Montgomery Wards Building - Lawrence's Downtown Historic District - Lawrence, Kansas - NRHP Historic Districts - Contributing Buildings on Waymarking.com

(c. 1863-66; altered c. 1931)

This is an Art Deco example of a two-part commercial block. The three-story building is clad with a stone veneer on the second and third stories. The upper stories are divided into five bays which correspond to divisions in the storefronts below. The three bays are slightly recessed from the two end bays. All windows are currently fixed sash, with the third story taller and wider than those on the second. Those in the central bay are grouped in horizontal bands. The end bay windows have stone surrounds with elaborate incised geometric carvings. Several of the stone panels depict sun rays. The central three bays have large incised geometric panels above each set of windows. There is a centered recessed entry with double doors flanked by full height display windows, and enflamed with fluted square stone columns. At either end of the storefront are display windows with decorative tile bulkheads, each with a recessed portion in the center (possibly a former entry). There is a roller cloth awning.