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
