Cherokee Street Photos > IMG_5105
Cherokee Street Photos > 2847 Cherokee Street
Kaiser’s Hardware

This store and dwelling was constructed for Henry W. Kaiser in 1896 for the cost of $2,957. The appearance of the façade has changed very little since its construction. The elaborate metal cornices, made of cast iron or tin, would have been chosen from a catalog and sized to fit the building. The large cast iron and turned wooden posts create an opening for a large display widow. Above the window are large transom windows bounded by smaller panes of colored glass. Before the advent of the incandescent light and neon signage, stores utilized these decorative elements to capture a potential customer’s attention. These elements also gave individuality to the uniform design of stores.

Henry Kaiser operated a hardware store in this location until 1919. The following year, Kroger Grocery and Baking Company rented the store front from the Kaiser Family. This was the fourth Kroger store located on Cherokee St. Nascent chain stores, such as Kroger, were accused of driving small merchants out of business. The store was viewed as a menace, changing the commerce of communities and commercial districts. In 1928, owner Bernard Kroger sold his entire stock for $28 million and stepped down as President of the Kroger Company. Kroger Grocery discontinued operations at this location during same year. The Kaiser Family continued to reside in the second-story residence until 1958.
CHEROKEE STATION
BUSINESS ASSOCIATION
Cherokee Street Photos > 2626-2630 Cherokee Street
The Hope Building

In 1913, The Hope Investment Company commissioned architect Robert G. Kirsch to design a commercial building to occupy this corner.  Kirsch was well known for designing several courthouses in Missouri during the turn of the twentieth century.  His success in the region prompted Kirsch to move his operations from Milwaukee to St. Louis in 1911.  To construct his two-story building, Kirsch hired the Great Western Construction Company and stone mason Harry Jeffrey.

Known as The Hope Building, the structure contained several separate stores on the first and second floors.  In 1937, The Silver Creek Liquor Company hired architect Leo F. Abrams to alter the exterior and interior of the store.  Abrams utilized a modern glazed tile for the remodel of the first story exterior.  Converted into a single store, the interior was divided into distinct zones for a restaurant, bar and retail liquor store.  For the next sixteen years, a 905 Liquor Store occupied the remodeled space.  In 1953, the Cohen Family opened a Globe Self-Service Drug Store in this location.

While in operation as a 905 Liquor Store, company owner Morris Multin commissioned Regionalist artist J.B. Turnbull to paint twelve murals for this store.  A Day in the Country, produced in 1937, contained seven murals depicting the course of a day in Midwestern agrarian society.  One year later, the second set of five paintings, Industrial Missouri, deals with the mining industry in southeastern Missouri.  The murals are currently in the collection of Marquette University’s Haggarty Museum in Milwaukee.

Cherokee  Station 
Business  Association
Cherokee Street Photos > 2831-35 Cherokee Street
The Thompson Building or Starke’s Market

This commercial and residential building was built in 1895 by owner Jeremiah Thompson and building contractor H. R. Becker. Throughout the 1890s Thompson used the space for his butcher shop, while residing on McNair Avenue. In 1911 George W. Starke purchased the building for his butcher shop and grocery store. He had been located at 3403 California Avenue at the corner of Cherokee Street since 1901. After Starke’s death in 1933 the business was taken over by his son, and Starke’s Market remained in operation at this location until 1964. The associated one-story brick garage behind the building, on Oregon Avenue, was built in 1916 by George Starke and the plaque above the door bears his name “G. W. Starke”. Throughout the 1960s and 70s the building was occupied by the Cherokee Furniture Company. This 19th century building remains remarkably intact, with its original cast iron storefront and slate roof.
Cherokee Street Photos > 2639-41 Cherokee.  Taken December 1, 2006.

Post-Restoration Photo:

http://cherokeestreetphotos.org/gallery/5027055_yycps#301829818_ZXKSK
Cherokee Street Photos > 2719-29Cherokee
Cherokee Street Photos > IMG_5387.JPG
Cherokee Street Photos > Photo by Lyndsey Scott
Cherokee Street Photos > IMG_5101
IMG_5101
Cherokee Street Photos > IMG_5101
IMG_5101
See photo in original gallery.

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