Buchanan County, Missouri - Chapter 27: Industries, Past and Present, 1904

Hemp Raising, Milling and Pork Packing - Breweries - The First Foundry - Furniture Factory - The Native Lumber Industry - Distilleries - The Starch Factory - The Stove Works, Tobacco Factory and Steel Car Works - Other Industries That Flourished and Faded - The Old-Time Hotels of St. Ioseph.

In i'e\ie\ving the industries of the past it will not he improper to speak of hemp tirst, because of the prominence of this product in the early days. Hemp was the great staple before the war. The late Dr. Silas McDonald of St. Joseph claimed the distinctit^n of ha\ ing produced the first crop of hemp in the Platte Purchase. In 1840 he procured seed from Clay County, and he sold the yield to Charles A. Perry, who was then located at Weston, at $80 per ton. Nothing raised in the country, either before its introduction or since its abandonment, paid so well as hemp. The average price for years was $100 per ton, and the average yield per acre 800 pounds. Aside from the remunerative character of the crop, many advantages contributed to its popularity. P)eing invarial^ly cut before it went to seed, it did not, as with other crops, impoverish the soil ; indeed, it was a generally admitted fact that from the decomposition of the foliage, old hemp land, instead of deteriorating in quality from constant cropping, steadily improved, and 1,000 pounds to the acre on such lands was no uncommon yield. Much of the hemp was manufactured into rope, but the most of it was shipped in bales to St. Louis and Louis\ille. The decline of the hemp-raising industry was due to several causes. Hemp breaking was hard work and the abolition of slavery made it difficult to secure labor for this. Hemp rope was formerly used as ties for cotton bales and for making sails for ships. The in\-ention of the hoop-iron cotton tie. the sub.stitution of steam for sails o]i vessels and the introduction of cheaper fibers for rope and twine, took hemp from the head of

Milling was the pioneer industry, and the primitive mill generally formed the nucleus of a settlement. The earh' mills of Buchanan County were located along the streams, water furnishing the motive power. Going to mill in those days, when there were no roads, no bridges, no ferries, and scarcely any convenience for traveling, was no small task, where so many streams were to be crossed, and such a trip was often attended with great danger when the streams were swollen. Generally the grain was packed on horses to the mill. In cases where the mill was operated by horse power, each patron furnished his own power.

In 1838, Harrison Whetson built a mill on the Platte River, in Platte township, and operated it until 1843, when it was bought by John Bretz, who held it until it was consumed by- fire on February 28, 1845. It was at once rebuilt on the opposite side of the river in Jackson township. In 1857 the mill passed into the hands of William M. Matney. In 1867 it was destroyed by fire and rebuilt, and still stands, being operated yet by Mr. Matney and known as Matney's mill.

It is generally conceded that the first mill in Crawford townsliip was Clowser's, operated by John Clowser. The site of this mill was two miles east of Halleck. It was destroyed by a great freshet in 1858. Dr. Silas McDonald erected the first steam mill in the township, which has long since passed out of existence. Edward M. Davidson also built a steam saw and grist mill, which was destroyed by fire in 1868, after having been operated for 17 years. In 1856 Brown & McClanahan built a steam sawmill north of Halleck. This was converted into a grist mill by Daniel Clowser, and in 1865 passed to Faucett Ferrill, who made a famous flouring mill of it. It was destroyed by fire in 1 88 1. Nathan Turner built a mill in 1838 in the same neighborhood, but it was not successful.

Stephen Field built the first mill in Bloomington township in 1838. It stood three miles from Dekalb and was operated by horse power. Later on John T. Martin built a water-power mill on Sugar Creek, which was afterwards converted into a steam mill and operated by Philip Guerner, who also carded wool. The building is still in existence. In i860 J. H. and B. Sampson erected a mill on Contrary Creek, two miles northeast of DeKalb. A sawmill was connected therewith. The mill is still in existence, but not in operation.

by Flannery & Son on Lost Creek, which stream supplied power. Nothing remains of this mill, nor of a small cornmill and distillery operated during the same period by Sylvester Hays, better known in those days as "Boss." M. H. and S. F. Floyd built a good steam mill at Rushville in 1868, which burned in 1873. The Mc- Farland mill at Rushville was built in 1875.

Agency township had a mill as early as 1838. It was located two miles above Agency Ford, on the Platte River, and was known as Dixon's mill, its builders being Benjamin and James Dixon and James Gilmore. It ceased to exist many years ago. In 1864 Smith Brothers built a mill at Agency which afterwards passed into the hands of Boone & Yates, and is still in operation. V. C. Cooley built a mill on the Platte River, three miles southeast of Agency, which stood in 1880, but has since disappeared.

Washington township had a mill on Contrary Creek in 1840, owned by Waymire & Gilmore, of which nothing remains. Isaac Waymire owned a mill on One Hundred and Two River in the early days, where Corby's mill now stands. The old Campbell mill on the Platte River was purchased by Charles Czech in 1877 and remodeled. The proprietor failed several years ago and the mill was afterward destroyed by fire. Corby's mill, at the crossing of One Hundred and Two River, east of the city, is the only one of the old water mills that remains as it was built. It was erected in 1852 by the late John Corby at a heavy expense. It had been an early ambition with ]\Ir. Corby to be the owner of a good mill, such as he had seen in Ireland when a lad, where the prosperous miller was a man of high reputation in the community. WHien Mr. Corby had accumulated a large fortune in other lines, he set about to realize the dream of his youth. The mill was the best of its kind in the West, but it never paid, owing to its location and distance from the city. It is now owned by Daniel Ozenberger, who operates it occasionally. Dr. Keedy built a mill south of the city in the earliest days, mention of which is made in a previous chapter.

Joseph Robidoux built a water mill on Blacksnake Creek in 1841. the timbers of which are yet to be seen near the mouth of Blacksnake sewer. Creal & Wildbahn owned the mill afterward. James Cargill built a steam flouring- mill near the site of the Central Medical College, north of the Custom House, late in the "forties," which was burned after the war. Dillon's sawmill, built in 1855, was located on Blacksnake Creek near the present site of the City Workhouse. John Fairclough built the Star mills at Second and Francis streets in 1864; the plant was burned in 1872. The Excelsior mills, at Second and Franklin streets, were built in 1865 by Hauck Brothers, and are still operated by members of that family. Northcutt & Anthony built the City mills, near Third and Louis streets, in i860. William Ridenbaugh and I. Van Riley operated tliem in 1868. In 1869 R. T. Davis purchased ]\Ir. Ridenbaugh's interest and afterward became sole proprietor. In 1882-83 ^^^- Davis and Robert H. Faucett built what is now the R. T. Davis mill, at Second and Edmond streets. At the completion of this plant the City mills were abandoned. The Faucett mill, at Seventh and Olive streets, now operated by the R. H. Faucett Mill Company, was built on a small scale by Capt. F. B. Kercheval in 1867-68. In 1 88 1 it was known as the Eagle mill. In 1888 it was remodeled and amplified to its present capacity. The mill at loth and Jackson streets was built in 1883 and was first called -the Model mill. It is now used as a brewery by the Star Brewing Company. Li 1890-94 Stephen J. Burns and others operated

The Buell woolen mills, above referred to, were started in i860 by Norman Buell and Georg-e Buell, who operated a woolen factory on North Third street. Buell & Dixon operated a flouring mill and woolen factory on Second street, between Isidore and Antoine. The same firm operated a general store at the corner of Second' and Antoine streets. Norman Buell was the father of the late George Buell, who was for many years the head of the woolen mills. The mills on Third street were enlarged and operated until 1882, when they were abandoned for the present large establishment at the foot of nth street, which was occupied

Pork packing was a prominent industry in St. Joseph as early as 1846, when John Corby was engaged in the business. Fotheringham'd City Directory for 1861 shows the following pork packers ; Carter Hughes & Company. Third street; James Hamilton, Jr., Edmond street, between Third and Fourth streets; Finger & Hauck, Grand avenue. The last named firm also manufactured soap and candles The firm was composed of David Linger and Jacob Hauck. Captain Posegate's Directory of 1875 shows the following: Hax & Brother (Fred and John P. ) , Fourth and Mary streets ; Krug & Hax, Fourth and Monterey; D. Finger & Company, Jules and Levee streets, and the Valley Packing Company. In 1878 the E. O. Smith Packing Company was in operation in the building- afterward used for the glucose works. Connett Brothers built a house east of the Smith plant in 1881, and operated it for about 10 years. Hax Brothers retired from

At the present time there are six meat packing houses in operation - one in St. Joseph and five at the Stock Yards south of the city. That operated in the city is owned by the Krug Packing Companpy. At the Stock Yards there are five pkmts, of which, those of S\\ ift & Company, Nelson Morris and Hammond compare with the most extensive in tlie country.

The (le\elopment of St. Josepli as a live stock market and meat packing ceiiter is due mainly to the efforts of John Dono\'an. Jr. Prior to 1887 the Hannibal & St. Joseph Railproad Company had maintained stock yards on Walnut street, between Sixth and 1 ith streets. In that year the St. Joseph Stock Yards Company was organized by Charles B. France, Samuel AI. Nave, Henry Krug, Jr., E. Lindsay, John Donovan, Jr., J. D. McNeely, M. A. Lowe and C. M. Carter. There were 440 acres in the original tract and 72 acres were subsequently acquired. Of this about 80 acres have been given as bonuses to packers wIkj have erected plants. In 1888 the company erected a pork packing plant, which was leased to Allerton & Company, of Chicago. This house is now part of the Swift plant. In 1890 the company erected the beef packing plant and leased it to the Anchor Packing Companx'. This is now used as a rendering establishment.

About three years after the yards had been established, the company was reorganized as the St. Joseph Stock Yards & Terminal Company and the ca]Mtal stock was increased to $1,000,000. In J 892 the company built a third house, which was leased to the Moran Packing Company.

for over two years, when possession was regained by the Stock Yards Company. In the meantime the corporation had encountered obstacles that could not be surmounted, and the yards went into the hands of receivers. John Donovan, Jr., and R. R. Conklin were appointed receivers, and as soon as, the affairs of the company could be straightened out to some extent the property was sold at receiver's sale and purchased by the Jarvis-Conklin Mortgage & Trust Company for the bondholders.

The company was reorganized with a capital of $500,000, and again assumed the old name of the St. Joseph Stock Yards Company. Mr. Donovan induced Swift & Company, of Chicago, to operate the Moran plant. This deal also resulted in Swift & Company purchasing a majority of the stock in the St. Joseph Stock Yards Company on January 18, 1897.

In June, 1897, Nelson Morris & Company purchased a large block of the stock in the St. Juseph Stock Yards Company, and thus became interested with Swift & Company and the other packers in improving the capacity of the yards and the local market. Two months later both Swift & Company and Nelson Morris & Company began the erection of the two largest plants at the Stock Yards, both oi which were completed and opened for business the early part of Ai)ril, 1898. The Hammond Packing Company leased the Moran house when Swift & Com])any vacated it, and subse(|uently leased the .\nchor house.

The people of St. Joseph celebrated the expansion of the live stock and packing industries in a "Jubilee," which continued for three days. May u, 12 and 13, 1898, and which attracted thousands of people.

The Stock Yards have been placed upon a strictly modern, higli grade basis, a bank has been organized, and a populous suburb has grown up. A Live Stock Exchange, costing $100,000. contains a bank and offices for commission men.

Joseph Kuechle, long dead, was the pioneer brewer of St. Joseph. He had learned his art in Germany, and after working at Louisville, Kentucky, came to St. Joseph, arriving here per steamboat in the summer of 1849. He purchased the ground from Capt. F. W. Smith and built his brewery on the site of the ruins of what was last known as the St. Joseph brewery, on Charles street, between Seventh and Eighth streets. Water for beer and also drainage are essential to breweries, and as there was neither water-works nor sewerage, the early brewers located along the streams Smith's Branch was a lively creek in those days, flowing from the northeastern hills swiftly to the river. Kuechle' s brewery was located on this stream and the pioneer brewer was fortunate in finding an inexhaustible spring of water on his premises. This spring still exists and is walled up in the ruins of the dismantled brewery. After Mr. Kuechle's death the plant was operated by his heirs until the formation of the St. Joseph Brewing Company, which leased the plant for some years and abandoned it in 1894. The older buildings were cor.- demned two years afterward and torn down. The malting house and some of the others still remain, and there are several cellars in good preservation.

also near Smith's Branch. After a time his business outgrew the old establisliment and he built a modern brewery on Faraon street, near 15th. This plant is now operated under lease by the St. Joseph Brewing Company.

In 1858, X. Aniser, Joseph Aniser and William Ost built a brewery on Frederick avenue, near 13th .street. During the early part of the Rebellion it was operated by D. W. Fritzlein, ^^ho was killed by a soldier near Wathena. Fritzlein's widow continued the business for some time. Later the plant was leased by Jacob Wingerter, but it has not been used as a bre\\-ery for many years, a carriage factory being located in the building now.

In 1859 Max & Goetz started the City brewery at Sixth and Albermarle streets. This is now one of the largest breweries in the \\'est, having been developed by Michael K. Goetz and his sons, who operate it.

Frederick ^V. Islaub had a brewer)- on Michel street, between Main and Water strets. in 1858-60, and Peter Walter had a brewery and garden at the southwest corner of Fourth and Edmond streets during the same period. Louis Koerner. who had been Walter's brewer, started in business for himself on Main street, near Faraon. late in the "sixties" as a maltster. Afterward he made beer and .sold it by the measure at the brewer}-. Duemcke & Hund subsequently used his buildings as bottlino works and the site is now occupied by the Chicago Great \A'estem freight depot.

In 1865. Andreas Ohnesorg and Francis Eger formed a partnership and built the New Ulm brewery. Mr. Ohnesorg had been operating a wiess-beer brewery and garden on the north side of Felix street, near Eighth, adjoining the group.d now occupied by the Hughes Building. These parties also owned the grounds that were after\\-ard known as New Ulm Pai'k, though the park was devel- oped by Louis Streckebein, who conducted it for 1 6 years. The brewery was located on the hill east of the park and stood until 1890, when it was destroyed by fire. The cellars are still, intact. It was a modern brewery in its day, representing an expenditure of $80,000 and was operated by Ohnesorg & Eger until 1876, when it was leased to Rosemund & Schaefer, who continued it until about 1881, when it was banadoned. The property now belongs to Mrs. Margaret Burnside.

Contemporaneous with the early history of the New Ulm brewery was an effort on the part of the firm of Koehler & Diedrich, two young Germans, who had come from Palmyra, Missouri, to operate an ale brewery here. They built a cellar and a plant east of Third near Louis street, costing nearly $20,000. The project failed, and all that is left of the investment is the cellar, the entrance to which, built of stone, is plainly visible from Third street.

One of the earliest enterprises in the way of manufactures in St. Joseph was the foundry established on St. Joseph avenue, 1855, by T. W. Keys. This, with the exception of a small foundry at Lexington, was the first plant of the kind west of St. Louis. The power of Keys' foundry was furnished by oxen. The first pig iron melted in St. Joseph was run in 1856. This foundry was operated until 1858, when Mr. Keys erected on the corner of Eighth and Messanie streets the building novv (1904) occupied by the foundry of Crowther & Rogers. Mr. Keys leased this in April, 1863, to John Burnside. The firm afterward became Eurnside, Crowther & Company. John Burnside subsequently retired from the partnership. The foundry of J. W. Ambrose & Company,

The Louis Hax furniture factory was one of the successful and famous institutions of the city for many years. It was located at Seventh and Angelique streets, from 1866 until December 13, 1890, on which date the western portion of the plant was destroyed by fire. Mr. Hax did not rebuild, but converted the eastern portion into tenements. The factory was operated for some years on the south side, but was abandoned in 1899.

In the days when freight rates from the North were high and when the native forests were yet rich in trees, the manufacture of native lumber was an important industry. There were two extensive sawmills in St. Joseph during the life of the industry, both located on South Fourth street, below Messanie, near the river. James P. Hamilton operated the lower mill and Venable & Kent the one near Messanie street. Logs were brought down the river in rafts. Another sawmill of magnitude was erected at Lake Contrary, near where the southern road strikes the lake. This was operated at one time by J. A. Piner, William Swope and John F. Tyler, who also had a lumber yard in the city. A large number of men were employed there and quite a settlement, called Lake City, sprang up near the mill. This, like the Hamilton and Venable mills, is a thing of the past.

In 1866 Edward R. Brandow, associated with other enterprising citizens, established a sorghum manufactory on lower Edmond street. It was proposed to make sugar out of the prod- net of the cane, and farmers were urged to the importance of raising- large quantities. The enterprise, after the production of a small quantity of sugar, was absorbed by larger interests.

Before the war A. M. Mitchell built a distillery upon the site of what was afterward a packing house and more recently the glucose works. The A'enture was not profitable. Several distilleries were in operation in and near St. Joseph after the war and until about 1875. The largest was that of Edward Sheehan, on upper Blacksnake, a short distance south of New Ulm Park, which w-as built in 1868 and operated until 1874. Abraham Furst and S. Adler, who were for many years leading wholesale liquor dealers in this city and St. Louis under the name of S. Adler & Company, built a redistilling house in 1871 at Third and Louis streets, which was operated until 1876. The building is still in existence. After the enactment of the prohibtory law in Kansas, in 1880, a distillery plant was moved from Lawrence and located south of the city, below the railroad track on the road to the Stock Yards. This property was purchased in 1885 by Jacob Schloss. Subsequently it fell into the hands of the whiskey trust and the plant was moved away.

The St. Joseph Steam Printing Company, which was organized by Capt. Francis M,. Posegate and others in 1870, and which went out of existence in February of 1892, was in its earlier days the best equipped, most extensive and most prosperous printing establishment between St. Louis and San Francisco.

factory. It was built in the summer of 1872 by O'Neill Bailey, who came here from Madison, Indiana, and was operated for about four years. The factory was located on a tract of 10 acres, south of Messanie and east of 22nd street, and gave employment to a large number of people. The starch was made of corn, and the residue was fed to cattle. The lack of water prevented the possibility of operating the works with profit. Many wells were sunk, but with no satisfactory result, and the enterprise finally succumbed.

Among the other manufacturing enterprises that have gone out of existence Posegate's City Directory for 1875 shows the following carriage and wagon makers : Gideon Miles, Edward Button, McBain & Fox, Ferdinand Schoen, W. E. Williams & Son, D. D.. Streeter, William Pape, Prawitz & Hagelin and Wiedmaier & Wildberger. Peter Habig operated a pottery at Main and Faraon streets in those days. There was also a glue factory, south of the city limits. Boellert & Schroersi manufactured plows at the southeast corner of Sixth and Charles streets. C. Eichler & Company, T. H. Hail & Company (succeeded by C. M. Kingsbury), the Steam Printing Company, Swiclc, Wells & Company, and Wool worth & Colt were job printers. The Great Western Soap W^orks, L. Huggins & Company, proprietors, also existed. William Gernandt operated a tannery on Frederick avenue, between 19th and 20th streets. There were two ax-handle factories, one operated by William Duesler on Buchanan avenue, and another by Henry C. Middleton on Howard street. Aldrich & Scott manufactured whips at Second and Felix streets. There were also two rope factories, one operated by John Helme, on South nth street, between Mapk

The St. Joseph Sugar Refining Company was formed in June. 1880, by Albe M. Saxton. J. B. Hundley, \\'. \Y. McFarland and others for the purpose of producing glucose. John L. Motter was general manager and W. Y. Sellek, chemist. The building formerly occupied by the E. O. Smith Packing Company, southeast of Calvary cemetery, was converted into a factory. It was in operation until 1889, the last manager being Vanaken Whittaker. The building no longer exists.

In July of 1886 the St. Joseph Natatorium Association was formed by Albe M. Saxton, John Demond, J. W. Hinkston, W. H. Gordon, L. C. Burnes, Joseph Andriano and E. Lindsay. The capital stock was $12,000. A building was erected at the southwest corner of Fifth and Jules streets. A natatorium was operated for se\'eral seasons. Subsequently the building was converted into a theatre and called the "Bijou." This was partially destroyed by fire, and then, in the spring of 1893, remodeled throughout. It is now known as the Lyceum theatre.

in 1886 Edward W. Mitchell came from Ohio, and, with the assistance of local capital, built a stove foundry on the ground north of the K. C, St. J. & C. B. shops, now occupied by the gas works built by the St. Joseph Light & Fuel Company. The plant was in operation for about three years and then failed.

was organized with a capital stock of $50,000, held by Sam Reid, \\ho moved a plant here from Louisiana, Missouri, and W. G. Fairleigh, John Townsend, J. D. Richardson, F. L. Sommer. M. A. Reed, George J. Englehart, T. J. Burgess and Albert Roecker. It was a prosperous institution for three years, occupying the building owned by Daniel J. Lysaght, west of the City Hall. Chewing and smoking tobacco were manufactured. In 1890 it was purchased by the tobacco trust and moved to New York.

The St. Joseph steel car plant was an institution that flourished for several months in 1889. H. D. Perkey, an Eastern promoter, owned the patent of a steel car. It was cylindrical in shape and its construction was supposed to be such as to prevent it from being wrecked in collisions. Mr. Perkey had an elegant passenger coach as a sample. A stock company was formed in 1888 and the enterprise was backed by the Brookdale Land Company, which agreed to donate $50,000, the proceeds of the sale of lots. The steel car company agreed to luiild shops and maintain them for five years. Alx)ut $35,000 was paid and a building 80 by 900 feet was erected, equipped with machinery and set in operation during the early part of 1889. The New Era Exposition was coupled with this enterprise and a por- -tion of the works constituted the main hall. On the night of September 15, 1889, this building was destroyed by fire. The steel passenger coach and a number of cars under construction were burned and the enterprise was fatally tory. established in 1862; Sanders & McDonald's tinware maniifactor}-, established in 1863 Schultz. Hosea & Co.. tinware manufactory, established in 1863: John L. Motter's cracker factory, the first in the city, located on Main street, north of Jules : Koenig & Company's cracker factory, established in 1874: Riley Brothers' cracker factory, located in the building now occupied by the \'an Xatta-Lynds Drug Company, at Third and Charles streets; Smith. Frazer & Company's, and Moorby & Fink's shoe factories.

The first hotel of prominence in St. Josepl" was the Edgar House, a three-story building erected at the northeast corner of Main and Francis streets in 1845. I^ '^^''^^ afterwards called the Planters' House. Ihe buildmg is still in a good state of preservation and forms a part of the Tremont House. In the following year William Fowler built the City Hotel, at the northeast corner of Main and Jules streets. This has been for many years called tlie Occidental, and is yet known as such. Albrecht & Huber began business as jewelers iv the City Hotel in 185 1. Until its dissolution a few years ago. this was the oldest firm in St. Joseph. The ^^lansion House, which occupied the site of the Francis street depot grounds, facing Main street, was also a leading hotel in those days.

The Patee House, at 12th and Penn streets, was built in 1856-58. and was one of the largest and best equipped hotels in the United States in its first days. It was first kept by G. W. Alden of Philadelphia, who tailed before completing his first year, and was succeeded by Colonel Minor of Chicago, who remained abou't a year: Major Espey was tiie next landlord. After keeping the house for two years he was killed by falling from one of the windows. Elijah Patee and Dougherty & Worden succeeded in turn as proprietors. During the war the provost marshal's headquarters were located in the building, and the general offices of the }kIissouri Valley Railroad Company were also located there in those days. At about this time Mr. Patee placed the house into a lottery. He drew it himself. In September of 1865 Rev. James H. Robinson of the Methodist Episcopal Church. South, instittited a female college in the building, which existed until January. 1869. James H. Bagwell then opened the hotel, the Pacific House, of which he was landlord, having burned. In 1877 a second female academy was instituted by Rev. E. S. Dulin, a Baptist minister. Thi:, continued for four years. In the stunmer of 1 88 1 Dr. S. A. Richmond leased the building He opened what he called the 'A\'orld's Epileptic Sanitarium" in a part of the building and leased the remainder to a Xew York firm who for a short time conducted the '"World's Hotel." The property at that time belonged tc Robert W. Donnell, whose home was then in X'ew York. After the failure of the "World's Hotel." Mr. Donnell offered the house to the city to be permanently used and maintained by the taxpayers as a female seminary ; but he received no encouragement. In 1885 he sold the property to R. L. McDonald & Company, who converted the building into a factory for the production of overalls, shirts, etc.

The Pacific House was built in 1859-60 and was called the Lounsbury House, after \\'. B. Lounsbury. who owned it. Shackleford & Hughes ^^ ere the next proprietors and changed the name to Pacific Hotel. In 1865 William K. Richardson kept the house. He was succeeded by James H. Bagwell, who was in charge when tb.e property was destroyed by fire. December 15. 1868. The house was rebuilt ar.d opened February 14. 1870. by

Garth, Gilkey & Abell. Major Garth retired after two years and Rice D. Gilkey and John J. Abell continued the business until December, 1879. The house was then closed for repairs. April I, 1880, it was reopened under the management of Kitchen Brothers. They were succeeded by Col. Ira Wilson, and he by Charles F. Alurray. In 1894 Himes & Bowman had the house, and in 1896 W. C. Johnson took charge, continuing until 1901, when the house was remodeled and made the principal portion of the Hotel Metropole. The Aietropole was started in 1896. It was built out of the Bacon House, which had been operated since i860 by Enos E. Bacon, an ideal landlord of the old school, who with his estimable wife made the guest feel thoroughly at home.

The Saunders House was another famous hostelry. It stood at the northeast corner of Third and Faraon streets, upon the site now occupied by Noyes, Norman & Company's shoe factory. The life of the hotel was from 1862 up to 1884. It fell from grade to grade until, in its last days, it was a mere rookery. From 1862 to 1877 it was conducted by Richard and John Saunders, Jr., who retired iii favor of J. W. Moore and Cyrus Stahl. In its decadence the hotel had various landlords.

Fotheringham's City Directory for i860 shows the following hotels : Allen House, corner of Fourth and Sylvanie; Avenue House, corner of Frederick avenue and i6th ; Baechele House, east side of Eighth street, between Messaniie and Locust ; Blakemore House, south side of Jules street, between Main and Second; Commercial House, corner Sixth and Angelique; City Hotel, corner of Main and Jules ; Eagle Hotel, corner of Second and Sylvanie; Huxley House, Eighth street^ opposite H. & St. J. passenger depot ; Missouri Hotel, south side of Edmond, west of Third ; Kentucky House, east side of Third street, between Felix and Francis: Franklin House, west side of Second street, between Edmond and Charles; National Hotel, west side of Edmond street, between Fourth and Fifth ; Northwestern Hotel, corner of Third and Franklin; Patee House ; Pennsylvania House, Frederick avenue, between i8th and 19th; Planters" House, northeast corner of Second and Main streets ; Sommer's Hotel, southeast corner of Second and Michel streets; St. Charles HoteU east side of Main street, between Robidoux and Isidore; St. Joseph Hotel, west side of Second street, between Michel and Franklin; Talbott House, corner of Third and Faraon ; Tolson House, north side of Jules street, l3etween Main and Second.

The Allen House, at the corner of Third and Angelique streets, was used as an army hospital during the Civil War. It afterward became known as the Griffith House, but since 1884 has been known as the Gait House. The Commercial Hotel is still in existence, the old part having been moved to the rear. The Pennsylvania House was kept by M. A. Ashbrook, who afterward called it the Ashbrook House. The history of the City Hotel, Planters' House and Patee House is given above. The other hotels enumerated in this list have disappeared.

The Central Hotel, at the northeast corner of Second and Edmund streets, was operated for a number of years by \\'illiam Kollatz. It has. not been used as a hotel for over ten years.

The Missouri Valley House was quite a famous hostelry in its day. It was a frame building and stood facing east, at the northwest corner of Eighth and Edmond streets, and was surrounded by beautiful shade trees. It was kept by W. W. Clark, by Capt. O. R. Phelps, and last by Capt. M. I. Couch and S.

Other hotels that have ceased to exist were the Michau House, on the north side of Felix street, between Sixth and Seventh; the old Gait House, that occupied the site of the present general offices of the Burlington Railroad ; the Highly House, 19th street and Frederick avenue, and the Hudnut House, at Third and Felix streets. The Farmers' House, on North Second street, kept for many years by Peter Harnois, was also a noted tavern in its day. The International Hotel, at the northwest corner of Eighth and Olive streets (now Windsor), was built of the material that once constituted the Great Western Hotel at

In 1898 a portion of the Center Block, ai the northeast corner of Sixth and Edmorhl streets, was converted into a hotel and operated by Frank F. Harl until May of 1903, when it was abandoned. In the fall of 1904 it was converted into a theatre, now known as the "Lyric."