When the Raleigh Arms apartments at 3346-50 Gillham first opened in 1909, the owners described the building as modern; in fact, they called it “up to the second.”
In a 1909 advertisement in the Kansas City Star, they touted the address in the fashionable Hyde Park district, close to Westport High School and the Hyde Park school.
Raleigh Arms consists of 18 apartments of 5 rooms each. All finished in mission oak and white enamel with best electric and gas fixtures, including electric dome in the dining room; fireproof safe for valuables; locked outside rooms for ice boxes; large china closets in kitchen; laundry with stationary tubs; stoves and patent hot air dryers; private lockers in basement; awnings, screens, etc. $40.
The building, recently renovated by MAC Properties, is part of the block we’re focusing on this week, just east of Costco and Home Depot. When the block of East 33rd, Gillham, and Gillham Plaza developed around the turn of the century, it contained family homes, neighborhood-level businesses, and a single luxury apartment building.
In a set of 1940 photos (below), Gillham Road housed several local businesses, including the Nu Charm Beautyrket, Shop, Carl’s Ma, and a barbershop. On 33rd Street, the Adelphi Garage still looks much as it did 75 years ago. That street also had an “electric shoe repair shop” in 1940.
As part of our Uncovering History Project, the Midtown KC Post is examining each block in Midtown. A set of 1940 tax assessment photos is available for many blocks.
I lived at Georgian Court in 1960, then in an apartment at 221 E. 34th St. until 1964. Walked to 39th & Main and 34th & Troost to shop and to Armour & Broadway to work. Fazzino’s was on the corner of 34th & Gillham, first a meat market(?), then a bar. There was a restaurant in Georgian Court and a drugstore in the hotel on the opposite corner of Armour & Gillham. Many memories of those first days in Kansas City.
I lived at Georgian Court, then 221 E 34th St. from 1960-1964. Fazzino’s was on the corner of 34th & Gillham, first a meat market(?), then a bar. There was a restaurant in Georgian Court and a drugstore in the basement of an apartment building on the opposite corner. I walked to work at Armour & Broadway and walked to shopping at 33rd & Troost and 34th & Main. Lots of good memories of first moving to Kansas City.
These are great stories! Do you remember how much your rent was? Did you work nearby?
Not sure. It was a long time ago. Thinking it was $80 a month. I worked at KCLife, still a beautiful building.
I live on the quaint house marked 11-31-8. I was grew up in an old house full of antiques in the Andes of Peru and the moment I had barely been shown this apt by the landlady I exclaimed, “I’ll take it!” I love the view from the huge windows on the third floor and the natural light from every side of the studio and even more when its Spring and Summer. If financial luck ever strikes my life path, I’d like to own this house. =)
I rented an apartment on the corner of Armour & Gillham, lived on the 2nd floor of a brownstone that stood there. It was 1974 I think…. Our rent was $100/month; split that with my girlfriend. There was a drug store and bar around the corner. I remember it being called the Arabian Nights Club. Fun times =)