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Two weeks ago, we checked in on Webb City in the late 1940s and noticed how active our little city had become. We learned many statistics about this fast growing town. One interesting statistic I failed to mention was that there were 1,100 telephones in service, and there were 1,100 automobiles registered in an area whose population was estimated at about 8,000. So let’s check in again on Webb City in 1947 to see what businesses were available and feel the magic of a small town in the Midwest.

In previous years, Webb City boasted of many livery stables, but automobiles had replaced the horses to become the focus of travel. Webb City had her share of automobile lots and repair shops. Not to mention service stations and automobile repair garages. Western Auto was a well known place to visit for auto supplies; located at 18-20 Main Street, owned by E.C. Mammen & Son. You could dial 968 to check on the supplies you needed. The Firestone brand could be found at Baird Supply Co., at 106 N. Main St., over by Webb City Bank. They had what you needed for your car, and you could call them at phone number 69.

Webb City was not at a loss for insurance providers. You could shop at The Hiron Insurance Co., at 108 N. Webb St., or hop over one block to 108 N. Main St. to the Home Land & Loan Co. (A.D. Hatten & Harry Easley). Myers Insurance Agency was located at 111 W. Church St., or you could stop in to see Harry B. Hulett at 27 S. Main St. Roderique Mutual Insurance Agency was holding its own in Carterville at 222 E. Main. Insurance agents could also be found at Veatch Realty Co. and at the Unity Building, with LeRoy VanHoose.

There were approximately 33 grocery stores in Webb City, with the small mom and pop stores being slowly replaced by the larger supermarkets. Some of those supermarkets were: Day’s Super Market at 16 S. Main St.; Kroger Grocery Co., 112 N. Main St., and Karbe Super Market, 205 N. Main St. Also on Main Street were Fred Crutcher, 504 N. Main St.; Herrod’s Market, 106 S. Main St., and Wilson’s Grocery, 509 N. Main St. That was quite a few groceries located on Main Street in Webb City.

There were many other grocery stores in Webb City, with some them very popular, like Broadway Market, 524 W. Broadway; Berrian’s Market, 1001 W. Daugherty St.; Stone’s Grocery, 916-918 W. Daugherty St. That was quite a few of the larger grocery stores.

I know many of you will remember the small mom and pop stores where you spent your pennies for candy: Jelly’s, Cooper’s, Couraw’s, Coleman’s, Campbell’s, Cupp, Dowell, Flanigan, Highley, Hubbard, Huddleston, Magill, May, Orr, Packer, Elbert, Ross, Tuder, and Wyatt’s. Now this was just the list for 1947. There have been many, many small mom & pop grocery stores in Webb City through the years.

You didn’t need to  run out to the Ice Co. in the north end of town anymore, when you could go to Smith’s Ice & Fuel on West Daugherty St. Liquor was easy to find in a small circle, City Cigar & Liquor, 105 N. Main St., Home Beverage Co., 107 E. Broadway, Joe’s Package Store, 202 E. Daugherty St., Patten’s Package Shop, 221 W. Daugherty St., and Webb Street Package store, 118 N. Webb St. You could also get soft drinks at Home Beverage and Patten’s.

Or better yet, run by Bradbury Bishop Drug Co., 201 N. Main St., Haynes Drug Store, 101 W. Daugherty St., Sard’s Drug Store, 103 N. Madison St. or West End Pharmacy, 930 W. Daugherty St., for a good fountain drink or ice cream, as well as Purkhiser Ice Cream, 209 N. Main St. You could also get ice cream at Minerva Candy Co. 12 S. Main St., or Thomas Williams, at 36 S. Main St.

Looking to buy from a department store? No problem. Webb City had three: The Hub, 1-5 S. Main St.; Huey’s Stores, 109-17 N. Main St. and 924 W. Daugherty St., plus Allen’s Department store, at 111 Main in Carterville. The dime store was S H Kress & Co., 4 S. Main St. Next door, at 8 S. Main, you could find Gamble’s, owned by H.H. Flippo, where you could buy a little bit of everything!

Only one hotel was available in 1947 – the Midwest Hotel, 1 S. Main St. But you could venture a little farther from Main for some tourist cabins. The Webb City Courts were at 1114 W. Broadway, and the Flanigan Tourist Cabins were at 1105 S. Jefferson St. Or you could just drive around town to see many of the older two-story homes offering rooms to rent for the night.

You might have been in search of a laundry or dry cleaner, and we would have had that for you: Peter Pan Cleaners & Laundry, 201 E. Daugherty St.; Crescent Cleaners, 120 N. Webb St.; and the Parkway Cleaners, 414 W. Daugherty St. (Sound familiar?)

Webb City was the place to be in the late ’40s. We had it all! There was so much I didn’t get to mention that was still in the heart of Webb City. I hope you had a good time walking the business streets of Webb City in the late ’40s. Couldn’t you just imagine passing folks on the street, calling out a greeting or sharing a smile and a wave?

Webb City has had a few slogans or mottos over the years; “Get Down and Come In,” “Webb City -The Zinc City,” “The Town that Jack Built,” “Why Can’t We? (1972),” and our current version, “We Love it Here!” All of these slogans and mottos show the character, attitude and pride of Webb City, Missouri.