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 200 block of North Maple Street on the east side.
In 1887, a stone cutter named John Milligan started Milligan Marble Works at 312 E. 2nd. Later, he hired and trained a valuable employee named William Howard.
They built a new building at 202 N. Maple to have railway access. Howard's son, Lerlowe Howard, started learning the trade at a young age.
In 1909, 10-year-old Lerlowe carved a huge limestone puppy — 1,000 pounds and 3 ½-feet tall. In 1917, when WW1 broke out, Lerlowe enlisted and died in 1918 at the Battle of Chateau Thierry.
In 1919, William Howard purchased the Monument business from Milligan with Lerlowe's government death benefit. The first photo shows Howard Monument Works in 1929 with Lerlowe's Puppy out front.
Howard sold the Monument Co. to Charles & Ester Wagner in 1960 with the promise to keep Lerlowe's Puppy. The second photo shows the newly-remodeled Wagner Memorial building in 1960 with Lerlowe's Puppy still out front.
Dale Evans bought the business in 1981. In 2009, after being outside for 100 years, Dale decided to bring the quickly-eroding puppy indoors to help preserve him. The third photo shows Lerlowe's Puppy today in his historical corner at Wagners.
The fourth photo shows Wagner Memorial today, still at 202 N. Maple, with the business being 136 years old. It is now owned by Wilbert Funeral Services out of Overland Park with Dale Evans serving as manager.
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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