222-224 S 4th - The St. Joseph Gazette Building - Queen City Carriage, Rossi Saddlery, St. Joseph Tent & Awning, Bodyguard, Appliance Man Rental

Photograph

-

St. Joseph Museums

Artist's rendition of THE ST JOSEPH GAZETTE BUILDING located at 222-224 South 4th Street

Artist's rendition of THE ST JOSEPH GAZETTE BUILDING located at 222-224 South 4th Street

Name/Title

222-224 S 4th - The St. Joseph Gazette Building - Queen City Carriage, Rossi Saddlery, St. Joseph Tent & Awning, Bodyguard, Appliance Man Rental

Entry/Object ID

2020.25.365

Description

222-224 S 4th - The St. Joseph Gazette Building - Queen City Carriage, Rossi Saddlery, St. Joseph Tent & Awning, Bodyguard, Appliance Man Rental 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 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 was 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 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, who 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 Tent & Awning consumed the entire 1st floor. The Bodyguard staff was located on the 2nd floor. BODYGUARD MANUFACTURING Bodyguard was a subsidary of St Joseph Tent and Awning. They were located on the 2nd floor. There were ladies manning sewing machines and men manned 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 for Bodyguard making the steel insoles for fireman boots & I also painted names on back of the fireman coats Contributing building for: NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES Small Scale Commercial Block. Italianate influence. Three story corner brick building with cornice removed. Second and third stories divided into two bays by raised center pier. Third story with three very tall round arch 4/4 sash per bay with blind arch transoms, limestone round arch hoods with keystones, and spandrels with panels. Second story with three large rectangular windows with brick flat arches with drops per bay infilled with concrete and glass block, but openings maintained. Part of original storefront appears to remain under present shake-shingle "mansard roof" canopy and vertical wood siding, as suggested by quoins exposed on 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 dentiled cornice; some 6/6 unadorned windows remain intact. The 1991 survey lists this building as "contributing" on the National Register of Historic Places It is in the South Fourth Street Historic District Circa 1874 THE ST JOSEPH GAZETTE BUILDING 222-224 South 4th Street 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 https://www.stjosephmemorylane.com/4thstreet/south4th.html

Photograph Details

Subject

Photo

Subject Place

Location

4th Street

City

St. Joseph

State/Province

Missouri

Context

Circa 1874 THE ST JOSEPH GAZETTE BUILDING 222-224 South 4th Street 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 was 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 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, who 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 Tent & Awning consumed the entire 1st floor. The Bodyguard staff was located on the 2nd floor. BODYGUARD MANUFACTURING Bodyguard was a subsidary of St Joseph Tent and Awning. They were located on the 2nd floor. There were ladies manning sewing machines and men manned 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 for Bodyguard making the steel insoles for fireman boots & I also painted names on 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. Second and third stories divided into two bays by raised center pier. Third story with three very tall round arch 4/4 sash per bay with blind arch transoms, limestone round arch hoods with keystones, and spandrels with panels. Second story with three large rectangular windows with brick flat arches with drops per bay infilled with concrete and glass block, but openings maintained. Part of original storefront appears to remain under present shake-shingle "mansard roof" canopy and vertical wood siding, as suggested by quoins exposed on 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 dentiled cornice; some 6/6 unadorned windows remain intact. The 1991 survey lists this building as "contributing" on 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 1995 - Appliance Man Rentals

Collection

PHOTOGRAPH