Old Town in Wichita in Sedgwick County, Kansas — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

Simmons Hardware Company

1905

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., September 4, 2011

1. Simmons Hardware Company Marker

Simmons Warehouse Tower in upper left distance

Inscription.
Morton-Simmons Hardware established its business on First Street in the large warehousing district around the rail connections east of downtown Wichita. The popular Keen Kutter brand name emblazoned on the cupola made the building an instant landmark. The tall cupola held 20,000 gallons of water for the state-of-the-art sprinkler system found throughout the warehouse.

Containing more wholesale space than any other building in the city, it housed more than 79,000 pieces of merchandise. The building's technology included messenger call boxes, house telephones and electric elevators.

Our Motto
"The recollection of QUALITY remains long after the PRICE is forgotten."
Trademark Registered

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Landmarks.

Location. 37° 41.239′ N, 97° 19.663′ W. Marker is in Wichita, Kansas, in Sedgwick County. It is in Old Town. Marker is on Mosley near 1st Street, on the left when traveling north. Marker is on the plaza immediately north of the Museum of World Treasures. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 835 East 1st Street, Wichita KS 67202, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Oldtown Marketplace (here, next to this marker); Warehouse District

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(here, next to this marker); Riding the Rails (here, next to this marker); Simmons Hardware Company / Hockaday Paint Company (here, next to this marker); Coleman Company (here, next to this marker); Union Station and the Santa Fe (here, next to this marker); Johnson-Frazier Building / Cox Produce Company (here, next to this marker); Innes Wholesale Furniture / City Ice Delivery (here, next to this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Wichita.

Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker.

Also see . . .
1. Oldtown Wichita History. (Submitted on June 18, 2012, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
2. Brief History of the Simmons Hardware Company. (Submitted on June 18, 2012, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)

Photo of Simmons Hardware Company on Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Unknown, undated

2. Photo of Simmons Hardware Company on Marker

Courtesy of Hotel At Old Town

Oldtown Markers at Museum of World Treasures Plaza image. Click for full size.

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr.

3. Oldtown Markers at Museum of World Treasures Plaza

Simmons Hardware Company Tower image. Click for full size.

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., September 4, 2011

4. Simmons Hardware Company Tower

Keen Kutter Ghost Sign

Credits. This page was last revised on February 10, 2023. It was originally submitted on June 18, 2012, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 678 times since then and 34 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 18, 2012, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. 3. submitted on June 17, 2012, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. 4. submitted on June 18, 2012, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.