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| Title | Smith Bakery |
| Description | Postcard of Smith's Steam Bakery at 18th and Cherry Streets |
| Historical Article | Smith's Steam bakery, with B. Howard Smith, president, is listed in Kansas City directories of the 1880s and '90s at several different locations.
Bryce B. Smith, young son of this pioneer baker, learned the business early, and in 1893, when only 15 years old, talked his father into a campaign of Buster Brown Bread. A Chicago advertiser with a midget and dog for rent put on a promotional scheme, which proved highly successful. Later bread under the Holsum and Bond labels was baked there.
The sturdy 3-story red-brick building pictured here was erected at Eighteenth and Cherry streets when the expanding business which eventually grew to more that 30 bakeries-three here-required facilities.
In 1926 the bakery chain was purchased by the General Baking company of New York, for 5.5 million dollars, Bryce Smith stayed on as vice-president of the firm. He was mayor of Kansas City from 1930 until 1939.
The New York firm closed the Kansas City operation in the summer of 1958, and the old building stood idle for several years.
Today it still stands, and is an inspiring example of the talents of architects who convert old structures into new.
Unitog company purchased the aging structure in 1963 and has totally modernized the entire building. Even the wing at the left side of the picture, where a horse and bread wagon stand, is rehabilitated and now houses the firm's trucks.
Kansas City Star
August 9, 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 | Businesses
Buildings
Bakeries
Smith Baking Company
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| Digital Format | JPEG |
| Barcode | 20000078 |
| Repository | Missouri Valley Special Collections, Kansas City Public Library, Kansas City, Missouri |
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