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 Third Avenue and North Washington Streets. The Underwood & Viles Cold Storage Co. was organized about 1900.
In February 1903, they opened a large facility at 307 N. Washington, costing $60,000. It used 700,000 bricks and had 300,000 cubic feet for storage.
A large percentage was used to store apples and sweet potatoes. The egg storage rooms were the only ones of their kind for the first 10 years. The first photo shows that company ownership.
In 1924, the company was owned by Eagan Produce Co. Arthur Eagan was president. In 1929, it was the Hutchinson Produce Co., owned by the Fraziers. The second photo shows that ownership.
In 1941, J.S. Dillon & Sons purchased the building and it became their cold storage and corporate offices.
In 1948, Dillons moved its grocery warehouse and offices to 2700 E. 4th. In 1960, the produce storage moved there, too.
In 1970, Harmon Furniture moved into 307 N. Washington after its downtown store burned down.
In 1986, the building was razed and the old Nash Finch building, just north of it, was completely remodeled into an office complex named Trend II.
The third photo shows the property today, still the Trend II office complex, owned by Via Fone Inc. out of Wichita.
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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