Manufacturer's National Bank - Leavenworth, Kansas - Converted Bank Buildings on Waymarking.com

My Commentary:
Interesting that this building started life as the main headquarters for Russell, Majors, & Waddell - the people behind the Pony Express. Manufacturer's National Bank took over the building in 1905 and I am unsure when it stopped being a bank. It is now an insurance company and a barber shop on the first floor and apartments on the second.

Historic Name: Russell, Majors, & Waddell Offices

Alternate Name: Manufacturer's National Bank

Historic Function: Commerce/Trade

Subcategory: Business

Historic Function Remarks: 1986 survey notes: The property is part of the original town plat of 1854. Said to have been built before 1860 for the firm of Russell, Majors, & Waddell as a three story building. The company went out of business in 1860; Alexander Street purchased the building in 1861 for $40,000. In 1905, the property was acquired by Manufacturer's National Bank.

Present Function: Commerce/Trade

Subcategory: Business

Residential/Commercial/Religious Style: Italianate

Physical Description/Remarks: Building originally had three stories. Occupying two lots at the corner of Fourth and Delaware streets, this two-story, light-brownish/pink brick building has six-bays defined by the upper story windows. The primary facade (south) ground floor has two entrances. The eastern entrance contains c.1905 Colonial Revival style entry. The western entry is a modern storefront. The eastern entrance fills four bays and features a divided transom and sidelights that surround modern, double-leaf aluminum doors. On either side of this entrance is one-over-one light, double-hung sash window with a hopper transom window above. Occupying the two west end bays is a storefront with a modern plate glass window, bulkhead, and entrance. A rounded awning spans the width of this storefront. The second-story windows reflect Italianate commercial design idioms and consists of six single windows with one-over-one light, double-hung sashes, stone sills and slightly arched flared window hoods. The fenestration and ornamentation on the east elevation (Fourth Street) is similar to that of the south elevation. A simple brick stringcourse, entablature, and brick cornice cap the building.

Plan Form: Rectangle

Commercial Building Type: Two-Part Commercial Block

Roof Form: Flat with Parapet

Stories: 2

Condition: Good

Principal Material: Brick

Condition Remarks: Painted brick. Unknown date when 3rd story was removed, some time between 1949 (Sanborn) & 1957 (1957 Survey of Historic Sites and Structures in Kansas).

Architect/Designer/Builder: Unknown

Year of Construction: 1860

- Kansas Historic Resources Inventory

Building Date: 1860, 1905
Occupying two lots at the corner of Fourth and Delaware streets, this two-story, light-brownish/pink brick building has six-bays defined by the upper story windows. The primary facade (south) ground floor has two entrances. The eastern entrance contains c.1905 Colonial Revival style entry. The western entry is a modern storefront. The eastern entrance fills four bays and features a divided transom and sidelights that surround modern, double-leaf aluminum doors. On either side of this entrance is one-over-one light, double-hung sash window with a hopper transom window above. Occupying the two west end bays is a storefront with a modern plate glass window, bulkhead, and entrance. A rounded awning spans the width of this storefront. The second-story windows reflect Italianate commercial design idioms and consists of six single windows with one-over-one light, double-hung sashes, stone sills and slightly arched flared window hoods. The fenestration and ornamentation on the east elevation (Fourth Street) is similar to that of the south elevation. A simple brick stringcourse, entablature, and brick cornice cap the building.

The early twentieth century remodeled (eastern) storefront represents a historical alteration. As such, it reflects the storefront "modernization" characteristic of retail commercial centers at the turn-of-the-century. Despite this alteration and the replacement of some of the window sashes, this building retains a sufficient degree of architectural integrity reflecting the "Mixed" National Register stylistic category to contribute to the District.

- National Register Application

Address: 400-402 Delaware Leavenworth, Kansas 66048 Year: 1860 Website: [Web Link] Current Use of Building: insurance company and a barber shop on the first floor and apartments on the second.

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