​Looking Back: March on Front Street

by Marcia Napier, Grain Valley Historical Society


Today I left the post office and took a walk, over to Front Street and west a couple of blocks. I turned North, back to Walnut. I proceeded further North on Thieme to Yennie, Yennie to Gregg Street, then South, back to the post office. 

Along the route, I took several photographs of houses in Grain Valley that are at least 100 years old. I have many more old homes to write about. But, when I began to write my article, I realized that all of the background information is at the Historical Society. That’s a problem because the museum is closed for a couple of weeks while the 25-year-old carpeting is being removed and new laminate flooring is being installed.

So, while you usually learn about the historical society calendar page at the end of the month, this time the March photo description is early!

​Downtown Grain Valley
A view from Front Street, Circa 1950
 
Beginning on the left, Grain Valley had a pool hall in town during much of the 1940s and 1950s. I was never in the pool hall, as only men played pool in public. At least that was true in Grain Valley. In the early 1950s Dr. Charles Himmler had his office on the second floor. Dr. Himmler was a chiropractor and he also did eye exams. (He prescribed my first pair of glasses in 1959.)

Next we see the Bank of Grain Valley, built in 1905. The door at the rear opened to stairs that lead to a meeting room. I recall that the Eastern Star met there and I have been told that the VFW also used the space.  During World War II, various women’s groups met there to knit sweaters, hats, and gloves and make quilts to pack into gift boxes sent to local men stationed overseas.

The third building is actually across Main Street. Over the years, that building has had a variety of businesses from hotel and marina to plastics plant, pawn shop, and tattoo parlor.

The next building with the gas pumps out front was Huff’s Garage when this photograph was taken. In the late 1920s and 30s it was also a small hotel.  Visitors to Sni-A-Bar Farms often stayed there while studying the agricultural experiments taking place on the farm. The upstairs rooms were converted to two or three apartments in the 1940s and 50s.

Finally, we get a very small glimpse of the hardware store, Circa 1902. It burned, along with the Huff Building in December, 1959.

The Historical Society will reopen on Wednesday, March 27 at 10:00 AM. Come visit and see our new floor!