P.M. Clark Furniture and Undertaking - Baxter Springs, KS
N 37° 01.431 W 094° 44.117
15S E 345642 N 4098926
A ghost sign identifies this vacant building as the former P.M. Clark Furniture and Undertaking business, at the northeast corner of the intersection of E 12th St and Military Ave (Old US 66), Baxter Springs, KS.
Waymark Code: WMMJ1Q
Location: Kansas, United States
Date Posted: 09/25/2014
Views: 3
"Furniture" at the top left of the building and "Undertaking" at the top right aren't too difficult to make out, but "P.M. Clark" in the center requires a bit of work.
Porter M. Clark was a well-known undertaker in nearby Galena, KS, and was also their mayor at one time. His Findagrave entry makes him out to be someone with a sense of humor, having arranged to have himself buried north to south, and a band played music while he lay in state, graveside. (
visit link)
A Cherokee County, KSGenweb page has an interesting snapshot from 1923 about this, the second location of the business:
Furniture and Undertaking.
The furniture trade of Cherokee County, like every other staple branch of retail commerce, comprises every class of dealer with corresponding rates of value and excellence. As in everything else, so in furniture - it always pays to get the best. An establishment which stands in the front rank among the choicest furniture trade of this section of the State is that of Porter M. Clark, located at the corner of Military Avenue and 12 Street. Mr. Clark first began business at Galena about 20 years ago and about six years ago opened a branch store at Baxter Springs. This is one of the strong, growing and successful establishments of the county. The stock to be found in the local establishment comprises about everything that could be mentioned in the line of furniture and home furnishings, and at a price as low as can be had anywhere on goods of similar quality and merit. A special feature of the house is a well-equipped undertaking department, in charge of men of the highest qualifications in this line. This department includes the best of motorized service, pulmotors, and other life-saving devices.
The Baxter Springs store is managed by Porter M. Clark, Jr., one of the most enterprising and progressive of the younger business men of the city. Both are widely known throughout the district and have always been commendably active in the upbuilding of the community in which they reside.