Then and Now in Postcards (Part 3)

Here's another group of old postcards from around District 2 (with just a couple "now" pictures). It really is fascinating to not only see the beauty of these postcards, but also to see what local sites became the subject of the postcards.

First stop is Kansas Avenue in Armourdale.
This picture is looking west along Kansas Avenue
from the bend in the road at 5th Street.

Here's Kansas Avenue today.
Like the other avenues we've looked at (Central & Minnesota),
the view is radically different today.

Here's the west end of Armourdale at 18th & Kansas Avenue.
Anyone who has driven on 18th Street Expressway
should remember this building.

Here's how it looks today.
18th Street Expressway is prominent in the foreground
Looks like the brown and white building was added on to
and the structures to the north (right) were all torn down.

I *think* this building was just west of the one above
(where Proctor & Gamble is now along Kansas Avenue).
If you recognize it, send me a note.

Now let's head back downtown.
This lovely building has been well maintained over the years
and still graces the northeast corner of 10th & Barnett by Northrup Park.
Today it's the Mrs. J.W. Jones Memorial Chapel.

Here's a neighborhood scene from 1919.
This view is looking east on Grandview Boulevard
from roughly the alley between 18th and 17th Streets.
The red brick house in the center of this postcard
sits on the northeast corner of 17th and Grandview.

I'm assuming this postcard came out a few years after the one above.
It shows the view looking north along the 300 block of North 17th Street.

Let's wrap up today by heading back downtown for three views of the old Carnegie Library on Minnesota Avenue.

This postcard had to come from the very early 1900's.
I think it shows a view looking northwest from the
"side and back" of the library.

This postcard was circulated in 1907.
I think it shows a view looking southwest from the
"side and front" of the library.
Notice that a more elaborate stone staircase has been added
at the side door (left of photo)
What a cool building!

This postcard was dated 1913 and shows an impressive plaza
in front of the library

That's all for today. I still have one more batch of postcards to go and will try to get to it soon.

Have a great week!


~ Brian

bmckiernan@wycokck.org
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Northrup Park Community Garden Ready and Waiting

Testing ... testing ... is this thing on? ...

Wow - it's been so long since I've posted here, I hope I remember how to make things work.  :-)

Sorry for the absence. I've been hibernating and trying (unsuccessfully) to avoid the cold for the last few weeks, but I'm waking up and getting ready for a great spring.

Speaking of spring, I want to let everyone know about a gigantic new community garden that will be opening this spring in Northrup Park (10th and Grandview Boulevard).

Everything's under a foot of snow at the moment, but the fence was installed and the plots were tilled before the winter set in, so it will be ready to go come spring!

Northrup Park is on the east side of 10th Street
between Barnett on the north and Sandusky on the south.

Yep, there's a huge garden inside that fence and under all the snow!!
This picture doesn't begin to do justice to how big it is.
Click this picture to view a larger version.

The garden was installed thanks to the efforts of Kansas City Community Gardens (Facebook) with local support from the Latino Health for All Coalition (Facebook).

The new garden will have two options for gardeners:

• Raised Garden Beds - 24 total (4' x 12' each) filled with compost-rich soil.
• Ground Plot Gardens - 25 total (20' x 25' each) tilled and ready to plant.

Both the raised beds and ground plots will be rented annually. Rental fees are based on income level and range from $8.00 - $25.00 per year. Gardeners will have access to water, and the garden is equipped with shelter and seating as well as access to a portable toilet.

Kansas City Community Gardens can help with low-cost seeds, vegetable plants and fertilizer.

If you want to join this community garden, call Earlene at 816-931-3877 for more information or to reserve your plot. (For Spanish, call Monica Mendez at 913-439-9349).

To close, here are a few photos to help us imagine what it could be like this summer.  :-)

~ Brian

bmckiernan@wycokck.org
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