From the 3rd floor
of the Webb City Public Library
January 15, 2025
The red brick building at 212 N. Main St. is under threat of demolition. The building has been in disrepair for a number of year and last November the back portion of the building collapsed.
In 2018, Jenni Sexton purchased the building stating she planned to build three commercial spaces on the first floor and three apartments on the second floor.
Over the last century, the 1899 building has housed many different businesses. It was the home of the first YMCA in Webb City and the Rebekahs and the Old Fellow lodges held their meetings on the second floor. Here is a partial list of some of the occupants.
1906 – The Webb City Sentinel reported that E. A. Marshall had sold his store in the Aylor building to a good advantage and his room has been leased by H. C. Humphrap, the owner of a Pittsburg, Kan., firm at double the rent who will put in a tailoring shop and gents furnishing establishment. The Earle G. Reese Fine Tailoring and Chicago Steam Dye Works occupied the building during this time period.
1909 – A photograph showed the occupant was having a bankrupt sale. The name of the store was possibly Webb City Floors or Webb City Motors.
1911 – The Webb City Directory listed the C.V. Wright Chili Parlor, located at 212 N. Allen (Main). The same directory lists 212 N. Allen (Main) St. as the Aylor Building.
1923 – The Kirby store advertised a key and lock service at 212 N. Main (Allen) St.
1947, – The Tarrant Cabinet Shop, 212 N. Main St., Phone 48, was offering cemetery monuments and grave markers. The same year, The Trade Mart was also located there.
1952 – The Home Appliance Service, 212 N. Main St., Phone 91, advertised repairs on washers, fans, vacuum cleaners, irons, toasters and other appliances.
Later generations of Webb City residents will remember the Clawpaws pet store that occupied the building.s
The Webb City Sentinel isn’t a newspaper – but it used to be, serving Webb City, Missouri, in print from 1879-2020. This “newspaper” seeks to carry on that tradition as a nonprofit corporation.
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