Hutch Post, in partnership with Steve Harmon and the Conard-Harmon Collection, is proud to present Throwback Thursday. Enjoy a weekly release from Steve Harmon as he presents the "Hutch - Then & Now Collection."
STEVE HARMON
Hutch Post Contributor
Today's "Throwback Thursday Collection" takes us to the northwest corner of East Sherman and North Poplar.
Edward Wilcox owned a hardware store in Topeka in 1871. When he heard that C.C. Hutchinson was starting a new town along the proposed Santa Fe Railway expansion to the southwest, he decided to move.
In January of 1872, he came to the young city. Only five businessmen preceded him. He built a new hardware store as well as a large two-story home. The first photo shows that home at 134 E. Sherman after construction.
He was also the postmaster from 1874 through 1882 and a city councilman from 1880 through 1885. After Ed's death, his daughter Nettie lived there until 1909.
In 1913, it was turned into an apartment house and was known as the Bachelor's Roost.
In 1917, Johnson & Sons undertakers bought the house and converted it to a funeral home. The second photo shows that conversion.
The third photo shows a funeral in process about 1930.
The fourth photo shows the facility with neon signage about 1935.
About 1990, Johnson & Sons built a new facility at 300 E. 30th, sold the original property to the Foundation of Life Ministries and converted it to the McGee Chapel. The fifth photo shows that entity in January 2017.
On March 15, 2019, the chapel burned down. The sixth photo shows the aftermath of that fire.
The seventh photo shows the 134 E. Sherman property today, owned by Scott Marchall and now known as the Salty Cycles Park.
To purchase a photo print, contact: [email protected].
Throwback Thursday is brought to you by:
Hutchinson/Reno County Chamber of Commerce
STRATACA Kansas Underground Salt Museum