City of Axtell, Kansas Webpage
City of Axtell, Kansas Webpage
Looking west southwest into the town.
This corner building housed a bank, telephone office, opera theater, dry goods store, barber shop, drug store and several other businesses.
Ground was broken on November 26, 1956. This began the process of building a new hospital building to serve the needs of the community. Only three contracts were let for this building: the plumbing and heating, the walls, and the roof covering. Everything else was donated labor. In March of 1958, Joe and Jane Werner came to Axtell to serve as administrators and supervisors. In May of 1958, the new hospital opened for business. Many community drives and benefits were held over the years to defray the cost of operating a hospital. By October of 1965, the entire debt incurred from building the hospital was paid off. In 1971, the cost for a stay in the hospital was $10 a day. When Dr. Hash suffered a stroke in January of 1972, the community tried to obtain another doctor to staff the hospital. But to no avail. The hospital closed in 1972. The building was sold to Jim Scott who later sold it to Carolyn Jones.
This was the original building on the north side of the tracks used to house the "State Bank of Axtell." The bank was chartered for business on April 14, 1890. After the bank moved to another location, this building served as a private residence and later as a warehouse for storage. The State Bank of Axtell still serves the community today at another location on the south side of the tracks. This building was demolished in the 1970's.
The Axtell Presbyterian Church was organized April 10, 1879. This structure was originally built in 1888 and was located at Third and Maple Streets. This picture was taken in 1915 or 1916. On December 28, 1958, this church burned down.
On December 28, 1958, despite the best efforts of the Axtell Volunteer firemen, they could not save this early landmark of the Axtell Community. The congregation never rebuilt the church. The church disbanded in 1958.
Union Pacific Mixed Train #544 (Passenger/Freight) arriving at the Axtell depot in 1934. Train is coming from Marysville, Home City, Beattie, Summit. Next stop after Axtell: Baileyville, Seneca, Hiawatha. A few years after this picture was taken, passenger service was provided by a McKeen type Motor Car that ran on the rails. The Axtell train depot was located at the south side of the railroad tracks on Third St.
Picture of A. Sharpe's drug Store. Opera House was on top floor of this building. Bottom level contained a drug store, bank, barber shop, and a few other businesses. This picture was taken about 1910 - 1915.
Photo taken from glass negative showing bakery (on the right) and a restaurant. Sign in front announces "Ice Cream Today." Date and persons shown are unidentified. Picture could have been ** taken around 1910 1915. This could be a picture of the Palace bakery and Delmonico Cafe.
One of the early businesses in Axtell. It was located in the first business district, on the north side of the St. Joseph and Grand Island Railroad tracks. This railroad line was later absorbed by the Union Pacific.
Picture taken from a glass negative. Sign over shop indicated it was a boot and shoe shop.
W. H. Connet Elevator, located at 7th and Guittard Streets. Today this site is the location of the Paul Grove Park.
The famous corner on the left. The Axtell Telephone Company offices were on the second floor of the building on your left.
This building was begun in 1905 and completed in 1906 by Father Francis Taton. It was the second church building for the parish. The first church was located at 8th and Guittard streets. That building was later relocated to 8th and Elm. This structure was built at Sixth and Elm Street.
These buildings served both the elementary and high school students in the 1920's.
Located at Sixth and Birch Streets. This was the second building used for a Catholic school by the parish. Construction started in 1913, but because of poor crops for several years, the building was not ready for occupancy until 1917. Up until 1941, St. Michael School offered high school courses. The last graduating class of St. Michael High was 1941.
Father Francis Taton was pastor at St. Michael's from 1903 until 1919. Under his leadership, the parish built a church (1906), rectory (1907), school (1917) and convent (1918). This picture was taken in 1909.
Built by Fr. Taton in 1907. It served as the pastor's residence until 1996, when a new rectory was built. This building was torn down in December, 1996.
Another of Fr. Taton's buildings. This was built as a residence for the nuns who would be teaching at St. Michael School. After the sisters left the school in the early 1980's, the building was used as housing for the lay principal. Because of deteriorating conditions, the building was torn down by parishioners in 1988.
The front entrance to St. Michael School. It was demolished in 1962. The school rooms were on the first floor and in the basement level. The upper floor was a auditorium, gymnasium combination.
This house, built for Howard and Lena Phillips in the early 1900's, was converted to a city hospital in 1929. After 29 years of service, it was deactivated and sold to Oren and Irene Sarver in 1958. It is currently the home of Walt and LeNore Stumpf.
Six miles north of Axtell. Church built in 1908. It was listed in September, 1996 on the National Historic Sites Register. Listed October, 1995 on the Kansas Historic Site Register. St. Bridget Parish was the first Catholic parish in Marshall County. Established in 1859. Organized as a parish in 1862. This picture was taken between 1916 1919. Buildings (going from extreme left to right): convent, church, parish hall, rectory. (You can just see a glimpse of the hall between the church and rectory).
In 1889, Father John Hurley, pastor of St. Michael's established a Catholic school. This building was then modified into a home residence. According to Alice Cain, who lived in this house from 1943 to 1971, the school house was added to an existing structure. Alice says, "St. Michael's one room schoolhouse was sawed in two and 1/2 was put on each end of the original structure. The south half (right side of this picture) made a 15' x 15' room which was used as a dining room. The north half was a 12' x 15' room. " The house was torn down in the Spring of 2000.
Keegan's Hardware Store was located at 205 5th Street, the present day location of the old Alfer's Electric building. This building in the photo was destroyed by fire at some unknown date. The individuals standing in front are unidentified. This picture was taken from a picture postcard that is owned by Bob McKinley.
Top Row: John Meara, Wilay Hopar, Superintendent C.J. Smith,
John Hawkins, Charlie Brock, Meryl Iverson
Middle Row: Lester Connet, Leonard Manley, Bernard Sharp, Erle
Davis, Ernest VanVarth
Bottom Row: Frank Olson, Elly Stine, Ralph McCleary, Don Sitler.
This picture was donated by John Johnson.
Picture is taken from a postcard. Back of card identified a Mr. and Mrs. Harrison at each side of the photograph. The type of business or location of business in Axtell is not known. Date of picture is guessed to be 1910 1915 era. Some have speculated that Harrison's business was a drug store. From a picture postcard collection of Bob McKinley.
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