

Once that work was completed, L. J. Upp was awarded the contract to extend the building north to Chestnut Street. Over the years, space at 315 W Chestnut Street was rented to businesses like Drake Motor Supply Company, Noel-Ward Tire Service Company, and the Williams Cash Store.

The sign on the front of the light-colored building in the middle says “THE GUYMON PETRO MERC. CO. WHOLESALE GROCERS.”

By the mid-1940s, Guymon Petro occupied the former Dodge City Fruit Exchange building at 500 W Trail Street. Hall’s Home and Auto Supply then opened a second location in the former Guymon Petro building. The company owned by Jack and Lester Hall was more commonly known as Hall’s Firestone.

By 1950, Hall’s had consolidated operations in the location at 315 W Chestnut and 314 Front.

Photos by Hoover Cott, Ford County Historical Society Troy Robinson Collection

The store continued to operate in that spot until the building was demolished as part of the Urban Renewal project in 1970.

The 1990s demolition of the flour mill ruined this vantage point for everyone except drone operators.

This is how the site of the original Guymon Petro location looked in February of 2025:

Based on what’s been happening downtown over the past several years, it is clear that we’ve learned from the Urban Renewal disaster. I encourage everyone to patronize businesses in the surviving buildings so we can avoid losing more of our history.

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May 11, 2026 0

City Drug Store Then and Now

401-405 N Second Avenue

You may have noticed I intentionally avoid delving into the adventures of the Wild West. Because this particular building was right in the middle of it, I’m making an exception just for you.

Herman Fringer and A. J. Peacock built a drug store at the northwest corner of Second Avenue and Front Street in 1872. Fringer was appointed Postmaster and the post office was located in the back of the store.

*The Leavenworth Daily Times,* November 7, 1872

Dr. Thomas McCarty and his wife, Sallie, occupied a small room attached to the back of the building and that is where Claude was born the following year. Charles and Carrie Rath lived in the room next door and that little lean-to was the site of the famous Chief Spotted Tail escapade.

The Fringer and Peacock partnership was dissolved in August of 1873. Dr. McCarty worked as Fringer’s assistant in the drug store, which sounds weird because he was Dr. McCarty.

It didn’t take long for McCarty to open his own establishment one door east of F. C. Zimmermann’s store. That business became known as the City Drug Store.

George Hoover bought the post office drug store from Fringer in September of 1881 and flipped it to Dr. McCarty about a week later for a small profit. Lloyd Shinn was appointed Postmaster that October and the post office remained in the building until 1886.

McCarty sold all of his buildings along Second Avenue from Chestnut to Front Street to the ill-fated Merchants State Bank for $20,000 in July of 1887.

*The Globe Live Stock Journal,* August 2, 1887

Merchants State Bank imploded in February of 1891, still owning the east end of the block from Chestnut to Front.

This parade photo shows the City Drug Store just south of the doomed Merchants State Bank.

Photo courtesy Ford County Historical Society Eagan Collection

It was announced in March of 1892 that Walter F Pine and G. H. Lawrence had bought City Drug. Pine began working there around 1887 and became manager in February of 1889.

Meanwhile, George Hoover finally conducted a sale of bank assets on December 19, 1893.

*The Globe-Republican,* November 24, 1893

The Ford County Commissioners bought the City Drug building and other properties, hoping to recover some of their losses from the bank failure.

*The Dodge City Democrat,* December 30, 1893

The Commission voted to rent the City Drug building to Walter Pine for $20 per month effective January 1, 1894. George F McKinney bought the building from the County in November of 1899.

Pine moved City Drug to the Gwinner Building in the Union Block in late January or early February of 1900. At that time, the building constructed by Fringer and Peacock was said to be the oldest remaining structure in Dodge City.

*The Globe-Republican,* January 18, 1900

William Robison then remodeled the building and positioned his City Hardware store on the busy corner.

*Western Kansas Live Stock Journal,* March 15, 1900

An adjoining structure was built on the west end of the hardware store in the Summer of 1900 to make room for additional stock.

*The Dodge City Democrat,* August 31, 1900

This postcard shows the enlarged City Hardware store with a most unusual roofline.

Postcard courtesy Ford County Historical Society

Robison operated the hardware store until 1924 and “Dodge City’s oldest building” was demolished in January of 1925. Its replacement was a new service station with adjoining storefronts built by the Kennedy Brothers.

The Southwest News, January 22, 1925
The Southwest News, January 22, 1925

The new building had mostly glass along the south and east sides with the service station positioned at an angle on the corner.

Kennedy Brothers Hardware moved to the new location the first part of June.

The grand opening of the service station was held on June 13.

Jewelers Walker and Hoffman arrived later in the month.

This photo was taken during an ag show in the early 1930s with the filling station front and center.

Photo courtesy Ford County Historical Society Sam Zygner Collection

Hoffman bought out Walker’s share of the jewelry store around 1929 and moved to the south room at 607 Second Avenue in the mid-1930s. Around that time, the filling station was Bud’s Certified Service. It changed hands a few times becoming Swede’s and later Andra’s Service Station.

Vernon Beatty opened a tavern called Bar X in the old service station around 1947, which he immediately tried to sell.

Schafer’s Cafe was next door at 403 Second with Lucille’s Beauty Salon on the north side of the cafe. In the early 1950s, Bar X was replaced by the William Cook Insurance Agency. Southwestern Bell rented the former beauty salon for additional office space while they expanded their spot on First Avenue.

A fire at Schafer’s Cafe gutted the building but it was reopened in March of 1953.

*Great Bend Daily Tribune,* March 14, 1953

Around 1957, an osteopath named Carl Hammer occupied the former filling station with the Cowboy Cafe next door at 403 Second Avenue. Walker’s Sportswear was located between the cafe and Lester Butler’s insurance agency.

The former Kennedy Building is shown here around 1957. Fact check me, auto enthusiasts!

Around 1959, the National Farm Loan Association and Zimmer’s Abstract and Title Co. moved to the former Walker’s location. The whole building seemed a bit boring until the Blue Lounge Tavern moved to the spaces which previously held the filling station and cafe around 1964. It remained there until Urban Renewal took the 45-year-old building away in 1970.

Lettering for the Blue Lounge is visible just beyond the traffic signal.

Photo by Joleen Fromm
Photo by Joleen Fromm
Photo by Joleen Fromm

This is how the site of the City Drug Store looks today:

I would love to recreate the angle of the historic photos, which were taken from the top of the flour mill…but it was demolished, too.

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February 24, 2025 0

Oriel Block Then and Now

112-114 Front Street

Many times, I choose to write about buildings simply because I have questions. I knew nothing about the Oriel Block, including the fact that it was called the Oriel Block. The only photos I had seen showed a sad state of affairs and my curiosity got the best of me. Boy, did I learn a thing or two.

The 1884 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map shows a block full of wood frame businesses with one brick saloon. There was no standardization and the buildings were of all shapes and sizes. Lot numbers had no meaning.

In December of 1885, R. W. Evans sold a half-interest in his lots east of the bank on Front Street between First and Railroad/Central Avenues to R. J. Hardesty. Due to the outbreak of devastating fires, Dodge City mandated brick buildings in the business district. The duo planned to build in the spring of 1886.

In May of 1886, the architectural firm of Weston and Trost announced Col. R. J. Hardesty and R. W. Evans were building the Oriel Block. The Dodge City Democrat reported “…in each front second story will be a large oriel window with polished plate glass. The fronts will be recessed back in 10 feet. This block is christened by the architects the Oriel Block. Approximate cost $15,000.”

The 1887 Sanborn shows the Oriel Block under construction at what was then 411-412 Front Street and 327-328 Chestnut Street. Construction was slow because so many structures had to be rebuilt and it was finally completed on November 4, 1887.

L. T. Peck’s real estate office was on the Front Street side.

*Dodge City Weekly Democrat,* December 10, 1887

The office of the A. K. & C. Railroad had moved into the southeast room on the second floor by December 15, 1887. By March of 1888, Willett, Hardesty, and Evans had moved into a suite of offices upstairs on the north end. I. M. Jennings also moved a billiard hall into the building that April.

*Dodge City Weekly Democrat,* April 7, 1888

A lunch counter occupied the basement.

*Dodge City Weekly Democrat,* September 8, 1888

A local representative for the Bureau of (Veterans’) Pensions also took an office in the Oriel Block.

*The Dodge City Times,* October 11, 1888

Walter Locke opened a feed and vegetable house there in November of 1888.

*The Dodge City Times,* November 22, 1888

O. P. Jenkins and Sons signed a five-year lease on the Oriel Block in November of 1891 intending to remodel the building into a hotel. The Hotel Hardesty opened the following month.

*The Globe-Republican,* December 10, 1891

By December 26, it was decided that Oriel Hotel was a better name for the establishment.

True to form in the hotel business, the Oriel Hotel closure announcement was made on May 9, 1892. Walter Locke conducted a chattel mortgage sale on the furnishings on May 21.

At that point, only the billiards hall was operational in the west storefront. Arthur Ashley of Garden City announced in December of 1892 he would be reopening the hotel on January 1, 1893. He planned to add a large dining room on the Chestnut side, which was possibly operated by Maggie Stark.

*The Dodge City Democrat,* April 15, 1893

Mrs. M. E. Durand leased the dining room in the building in November of 1893. Mrs. James Wells also leased “upper floors” and planned to let rooms to lodgers.

Mr. and Mrs. J. Q. Adams took over operations of the Oriel Hotel in September of 1894. That November, T. L. “Buff” Callahan was excited over election returns and shot holes in the ceiling. No one was injured.

*The Ford County Leader,* November 9, 1894

There was a lot of turnover and the hotel was purchased by Mr. J. H. Leshure of Larned in December of 1895.

Hank Young leased the hotel dining room and lunch counter in September of 1896 but then it was reported he succeeded Leshure as proprietor of the hotel itself.

*The Dodge City Democrat,* September 19, 1896

Newspapers reported in February of 1897 that Mr. and Mrs. A. H. Boyd of Larned would soon take charge of the Oriel. And this is how the Dodge House 2.0 became a thing.

*The Globe-Republican,* February 25, 1897

B. F. Fletcher opened the Silver Gloss Hand Laundry in the west end of the basement of the Oriel Block in July of 1897. R. W. Evans occupied rooms on the Chestnut side from time to time. Fletcher moved his laundry out of the Oriel in April of 1898 and the Newkirk Bennett “joint” took its place in the basement. Even Dodge City’s lovable scoundrel, Ben Hodges, had a room at the Dodge House.

*The Dodge City Democrat,* April 6, 1900

The Boyds owned hotels in several Kansas towns and were rarely in the same location at once. Fred W Boyd managed the Dodge House at least by May of 1900, at which time the entire hotel was remodeled to catch the busy summer season. In July of 1903, Boyd purchased the Elgin Hotel in Marion and relocated there in December. Ernest Hendricks and Mrs. Morrow reopened the Dodge House later that month.

D. C. “Clem” Moore bought the Dodge House in January of 1905. He had the dining room and kitchen converted back into rooms since the place was surrounded by eating establishments. The newly renovated Dodge Rooming House opened for business that April.

J. S. Elliott bought the Dodge Rooming House in May of 1908. Mr. and Mrs. A. C. Faulkner renovated the west storefront into the Electric Theatre, which opened in March of 1909. The street numbers were standardized around that time. The theater was at 115 W Chestnut and the Dodge Rooming House was at 112 Front Street.

Mr. and Mrs. John Hughett bought the Dodge Rooming House in February of 1909.

By early 1912, F. A. Etrick was associated with the Electric Theater. The name was changed to the Dreamland in December of that year.

*The Dodge City Daily Globe,* December 10, 1912

The Submarine Grocery opened in the basement just in time for Thanksgiving in November of 1916.

*Dodge City Daily Globe,* November 28, 1916

This photo was taken at Central and Chestnut looking west around 1917. You can see the ornate cornices along the second floor of the Oriel Block on the left but only the Front Street side had oriel windows.

Etrick reopened the remodeled Dreamland on December 18, 1916.

*Dodge City Daily Globe,* December 18, 1916

By January of 1917, C. A. Wilhite’s Denver Coffee House was serving meals in the basement at 114 Front Street.

*Dodge City Daily Journal,* January 19, 1917

L. C. B. Martin operated a shine parlor in the east room located at 112 Front.

*Dodge City Daily Journal,* March 7, 1917

A gasoline stove explosion destroyed the coffee house and most of the theater on March 27, 1917. No injuries were reported.

*Dodge City Daily Globe,* March 27, 1917

Denver Lunch moved to the Great Western Hotel in April of 1917 and the theater reopened later that year.

The Dreamland Theater closed in mid-1918 and the building was renovated into office space for the Midland Light and Ice Company, which occupied the entire basement and about 3/4 of the main floor with access on Chestnut.

*Dodge City Daily Globe,* November 18, 1918

By 1921, the east room on Chestnut was occupied by the tire shop of C. M. Key and Son.

*The Dodge City Journal,* March 31, 1921

The Army & Navy Store opened at 112 Front Street in January of 1922 but the name was quickly shortened to The Army Store.

*The Dodge City Journal,* January 5, 1922

The building was still in pretty good shape when this photo of Front Street was taken in 1925.

The neighborhood was looking a bit shopworn by the time this photo was taken but at least the oriel windows were still in place.

The 1930s ushered in the tavern and billiards era. Aside from the Southwest Furniture Company taking up 113 W Chestnut and a brief stay for Merrick’s Cafe to the west, it was all beer parlors and pool halls until the 1950s.

At some point, the rooming house was remodeled into apartments. By 1953, Newkirk’s Electric Appliances had moved into the old furniture store.

*Polk’s Dodge City (Ford County, Kans.) Directory 1953*

Ritz Sandwich Shop was located at 115 W Chestnut and behind it was the Front Street Tavern. There were only a couple residents in the upstairs apartments.

By 1957, the building was looking rough. The detailed cornices and oriel windows had been removed in favor of utilitarian brick.

Photo courtesy Ford County Historical Society Studio de Lari Collection

Around 1957, Isaac Sanchez had the Duck Inn Tavern at 114 Front Street. The Shrine Club was above the sandwich shop, which was vacant by then. By 1959, Chester Wendler had opened Curley’s Last Chance Tavern in the old appliance store. Sanchez changed the name of his bar from the Duck Inn to the Cactus Club by 1962 and then to The Spot by 1967.

I won’t rehash the story of Dodge City’s Urban Renewal project but the Oriel Block was demolished soon after these photos were taken. You can see the building still had decorative accents around its windows on the Wyatt Earp Boulevard side but the beautiful cornices were long gone.

Front Street was a disaster.

The only trace of the building’s auspicious beginnings was the arched stone panel above the center staircase entry indicating the Oriel Block was constructed in 1887.

Here’s a recent image from Google Street View of the missing block.

It’s sad to see how many property owners defer maintenance until a building isn’t worth saving. It usually starts with the roof and goes downhill from there. You’d think we would learn how that routine actually adds costs, but alas…the cycle continues.

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January 22, 2024 0

Great Western Hotel Then and Now

209 W Locust/(Santa Fe) Trail Street

Do you ever wonder how much of what you “know” about your hometown is actually true? Anyone who has lived in Dodge City for any length of time has heard stories about the Great Western Hotel. I grew up believing Dr. Samuel Galland built it. He did not. Some say it was George Reighard. That’s possible but I can’t prove it.

What I do know is the Great Western Hotel was previously called the Western House and it was owned by Silas Maley in 1876. Locust Street later became Santa Fe Trail.

Maley took a ranch on Bluff Creek in trade for the Western House in April of 1877 and management was turned over to Dunham and Dawson. That only lasted until July of 1877, when Dr. Galland and George Gager acquired the hotel.

There was an odd assortment of wood frame structures on this block of Locust Street and the new arrangement had all of the rooms in the hotel proper.

Gager bowed out of the hotel business in August of 1877 but remained in Galland’s employ.

Ads began running for the Great Western Hotel in October of 1878. Galland famously disallowed alcohol to be sold on the premises.

In August of 1882, Galland announced his intent to take a year’s vacation. He sought a responsible party to purchase or rent the hotel and found L. C. Hartman.

At the end of the year lease, Dr. Galland resumed management of the Great Western, this time with an added bath house on the premises.

The 1884 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map shows a very small Great Western Hotel located at what was then 412 Locust Street. A new hotel building was planned at the corner of Locust and First which never materialized. Instead, the main hotel building was essentially replaced with a much larger two-story structure.

Dr. Galland purchased Mike Sutton’s home in April of 1885 and announced his desire to retire from the hotel business. George Theis leased the Great Western in June of 1886.

The 1887 Sanborn shows the larger frame structure shown below with a new address of 307 Locust Street.

Photo courtesy Ford County Historical Society Photo Collection

Dr. Galland again resumed management of the Great Western in February of 1888 and rented his home on Railroad/Central Avenue.

In July of 1896, Dr. Galland announced he was closing his hotel business and instead would rent rooms to boarders. Meal service was discontinued due to Mrs. Galland’s poor health.

The Gallands moved north again to their home on Central in February of 1903. Charles Norton took over managing the boarding house, which he intended to once again operate as the Great Western Hotel with partner Pearl Trebilcock. They signed a five-year lease and modernized the hotel. The Great Western reopened on March 16, 1903 with its first 25-cent meal served at noon.

*The Dodge City Democrat,* March 27, 1903

That partnership was dissolved in October of 1903 and Pearl Trebilcock retained ownership of the business.

*The Live Stock Farmer,* November 12, 1903

In January of 1905, Dr. Galland once again advertised the Great Western Hotel for rent effective March 1. Anthony Klein was the new proprietor, who advertised Tony’s Great Western Hotel.

But in June of 1905, the hotel was once again advertised under the management of Dr. Galland and his “tidy wife.” Bertha Galland died in January of 1907 at their home on Central. Mrs. E. E. Boone assumed operations in November of 1907.

Dr. Galland still owned the Great Western when he died in February of 1908. Adolphus Gluck, a dear friend of the Gallands, was executor of his estate and assumed ownership of the hotel property.

Mrs. E. E. Boone handed over the reins to Mr. and Mrs. C. S. Scott on July 1, 1909.

The Scotts turned over operations to Mr. and Mrs. R. E. Dobbins sometime in 1910. They, in turn, sold the furniture and fixtures at a public sale in January of 1911.

*The Dodge City Kansas Journal,* January 20, 1911

Mrs. Jennie McGahen and Harry Dixon leased the hotel in February of 1911. A horrific tragedy occurred that May when Mr. Dixon was burned to death after a kitchen oil burner exploded. McGahen’s son was also badly burned.

The Dodge City Globe, May 11, 1911
The Dodge City Globe, May 11, 1911
The Dodge City Globe, May 11, 1911

The 1911 Sanborn shows the new street address of 209 Santa Fe Trail. Jennie McGahen married Louis L McClung that September and the couple continued to operate the hotel.

Gluck remodeled the Great Western in 1913 and had a steam heating plant installed.

The McClungs moved out of the hotel in September of 1914. Mrs. Susie Watt assumed operations that November. The Great Western reportedly had 28 rooms at that time.

The turnover continued into 1915 with new proprietress Alice Whedon Luster (left) and Mable Alice Luster shown below.

*Dodge City Daily Globe,* August 30, 1972

The Denver Lunch moved to the Great Western in early 1917.

*Dodge City Daily Journal,* April 7, 1917

Joseph Wilhite purchased the hotel in April of 1917 and assumed management. By this time, a junkyard was next door. Things got weird when the Great Western was shut down in 1919 for being a “disorderly place.”

*The Dodge City Journal,* October 2, 1919

C. C. Isely owned the lots where the hotel stood in May of 1922 and sold them to George Howell, one of the Lora-Locke Hotel developers. At some point, the wood building was covered with stucco.

The Great Western was renamed Armstrong Hotel in late 1923.

*Dodge City Daily Globe,* December 17, 1923

Charles B Brown purchased the business and renamed it Brown’s Hotel in December of 1927.

*Dodge City Daily Globe,* December 9, 1927

The following year, new manager Josephine Joiner changed the name back to Great Western Hotel.

*Dodge City Daily Globe,* December 11, 1928

In the late 1920s and 1930s, the Great Western received a lot of compensation from Ford County for housing transients. The Howells retained ownership of the hotel, which continued operating until at least the Summer of 1940. It was finally demolished in June of 1942.

In this aerial photo, you can see the empty lot just to the right of the flour mill.

The empty lot was used as a Fairmont Foods parking lot in 1970. By 1990, part of the lot was taken up by the Evans Products warehouse.

Here’s how the site looks today:

I rarely spend time studying my surroundings when I’m running errands and trying to get things done. It’s really amazing to stand across the street from this former landmark and consider what used to be.

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December 11, 2023 0

South Dodge, A Vacated Ford County Town

In a previous post, I talked about the beginning of the South Dodge Town Company and the fraudster, Perry Wilden. It didn’t take long for “South Dodge” to mean anything south of the Arkansas River. Crawford’s Addition, for example, is just south of the river and it was said to be in South Dodge. Same with the new Rock Island Depot. In this installment, I’ll be sticking to the original South Dodge townsite and the newer Park Addition.

Things were already starting to get blurry by 1887 when South Dodge was attached to Dodge City for school and legal purposes.

*Ford County Republican,* March 23, 1887

As mentioned previously, D. F. and Ella Owens purchased the South Dodge townsite and began marketing the lots.

And this is where the Owens and Beeson families did their little real estate switcheroo.

This 1887 map from the David Rumsey Map Collection shows the new Park Addition west of the original South Dodge site. The county road running east and west is now Beeson Road. You can click on the image to view the full map.

Chalk and Ida immediately petitioned to vacate the entire Park Addition. The home they purchased was located at the southeast corner of what is now Beeson Road and 14th Avenue and this would allow them to maintain the acreage as farmland.

There was a bit of a boom in South Dodge around this time but the newspapers reported people were waiting to build until the street railway was operational. It appears they were also waiting to pay their taxes.

*Dodge City Weekly Democrat,* July 16, 1887

By September of 1887, the street railway system hadn’t yet materialized but it hadn’t been forgotten.

*The Daily Commonwealth* (Topeka), September 7, 1887

This is the house the Owens family traded to my great-great grandparents. D. F. Owens was the Editor and Publisher of The Dodge City Times when these ads were running.

*The Dodge City Times,* November 24, 1887

Finally an explanation about the street railway company! It was doomed from the beginning.

The Dodge City Times, December 29, 1887
The Dodge City Times, December 29, 1887
The Dodge City Times, December 29, 1887
The Dodge City Times, December 29, 1887

In November of 1889, Chalk and Ida tried a second time to have the streets and alleyways of the Park Addition vacated. This petition was granted in January of 1890. A few months later, Ham Bell established a county poor house at the old Wilden farm.

The South Dodge Town Company still owned some lots in August of 1890.

*The Dodge City Democrat,* August 2, 1890

Although most town lots had been sold, there weren’t enough residents and businesses to meet the state requirements. The townsite of South Dodge was vacated by an Act of the Kansas Legislature in March of 1895.

*The Advocate* (Topeka, Kan.), March 27, 1895

Over time, Chalk bought up the parcels as property taxes became delinquent and lots went into foreclosure. Rather than being listed in South Dodge, they were considered part of Richland Township. This is how the map looked in 1905.

*Standard Atlas of Ford County, Kansas,* 1905-6

You can see that all of Section 2 was owned by Ida and Merritt Beeson by 1916.

*Atlas and Plat Book of Ford County, Kansas,* 1916

The 1932 Sanborn shows the southern city boundary was at Sycamore Street with a small part of Sunnyside included. Beeson Road was Highway 45 and it was in the county at that time.

You’ll also notice that Sunnyside no longer went diagonally to the southwest all the way to Beeson Road. By 1932, it had been reoriented to run straight south where the current curve is south of Market Street.

From a business standpoint, there wasn’t much to tell for many years because Merritt held onto the land after he inherited it from Ida. He gave a large chunk to Betty and she and Red had it subdivided.

The Chalk Beeson Addition was platted in 1947 but it was mostly residential. This addition was replatted several times to add streets and lots for commercial buildings.

Chalk Beeson Addition_1 Download

Betty’s husband, Red Miller, had the Miller Subdivision No. 1 platted in 1965.

Miller Subdivision No. 1_1 Download

And then, after the great tragedy occurred, the north end of the old South Dodge townsite was replatted again.

Merritt Beeson Subdivision_1 Download

The Ford County Subdivision map still says South Dodge but the designation has shifted to the northeast.

How does that translate to the current neighborhood? I marked the areas in red boxes on the Ford County GIS Map below. I may be off a bit on the dividing line between South Dodge and Park Addition but the outside boundaries are correct.

So if any of you remember before the South High Rise was built, the road from Merritt’s house went straight south across McArtor Road toward Red Miller’s house. That was the supply road that went south of town and THAT was Supply Avenue.

I remember hearing people talk about South Dodge becoming a separate municipality when I was a kid. Since the residents of South Dodge were treated like they weren’t part of Dodge City, they would just secede from the City and organize one of their own! Little did I know that we had already been there and done that.

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September 11, 2023 1

Duckwall’s Then and Now

606 N Second Avenue

The most obvious question to ask about an old building is when it was constructed. Most of the time, the answer is pretty straightforward. In this case, it’s easier to inquire about a particular wall…or section of a wall. I usually start with the County website to get an idea and then move on to the Kansas Historical Society to narrow it down. Unfortunately, neither source has really nailed the details with regard to this particular structure.

The Ford County website says the Duckwall’s two-story building was constructed in 1929 with an open mezzanine and a storage shed out back was built in 1945. I mean, *something* could have been built in 1929 but it wasn’t the structure you see along Second Avenue.

KHS gets closer:

1915

Estimated

1936 and later alterations.

The commercial development of this block had begun by 1887, when a row of one-story commercial buildings lined 2nd Avenue. Between 1911 and 1918, new buildings were constructed here. This building, known as the Sitler buildings, was remodeled in 1916 for the Duckwall store, which opened here in 1916.

In November of 1885, Henry L Sitler began construction on a brick building at what was then technically 813-815 Second Avenue but colloquially known as Bridge Street. The timing was fortuitous for the proprietors of the Bee Hive, whose store burned down in early December.

The storefront north of the Bee Hive’s temporary quarters at 814 Second Avenue was home to I. C. Carroll’s grocery.

Carroll’s grocery was replaced by The Missouri Grocery of Brigham and Tompkins in June of 1887. The 1887 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map shows a dime store had moved into the south storefront and the north end was occupied by a drugstore. You’ll notice the east end of this building didn’t yet extend into Lot 15.

By 1892, a dressmaker occupied the south storefront and the two spots to the north were both vacant. Mrs. Singerland opened a millinery store at 813 Second Avenue in March of 1897 and a broom factory opened one door north in May of 1898. The millinery store was replaced by a bicycle repair shop by 1899.

The 1905 Sanborn shows furniture and storage on the north end, a general clothing store at 814 Second Avenue, and the bicycle repair shop next door at 813. I’m harping on these maps because the building still hadn’t been extended eastward at this time.

The block was renumbered around 1909 and by then, what had become 608 Second Avenue housed Misner and Groody (electricians and plumbers.) That company gave way to Gibson Plumbing Company, followed by Dodge City Plumbing Company.

*The Dodge City Kansas Journal,* December 9, 1910

Julian’s Klose House, operated by Julian Hulpieu, was located at 610 Second Avenue.

*Telephone Directory, The Dodge City Telephone Co.*, December, 1910

The north end of the building at 612 Second Avenue was occupied by the Dodge City Kansas Journal printing office.

The 1911 Sanborn shows both the old and new street numbers. You will notice the building still didn’t cover Lot 15. The Tea and Coffee Store had replaced Julian’s Klose House.

The Tea and Coffee Store was replaced by the Excelsior dealership of Hiram T Burr and Carl J Turner. That dealership became Dodge City Motorcycle Company.

*The Dodge City Daily Globe,* May 10, 1913

C. H. Archer bought the Excelsior dealership in March of 1914. By April, the building was reported to be unsafe…at least the west wall of the south storefront. It was another year before the City ordered the west wall of building to be reinforced.

*The Dodge City Daily Globe,* April 25, 1914

In 1915, Dodge City Motorcycle Company was operated by Roy Black and Red Alexander.

*The Dodge City Daily Globe,* March 9, 1915

At some point, the north room was separated into a different parcel…possibly around 1911 when the awning only covered the two southern storerooms. And while the old printing office was rebuilt, the Journal reported the Sitler Building was simply enlarged and upgraded with a new front.

*Dodge City Kansas Journal,* April 20, 1916

The expansion was needed because the Duckwall Brothers were coming to Dodge.

*Dodge City Kansas Journal,* April 24, 1916

Julian Parham’s company was hired to oversee the remodeling project, which would combine the two remaining storerooms into one space. The rear wall was also extended eastward into the aforementioned Lot 15.

*Dodge City Daily Globe,* August 31, 1916

In November of 1916, Duckwall signed a deal to buy out the stock at George Nason’s variety store effective January 1, 1917. Unfortunately, more work was required in the building. In December of 1916, Harper Sitler (Henry’s son) and Will Imel had to rebuild the wall between their two buildings because the City Engineer deemed it unsafe. The A. L. Duckwall 5 and 10¢ Store finally opened in February of 1917.

The 1918 Sanborn shows the variety store at 606-608 Second Avenue. The street numbers on this block are so frustrating because they changed when the buildings were remodeled. Or possibly when the wind shifted. Or someone made a typo. The way the store’s name appeared in advertising and directory listings changed several times as well.

The 1932 Sanborn shows a lot of new construction near the rear of the building.

According to the Kansas Historical Society, Duckwall’s bought 31 feet to the east to expand the store in 1936. The storefront and interior were remodeled at the same time.

This photo was taken during the 1950 Boot Hill Fiesta Parade.

This later photo taken from First National Bank in the 1960s shows the two-story addition at the back of the building.

The store was still advertised as Duckwall’s in the 1964 yearbook for St. Mary of the Plains College.

That changed to Alco in 1966.

And here’s the dreaded metal slipcover. So modern! Such progress!

Anyway, Alco moved to their new store on the bypass in 1970 and Dodge City Office Equipment took their old spot in the Sitler Building.

*Dodge City Daily Globe,* December 23, 1970

This is how I remember the store.

Photo by Troy Robinson
Photo by Troy Robinson

I had completely forgotten they sold Apple products. My parents never would have allowed such an extravagant purchase.

Heavy snowfall in November of 1992 caused part of the roof to collapse.

*Dodge City Daily Globe,* November 28, 1992

The store reopened using the Reeves Building at 210 Gunsmoke Street as an entrance. The two buildings were connected via a door at the east end.

*Dodge City Daily Globe,* December 10, 1992

Dodge City Office Equipment’s last annual report was filed in March of 1993. Century Office Products of Dodge City bought the DCOE copier division in 1994.

A bankruptcy sale was conducted around the same time.

The Sitler and Reeves buildings went up for sale in June of 1995.

To the best of my knowledge, a commercial business hasn’t operated in this building since Dodge City Office Equipment. It is my understanding that the owner uses it for storage.

Here’s how the Sitler Building looks today:

What parts of the original structure remain? I have no idea. We know the west wall was rebuilt but we don’t know if any materials were reused. The old printing office was “rebuilt” meaning at least part of the north wall was presumably replaced. Then the south wall adjoining Imel’s building was rebuilt but again, it is unclear whether new materials were used. It would be interesting to see if any exposed bricks bearing Sitler’s name have been identified in the building. Sitler owned a brick plant around that time and it’s possible those bricks were used in this building.

Also, the Kansas Historical Society has a great publication about the Duckwall Company, which can be read here.

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September 4, 2023 1

Trail Inn Hotel Then and Now

200-202 E Chestnut Street/Wyatt Earp Boulevard

The traffic around Dodge City’s Santa Fe Depot has waxed and waned over the past 150 years. There was a time when it was the center of activity. The AT&SF Railroad employed an incredible number of workers and they all needed places to stay. Not to mention the people traveling to Dodge by train. Hotel rooms and funds were limited so boarding houses sprang up in strategic locations around town.

Two such houses later became the Trail Inn Hotel. The 1899 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map shows an empty lot at the northeast corner of Avenue A and East Chestnut Street. Directly east of this lot was a frame dwelling at what was then 402 East Chestnut. This was before the staggered street numbering system and also before that little block of Avenue A became a driveway leading to a parking lot.

A house was built on the empty corner lot sometime between 1905 and 1909. Bridge gang foreman B. F. Mills lived there until about 1910, when it was bought by Charles and Mary Geitgey. The house next door was occupied by a round house worker named W. H. Stuhr.

The 1911 Sanborn shows frame dwellings at 200 and 202 East Chestnut Street. The block had been renumbered and both old and new street numbers are shown. By 1915, Mrs. Josie Wagner was operating a rooming house next door to the Geitgey family.

In April of 1917, the Geitgeys received approval to build a frame house costing $5,500. The article didn’t specify whether it was an addition or new construction but the 1918 Sanborn shows a larger plastered rooming house on the corner of Avenue A and East Chestnut Street. The new structure had approximately 20 rooms for boarders.

By 1920, Josie Wagner had relocated to 100 Military Avenue. Her former rooming house was demolished and the Geitgeys constructed a $17,000 addition on that lot in the spring and summer of that year.

*The Dodge City Journal,* February 26, 1920

Construction was delayed briefly over a tiny union dispute.

*The Dodge City Journal,* April 22, 1920

Many boarders at the Geitgey Rooming House were railroad workers who often stayed for years at a time. By the early 1920s, the name had been changed to Trail Inn and pretty much the entire Geitgey family pitched in to keep it running.

The 1926 Sanborn shows the hotel had been expanded into the U-shaped building many of you will remember.

Mary Geitgey died in 1934 followed by Charles in 1938. The Trail Inn Hotel stayed in the Geitgey family and continued operations. A late 1930s Federal Writers Project piece by William Brown for the American Guide Series indicated the hotel had 48 outside guest rooms with free parking.

In the mid-1950s, James “Bill” and Gertrude Goddard took over the Trail Inn Hotel. By 1960, it was advertised with 46 rooms which were semi-air conditioned. E. B. and Frances H Manning assumed management around 1962 and by 1967, the aging hotel was operated by Marlin and Ina Piper. Then the Urban Renewal project came along.

*Garden City Telegram,* September 11, 1969

This photo was taken just prior to demolition. It doesn’t appear to have been in terrible shape but I have never seen photos of the interior. Regardless, Wyatt Earp Boulevard needed to be widened so all of the structures along this stretch had to go.

Here’s how the corner looks today:

I’m not entirely certain when that block of Avenue A along with its connector, Minden Place, were vacated. You can still make out the footprint from above with the Google Maps satellite layer. Click on the image to view the full map.

It’s wild to compare the current street alignment to the old Sanborns. The old layout was definitely awkward with that sharp turn on Front Street right at the west end of the depot. There was no way US Highway 50 was going to run through town without it being fixed. So the argument was that Urban Renewal had to occur or else the highway designation would be assigned to the bypass north of town…which is what we have now anyway.

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August 21, 2023 0

Wilburn, An Extinct Ford County Town

Wilburn was a town about halfway between Dodge City and Meade on the Jones and Plummer Trail. In the early days, a daily stage operated by Cal Ferguson stopped at Wilburn, Crooked Creek, Pearlette, Fowler City, Belle Meade, Spring Lake, Meade Center, and Carthage with runs to Tascosa, Texas on Tuesdays and Saturdays.

Lewis P Horton and Charles P Brown applied for the Wilburn Post Office in March of 1885.

The Chicago, Nebraska, Kansas and Southwestern Railroad Company was formed in Dodge City on April 21, 1885. This mouthful was expected to pass through both Wilburn and Fowler. It went nowhere.

*The Globe Live Stock Journal,* May 12, 1885

A schoolhouse measuring 18′ x 24′ was under construction in June of 1885. Wilburn was “on the boom” as they said.

The Ford County, Meade Center and Southwestern Railway Company was formed on September 14, 1885. It also went nowhere.

*The Dodge City Times,* September 17, 1885

Businesses were popping up all over Wilburn. Due to its location on the stage line, it was a popular stopping point.

*Fowler City Graphic,* September 17, 1885

By October of 1885, Wilburn had about 25 houses with several more under construction. Teacher Willet S Brown began the school year in November. By December, the head count was reportedly 35 pupils. The school was already crowded and the town planned an expansion in 1886.

Although this article doesn’t mention the name of the company, the Dodge City and Neutral Strip Telegraph Company was officially formed on March 20, 1886. However, the company’s registration expired without any substantive progress.

*The Dodge City Times,* February 25, 1886

Mail was initially delivered to Wilburn weekly but by April of 1886, the town received mail from Dodge City thrice weekly. The town’s newspaper was up and running later that month.

In the same issue, the Argus reported Wilburn was on the proposed route of the Chicago, Nebraska, Kansas and Southwestern Railroad from Red Cloud, Nebraska to “some point in Texas.” The line was supposed to go through Wilburn, Fowler, and Meade but counties would have to sell bonds to get it built.

I don’t want to get too far out in the weeds with this railroad stuff so let’s just say there were a ton of railroad companies formed that never built anything. The line in question ultimately became the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific.

State of Kansas Business Entity Search Station

Despite being mentioned in the newspaper in April, the Wilburn Town Company was officially formed on October 25, 1886.

Later that month, the railroad bond issue went up for a vote and it passed. An election was held for Wilburn Township officers on May 18, 1886.

No dives or hell holes! Wilburn was proud of its lack of dram shops and gaming halls.

County boundaries have changed over time and the Wilburn Cemetery is currently (just barely) in Meade County.

The Wilburn School was in Joint District No. 1, which included parts of Ford and Meade Counties.

The Argus had printed complaints about the Town Company failing to offer adequate incentives for settlers to obtain lots and build homes and businesses in Wilburn. A new town company was apparently formed in September of 1886 to address this deficiency and others. Spirits were high in December of 1886.

Baptist and Methodist Episcopal services were held at the school. After the new schoolhouse was completed, the old building went up for sale on February 15, 1887. This is how Main Street looked around that time:

*Hand-Book of Ford County, Kansas,* 1887

The town’s layout was pretty straightforward.

*The Official State Atlas of Kansas,* 1887

On the county map, you can see the town of Wilburn was right on the Ford-Meade County line with the new boundaries.

The Argus reported on March 24, 1887 that THREE railroads were “reliably” coming to town: The main line of the D M & A would go to Wilburn and then branch off to the northwest and southwest, meaning a roundhouse and machine shops would be needed in Wilburn. AT & SF was to build a spur from Dodge to the coal fields in the Neutral Strip. The Rock Island was still a possibility since they planned to run their line north of their “present survey”. And the Chicago, Nebraska, Kansas and Northwestern was meant to arrive in Wilburn by the end of 1887 since the bonds had been approved by voters. In March of 1887, work was being done on that line 60 miles from Wilburn and the bonds stipulated completion by the end of year. The railroad prospects in Wilburn were being taken seriously, at least by some, in Dodge City.

G. H. Berry operated one of two grocery stores in Wilburn.

Shoppers could also find clothing bargains without leaving Wilburn.

Townspeople got their hopes up in August of 1887 when the Rock Island right-of-way man had dinner at the Wilburn Hotel. A new marshal was in town that September.

Wilburn merchants were covering all of the bases.

There was a lot of bickering amongst the small newspapers in Kansas. Since they all subscribed to one another’s publications, they engaged in the pre-internet equivalent of subtweeting. The first item about anarchists hanging was a joke about local Union Labor Party leader, Carey Smith. He was harmless but his statements were considered quite inflammatory outside of Ford County. The second one, I’m not terribly sure about and prefer not to investigate.

With all the talk of Wilburn becoming a rail hub, the town didn’t even make the official map in 1887. Incidentally, The Chicago, Kansas and Nebraska Railway Company was merged out of existence in June of 1888.

*Official Topographical Map of Kansas,* 1887

The last issue of The Wilburn Argus was published on December 29, 1887.

The paper didn’t close because the town folded. Rather, J. H. Clawson was tired of the critics and delinquent subscriptions. I see his point but in their defense, the typesetting and print quality were atrocious during his tenure. The local pages were virtually unreadable.

1887 ended without a railroad in Wilburn. By January of 1888, residents were becoming concerned because the Rock Island unexpectedly bypassed the town.

In February, it was rumored that the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad would run through Wilburn.

*The Dodge City Times,* February 9, 1888

In the meantime, the hardware store began ordering goods shipped on the Rock Island to Minneola and then had them delivered to Wilburn via wagon. Also, the town finally had a permanent doctor. Dr. Lamb opened his office in a building which had previously been a harness shop.

By April of 1888, there was talk amongst some residents of moving to a different town on a railroad line.

Two weeks later, “Romeo” submitted a claim that the Omaha, Kansas and El Paso would be running in Wilburn by January of 1889 and town lot prices were already spiking. But it didn’t seem that property owners were convinced, judging by the lengthy delinquent tax list from August of 1888. You will notice the Town Company still owned the majority of the lots.

*Ford County Republican,* August 22, 1888

Railroad bonds were on the Ford County ballot again in a special election held on December 11, 1888. This time, voters approved bonds to build the Omaha, Dodge City and Southern Railway Company. This railroad was proposed to run between Dodge City and Galveston, Texas with stops in Wilburn, Fowler, and Meade Center.

*The Bucklin Journal,* December 13, 1888

Once again hopeful, town residents began work on a creamery. By February of 1889, they had stored 50 tons of ice in preparation for its operation. The Fowler and Wilburn Creamery Company planned to open a creamery in Fowler with a separator station in Wilburn. The first load of Fowler butter was made in July but I didn’t see anything further about a Wilburn facility.

One of the primary terms of the railroad bond election in 1888 was a requirement that it be built by January of 1890. That never happened and by July, discouraged people were leaving Wilburn. The oats didn’t do well and there were many livestock losses due to lightning. By September, the town was without a preacher and relied on visiting preachers from neighboring towns.

By February of 1891, the idea of the O. D. C. & S. Railway was officially put to rest in the Dodge papers. Most of the money was coming from European investors. Unfortunately, there was a bit of a sovereign debt crisis which had serious ripple effects in the States. In addition, Dodge and Hays had a dispute over money and the whole deal disintegrated.

The wheat crop of 1891 was extremely good. The problem was finding people to get it out of the fields. The delinquent tax list for the Town of Wilburn was insanely long in 1892. George Cochran shipped two houses to Enid, Oklahoma in December of 1893.

*The Globe-Republican,* December 15, 1893

Although there were several prosperous farming and ranching families in the township, Wilburn proper was barely hanging on in the Spring of 1894.

*The Dodge City Democrat,* April 14, 1894

The livery stable was dismantled and shipped to Council Grove in February of 1895. Nearly 40 properties in Wilburn were up for tax sale that March. The same month, the townsite of Wilburn was vacated by an Act of the Kansas Legislature.

Levi Martin was still operating the Wilburn Hotel in September of 1895 but he moved to Fowler the following year. Lewis Horton put his store up for sale in July of 1897. He resigned as Postmaster that August and was replaced by Joseph Van Riper. Horton relocated to West Plains, Missouri and later Elmwood, Nebraska.

The post office, which claimed to serve about 200 people, moved to a spot across the road and about a quarter of a mile north of its original location in October of 1897.

The Wilburn Hotel building was moved to a site northeast of Meade in December of 1900.

This plat map from 1905 shows both the school and post office across the road from the original Wilburn townsite.

The Van Riper family operated the Wilburn Post Office until August 31, 1911. It was moved to Fowler in September.

*The Fowler Gazette,* September 15, 1911

The 1916 plat map shows the post office was gone but the school was still in place.

The Wilburn School was still open in April of 1924. The schoolhouse was listed as a voting precinct for Wilburn Township in 1932 election but I’m not certain how long the school remained active.

Wilburn Township is still mostly farm and ranchland. The 2020 Census listed only 78 inhabitants. I was just out there and that seems low. It makes me wonder if people didn’t participate for political or ideological reasons.

So yes, I did take some photos but not of the actual Wilburn townsite. Some very nice people live there and they preferred not to have their home appear on the interwebs. But I did get photos of the 1897 Wilburn Post Office site as well as the site of the Wilburn School.

Looking to the northeast, the Wilburn Post Office was near the trees.
Looking south, the Wilburn School was on the left and the townsite was on the right.
Approximate location of the schoolhouse

These photos were taken at Wilburn Cemetery, which is currently in Meade County. Most graves originally had wooden markers, which deteriorated over time. As a result, very few graves are marked but this cemetery is well maintained and often visited.

The Crooked Creek was full of water when I visited. Everything was green and it was plain to see what drew settlers to this area. I even got to experience the old timers’ frustrations with the road running north of town, nearly getting stuck in the silt with no mud in sight. What they would have given for four-wheel drive!

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August 7, 2023 0

Soule College Then and Now

In my post about the College of Western Kansas, I covered the Presbyterian stewardship of the campus. This time, I’ll explain how the property passed to the Methodists and ultimately, the Catholics, who were finally able to operate a successful academy.

After Asa Soule died in January of 1890, his son, Wilson, was appointed temporary administrator of his estate. Things were suspended in a weird limbo until William W Munsell was appointed the official executor in February of 1891. There were all sorts of wild ideas about what to do with the campus buildings.

The Intermediate Sanitarium Association was formed on August 17, 1891. It was a nice idea but didn’t go anywhere.

*The Dodge City Democrat,* August 22, 1891

In 1892, Munsell made a tentative deal with the National Bichloride of Gold Company to turn the campus into an addiction treatment facility, which appears to have been based on the discredited Keeley Cure.

The World’s Bichloride of Gold Institute Company was formed in Kansas on July 4, 1892 but it was registered in Herington rather than Dodge City. Instead, the dormitory was rented to attorney F. A. Mitchell in June of 1892. It may not have been the safest housing arrangement for a toddler.

Soule College Association of the Methodist Episcopal Church was formed on October 23, 1893. Directors were Elbert H Vaughan, William W Munsell, Benjamin S Williams, Herbert Whitworth, and J. H. Crawford. Heirs Wilson Soule, Fannie Soule, and Marilla Soule deeded the college property over to the local Methodist Episcopal Church with the conditions that school start no later than September of 1894, that the name be Soule College, and that it maintain at least three professors each term.

*The Globe-Republican,* January 26, 1894

Throughout the spring and summer, preparations were made for Soule College to open by the September deadline.

The Globe-Republican, April 13, 1894
The Globe-Republican, April 13, 1894

The first term opened on September 4, 1894 with 23 students and a faculty of seven.

The Globe-Republican, September 7, 1894
The Globe-Republican, September 7, 1894

In those days, students could enter whenever they were ready rather than being forced to wait for the beginning of the next term. By the end of September, the student body had grown to more than 35.

The first commencement was held on May 29, 1895 with music furnished by Beeson’s Orchestra.

The Globe-Republican, May 31, 1895
The Globe-Republican, May 31, 1895

So this is interesting! Skip down to the reversion clause which stipulated the name be Soule College as long as the grantors lived. Wilson Soule was killed in a carriage accident in July of 1894 and his wife, Frances “Fannie” (Parkhurst) Soule, died of pneumonia in February of 1895. They were literally waiting for the last to die and Asa Soule’s widow, Marilla, refused to comply.

*Western Methodist,* (Wichita, Kan.) March 26, 1896

For the school year ending in June of 1896, Soule College reported 122 students and a faculty salary of $7,200. By comparison, Washburn College reported 214 students and a faculty salary of $13,575. The college operated on a shoestring budget from the very beginning. A Ladies Auxiliary was formed for fundraising and the school pledged they would not incur debt. But there were other troubles brewing.

*The Topeka State Journal,* December 21, 1896

Vaughan was accused of making “free silver” speeches during the election. The problem with that accusation was the pastor rule book contained no language about taking a political cause to the pulpit. Vaughan was acquitted in March of 1897 but the committee “condemned the indiscreet management of Soule College.” Vaughan kept his job but the pettiness continued.

The Soule College Aid Association was formed on April 26, 1897. Directors were M. W. Sutton, R. W. Evans, L. R. Miller, Dr. T. L. McCarty, J. H. Churchill, B. F. Milton, E. H. Madison, Emma T Vaughan, Jennie M Williams, Hallie N Hard, Esther L Crawford, Emma A Miller, S Emily Whitworth, Rebecca T Finley, and Estelle W Gilbert.

The college needed all the aid it could get and started losing instructors after the 1897-98 school year. Vaughan was constantly trying to cobble together funds to keep the school running.

The Southwest Methodist Episcopal Conference reversed course and began recognizing Soule College as a conference school in March of 1900. I believe this had something to do with Marilla Soule redoing the deed to remove the restrictions.

The community took up a collection for coal to heat the buildings in January of 1901. It was far from enough and the Conference closed Soule College in April of that year.

Undeterred, Vaughan and Rev. Le Master took the faculty and students to the public school in Jetmore. The Holton Recorder reported in October of 1901 that Mrs. Farley and Miss Ella Barber would be teaching in Jetmore during the Winter term.

Meanwhile in Dodge City, the Catholics expressed interest in purchasing the campus as early as November of 1901. Bishop Hennessy later told a reporter the Wichita Diocese was very interested in buying Soule College at the time but had no means of maintaining it.

*The Meade County News,* November 28, 1901

It’s unclear what transpired over the winter months but by Spring of 1902, the Conference was advertising the school as being operational in Dodge City.

*The Jacksonian,* (Cimarron, Kan.), August 14, 1902

The rivalry between Soule College and Southwest College in Winfield was a bit spicy. Southwest was favored by the Methodists and apparently did everything by the book so they got the funding. The Soule trustees evidently refused to cede complete control to the Conference so funds were withheld.

The Collegian, (Winfield, Kan.) October, 1904

This old promo drawing, which was printed in newspapers all over the state, was still being used with the not-yet-erected dormitory in 1905.

Vaughan attempted to finish the buildings with the help of Andrew Carnegie.

Carnegie_IIA4_Soule-College_KS Download

By 1908, the campus had increased to 200 acres. Soule College reported having no debt and all lawsuits settled. The property was estimated to be worth $100,000 but the upper stories of the buildings still hadn’t been completed.

Soule College had been trying to gain recognition and funding from the Southwest Kansas Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church for several years. After passing the hot potato from one committee to the next, things finally came to a head in April of 1909. The Conference washed their hands of Soule College and stated no ME church in Kansas should offer its pulpit for funding requests. They wanted the deed to the property and a big board of trustees with full control. I really think a lot of it stemmed from their conflict with Vaughan and them wanting to fire him. Because of the way things were set up, they had no authority to do so.

*Haskell County Republican,* April 9, 1909

The faculty was working without pay and there wasn’t enough money to maintain the buildings.

In 1911, Dodge City offered the Soule College grounds for the new “state hospital for the insane.”

*The Topeka State Journal,* March 6, 1911

The situation continued to deteriorate into the beginning of 1912.

*The Dodge City Globe,* January 11, 1912

More information came to light about the structural damage.

The Dodge City Kansas Journal, January 19, 1912
The Dodge City Kansas Journal, January 19, 1912
The Dodge City Kansas Journal, January 19, 1912
The Dodge City Kansas Journal, January 19, 1912
The Dodge City Kansas Journal, January 19, 1912
The Dodge City Kansas Journal, January 19, 1912

I never found a logical explanation about the unused goods which had been donated by Montgomery Ward. Perhaps the few people trying to keep things going were just completely overwhelmed.

*The Dodge City Globe,* January 25, 1912

The Conference convened in March and decided to sell Soule College.

The Dodge City Kansas Journal, August 23, 1912
The Dodge City Kansas Journal, August 23, 1912

After the August 23 article was published, it was denied that a deal had been reached. The title to the property had never been properly addressed and it was unclear whether the Methodists could meet the terms requested by the Catholics. Everything was settled by September of 1912 and Bishop Hennessy exchanged $8,000 for the keys and a deed for the 40-acre plot on October 2. Reverend Vaughan moved out later that week and renovations in the dormitory building began the following week.

I should probably note the difference between “closed” and “practically closed” as it pertains to Soule College. Several articles claimed the college had been closed for several years but that was definitely not the case. Reverend Vaughan kept the school somewhat operational through what seemed to be sheer force of will. Many people claimed it was not a legitimate educational institution, as no proper instruction was being given, and I am unable to make an argument about that. But it is absolutely verifiable that the college had some staff and some students throughout the turbulent years of Methodist occupation.

The trustee sale was quite an event. The best piano brought $150 and the Methodist choir served FIFTY POUNDS of ham and fifteen pounds of coffee.

*The Dodge City Globe,* November 7, 1912

Work continued on the buildings throughout the Spring and Summer of 1913.

The Dodge City Daily Globe, April 23, 1913
The Dodge City Daily Globe, April 23, 1913
The Dodge City Daily Globe, April 23, 1913
The Dodge City Daily Globe, April 23, 1913

Soule College reopened as St. Mary of the Plains Academy on September 9, 1913. Only day students were accepted the first year because the campus was not ready for boarders. The dormitory building was temporarily used for classes while work continued in the main building. Equipment was shipped from a closed college at Abilene. A bus line was established from Dodge to the campus.

Once boarding began, only girls were admitted. A separate parochial school for boys was established at Sacred Heart.

Light gray stucco was added to the brick exteriors in 1914 and electric lights were installed along with the cross atop the tower.

The dormitory was used as an emergency hospital during the influenza epidemic.

The Catholic Advance, January 25, 1919
The Catholic Advance, January 25, 1919

This is St. Mary of the Plains Academy’s graduating class of 1931.

City water was piped to the school grounds in 1936, which made it easier for the landscaping to be revived.

As you can see from this aerial photo, the campus layout strayed somewhat from the initial drawings.

The campus buildings were severely damaged by a tornado on May 10, 1942. Several photos of the campus before and after the tornado can be found here.

The Sisters of St. Joseph opened a high school at Mt. St. Mary’s Convent in Wichita to accommodate the displaced students. Collections were gathered to rebuild the school but construction would have to wait due to World War II building restrictions. Once building was allowed to resume, a new site was chosen for St. Mary of the Plains College east of Avenue A.

These photos taken from Hennessy Street looking north show the approximate location of the ~~main entrance~~ desire path to Soule College. Hennessy Street is located roughly where the south edge of the old pond began. Give or take. (Location updated for clarity. I wasn’t thinking about the pillars at the very far south end of the drive.)

It was a wonderful idea to have a college in Dodge City to serve the rural population. Unfortunately, it was an idea far ahead of its time. The Catholics did a wonderful job with SMPC until that pesky truck driving school ruined everything. That, of course, is another story for another day.

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July 31, 2023 1

Sam Stubbs House Then and Now

705 Fifth Avenue

This famous Dodge City home was dismantled before I was born and I never made the connection between photos I had seen of the Sam Stubbs House and the large lot at the northwest corner of Fifth Avenue and Spruce Street. It wasn’t until I found this excerpt while reading up on William W Munsell that I began looking into a supposed arsonist.

*Dodge City Daily Globe,* November 22, 1916

Who tried to burn what now? Let’s rewind.

Nicholas B Klaine was a politician, judge, postmaster, and newspaper publisher. My great-grandmother had this photo in her collection. Klaine is the one with the beard.

Anyway, Klaine (not an arsonist) built this home at the corner of Fifth and Spruce in 1885.

Klaine sold the house to D. F. and Ella T Owens in October of 1887. You may recall that Mr. and Mrs. Owens previously traded properties with Chalk and Ida Beeson. D. F. Owens was a pastor at the Methodist Episcopal Church who also replaced Klaine at The Dodge City Times when the latter moved to Cimarron. It was kind of a strange sequence of events. Klaine sold both the house and the newspaper to Owens, who then sold the Times to Frank Akins just a couple weeks later. Akins decided the newspaper business wasn’t for him and sold it back to Owens in November of 1887.

Owens stayed on as Editor until the end of August or beginning of September 1888. He and Ella left for points east on September 7.

*The Dodge City Times,* September 13, 1888

While they were away from Dodge, their home was destroyed by fire.

I cannot imagine Owens had anything to do with the fire, considering it was only partially insured.

*Dodge City Democrat,* September 15, 1888

In addition, Owens immediately began making plans to rebuild. Frank Weston of Weston and Trost designed a fourteen-room home using the original structure’s footprint.

*The Dodge City Times,* September 20, 1888

Winter obviously isn’t the best time to build so it was slow going for a while.

*Ford County Republican,* February 20, 1889

A long while!

I really don’t know why they went to the trouble of rebuilding that magnificent house, only to rent it to someone else. Maybe it was the fallout from the colossal failure of South Dodge that I should finish writing about.

*The Dodge City Times,* September 19, 1889

Mrs. J. T. Metcalf operated a private boarding house in the giant home which appears to have been damaged by a frozen water pipe in January of 1890.

The Owens family relocated to Arkansas City and Mr. Owens was seriously injured in a hunting accident. His left arm was amputated above the wrist in February of 1890.

Owens went “east” to have surgery on his arm in May of 1890 and the family settled in Kingman that June. The Metcalfs closed the boarding house at the end of August and moved back into their South Dodge home. William Munsell purchased the property in September of 1890 and renovations began immediately.

*The Globe-Republican,* September 17, 1890

A large veranda was constructed and ornamental details were added. You’ll notice the second-story porch to the right was originally open.

Photo courtesy Kansas Heritage Center Photo Collection

The house was ready by the first of October.

*The Dodge City Democrat,* October 4, 1890

The Munsell family moved to Evanston, Illinois in April of 1894 and rented the house to Albert and May Reeves in May of 1895.

In January of 1898, the Reeves and Stubbs families traded residences. Sam and Dora Stubbs had been renting the Morris Collar residence, which many of you will remember as the big house behind the Shangri-La Motel. Reeves bought the entire Collar farm so Stubbs rented the Munsell house.

*The Globe-Republican,* January 27, 1898

Stubbs purchased the Munsell property in May of 1899.

By 1906, the Stubbs family offered rooms for rent in the large home. In 1916, Sam Sr. built three bungalows on the southwest end of the property. 608 W Spruce Street was occupied by J. W. Gilbert, 610 by son Sam Jr. and his wife, Lucille, and 612 by son Sidney and his wife, Agnes.

*Dodge City Daily Globe,* March 17, 1916

In January of 1924, Sam deeded the house at 612 W Spruce over to his son, Sidney. The other bungalows were still part of the larger Stubbs parcel at that time.

The 1926 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map shows a large frame dwelling at what was then 703 Fifth Avenue and the three bungalows on Spruce Street plus a large garage at the north property line.

Stubbs sold the property at Fifth and Spruce to R. B. Fegan of Junction City in January of 1926 and it was again used as a boarding house. The two remaining bungalows were included in the sale, although they were later parceled out and sold individually.

It appears things didn’t go well without a local owner and the house was empty by 1933.

*Dodge City Daily Globe,* August 22, 1933

By 1936, the house was owned by the Railroad Building and Loan Association of Newton and leased to Mrs. T. C. Gish, who sublet apartments in the house until approximately 1942.

William C and E May (Egbert) Miller bought the house at a tax sale around 1944. In August of 1945, May received approval to build a new location for her Neighborhood Pantry grocery store on the property but I’m not sure it was ever done.

At some point, May opened a care home in the large house. Her obituary stated that she operated the home for more than 30 years but the first mention I found of this establishment was in 1957.

*Polk’s Dodge City (Ford County, Kansas) Directory*, 1957

This photo shows a bit of detail at the entrance and the upstairs porch which had been enclosed on the right. To make up for it, outdoor access was added to the roof of the veranda.

William Miller died in July of 1961, leaving May to care for that enormous house as well as the residents of the nursing home.

*Dodge City Daily Globe,* Kansas Centennial Edition, July 1961

Throughout the 1960s, the condition of the home and grounds continued to deteriorate.

May retired and closed the nursing home in the early 1970s.

I’m not sure I would have described the house as “old-fashioned” but that’s just me.

*Dodge City Daily Globe,* January 15, 1973

This house was loved by many locals and it was very nearly saved. Unfortunately, there was a lot of termite damage and other issues which sealed its fate. This photo from August of 1974 shows the home being dismantled.

Fortunately, the house was taken down with care and historic fixtures and doors were removed for use elsewhere. The large double entry doors were installed in the old Rock Island depot, which is now a residence on Avenue A.

*Dodge City Daily Globe,* December 8, 1977

And here’s the corner of Fifth and Spruce now. Apologies for the lazy Google Street View image. I didn’t feel like braving the tropical humidity to photograph a parking lot. If you go back in time to 2012, though, you’ll be wondering what the heck happened to that nice sidewalk.

As for the 1916 newspaper article which sent me down this rabbit hole? It was written 28 years after the fire, likely influenced by the memories of a woman who heard stories about an incident that occurred when she was four years old. It may have been arson but I have found no hint of D. F. Owens being involved. I’ll get into the Owens backstory a bit more in a future post.

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July 24, 2023 1