Photograph

Photograph

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St. Joseph Museums

Photograph: Diagram of Richardson Dry Goods
Photograph

Diagram of Richardson Dry Goods

Name/Title

Photograph

Entry/Object ID

2020.25.304

Description

Richardson Dry Goods/American Electric Building https://www.stjosephmemorylane.com/3rdstreet/3rdstreet.html

Photograph Details

Subject

Photo

Subject Person or Organization

Richardson Dry Goods Company

Subject Place

Location

3rd Street

City

St. Joseph

State/Province

Missouri

Context

This building was constructed in 1892 for the Richardson, Roberts, Byrne Dry Goods Co. It is adjacent to the Wholesale Row Historic District; is one block west of the Buchanan County Courthouse and two blocks north of the Missouri Valley Trust Company Historic District. John D. Richardson, the majority stockholder of the dry goods firm, was born in 1847 in Dorchester County, Maryland and emigrated to St. Joseph in 1870. When Richardson arrived in St. Joseph, he was employed by the firm of Donnell and Saxton, one of the earliest business partnerships of the city. Donnell and Saxton were involved in the construction of the St. Joseph and Grand Island Railroad west from St. Joseph. By 1882, Richardson had become a partner of John S. Brittain in the Brittain, Richardson & Co. wholesale dry goods firm. The building constructed by this company is a part of Wholesale Row Historic District. In 1890 Richardson withdrew from the partnership with Brittain and formed his own firm. His partners were Joseph F. Roberts and T.B. Byrne. In 1892 the firm erected this magnificent seven story building at a cost of $60,000. By 1900 the firm had become known as John D. Richardson Dry Goods. In 1901 $20,000 was spent on remodeling the building. In 1917 another $40,000.00. By this time it was the largest wholesale dry goods plant in the city. Following the death of Richardson in 1924, the firm remained in business for some years but had disappeared from the St. Joseph scene by 1930. American Electric remained in this building until the 1970's Urban Renewal Program. Building was located at 300 North 3rd Street.

Collection

PHOTOGRAPH

Relationships

Related Person or Organization

Person or Organization

American Electric Company