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 northeast corner of East Bigger Avenue and South Main.
The building at 722-724 South Main was first constructed in 1935 as Charles Christopher Grocery and Hardware.
About 1940, it was converted to be the Dr. Pepper Bottling Company. In 1949, it became the Grapette Bottling Co. with Verne Hamilton as president, C.W. Kelley as V.P. and Guy Ankerholtz as Sec./Mgr. The first photo shows Bill Lehman and his Pontiac stock racing car in front of Grapette Bottling in 1950.
Bill raced mostly at the fairgrounds track and was sponsored by the Wat Henry Pontiac Dealership of Tulsa, Oklahoma.
The building was vacant for a time, then Richard Blick moved his beer distributorship to this location between 1963-1971. The second photo shows Blick's sponsorship of the week's professional boxing championships broadcast on KWBW radio in 1967.
Between 1979-1982, the building became the Seven-Up Bottling Co. warehouse.
Between 1983-1987, it was S&S Classic Cars owned by Eldon Steffans. The third photo shows the 722-724 S. Main building today, owned by Barb, Jon and Donald Badget, and used for warehouse storage.
To purchase a print, contact: [email protected].
Throwback Thursday is brought to you by:
Gambino's Pizza
Hutchinson/Reno County Chamber of Commerce
STRATACA Kansas Underground Salt Museum
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