Name/Title
-222-224 S 4th - ST JOSEPH GAZETTE BLDGEntry/Object ID
2020.25.399Description
-222-224 S 4th - ST JOSEPH GAZETTE BLDG
https://www.stjosephmemorylane.com/4thstreet/south4th.htmlPhotograph Details
Subject
PhotoSubject Place
Location
4th StreetCity
St. JosephState/Province
MissouriContext
Circa 1874
ST JOSEPH GAZETTE
222-224 South 4th
Circa 1881
QUEEN CITY CARRIAGE COMPANY
222-224 South 4th Street
Circa 1899
QUEEN CITY CARRIAGE WORKS BUGGY & WAGON MANUFACTURER
224 South 4th
Circa 1902
ROSSI SADDLERY COMPANY
222-224 South 4th Street
Circa 1905
QUEEN CITY CARRIAGE WORKS BUGGY & WAGON MANUFACTURER
222 South 4th
Circa 1915
ROSSI SADDLERY COMPANY
222-224 South 4th Street
Circa 1918
ROSSI SADDLERY COMPANY
222-224 South 4th Street
Circa 1924
ROSSI SADDLERY COMPANY
222-224 South 4th Street
Circa 1930
ROSSI SADDLERY COMPANY
222-224 South 4th Street
Circa 1937
ROSSI SADDLERY COMPANY
222-224 South 4th Street
Circa 1940
ST JOSEPH TENT & AWNING
222-224 South 4th
Circa 1940
BODYGUARD MANUFACTURING
Fire Fighter Clothing
222-224 South 4th
Circa 1964
ST JOSEPH TENT & AWNING
222-224 South 4th
Circa 1964
BODYGUARD MANUFACTURING
222-224 South 4th
Circa 1995
APPLIANCE MAN RENTALS
222-224 South 4th
This building was constructed in 1874 for St. Joseph's first newspaper, The St. Joseph Gazette. The city editor for the Gazette at that time was a famous Missourian, Eugene Field, who went on to become known for his prolific works as "the children's poet."
Over the years the building was used for the manufacture & sale of agricultural implements, carriages, saddles, tents, and awnings, and for a time was used for light manufacturing. The building is a good example of the type of commercial building that made St. Joseph the wholesale mercantile center of the United States during the latter half of the 19th century.
In 1845, St Joseph Gazette was founded by William Ridenbaugh.
In 1875, the Gazette newspaper office moved to this location.
In 1875, Eugene Field served as the Gazette editor.
Mr Field was married to local resident Julia Comstock.
Some other businesses that were at this address include:
Queen City Carriage Company
Rossi Saddlery
St Joseph Tent & Awning
Bodyguard (maker of Firemen's clothing)
Appliance Man Rental
Queen City Carriage Company
Jacob Wickenhoeffer, born in Kur Hessem Germany in 1855, came to St Joseph in 1887 and started the Queen City Carriage Company in this building. His factory turned out various vehicles such as carriages, spring wagons, etc. Contained within the building were a blacksmith shop, woodwork shop, paint shop, trimming room, and sales rooms. He made 2 grades of carriages, one that ranged from $185 to $300. His 2nd grade sold for $300 to $400.
Rossi Saddlery was established in 1892 at this address. John Rossi was quite the name in saddles in the early 1900's. Rossi was a supplier of leather products for the military during WWI.
Mr Rossi was commissioned as a Captain in the ordnance department. He supplied saddles, leather rifle slings, etc. John Rossi was bought out by the Wyeth Company, which was a competitor at the time.
In all of their ads in the leather and saddlery publications, there was never a mention of an address. Their Saddlery Company Catalogue Number 5 contained 363 pages, it was printed in 1904. It included illustrations and prices for horse equipment, supplies & saddlery
ST JOSEPH TENT & AWNING
St. Joseph Tent and Awning along with Bodyguard Manufacturing occupied this building for many years. St. Joseph's Tent & Awning consumed the entire 1st floor. The Bodyguard staff was located on the 2nd floor.
BODYGUARD MANUFACTURING
Bodyguard was a subsidiary of St Joseph Tent and Awning. They were located on the 2nd floor. There were ladies manning sewing machines and men manning a cutting table. They manufactured firemen coats & pants. They also made leather-covered steel insoles for the firemen's boots. In 1963 & 1964, I worked part-time after my college classes as a Bodyguard making the steel insoles for fireman boots & I also painted names on the back of the fireman coats.
(Building circa 1874)
Contributing building for:
NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES
Small Scale Commercial Block. Italianate influence.
Three-story corner brick building with cornice removed.
The second and third stories are divided into two bays by a raised center pier.
Third story with three very tall round arches 4/4 sash per bay with blind arch transoms, limestone round arch hoods with keystones, and spandrels with panels. The second story with three large rectangular windows with brick flat arches with drops per bay infilled with concrete and glass block, but openings are maintained. Part of the original storefront appears to remain under the present shake-shingle "mansard roof" canopy and vertical wood siding, as suggested by quoins exposed on the southeast corner.
Details return on south elevation; entry set in "Gibbsian" surround with flanking quoins and arch above with voussoirs alternately raised. Similar rear (west) historic wing with detailed cornice; some 6/6 unadorned windows remain intact.
The 1991 survey lists this building as "contributing" to the National Register of Historic Places.
It is in the South Fourth Street Historic District
Appliance Man Rentals occupied this building in later years and has remodeled the building.
There has been much discussion about whether to raze or keep this historic structure.
Photo #1 - Circa 1875 - St Joseph Gazette
Photo #2 - Circa 1960's - St Joseph Tent & Awning
Photo #3 - Circa 1995 - Appliance Man Rentals
Photo #4 - Circa 2013 - Appliance Man Rentals
Photo #11 - Circa 1927
Photo #12 - Rossi Saddlery Company Catalogue Number 5
Photo #13 - 1930 City Directory advertisement
Photo #14 - Example of early 1900 Spring Wagons
Photo #15 - 1929 Rossi Saddlery Catalogue Number 75
Photo #16 - 1899 Queen City Carriage Company advertisementCollection
PHOTOGRAPH
