Captioned Main Street, looking north from 12th, Kansas City Mo., this early 20th century postcard pictures downtown here in 1908. The photographic scene was evidently made from a second-story location and shows a very busy place, with a maze of light poles and wires, street cars and tracks and hundreds of shoppers on sidewalks and streets. The large sign of The Nebraska Clothing Cloaks Boots & Shoes is painted on the side of a tall building midway in the block. City directories list this firm at 1113-1115 Main Street, from 1903-1908, with C.E. Woodward and A.L. Askanas as managers. The National Bank of Commerce building at 10th and Walnut stands tall in the background. This early skyscraper was built in 1907 at a cost of $1.5 million according to Carrie Whitney's history of Kansas City. A handwritten note from Beulah C. reads: I saw Mrs. Fryer, Mrs. Schnarf and Bernice in Bernheimer's today. Bernheimer's, just out of sight in the picture, was at 11th and Main, at the northwest corner. It later became the George B. Peck department store. Today the old Peck store building has been completely renovated inside and out. Old architectural features such as the plaster moldings inside have been uncovered and restored. The Missouri Bank & Trust Co. occupies the ground floor and mezzanine. The remainder of the building is being rented as office space. Parking facilities are to the rear on Baltimore Avenue. The card was mailed from Kansas City Nov. 7, 1909, to Miss Lela Riley in McAlester, Okla. Kansas City Times, February 14, 1986.
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