How many photos at home do you have stored away in boxes or albums? Many of those photos might be of your family or their homes, but we’ve found more to share with you today. These vintage photos from the early 1900s take you back in time to places in Kansas you might know very well. Have you seen these Kansas locations before they became what they are today?
- The Kansas State Fair in Hutchinson
Wikimedia Commons This photo taken between 1900 and 1919 really shows that Kansans always show up in droves to a state fair. I bet they didn’t have all this fried food, though!
- Alta Vista’s Fourth of July parade in 1905
Wikimedia Commons They had 500 people living there in 1910, and today they have about 50 or 60 less than that. Sometimes small towns stay small.
- Garnett’s public square circa 1900-1919
Wikimedia Commons
- A view of the Missouri Pacific Railroad depot in Claflin in 1900
Wikimedia Commons It’s no longer standing today, but it and the gentlemen pictured are immortalized in photograph form.
- A view of Elkhart’s main street circa 1900-1919
Wikimedia Commons The sign on the left reads, “All roads lead to Elkhart” as well as everything else you probably needed to know about the town back then.
- Missouri street in Alma, looking from Hotel Alma in 1901
Wikimedia Commons Can you imagine seeing horses and carriages come down the road, and it’s a normal occurrence?
- 9th Avenue in Winfield, circa 1910
Ashley Van Haeften/Flickr Panoramic photos are hard to come by in that age, but you can see that Winfield loved their trolleys, with a web of wires above everyone’s head.
- Main street in Bluff City circa 1900
Glen Van Etten/Flickr It doesn’t appear that any of these buildings are still here today. It’s sad, but I assume many small towns were changed completely at one point in time.
- A house and the couple that lived there, in Chanute circa 1916
John Jackson/Flickr The man, Joseph Plummer, and his wife had lived here for over 40 years before he died, and settled here in Chanute, Kansas in 1869.
- A view of the square in Girard circa 1900
John Tewell/Flickr According to the notes attached, the electric trolley in the photo ran to other cities as well. I’m sure it was a welcome change to walking or riding horses.
- Bethel Bible College in Topeka circa 1900
Marion Doss/Flickr The building was nicknamed “Stone’s Folly”, built by E.R. Stone. I don’t know about folly, because this building looks amazing.
- Strong City’s Main street in 1909
photolibrarian/Flickr Amazingly, you can still find a few of these original buildings in Strong City today, though some have been lost to time.
- Plains, circa 1900
Wikimedia Commons It’s odd that a town in Kansas would be named Plains, but sure enough, here it is. The streets weren’t named in the description, but it looks to be the intersection of Grand and Indiana.
- “Pearle Watson and Pet” circa 1900
Tom Blunt/Flickr It’s not hard for me to imagine everyone owning a horse, but for those of us that grew up in Wichita or other larger cities, it’s something you might not think about.
- A farm house in Wichita in 1910
WaterArchives.org/Flickr Looking at the large homes we have today, it’s humbling to think a family of six or more might have lived in a small house like this.
- A 1910 view of Doyle Creek Dam in Peabody
WaterArchives.org/Flickr This scenic waterfall is actually a dam that doesn’t hold water back too well.
- By comparison, the Geuda Springs Dam in 1910
WaterArchives.org/Flickr I’ve never been to Geuda Springs, but there’s under 200 people living there today to tell you about this town.
- A 1910 view of Hoxie’s Main street
whitewall buick/Flickr To think that towns once were empty of trees and you could see for miles in between the houses.
- The Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway Company depot in Wilmore circa 1900
Wikimedia Commons I haven’t been on a train in years, much less a depot. It was an important mode of transportation for a few more decades until planes and cars won out.
Do you have any vintage photos hiding around? Post them in the comments below, and share your family’s stories. We love to hear about everyone’s experiences!
Wikimedia Commons
This photo taken between 1900 and 1919 really shows that Kansans always show up in droves to a state fair. I bet they didn’t have all this fried food, though!
They had 500 people living there in 1910, and today they have about 50 or 60 less than that. Sometimes small towns stay small.
It’s no longer standing today, but it and the gentlemen pictured are immortalized in photograph form.
The sign on the left reads, “All roads lead to Elkhart” as well as everything else you probably needed to know about the town back then.
Can you imagine seeing horses and carriages come down the road, and it’s a normal occurrence?
Ashley Van Haeften/Flickr
Panoramic photos are hard to come by in that age, but you can see that Winfield loved their trolleys, with a web of wires above everyone’s head.
Glen Van Etten/Flickr
It doesn’t appear that any of these buildings are still here today. It’s sad, but I assume many small towns were changed completely at one point in time.
John Jackson/Flickr
The man, Joseph Plummer, and his wife had lived here for over 40 years before he died, and settled here in Chanute, Kansas in 1869.
John Tewell/Flickr
According to the notes attached, the electric trolley in the photo ran to other cities as well. I’m sure it was a welcome change to walking or riding horses.
Marion Doss/Flickr
The building was nicknamed “Stone’s Folly”, built by E.R. Stone. I don’t know about folly, because this building looks amazing.
photolibrarian/Flickr
Amazingly, you can still find a few of these original buildings in Strong City today, though some have been lost to time.
It’s odd that a town in Kansas would be named Plains, but sure enough, here it is. The streets weren’t named in the description, but it looks to be the intersection of Grand and Indiana.
Tom Blunt/Flickr
It’s not hard for me to imagine everyone owning a horse, but for those of us that grew up in Wichita or other larger cities, it’s something you might not think about.
WaterArchives.org/Flickr
Looking at the large homes we have today, it’s humbling to think a family of six or more might have lived in a small house like this.
This scenic waterfall is actually a dam that doesn’t hold water back too well.
I’ve never been to Geuda Springs, but there’s under 200 people living there today to tell you about this town.
whitewall buick/Flickr
To think that towns once were empty of trees and you could see for miles in between the houses.
I haven’t been on a train in years, much less a depot. It was an important mode of transportation for a few more decades until planes and cars won out.
Also, while we can’t take you back too far, we can give you experiences that’ll remind you of those days long past at these places where you can experience “Old Kansas” still.
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