Two of the oldest office buildings of Kansas City, Kan., are pictured on an old post card in black and white, mailed from Kansas City in the spring of 1909. The two buildings are joined by the artist in a decorative scroll, no doubt because they occupied opposite corners at 6th and Minnesota, heart of downtown Kansas City, Kan. Shown at left is the Husted Building, at the northwest corner of 6th and Minnesota. Kansas City Kan., public library records show it was erected in 1890-91 by J.D. Husted, president to the Husted Investment Company. One tenant was the law firm of McAnany, Alden & Van Cleave. Today the firm still functions with third generations of both the McAnany and Van Cleave families practicing law, but at a new location, in the Security National Bank Building at 7th and Minnesota. The Husted Building, as pictured, was destroyed by fire in 1918. E.S. McAnany, of the early firm, heard news of the fire and ran for his car, hoping to reach the scene in time to save valuable law books. He found his car had two flat tires, but decided to drive it anyway. Tires were not as dependable in the early days of automobiles. Some of the old law books on the firm's shelves today were ones rescued in the fire. The Jupiter Building now occupies the old Husted site. The Portsmouth Building, at the right, was built in 1892 at the southwest corner of 6th and Minnesota. Today the seven-story building housing the Commercial National Bank is on the site. This building was erected in 1926. The street car, on the City Park line, ran from 10th and Main in Kansas City, Mo., crossed the Intercity Viaduct, ran west on Minnesota to 18th, then to Central and on to the city park. Kansas City Times, July 16, 1982.
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