| Title |
Title
Title
Kansas City Power & Light Building
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| Content type |
Content type
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| Description |
Description
Postcard of the Kansas City Power and Light Building at Baltimore Avenue and 14th Street.
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| Barcode |
Barcode
20000622
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| Creator Name |
Creator Name
Creator: Ray, Mrs. Sam (Mildred Kitrell)
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| Item Type |
Item Type
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| Date(s) |
Date(s)
1931
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| Subject |
Subject
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| Subject (local) |
Subject (local)
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| Digital Collection(s) |
Digital Collection(s)
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| Related Item |
Related Item
Mrs. Sam Ray Postcard Collection (SC58)
URL
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| Note(s) |
Note(s)
Note Type
biographical/historical
A 1931 postcard in color pictures the new Kansas City Power & Light Co. building, 481 feet high, at the northwest corner of Baltimore and 14th Street. A news story of the day stated: Fifty years of electrical growth in Kansas City brings us this achievement: Missouri's tallest building...one of the milestones for the light company under the leadership of Joseph F. Porter. The 31-story structure was surmounted by a 97-foot tower, its apex a gigantic pillar of changing colored lights, glowing at night like a monstrous jewel, and visible miles away. A license was granted Nov. 14, 1881, by the American Electric Light Co. of Connecticut to several different Kansas Citians. Intense competition marked the early years. Between 1886 and 1890 Kansas City granted 11 franchises to seven different companies, all permitting the distribution of electrical energy. The result was costly duplication of equipment. At first there were no meters and electrical service was sold at flat rates. Rate wars were common. Financial resources of the firms were depleted and several failed. Eventually it was recognized that competing in certain utility fields was against the public interest. The Kansas City Power & Light Co. represented a final merger of these early companies. The building pictured is owned today by Gaylord Enterprises. The Kansas City Power & Light Co. leases and occupies floors 1 through 7 and 11 through 14. The balance of space in the building is occupied by other tenants. Kansas City Times, December 30, 1984.
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| Part |
Part
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| Shelf Locator |
Shelf Locator
SC58
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| Use and Reproduction |
Use and Reproduction
Reproduction (printing, downloading, or copying) of images from Kansas City Public Library requires permission and payment for the following uses, whether digital or print: publication; reproduction of multiple copies; personal, non-educational purposes; and advertising or commercial purposes. Please order prints or digital files and pay use fees through this website. All images must be properly credited to: "Missouri Valley Special Collections, Kansas City Public Library, Kansas City, Missouri." Images and texts may be reproduced without prior permission only for purposes of temporary, private study, scholarship, or research. Those using these images and texts assume all responsibility for questions of copyright and privacy that may arise.
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