Note the Frisco cookskin in the window just right of the main entrance. This is the Kansas City Board of Trade in 1906.
It took good eyes to see it in the first view of the picture. It was not so tough in the blow-up. Shorpy is a source for very-high-resolution TOTC photographs. If you are researching something, and Shorpy has the picture, you are truly in luck. While I am sure there is a reasonably fair geographic distribution of the scenes, many come from the eastern US. For that reason, Shorpy links crop up frequently with Anthracite carrier equipment (railcars, yards, even tugboats!) as subjects. George
I guess this would be a downtown ticket office, like that of an airline or travel agency of today. If anyone has a period timetable, the address is probably listed. Tom
I would guess by the lack of automobiles on the streets that this photo is pre-1900's. Probably around 1898 by they way the ladies are dressed. And notice the horse drawn cart and streetcars! FriscoGeorge
I see the FRISCO SYSTEM logo in the window, and the ERIE as well, but what's the one located nearest the entry? Looks like an old IC diamond.
Did you notice the streetcars passing both in front and on the far side of the building? Lots of great detail in this photo. Gordon
Just to the right of the building's fifth floor windows, there's another grand building off in the distance. Also Draughon's Business college at the far right of the picture. And several windows on the 6th floor (Viewer's right) with "Pv" or "Py" signs. Tom
Charlie Dix and all the rest of you are correct. A Shorpy picture is a treasure-trove, isn't it? I think the upper right windows letters are "Pv." Could this be the grain-handler Peavey Company, now called Gavilon, LLC? Having the Frisco (Erie and IC?) on the bottom floor doubtless aided their grain transport at the time of the picture. George
The diamond logo to the left of the front entrance is for sure Illinois Central. Like George, I also though of Peavey for the Pv initials. An old customer of mine up in Alton, Il. Ken
If Wikipedia is to be trusted, the KCBT was located at 8th & Wyandotte until 1925. This puts it right smack downtown. I've also seen photos on the KC Public Library site of the "Fairfax Building" just to the southeast of the building that Charlie has shared (11th & Baltimore). The Fairfax Building that had 2nd story windows decorated with not only "Frisco Lines" coonskins, but also the "FFF" circle logo. Incidentally, it also had Santa Fe signage in the ground floor windows, along with signage for Trans World Airlines adjacent to the Frisco signs. In both cases, I'd concur with Tom that both served as downtown ticket offices. Best Regards,
The replica January 1910 Official Guide has a "List of General and Traveling Agents and Representatives" for the "Frisco Lines and Chicago and Eastern Illinois Railroad." This was after the 1906 date Charlie Dix posted with the picture, but clearly during the Yoakum era. The entry for Kansas City mentions five individuals and an office at "200 West Ninth Street." Inspection on a Google Map shows this is on the southwest corner of the block with Eighth and Wyandotte at the northeast corner. The block now appears to be a parking lot (sic transit...).
Another good one in the Shorpy.com railroad collection: "Meet me in St Louie, 1904", SLSF 1008 heading Frisco's premier train serving the 1904 World's Fair in St Louis under the StLUS trainshed. Ken
Brand new engine! You gotta love that full windowed RPO. My grandfather took the FRISCO from Joplin to St. Louis in 1904 to see the FAIR and met two sweet girls from Elsberry, MO. Elizabeth Nelson and Emily Jane Mayes. Elizabeth would become my grandmother and "Emma" my great aunt. I have the program he picked up at the fair with her address in Elsberry written on it. Awwww. RBob
