Do you remember this Nutterville block in Westport?

Today, this block of Central Street is part of a complex of small offices known as Nutterville. But from the turn of the century to the 1970s the area was a residential district.

The block between Archibald and 41^st Street and between Central and Baltimore today is part of Nutterville, an area of brightly-painted and carefully landscaped homes that have been converted to business spaces by the James B. Nutter company.

Homes that once stood on the block along the west side of Baltimore Street are gone, for the most part.  But two rows of former residences, along Central and Archibald Streets, offer a colorful glimpse into the early days of Kansas City.

 As part of our Uncovering History Project, the Midtown KC Post is taking a look at the 1940 tax assessment photos of each block in Midtown. This week we’re focusing on the block bounded by Valentine Road, Belleview and 37^th Street.  (Many people seem confused by the tax assessment photos, which all include a man holding a sign. Here’s the story behind them). 

Small offices on Archibald Street in Nutterville.

Homes in the area date back to the Civil War, including the Nathan Scarritt House at 4038 Central, just across the street.

James B. Nutter’s mortgage company moved into the area in the mid 1970s and after they bought some nearby run-down properties, he got the idea to paint them the bright colors often used in Colorado mountain towns.

Archibald Street homes in 1940. Historic photos courtesy Kansas City Public Library/Missouri Valley Special Collections.

The Nutter company landscapes the properties and today, they are home to small creative businesses and called “Nutterville” for their distinctive palette.

The slideshow below shows the homes along Central Street as they looked in 1940. Several of the buildings no longer stand, but those that do have not changed much except for their new bright colors.

[slideshow_deploy id=’24607′] 

Along Baltimore, most of the homes are gone. but here’s what they looked like in 1040.

 [slideshow_deploy id=’24589′]

 Do you have memories or more details about this block of Midtown? Please share them with our readers.

 Would you like us to focus on your block next week? Send us an email.

 Our book, Kansas City’s Historic Midtown Neighborhoods, is available now. Let us know if you want us to come to your neighborhood association or organization’s meeting to share what we’ve learned about Midtown neighborhood history and tell your members how they can help preserve Midtown history. If you’d like to order the book, email Mary Jo Draper at mjdraper@midtownkcpost.com.