Oct 10, 2024

📷 Throwback Thursday: John B. Brown Home - Vol. 91

Posted Oct 10, 2024 11:00 AM
John B. Brown Home (Brown & Bigger Railroad Agents) - 127 E. 1st -  c. 1900 (By Hirst) (Later Pactola Apartments). Courtesy of the Conard-Harmon Collection.
John B. Brown Home (Brown & Bigger Railroad Agents) - 127 E. 1st - c. 1900 (By Hirst) (Later Pactola Apartments). 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 southwest corner of 1st Avenue and Poplar.

John B. Brown and L.A. Bigger came to Hutchinson in 1872, and set up shop as Santa Fe Railway agents and real estate agents.

Hutch was only six months old. John Brown also built a very large and exquisite home for his family at 127 E. 1st. This quite possibly could be the oldest home still standing in town. Both gentlemen were city councilmen in the early years, with Brown being mayor for 1874 and 1875. The first photo shows the John Brown home in the winter, about 1900.

John B. Brown Home (Brown & Bigger Railroad Agents) - 127 E. 1st -  c. 1900 (By Hirst) (Later Pactola Apartments). Courtesy of the Conard-Harmon Collection.
John B. Brown Home (Brown & Bigger Railroad Agents) - 127 E. 1st - c. 1900 (By Hirst) (Later Pactola Apartments). Courtesy of the Conard-Harmon Collection.

The second photo shows the Brown and Bigger land office at 2 S. Main in 1882.

John B. Brown Home - Brown & Bigger's Land Office  -  S.E.  Corner  Sherman & Main  -  2  S.  Main - 1882. Courtesy of the Conard-Harmon Collection.
John B. Brown Home - Brown & Bigger's Land Office - S.E. Corner Sherman & Main - 2 S. Main - 1882. Courtesy of the Conard-Harmon Collection.

In 1909, Robert and Jenny Steele purchased the house and started taking in boarders.

In 1926, architect W.E. Hulse added on a large brick addition, addressed as 17 N. Poplar, that housed 20 apartments. The third photo shows the apartment addition that became known as the Pactola Apartments for many years.

John B. Brown Home - Pactola Apartments - 127 E. 1st - (Addition added in early 1930s by architect W.E. Hulse - addressed as 17 N. Poplar). Courtesy of the Conard-Harmon Collection.
John B. Brown Home - Pactola Apartments - 127 E. 1st - (Addition added in early 1930s by architect W.E. Hulse - addressed as 17 N. Poplar). Courtesy of the Conard-Harmon Collection.

The fourth photo shows the home at 127 E. 1st today, now owned by Rafael Trenado Lopez.

John B. Brown Home - Rafael Lopez Home - 127 E. 1st - Sept. 6, 2024. Courtesy of the Conard-Harmon Collection.
John B. Brown Home - Rafael Lopez Home - 127 E. 1st - Sept. 6, 2024. Courtesy of the Conard-Harmon Collection.

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

Throwback Thursday is brought to you by:

Hutchinson/Reno County Chamber of Commerce
STRATACA Kansas Underground Salt Museum