Oct 26, 2023

📷 Throwback Thursday: Hess Feed Store - Vol. 41

Posted Oct 26, 2023 11:00 AM
Hess Feed Store - Ave. B & Main - 129 S. Main - c. 1910. Courtesy of the Conard-Harmon Collection.
Hess Feed Store - Ave. B & Main - 129 S. Main - c. 1910. Courtesy of the Conard-Harmon Collection.

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 West Avenue B and South Main.

John Hess had a livestock business at his residence at 103 W. First in 1906.

In 1907, he purchased the A.J. Graves Coal, Flour and Feed business at 129 S. Main. The first photo shows the Hess Feed Store in 1909.

Hess Feed Store - Ave. B & Main - 129 S. Main - c. 1910. Courtesy of the Conard-Harmon Collection.
Hess Feed Store - Ave. B & Main - 129 S. Main - c. 1910. Courtesy of the Conard-Harmon Collection.

Notice the brick piles on both sides of the building. The city was just getting ready to lay street bricks that are still visible there today.

About 1920, The Dillon Mercantile Co., owned by C.O. Mammel and David Theede, purchased the building for their second mercantile location. The second photo shows that business during the 1929 flood.

Hess Feed Store - 1929 Flood - Ave. B & Main - in front of Dillon Mercantile Store - 129 S. Main. Courtesy of the Conard-Harmon Collection.
Hess Feed Store - 1929 Flood - Ave. B & Main - in front of Dillon Mercantile Store - 129 S. Main. Courtesy of the Conard-Harmon Collection.

About 1943, the building became the B & Main Cafe, owned by Carl Hughbanks, which was there until 1958 under a variety of owners.

After that date, the tenants varied from furniture stores, appliance stores, to antique stores. The third photo shows Cline's-Duke's Mixture Antiques about 1990.

Hess Feed Store - Cline's-Duke's Mixture Antiques - 129 S. Main - c. 1990. Courtesy of the Conard-Harmon Collection.
Hess Feed Store - Cline's-Duke's Mixture Antiques - 129 S. Main - c. 1990. Courtesy of the Conard-Harmon Collection.

In 2009, Marty Lee and husband bought the building and remodeled it to become Tesori Gifts & Boutique. The fourth photo shows that business.

Hess Feed Store - Tesori Boutique - 129 S. Main - Nov. 11, 2015. Courtesy of the Conard-Harmon Collection.
Hess Feed Store - Tesori Boutique - 129 S. Main - Nov. 11, 2015. Courtesy of the Conard-Harmon Collection.

The fifth photo shows the 129 S. Main tenant today, Amelia's Boutique, owned by Amy Quillen.

Hess Feed Store - Amelia's - 129 S. Main - Sept. 24, 2023. Courtesy of the Conard-Harmon Collection.
Hess Feed Store - Amelia's - 129 S. Main - Sept. 24, 2023. Courtesy of the Conard-Harmon Collection.

To purchase a print, contact: [email protected].

Throwback Thursday is brought to you by:

Gambino's Pizza
Sleep Shoppe & Furniture Gallery
Hutchinson/Reno County Chamber of Commerce
STRATACA Kansas Underground Salt Museum

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