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Grand Avenue, South from 12th Street
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| Title | Grand Avenue, South from 12th Street |
| Description | Postcard of Grand Avenue, South from 12th Street |
| Historical Article | The photograph of the intersection of Twelfth street and Grand avenue, taken in 1909, shows three street cars on Grand and the cow catcher of an approaching eastbound street car (right foreground). A horse and buggy and two automobiles prove there were other ways of getting downtown.
Over-sidewalk and awning signs along the street indicate a variety of business houses: Yale's Casino (1200 Grand); Elias Hermer, Clothier(1203 Grand); The Famous, Furniture, Isaac Gotlieb and Albert C. Wurmster, Proprietors (1210 Grand). A large clock is visible at the top of the 5-story Famous building.
Across the street (left) is the round sign of E.O. Rogers, Buffet & Saloon (1203 Grand); Harris & Goar's, Jewelers, Cash & Credit (1207 Grand), and farther south at 1217 Grand the well-remembered King Joy Lo Chop Suey Restaurant, Lum Lock, Manager.
Grand avenue has always been an important thoroughfare. In pioneer days thousands of wagons engaged in the south-western trade (9,948 in 1857) had rumbled over this road, then known as Market street.
Theodore Case wrote of 1857 visit to the City of Kansas, Only one street, 'Market Street' which later became Grand avenue was cut through to the levee from the south and could be used for business locations; on the rest the grades were still too steep and the streets oppressively narrow.
Smithies, saloons & a few stores straggled along 'Market Street,' ending in what seems to have been a little slum of Irish immigrants. South of the crest of the bluffs, more shops and saloons were joined by residences, in several of which room and board were offered.
Praise and thanks should go the Col. E. Milton McGee, who insisted that Grand avenue be built wide enough so that a driver could turn his horse and buggy around without cramping the wheels and backing. His wish was granted and from that day the street has been considered downtown's handsomest.
Kansas City Times
June 21, 1969
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| Author | Ray, Mrs. Sam (Mildred)
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| Item Type | Postcard |
| Collection | Mrs. Sam Ray Postcard Collection (SC58)
See finding aid: http://localhistory.kclibrary.org/u?/Local,36981 |
| Location | SC58 |
| Local Subject | Grand Avenue
Streets
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| Digital Format | JPEG |
| Barcode | 20000070 |
| Repository | Missouri Valley Special Collections, Kansas City Public Library, Kansas City, Missouri |
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