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 Unit Block of East 1st Avenue on the south side to the P & O Garage, opened as the Painter & Oliphant Motor Co. in March of 1914 at 25 E. 1st Ave.
They were the distributor for the Mitchell-Lewis, Oakland and Krit auto lines. The first photo shows their complete line of all their autos for the 1915 model year. This includes a Model M Grant, an Oakland Speedster, a Krit Touring Car, an Oakland Model 37 touring car, an Oakland Model 49 more expensive car, and two larger Mitchell's.
In 1917, this facility was purchased by the Arnold Motor Co. of Wichita and became a Hutchinson outlet managed by J.L. Bascom. They sold Marmon and Dodge Brothers autos. A second and third story was added to this building and, in 1928, Montgomery Ward & Co. opened here.
In 1934, Montgomery Ward moved to a Main Street location and this became its warehouse. In 1950, The Great American Life Ins. Co. moved here from 102 S. Walnut with Frank Hadden as the office president.
The second photo shows this company in 1970. In the 1980s, it had a false front on the building.
Great American ceased to have an office here in 1993. Donna Brigman had her art studios here from 2000 to 2008.
In 2008, Brad Easter purchased the building for his Pools Plus business. The third photo shows the 21-23 East 1st location today, still Pools Plus, with the business being run by Jake Easter. Enjoy!
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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