Northeast Mansions, Volume 9 - H.L. Root Home

 The above picture home of H. L. Root was originally 2905 Independence Avenue... now it's 2817.  That change of address happened rather frequently in the early days of the City. This home was designed by the person featured in my last post, Charles A. Smith.   Above was taken around 1896... below was taken March 12th, 2013.   This is located right next to Boulevard Bakery.

 H.L. Root was Vice-President of the Burnham- Hanna-Munger Dry Goods Company which began life in 1887 at 7th and Walnut Streets.  In 1900 it moved to a large building at 8th and Broadway which is now called the Poindexter Building.  It was a wholesale dry goods company.  Below, the living room of the home.

The home right next to Mr. Roots is going up for auction on March 28th, building and contents.

Northeast Mansions Volume 8, Charles A. Smith Home

 Charles Ashley Smith, 1867 - 1948, was a prolific Kansas City architect who designed more than 50 of the Kansas City School Districts' Schools including Northeast High School.   He also created  the three Heim Brothers' homes on Benton Boulevard.  His residence, above, which he also designed, is at 810 Benton Boulevard and is still standing!   These photos were probably taken between 1895 and 1905.

 I made copy-negs of photos in a Hughes Book 20 years ago and then forgot I had them.  These three are from that book and show the Smith living room above, and living and dining rooms, below.

 Mr. Smith was born in Ohio, moved to Iowa and thence to Kansas City.  He was a draftsman with William Hackney in 1887 prior to becoming his partner. Hackney was the architect for the Kansas city School District and, upon his death, Smith took that position.      Schools in addition to Northeast that he designed include Woodland School, 711 Woodland,  and Attucks Elementary School at 18th and Woodland.  He also designed the Fine Arts Building on the UMKC campus, the Unity Temple at 47th and Jefferson, the YMCA building at 18th and Paseo, the Kansas City Club at 12th and Baltimore, and the Firestone Building at 2001 Grand.  .   Below, the home today.

Biographical information came from a profile by Susan Jezak Ford found in  the Missouri Valley Room of the Kansas City Public Library

                                                 Charles Ashley Smith, Northeast Architect