Mr. H.T. Alexander, station agent on left, Lee Lewis, apprentice,
inside of the Chicago & Alton Depot located N.W. corner 12th & Main, which burned in 1923.

 

Auto Livery, early 1900s

 

Bank of Blue Springs

 

“One Man Bank” — That’s what it was called in 1882 when it was founded by E.B. Field. It was purchased in 1889 by John Henry Moore, who incorporated it in 1890 as the Bank of Blue Springs. In the photo are W.I. Thomason, left, and R.J. Lowe. In 1911 their capital and surplus was $42,000.

 

In 1832 or 1835, 15 people withdrew from the Little Blue Baptist Church and began meeting in private homes in the winter and in the grove in the summer. Their first house of worship was a log house built in “old town” near what is now Walnut & Woods Chapel Road. A frame structure was built later which was used as a hospital during the Civil War. It was subsequently burned by Major Drumhiller. When peace was restored, another house was built on the hill near the present cemetery at a cost of $1,500. When the town was relocated to its present site, the frame structure shown here was moved to the northeast corner of 15th & Main. In 1922, under the ministry of Rev. F.L. Stillions, the brick building now known as the old auditorium was erected on the same lot.

 

Quinn Bros. & Gwinn Dry Goods, 1908. Left to right: John W. Quinn, Prof. L.F. Blackburn, Tom Broaddus, Guy Quinn, James Quinn, Hal Burrus, the dog is Pug. Inside door, Stella & Della Botts.

 

Interior of Blue Springs Bank. At left is John Henry Moore, who purchased the bank from E.B. Field.
In center is E.E. Montgomery, who served as cashier until 1905.

 

Blue Springs’ first brick school house was erected in 1905 at 16th and Vesper. It was razed in 1924.

 

Inside of Blue Springs Hardware around 1930, which was owned at that time by the late George McGuire, far left. This business was still in operation on Main Street until a few years ago.

 

Dillingham-Lewis Museum
15th & Main Street
Residence of Miss Narra Lewis, 1928-47
Now Property of the Blue Springs Historical Society

 

Blue Springs Lumber & Milling Co.
(started 1878) Photo ca. 1900.
l. to r. Jim Stanley; Ed (Doc) Boley; inside Ed Jones; Ed Luttrell; inside Rev. Thomason;
Sam Luttrell; drayage & mules — Bill & Tom Dodson.

 

Blue Springs Mercantile Company, December 26, 1896.
Far left: David Dillingham. Far right: E.C. Ford. Woman seated at counter: Mrs. Will (Ollie) Ford.

 

Dillingham-Lewis Museum
15th & Main Street
Residence of Miss Narra Lewis, 1928-47
Now Property of the Blue Springs Historical Society

 

Old Blue Springs School in the 1940s, which used to stand north of the railroad tracks on Woods Chapel Road.
The teacher in the photo is Mrs. Hazel Montgomery, the last teacher who taught there.

 

J.W. Dodson & Son – Blue Springs Transfer Co. wagon with Mr. Dodson & Mr. Nowlin as passenger,
in front of Blue Springs Stockyards.

 

J.W. Dodson & Son – Blue Springs Transfer Co. wagon with Mr. Dodson & Mr. Nowlin as passenger,
in front of Blue Springs Stockyards.

 

Blue Springs Lumber & Milling Co.
(started 1878) Photo ca. 1900.
l. to r. Jim Stanley; Ed (Doc) Boley; inside Ed Jones; Ed Luttrell; inside Rev. Thomason;
Sam Luttrell; drayage & mules — Bill & Tom Dodson.

 

First Post Office in 1908. Tom Torpey was Postmaster, assisted by his wife, Lucy, standing in doorway. Other men left to right: Will Guthrie, Alnut Startzman, Mose Botts, Alec Botts, Ed Hutchings, all mail carriers. Also in picture are Mrs. Flora Hutchings and son, Clifford. Post Office was located on the south side of Main, between 11th and 12th.

 

Royal Neighbors Lodge of Blue Springs, 1907-1908, taken at a picnic at Horseshoe Lake for their families.
From left to right were Burgess Perkins, Mrs. Perkins, Mrs. Bill Campbell, Mrs. Tom Broaddus, Mrs. Nell Kirby Matthews, Mrs. Sarah Webb, Bill Adams, Mrs. Ollie Shaw, Neely Harris, Mrs. Harris, Miss Anna Luttrell, Della Botts Saunders, Frank Ware, and Lucy Ware. Sitting on the ground were G.B. Webb, T.E. (Mose) Botts, Bess Kirby Miller, Mrs. Ollie Ford, and Mrs. Molly White. Children of the couples are in the background.

 

Quinn Bros. & Gwinn Dry Goods, 1908. Left to right: John W. Quinn, Prof. L.F. Blackburn, Tom Broaddus, Guy Quinn, James Quinn, Hal Burrus, the dog is Pug. Inside door, Stella & Della Botts.

 

Quinn Bros. & Gwinn Dry Goods, 1908. Left to right: John W. Quinn, Prof. L.F. Blackburn, Tom Broaddus, Guy Quinn, James Quinn, Hal Burrus, the dog is Pug. Inside door, Stella & Della Botts.

 

Cummins Produce & Feed Market, early 1900s.
Left to right: unidentified man, Tom Broaddus, Mr. & Mrs. Frank Cummins.

 

Chicago & Alton Depot. Structure burned in 1923.

 

Mr. H.T. Alexander, station agent on left, Lee Lewis, apprentice,
inside of the Chicago & Alton Depot located N.W. corner 12th & Main, which burned in 1923.

 

Chicago-Alton Hotel
1504 W. Main
Built ca. 1878 by J.K. Parr
Photo ca. 1906
Now Property of the Blue Springs Historical Society

 

Hansel “Spot” Lowe inside the Lowe Drug Store, 1957. The most famous customers were Harry and Bess Truman, who would stop by occasionally for chocolate sodas. “Spot” founded the infamous “Skunk Club,” which is still a favorite with kids of all ages.

 

Blue Springs Lumber & Milling Co.
(started 1878) Photo ca. 1900.
l. to r. Jim Stanley; Ed (Doc) Boley; inside Ed Jones; Ed Luttrell; inside Rev. Thomason;
Sam Luttrell; drayage & mules — Bill & Tom Dodson.

 

Main Street looking east, ca. 1911.

 

Home of Mr. and Mrs. John Henry Moore, built in 1882 by E.B. Field and purchased by the Moores at the same time he bought the bank from Mr. Field in 1890. Mr. Moore came to Blue Springs after serving in the Confederate Army during the Civil War.

 

T.D. Lewis Blacksmith Shop, ca. 1900, which was located on 12th Street between Main & Smith. This business was still in operation until around the mid-1950s. The last owner was Herb Richardson, who also served as City Marshal.