HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A new speakeasy inside Hutchinson's historic Meyer Landmark Building is bringing a piece of the city's Prohibition-era history back to life with help from the Conard-Harmon Collection.
Steve Harmon, who maintains the historical photograph collection, has been working with Andrew Ehling, owner of The Lantern Room, to incorporate historic photographs and stories into the new establishment.
Harmon said the project began when Ehling approached him and local museum officials about finding photographs that would complement the speakeasy's 1920s theme.
"He's got this theme that he wants to carry out," Harmon said. "So he got with me and the museum people to see what we could come up with in the way of pictures and interesting history."
The research led Harmon to explore Hutchinson's complicated relationship with alcohol, dating back to the city's founding in 1871.
Harmon said founder C.C. Hutchinson, a Baptist minister, opposed alcohol sales and wanted to prevent the community from developing the reputation of other Kansas frontier towns.
Kansas adopted statewide prohibition in 1880, decades before the federal government enacted Prohibition in 1920.
Among the photographs uncovered for the project was an 1880 image showing a saloon on First Avenue preparing to close following the state's prohibition law.
Harmon said the photograph shows workers loading the establishment's bar onto a wagon while patrons gathered outside to receive alcohol the business could no longer sell.
"They couldn't sell the alcohol, so they gave it away to the patrons in the street," Harmon said.
Another photograph documents a 1912 women's suffrage gathering at Hutchinson's Convention Hall, which Harmon said drew approximately 5,000 women.
The collection also includes a photograph of former Reno County Sheriff Bill Clark displaying confiscated distilling equipment, bottles and barrels outside the courthouse following a raid on three stills in Gove Township.
Harmon worked with former Reno County sheriff's deputy and local historian Jim Potter to research the enforcement of alcohol laws during that period.
The research also uncovered photographs of taverns and beer parlors that began appearing in Hutchinson during the 1930s, despite Kansas maintaining restrictions on alcohol sales.
While national Prohibition ended in 1933, Kansas did not legalize cereal malt beverages until 1937 and did not repeal statewide prohibition until 1948.
Harmon said researching the photographs and the stories behind them has been one of the most enjoyable parts of the project.
He has also developed a PowerPoint presentation featuring the historical images and plans to share it with customers at The Lantern Room during a future event.
"Andrew wants me to put on a little special thing down at The Lantern Room coming up in the future," Harmon said. "It's fun getting the information together more than anything else."
Harmon described the new speakeasy as an intimate gathering place that combines historic character with a comfortable setting.
"He's made it a real attractive, nice little place, and I hope the best for him on that," Harmon said.
Beyond The Lantern Room, Harmon continues working on projects involving Hutchinson's history, including a potential presentation featuring Willowbrook and the contributions of Emerson Carey.
The Conard-Harmon Collection also regularly provides historical photographs for the weekly Throwback Thursday feature on Hutch Post.
Harmon said he welcomes opportunities to share his presentations with community organizations and encourages residents with old photographs to contact him at 620-662-4177.