Long ago on independence square (Kansas City, Washington: county, map of, date)

[WCHS'59]

Originally Posted by SilverDoc

Bill's Train Shop shared that part of the building for a time. I'm not sure of the dates. By the way, the address should have said 111 E. Lexington, not 11 E. Lexington. Butcher Real Estate had previously been upstairs above Katz, but that was before my time. My great grandfather had been in real estate since 1905! I have his last brokers license that was issued in 1978! Also, I just dug out the last remaining Butcher's Real Estate from my garage, and took a pic of it. If anyone would be interested, I could post that photo.

Yes, please post that photo. I guessed 111 E when I looked at ground level via Google Maps. That whole area of Lexington from Main to Noland was bustling when I was a kid.

The taxidermist further down past Lynn Street on the same side of Lexington was there when I was a young man.

[MRG Dallas]

Originally Posted by SilverDoc

Bill's Train Shop shared that part of the building for a time. I'm not sure of the dates. By the way, the address should have said 111 E. Lexington, not 11 E. Lexington. Butcher Real Estate had previously been upstairs above Katz, but that was before my time. My great grandfather had been in real estate since 1905! I have his last brokers license that was issued in 1978! Also, I just dug out the last remaining Butcher's Real Estate from my garage, and took a pic of it. If anyone would be interested, I could post that photo.

Doc,

The lower left of the pic says Dec. 1963 (pic title.jpg) In 1959 there were two Butcher real estate listings at 111: Harry & Elmer. There was also an optometrist, Otto Asel, listed there. That same 111 address goes back with Harry T. Butcher Real Estate to at least 1948. Back then there was also a Sidney Chapman Real Estate, as well as a barber, either Woody's Barber Shop (50) or Murlin Cox, Barber (48). I have yet to catch a year when the train shop was located there, so it must have opened in the early 60s.

[WCHS'59]

Originally Posted by MRG Dallas

Doc,

The lower left of the pic says Dec. 1963 (pic title.jpg) In 1959 there were two Butcher real estate listings at 111: Harry & Elmer. There was also an optometrist, Otto Asel, listed there. That same 111 address goes back with Harry T. Butcher Real Estate to at least 1948. Back then there was also a Sidney Chapman Real Estate, as well as a barber, either Woody's Barber Shop (50) or Murlin Cox, Barber (48). I have yet to catch a year when the train shop was located there, so it must have opened in the early 60s.

MRG, do you see a hobby shop at the end of Lexington just before Noland Road? It would have been on the north side with an even number. There was one there in the late forties. The building is long gone.

[MRG Dallas]

Originally Posted by WCHS'59

MRG, do you see a hobby shop at the end of Lexington just before Noland Road? It would have been on the north side with an even number. There was one there in the late forties. The building is long gone.

1948: 132 E. Lexington . . the Sporting Goods Repair shop? Nothing else comes close in name/type of business.

Nothing for 1946.

1950: Same address but here listed as Cook's Sporting Goods Repair . . . . ring a bell?

[WCHS'59]

Not sure whether that is it. I remember there was a model speed boat in the window and I also think, if it is the same place, it is where I got my crystal radio.

[SilverDoc]

Originally Posted by MRG Dallas

Doc,

The lower left of the pic says Dec. 1963 (pic title.jpg) In 1959 there were two Butcher real estate listings at 111: Harry & Elmer. There was also an optometrist, Otto Asel, listed there. That same 111 address goes back with Harry T. Butcher Real Estate to at least 1948. Back then there was also a Sidney Chapman Real Estate, as well as a barber, either Woody's Barber Shop (50) or Murlin Cox, Barber (48). I have yet to catch a year when the train shop was located there, so it must have opened in the early 60s.

Harry was my Great Grandfather who owned the business, (standing in the door way, who incidentally only had one arm) and Elmer was his son, his salesman for the real estate office, and was my Great Uncle. My Great Uncle Elmer had helped open and worked at Firestone on Main and Kansas. I don't have any memories of the train shop.

[SilverDoc]

Originally Posted by WCHS'59

Yes, please post that photo. I guessed 111 E when I looked at ground level via Google Maps. That whole area of Lexington from Main to Noland was bustling when I was a kid.

The taxidermist further down past Lynn Street on the same side of Lexington was there when I was a young man.

Here's the sign:

[WCHS'59]

A good ole CLifton telephone number.

[MRG Dallas]

Originally Posted by SilverDoc

Here's the sign:

I've noticed how few chains there were back then: fast food, realtors, just a few supermarkets. Lots of entrepreneurs in the days before franchising became popular.

[MRG Dallas]

Originally Posted by WCHS'59

A good ole CLifton telephone number.

Independence numbers (and probably the whole SWB Telephone area) went from 6 to 7 digit numbers some time between 1954 and 1956.