Downtown buildings were known by their names rather than addresses

In this day and age, we live in a society controlled by numbers. We have numbers to associate with almost everything we come in contact with each day. We have account numbers, invoice numbers, addresses, phone numbers, fax numbers, Social Security numbers, pin numbers, charge card numbers, etc. When we call a place of business, we are only one of a number of customers. Those at the counter don’t know us, and we usually don’t know them.

Now let us take a trip back to those good “ole” days, when a customer was a treasured asset.

In the late 1800s and the early 1900s, life seemed so much simpler than today. You could call your favorite grocery store, give your name and the list of groceries needed and feel assured they would be delivered. You didn’t have to give your life history. The people at the store knew who you were and where you lived. They wanted your business. They not only delivered, but when you paid your bill on payday, they gave you a sack of penny candy in appreciation. Of course, there were grocery stores on just about every block, and that was some stiff competition.

In looking at the advertisements of businesses in those days, it was interesting to note that some did not list an address. Small towns knew where every business was located and for that matter where everyone lived. One of my favorite sayings is, “In a small town, you don’t have to use your turning signal because everyone in town knows where you’re going.”

Many doctors and lawyers had their offices on the upper floors of buildings, and they would just list the names of the buildings and maybe a room number. For instance, an office may be located in room two of the O’Neill Building. People familiar with Webb City knew the O’Neill Building was at 9 S. Webb St., where the water office used to be. It was named after Col. James O’Neill, who established the city’s first water system.

We will play a little game… a name game. I will mention the names of a few buildings and you see if you can recall where they are, or used to be located. Some are pretty easy, but a few may take some concentration.

The most commonly known were the Wagner, Ryus, McCorkle, Zinc Ore, Dermott, Coyne, Wright and O.P.C.H. buildings. I have more to list, but take a moment to see how many of these buildings you have located so far.

Some of the easiest names to locate or remember are: the Unity, Y.M.C.A, Webb City Bank, National Bank, Blake Theatre, City Hall and Humphrey buildings.

The Wagner was known for all the offices located on the upper floors. There were many doctors, lawyers, and general offices for businesses located on the edge of town, such as the Webb City Brick Co.

The Wagner building was actually next to the town’s first building to have been constructed as a post office and eventually joined with that building.

Businesses advertised that they were: in room 10 of the Wagner Building, in the P.O. Building or next to it, or in the Wagner building next to the Elks Club.

Now that I have mentioned the Elks Club, some of you are more likely to think of the Wagner’s location. It is the half block of buildings on the northwest corner of  Broadway (then known as Joplin) Street and Webb Street. It was popular later because of the dances on the second floor.

The bank buildings had plenty of offices for professionals. The Webb City Bank building was on the northwest corner of Main (Allen) Street and Broadway (previously known as Main) Street. Did that get you confused? The street names were changed in 1922.

The National Bank was in the 100 block of North Main Street, on the west side by the alley. You may know it now as the Roderique Insurance office. The Unity Building was home to the Merchants & Miners Bank and many professional offices. It was easier to say Unity Building than Merchants & Miners Bank Building.

The Dermott, Coyne, McCorkle, Donehoo, and Ryus buildings were named after the men who built them. The Dermott is on the northwest corner of Main and First streets. McCorkle, a mining tycoon, built his building on the corner of Church and Main streets. The (doctor) Donehoo building was located on the northeast corner of Church and Main streets. The Webb City Sentinel and Main Street Bar were in the Donehoo when it burned in 1982. Coyne, the owner of a lumber yard and active member of the community, built his building at 109 W. Broadway. The Ryus building was at 122 N. Webb St.

Many of the buildings have their names and dates built into the building, such as Zinc Ore building at 8 S. Main St., which is the present home of Integrity Custom Homes. Names are also on the Dermott building, on the northwest corner of Main and First streets, and the Century Building, at 31 S. Main St.

The Humphrey Building, the second brick building to be built in Webb City, fronts a half block in the 200 block of North Main Street, with Bradbury Bishop Deli on the corner.

The first brick building was the Wright Building, the Webb City Bank’s first location and later the Wright Jewelry Co. A gas station was built on that lot after the Wright was gone to take advantage of the Route 66 traffic, and it is now the Route 66 Tourist Information Center and Chamber of Commerce office.

Take a ride to search out the famous buildings of Webb City, and don’t forget the Middlewest Building, at 1 S. Main Street. It was originally an opera house and was the first to be on the National Historic Registry. There are more special buildings, but I have run out of space. Maybe another time I can list them.