Downtown Walking Tour

its branches. Theserowdy cow town daysbrought both danger andprosperity.

Civilization Arrives.By 1876, brick and

stone buildings had begun to replace the woodenstructures that had sprung up seemingly overnightto provide goods and services to cow punchers,farmers and town folk alike. Then, as now, thepreferred locations were along the two blockswest of the courthouse square.Through the almost 140 years of its development,Great Bend has grown to boast an Eclectic mix ofarchitectural styles. Victorian, Edwardian and ArtDeco structures rub shoulders with othersinfluenced by Federal, Modern Eclectic and Neo-Classic styles. While many buildings downtown still boast theiroriginal historic details, others have been coveredby metal and wooden facades. Nonetheless, eachhistoric building in Downtown Great Bend has astory to tell about its contribution to thedevelopment of the city.We will start our tour in the heart of DowntownGreat Bend.

1400 Main StreetIn 1872, a special election was held proposing toissue $25,000 in county bonds for erection of acourthouse and jail in the new county seat atGreat Bend. Six offices were located on the firstor ground floor and the second floor containedthe courtroom, jury room and other court offices.By June of 1877, the cupola or clock tower,which had graced the building, was removed. Itwas reportedly swaying in the brisk Kansasbreezes and officials feared the strain would

Great Bend HistoricDOWNTOWN

TOURSTANKFUL

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HISTORIC DOWNTOWN WALKING TOUR

Great Bend PastLocated near the geographic center of Kansas,what is now Great Bend straddles the big or“great bend” of the Arkansas River, where thisfamous stream juts northward into the heart of thestate.

In 1821, Missouri trader William Becknellreached Santa Fe with a mule train of tradegoods, successfully launching what wouldbecome known as the Santa Fe Trail. By 1825, itwas evident that this would become a major traderoute to the southwest and Congress orderedMajor George C. Sibley to survey the route fromMissouri to Santa Fe. Proceeding westward alongthe north side of the Arkansas River, the Trail cutthrough the heart of what is now Great Bend.

Great Bend’s HeartGreat Bend was incorporated in 1872 and theoriginal town plat centered on two square blockswhich would become home to the Barton CountyCourthouse and the epicenter of the town’s life.When the Atchison, Topeka and Santa FeRailroad reached the Bend in 1872, not only didit bring new settlers, it brought the cattle trade.For a few brief but lively years Great Bend wasone of the major shipping points for cattlebrought up from Texas on the Chisholm Trail and

eventually damage the entire structure. In thoseearly days, the courthouse was the center of thecommunity, serving as town hall, churchbuilding, dance hall, lodge room and opera house.By 1917, it had become obvious that the originalcourthouse could no longer adequately serve theneeds of the county. The Hutchinson, Kansas,architectural firm of W.E. Hulse & Co. designedthe new building and the Manhattan ConstructionCo., Muskogee Oklahoma, contracted to do theconstruction. Work on the new building in a stylecalled “Modern (Classical) Eclecticism” began inNovember 1917 and the cornerstone was laidMarch 28, 1918. According to the Barton CountyDemocrat of that date, “The building whencompleted will be approximately 125 x 101 feetin size and 57 feet high, and will be not only oneof the finest but also one of the largest countybuildings in the state. It will be four stories inheight, built of reinforced concrete, brick, steeland stone, and will be of absolutely fireproofconstruction throughout. The total cost will be inthe neighborhood of a quarter of a milliondollars.”The ground (now called the first) floor wasdesigned to house the boiler and fuel rooms, aladies’ rest room, a public meeting room and theoffice of the County Farm Advisor. The first (now

Barton County Courthouse, Great Bend, Kansas

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the second) floor was to house the offices of thecounty treasurer, clerk, register of deeds, probatejudge, commissioners and public construction.On the second (now the third) floor was thecourtroom, jury rooms, witnesses’ rooms andoffices for the sheriff, court clerk, county attorneyand court stenographer. Up on the third (nowfourth) floor were jury dormitories and two otherlarge rooms. Stone steps led from street level tothe main entrances on the first (now second) flooron both the east and west sides of the building, In1952, in great need of repair which would havecost $19,000, the county commissioners orderedthe steps eliminated and replaced with the presentground floor entrances. This resulted in theaddition of two more rooms to the building and,at the same time, an elevator was added to makethe upper floors more accessible. Other upgradesand renovations have been made to the buildingthrough the years.The courthouse is surrounded by a large park,which is augmented on the south by the MosesMemorial Band Shell, where the City Band playsto large crowds on summer evenings and otherevents are regularly held. To the north, the statueof a Civil War soldier stands, ever vigilant, inmemory of the members of the Grand Army ofthe Republic, Union Army veterans who were

among the earliest founders and settlers of thecity.

1401 MAIN STREETThis building, at the corner of Forest & Main, isthe oldest surviving stone and brick building inGreat Bend. Construction began in 1875 and in1876 owner A.S. Allen moved his business,begun in 1872, into the new store. It has beenextended to the west twice. In 1904, the buildingwas sold to Citizens National Bank, whichrefaced the building and altered the façade andinterior elements. Another new look came whenthe site was purchased by Farmers (later First)National Bank in the 1920s. This Federal façadeis the one that remains. Since the bank moved toa new building at Lakin & Kansas in the 1950s,the storefront has housed three shoe stores and isnow home to the Barton County Arts Council.

1403 MAIN STREETIn conjunction with the Moses brothers’ buildingto its north, this building was constructed in 1878by J.H. and Josephine Hubbard to house Mr.Hubbard’s dry goods store, which they thenleased to Brucks and Company. It is notable thatthis site was the location of J.S. Dillons and Sons'second grocery store in the state. Besides

groceries, it was a retail clothing location formany years and had office space upstairs. It iscurrently occupied by Dance by Design.

1405 MAIN STREETConsisting of two buildings, built at separatedates and adapted to fit together, the south halfdates from 1878, when George N. and Edward R.Moses erected a two-story stone building tohouse their mercantile store, where customerscould purchase almost anything they might need,from the cradle to the grave (literally, signspointed out that furniture and undertaking wereupstairs). In 1881, William Dunaway filled thenorth part of the property with another two-storystone building. By 1886, the Moses brothersexpanded their rapidly growing business bypurchasing Dunaway’s interests. The secondstory, known as the Union Hall, was used fordances, performances and large events. Sometimearound World War I, the two buildings werearchitecturally unified with a common brickfaçade. Following the Moses brothers operation,it was occupied by Funk & Jamison Furnitureand Mortuary, Woolworth’s, a fabric center and ispresently Cornerstone Interiors.

1409 MAIN STREET

Forest & Main Street Moses MerchantileMoses Brothers building


After a fire destroyed the original wood-frameharness shop operated by the Hiss family in 1928,this single story brick building was constructed. Ithas been rented out as a retail location since andhoused a dress shop for over sixty years. It hasonly been remodeled twice, once in 1957, whenthe building was extended to the alley, and againin 1971.

1411 MAIN STREETEdwin Tyler constructed this single-story brickbuilding in 1911. The original occupant wasGraves Drug Store and has since housed variousclothing, sewing, music and kitchen goodsoutlets, as well as a coffee house.

1413 MAIN STREETFrom its beginnings in 1888 when it was built byH.C. Nimocks, the building has been a primecommercial location occupied by dry goods,mercantile, shoe and jewelry stores. It presentlyhouses Identifications. The exterior has been littlealtered, especially the upper floor, which stillboasts much of its original Victorian architecturalornamentation.

1415 MAIN STREET

J.W. Lightbody had this two-story stone buildingconstructed in 1878 to house his dry goodbusiness, called the People's Store. By 1909, ithad changed hands and was C. Samuels’ drygoods store. Since then, it has housed a variety ofmercantile and clothing stores and is presently aphotographer’s studio. Architectural elements arestill visible on the exterior, including archedwindows, white stone sills and window hoods.

1419 MAIN STREETConstructed in 1888 by the Moses Brothers,Clayton and Edward, this building was a grandVictorian commercial building with a large,ornate metal cornice, complete with gargoyles.Unfortunately, due to damage from a fire whichdestroyed the building to its north, it wasnecessary to re-brick the front, causing the loss ofthese historic architectural details. The first floorand mezzanine have always housed retailbusinesses. The second floor, which still containsoriginal woodwork, tin ceilings and otherdecorative elements, was used for offices.

FIRE!Early on the morning of September 20, 1983, firedestroyed the historic brick and stone building atthe southwest corner of Main & Broadway. Built

to house Farmer's & Merchant's Bank in 1886 ata cost of $25,000, it was known as the OperaBlock for the auditorium housed on the upperfloor. The building has been replaced with amodern office block at 2100 Broadway.

DIRT STREETS & DESPERADOSThe photograph below shows the view lookingsouthwest from the corner of what is now Main& Broadway in the late 1870s. To the left is therear of the Southern Hotel or Drover's Cottage,Great Bend's earliest hotel and one of its firstbuildings. To the immediate left of the spinningwindmill blades is the county's first school housewhich was located on what is now the site of theGreat Bend Public Library at Forest & Williams.To the right is Culver's Implement, the presentlocation of Bank of America. Notice, too, in thebottom left corner of the photo, the "bear cage" inthe back of the wagon, used for the transport ofprisoners.

1900 BLOCK OF BROADWAYThe square, sturdy-looking, classic Federal stylebuilding at 1924 Broadway was constructed tohouse Great Bend’s Post Office in 1915. When anew Post Office replaced it in 1960, the buildingwas converted to federal offices. It was sold in1996 and now houses Great Bend Children’sClinic. As with this building, all of the earlyhistoric structures in the 1900 and 2000 Blocks ofBroadway have been replaced with 20th centurybrick business buildings.

1500 KANSASNow the site of a J.C. Penney’s department store,this building was constructed in 1960 to house aWiley's department store. In the mid-1880s, thislocation became the Morrison Hotel, one of thegrandest hotels between Kansas City and Denver.

Hiss Harness Shop Main Street



Rooms originally boasted Victorian Eastlake stylefurnishings in walnut and oak. By the early1900s, the Hotel had fallen vacant and in 1902briefly served to house the Dominican sisterswho arrived in Great Bend to found a hospitaland convent. It was later purchased by W.H. Kerr,who in 1912 planned to turn it into a school toprepare students who would spread the messageof his Church of Humanity. This once grandVictorian lady ended her days as a run-downrooming house.

1400 BLOCK OF KANSASThis block, immediately across the street east ofthe courthouse square, has had a varied history.On the north end of the block, the building nowhousing the Barton County Sheriff's offices beganits existence as a private residence. Then, for anumber of years, it served as a funeral home andmortuary. In more recent times, it was purchasedby the county and converted into offices for theSheriff's Department. To its south is the CountyJail, the core of which dates from the mid-20thcentury, but which has since been updated andmodernized. In earlier times, the County Jail andthe Sheriff's residence were in the basement ofthe original courthouse. Then, that arrangementwas replaced with a large brick building on the

site of the present jail. The location had earlierserved the city as a large livery stable.

1300 BLOCK OF KANSASThe north end of this block was originally hometo the Typer House, one of Great Bend's earlierhostelries. Frame business buildings from the1870s and 1880s were gradually replaced bybrick business buildings in the early 1900s. In themiddle of the block is the old Mazda Hotelbuilding, now occupied by offices. It holds thedistinction of having been bombed by a US ArmyAir Corps B-29 during World War II - bombedwith a life raft.

1905 LAKIN AVENUEOn the south side of the courthouse square, oneof the most distinctive buildings is the CrestTheatre. The Kansan Theatre flourished at thissite in the 1920s. In 1950, owner Ferd Selleleased the building to the Great Bend Common-wealth Theatre Corporation. They undertookmajor renovations, including adding a secondstory and the distinctive Art Moderne exteriorfacade and interior elements still in evidence. Thegrand opening of the newly renovated movietheatre, renamed The Crest, was held November9, 1950. It now houses the Great Bend

Community Theatre and provides auditoriumspace for live theatre, concerts and other events.This building is now on the National Register ofHistoric Places.

1907 LAKIN AVENUEThis location was constructed in two parts. Itsfirst section, consisting of the western one-thirdof the building, was erected in 1902. A one-storybrick building was added as the eastern two-thirds in 1916. It has served various retail andoffice uses through the ensuing years.

1913 LAKIN AVENUECharles Andress, famous circus man andentrepreneur, built this brick building in 1909. Inthe winter months, when he wasn't on the road,Andress managed the Strand Theatre, whichcontinued in business until 1954. Since that time,the space has been used as a retail store.

1915 LAKIN AVENUEImmediately to the east of the Zarah Hotel, FrankC. Wells built this two-story brick building in1923 to house the men's clothing store he hadbeen operating since 1913. The businesscontinued in this location until 1987, when Mr.Well's son-in-law, Hubert Ochs, retired. It hassince been occupied by a sporting good store.

ZARAH HOTELIn a style typical of the 1920s, the Zarah Hotelwas constructed at the corner of Lakin and Main,south of the courthouse, by the Great Bend HotelCorporation in 1924 and 1925. The interior wasonce rife with art deco elements. An addition wasmade on the south side of the building in 1939and 1940, including a fourth floor pent house forthe manager. In operation from 1925 to 1972, thehotel also housed a number of businesses anddoctor’s offices on the first floor. Its more recent

Zarah Hotel City Hall

incarnation has turned it into a mini-mall with avariety of small shops under one roof.

1223 MAIN STREET In 1910, the German American Bank dedicatedtheir new building on the southwest corner ofLakin & Main. A two-story brick building con-structed in the Federal style, it is topped by atriangular pediment and boasted twelve Romancolumns. With the anti-German sentiment ofWorld War I, the bank changed its name toAmerican State Bank, which later moved to thebuilding at 1321 Main. The second storyprovided additional downtown office space andafter the bank relocated, the storefront hasgenerally housed clothing stores.

1301-1305 MAIN STREETThese premises now house jewelry and shoestores in modern brick buildings, but before beingconverted to more peaceable mercantile pursuits,this corner - indeed much of this block on MainStreet - was the stage setting for a good deal ofGreat Bend's early cow town excitement. On thiscorner stood a saloon, later converted byprohibition into a pool hall and then restaurant.Under various proprietors and different names,but generally remembered as the NuAces, thesaloon catered to the cowboys, thirsting for liquorand fun after the long, dusty trip up the ChisholmTrail to the railheads. When there was too muchliquor and the wrong kind of fun, these youngmen were likely to meet the town's early lawofficers, most of whom had served in the CivilWar. Justice was served at the end of a gun andmany a young cowboy was laid to rest in the coldloneliness of an unmarked grave.

BOASTS & BULLETSIn 1875, a correspondent for the Kansas CityTimes, described Great Bend as a placemarked by dissipation, licentiousness, crime,and daily and nightly rows. "A young Texascowboy, known this season by the name ofFrank Williams, but last year as BenCraddock, having visited the dance houseand made some boasts in regard to hisprowess in the presence of a blushingdemimonde, proceeded to distinguishhimself by attempting to kill the deputy citymarshal, W.W. Winstead. After imbibingfreely he became disagreeably noisy andflourished his revolver in a most threateningmanner. A bystander quietly slipped out andinformed the police, Jim Gainsford andWinstead, that said cowboy was threateningto shoot somebody.As they entered the saloon, the desperado'seyes caught the police-man's star. With awhoop he swung out his revolver and fired atthe approaching policemen. His fire wasreturned instantaneously by both officers ...The Texan fell instantly; a ball having takeneffect right between the eyes."

1309 MAIN STREETA.J. Buckland built the double-lot building in1887, in conjunction with Otto and Hugo Burger.A two-story brick Victorian, the two sectionswere united by a large cornice and stone windowhoods which extended across the entire front. It’scommercial use has included drug, furniture,clothing stores, as well as a “five-and-dime.”

OLD ROMEThis photograph from the 1870s shows the 1300block of Main, looking south from what is nowForest. The third storefront from the right is thefamous Rome Saloon.

1315-1317 MAIN STREETIn 1909, John Hiss and Louis Zutavernconstructed the Hiss Building. A two-story brickbuilding, it featured the commercial art decodesign typical of that era. As with many spaces inthe downtown business district, the main floorwas used as a storefront and the second storyprovided office space. Over the years, it hashoused drug and jewelry stores, a music school,dentists’ offices, a beauty shop and photographystudio

1319 MAIN STREETThe building located at 1319 Main wasconstructed in the mid-1880s. Originally adouble-lot, two-story brick building, it onceboasted typically elaborate Victorian designelements, including metal cornices and gargoyles.When the bank was constructed next door,however, the north portion of this building wasdemolished and the remaining front converted toa more contemporary style. For many years ithoused a variety of retail stores, but now servesas additional office space for the bank next door.

1321 MAIN STREETDirectly west of the courthouse’s west door, the1300 and 1400 blocks of Main Street are dividedby Forest Avenue. At 1321 Main stands theAmerican State Bank building, constructed in1919 by the First National Bank. Constructed inthe Federal architectural style, the exterior façadeis Indiana limestone. The interior of the bank wasfinished with polished marble, brass and wood,decorated with ornate columns and ceilings. Theupper levels house offices.


Downtown Walking Tour

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