Classroom

The Perk opened on October 22, 2022, under the management of Micah Myers and his wife Tara Myers. Before it was “The Perk,” the building housed a café called the Board Game Café, where people could sip coffee while playing board games together. The Perk has a similar theme: anyone can stop in, grab coffee or tea with a space to play card games, and trade or sell other cards. There was no coffee shop on the square before, so this business gets to hold that title.This building is located on the corner of 4th and Main Streets. It was originally made of wood and has since been restructured with brick. The earliest information from Sanborn maps on this building is in 1886 when it was inhabited by a boots and shoes store. In 1891, this building and the one next to it were being rebuilt with brick. In 1900, the building was a dry goods store but only for a few years. Dry goods stores were very popular in Maryville. Dry goods are essential items with a very long shelf life and do not contain liquid. Examples of these would be dry food ingredients, clothing, toiletries, and textiles. By 1909, this building was being refurbished into a grocery store, but it had not opened to the public yet.

The Perk is a small-town coffee shop on the square of Maryville, MO that specializes in coffee, tea, and has areas for card games and trading cards. The Perk also has a variety of different customizable drinks like lemonade, popping boba, and lotus teas. Like most buildings in a small rural town, this building has lots of history.

The Perk 

Explore downtown Maryville (Missouri) - learn more about the ever-changing history of the community's historic square!

Downtown Maryville (Missouri)

<h1>The Courthouse Through History</h1><h2>The First Courthouse</h2>In 1847, the people of Nodaway County built a log cabin-style building and they called it the courthouse. This building was 32 feet by 20 feet in area and cost $250 at the time of construction, equivalent to $9,600 today. This courthouse was not in service for long and was soon abandoned in 1853 to build a new one. This original structure was located on the corner of Main and Second, where the pocket park and fountain in town are currently located.<h2>The Second Courthouse</h2>In 1853, the county decided that a larger-scale building was needed to operate the town. So, an order for a $6,461.32 two-story brick courthouse was placed alongside a $3,000 jail. These two buildings were constructed within the year and were on the lot where the current courthouse is in the town square's center. That building was rushed and had many issues, including a lack of interior stairs and a constant state of dust from the sawdust falling within it. The cost of those buildings would be the equivalent of $387,000 today.<h2>The Current Courthouse</h2>In 1880, both the jailhouse and courthouse were destroyed and deemed unfit for the services that they were intended to serve. However, in 1881, a new courthouse was constructed and finished in 1883. The building that is still standing to this day stands at 111 feet tall and 70 feet wide. According to Martha Cooper from the Nodaway County page, this "continues to dominate the city skyline." This building cost $60,000 to construct, equivalent to $1,870,000 today. Although, in 1970, some of the residents of Nodaway County wanted to destroy the courthouse and build a new one, the residents eventually decided to leave it and allow it to commemorate the history of their fantastic town.

The Nodaway County Courthouse is the centerpiece for Maryville and the county seat for Nodaway County and its court and judicial system. The Nodaway Courthouse is a beautiful example of Victorian architecture and modern style. It is located in the center of Maryville's town square. The Courthouse is visible from most places in the downtown area, towering over the surrounding area. Through time, the building has stood tall, and it has stood proud as a representation of the town and all of the beliefs that it stands for. The Nodaway County Courthouse has undergone three different iterations but has always represented its people's political and architectural styles and beliefs.

Nodaway County Courthouse

The main operation in the building was the First National Bank. Within the bank building there were a few different businesses operating. In an ad from 1939 a barber shop called the Todd-Kinder Barber Shop was promoted. In an earlier newspaper from 1894 there was a section that listed out several different organizations that utilized the first floor of the bank for weekly or biweekly meetings. The Sanborn maps line up with these ads, in 1886 the bank is listed as well as the barber shop in the basements and offices upstairs. The bank and the barber shop are also listed in 1891 and 1900. In 1909 the building was listed to be a bank and barber still as well as a lodge hall.When looking at the space where the building once stood, there is not much to observe. The plot has been paved and now has a metal fence bordering it. How it got to this point is not very clear cut. When it comes to the closing of the bank, no exact date is easy to find, however there was a paper published in 1931 that presented talks of a new bank coming into town. This new bank was said to be taking over assets and deposits from the First National Bank so that it could ease in to closing down. We do know that the building was in use for a long time whether it had been used by the bank or another business it was functioning until 1975. On May 17th, 1975 there was a fire that damaged a large portion of the south side of the square; however, it was not stated that the building was torn down then.

When looking at the small lot next to what is now Welch and Webb, it’s hard to believe that it was once home to a few different businesses. The main business of this building was a bank. As pictured below in black and white if you look on the right side all the way down the street, the building that says bank is where the empty lot is now at. The building was made up of three stories, each occupying different businesses.

Plot on southwest corner of Maryville square 

In 1886, this building was used as a hardware store. By 1891, the building had changed from a hardware store to a tin shop. This building continued as a tin store in 1900, with the addition of a hardware section. By 1909, the building’s use remained the same and continued to function as a hardware and tin shop. The hardware store of C.A. Barbour was then purchased in 1915 by W.O. Garrett and Charles Eckert, who was a farmer in Maryville. In 1963, the building opened as a Federal Savings and Loan Insurance Corporation under the name of the Cameron Savings &amp; Loan Assn. The building was Allen &amp; Quinn, Inc. Abstracts of Title in 1976. At the beginning of the 21st century in 2003, the building was opened as an Edward Jones and still is in the present.

As one of the original buildings of downtown Maryville, this building at 305 E. 3rd St. is built of brick with remnants of old-timey character. Located on the south side of the square, this vintage building mostly remained functioning the same throughout the late 19th and early 20th centuries. From its opening to today, this building has passed through the hands of many owners and has had various titles of operation. Today, this building is home to one of the five Edward Jones locations in town.

Edward Jones

The Nodaway News Leader building has quite a few different lives. According to the Sanborn maps in 1886 the first thing that this building was a grocery store. It later changed into being part of the Kraus Hotel. The Kraus Hotel was made up of three building joined together to better accommodate the people. This hotel seemed to prosper as it continued to still be standing and in these joined buildings during the 1900s. However, by the 1909 Sanborn map, the space has changed to a meat store, and we see the word kettle. This is due to the fact that Sanborn maps were used for fire insurance purposes and they wanted to point out things that may cause fires. In Sanborn maps meat is often referred to the meat shop that also has a smoke house behind the building that is represented by a yellow box.

The Nodaway News Leader is located on 3rd Street between Main and Market streets. It is one of the main buildings surrounding the courthouse and contributing to the beautiful downtown that it is today. From this bright red brick building, the town of Maryville has received weekly printed papers since 1996, and they also provide news on their website. The current owner and publisher of the Nodaway News Leader is Kay Wilson.

Nodaway News Leader 

The Beauty Bar has not always been here in this building. This certain building has been many different businesses since it was built. In 1886 it was The American Hotel connected with the building next to it to the west. They did this so the hotel would be bigger and could hold more guests as more people were deciding to come to Maryville. There was also a meat store in the bottom specifically in the building the Beauty Bar is in now. The meat store was in the bottom so that guests who were staying could come and get meat when they were staying there. Mrs. Mccoy took possession of the hotel in 1888, with it having a one year lease, which then led to it changing to a different hotel. The type of store on the lower level switched from an American Hotel to the Esmond Hotel in 1891 as a result.With that switch then the bottom switched from a meat factory to a cigar store. These changes were made because it had a new owner, and they wanted to change the name, and the type of store under. As the world was changing the type of stores that were most popular were changing as well. Minnie Grant, the owner at the time, refurnished the whole hotel in 1891 so accommodations were well met as everything was new. The hotel now looked nicer and had nicer furniture and materials. Next in 1900 it just completely switched to a whole cigars store. It switched to a whole cigars store because cigar stores were very popular in the 1900s, so a cigar store was a better investment. Then finally in 1909 it was just vacant and nothing was in it at all. Through these different years it is shown how drastic this one specific building changed from one type of business to the next.

The Beauty Bar in Maryville Missouri is a business that just opened in 2024. It is located on 120 E 3rd Street near the east corner with Market Street. It has been thriving and grown in the short time since it has been open. They have changed the whole outside of the building and made it look more modern. You can see this from the picture of it on google maps to the picture I took just last week of the building. They specialize in services such as massages, lashes and brows, micro needling, acne facials, and dermaplaning. The business owner, Brady Bugh, is a licensed esthetician, and has worked at a dermatology skin cancer center.

Beauty Bar

With over 10 years of experience, Northwest A/V are known for their certified and reliable commitment to delivering high-quality A/V solutions for many projects. Known for their Certified Technology Specialist (CTS) certification, they can create cutting-edge systems to enhance experiences. Their principles are to ensure customer satisfaction, always be honest and reliable, establish efficiency and effectiveness, provide result-oriented quality service, and obtain transparency with clients.Before Northwest A/V was established in 2005, there were many businesses before them. According to the Sanborn maps, most of them had been saloons; the most well-known saloon was Kane’s Saloon. Kane’s Saloon, opened in 1902 by owners John Kane and Adolph Lippman, quickly became infamous for its illegal activities. Over the years, numerous bartenders and the owners themselves were arrested for selling liquor to minors, which added to the establishment's reputation for controversy. There were many debates about the saloon, but John Kane had always fought to renew his license on the saloon, and it was usually granted.Kane’s saloon was a hotspot for crime, like any saloon, with frequent arrests for robberies, fights, and other illegal activities. Many of the bartenders, like Frank McLain, and the owners were arrested for serving liquor to minors. They all pleaded not guilty owners were given a bond of $2,700. There were even fights among the bartenders in which he had to defend himself from a "triple-attack." The saloon briefly closed in April of 1916 due to the onset of Prohibition. Despite its ongoing challenges, especially during prohibition, it still celebrated its 50th anniversary in 1963.Before John Kane’s ownership, the building was a hotel owned by Mrs. Martha K. O’Reilley, who lost it after a lawsuit. While the hotel’s presence is not documented in the Sanborn maps, local newspapers suggest that John Kane had bought the building after Mrs. M. K. O’Reilley, further adding to its layered history of ownership and usage.

Northwest Audio Visual is an audio and visual installation company based in Maryville, MO. Started in 2005, they specialize in a wide range of services including installations on homes, businesses, and vehicles. They offer much equipment to rent for events like concerts, weddings, fundraisers, etc. with free set-up and tear-down. They also handle security systems, video conferencing systems, and automotive services.The Northwest A/V in Maryville has an incredibly long and interesting past. Before the innovation-driven A/V company took root, the site was home to Kane's Saloon, an establishment infamous for its entanglements with crime and controversy. Today, Northwest A/V brings a fresh, professional energy to a location rich with history, transforming a once notorious site into a hub of reliable technology and service for the Maryville community.

Northwest A/V

Looking at the Sanborn maps in 1886 the building was used for storage while also being home to a printing company specified by the map to be a steam printing company. The 1891 map shows "printing company" in larger letters compared to the 1886 map. A new addition of “waterpower" in smaller letters can be found next to the printing company in the same year. In 1900 the printing is still there but it now says water motor on the building. the final iteration of the map shows an expanded building with only printing and the very edge of the building has a "job shop" on it.Burny’s is a sports bar on the corner of 3rd and main streets in downtown Maryville and is split into two parts: Burny’s upper deck and Burny’s lower deck. Burny’s lower deck is more of an actual bar with only alcohol being sold while the upper deck is the sports bar part with food being served and you don’t need identification to enter. Burny’s has been a part of Maryville for a long time and often when you enter you can see broadcasts from local teams.Before it was Burny’s, this spot in downtown Maryville was the Shady Lady, and it operated as a bar with no openings for those under 21. George Albert Clement as a part-time owner/operator of the establishment. In the 1980s the business transitioned from the Shady Lady to Burny’s.

Burny’s is a sports bar on the corner of 3rd and Main Streets in Downtown Maryville. a small building hosting both a 21+ bar and a sports bar open to everybody. Known as a centerpiece of the town square Burny's is a hub of enjoyment in Maryville holding such events as the Maryville's "world's shortest" St. Patrick's parade.

Burny's Sports Bar

The northernmost building, farthest from Burny’s, was an office hall in 1886. It changed to contain sewing machines by 1891, then sold “agricultural implements” from at least 1900 to 1909. At the turn of the century, it also acted as a carriage repository and evolved into a buggy repository by 1909. It likely dealt with carriages and buggies because of the stable next door during those time periods. In 1902, G. W. Moffit sold buggies in that location, and in 1908, it had been sold to A. O. Mason and Phipps in 1908 for their agricultural business.The middle building started as a carpenter, then became a steam laundry, then an electric theatre (movie theatre) and roller rink. The carpenter was presumably owned by James Row. He posted ads in the Nodaway Democrat papers from 1870-1871 detailing his location and high-quality cabinets. “Ludwick’s Star Steam Laundry” opened March 10th, 1891 and also posted many ads in the paper. Several promoted their “guaranteed satisfaction” regarding “Commercial men’s Headquarters”, but others asked to hire girls to work for them. Ownership of the laundry changed hands several times, eventually ending up with Mr. Buhler.The site transformed into a roller rink and remained that way from at least 1908 to 1977. In the year of 1908, it hosted a masquerade party and the attendees seemed to enjoy their time there with the newspaper calling it a full house. It was also popular in the late 70s as evidenced by several 4th grade students commenting how on they wished the building’s quality would improve or that another skating rink would open in town.The building just to the north of Burny's started as a grocery store, one among many in town at the time. It was a plumber from roughly 1891 to 1900, then it became a garage by 1909. It is likely that the grocery store was built by P. C. McNellis with the help of John Russell in 1880 on the “corner of Third and Market streets”. However, other newspapers report a grocery on the “east side of square” being run by J. A. Mall from 1882 to 1883. Ads talk about Mall’s cheap goods and his coal and dry goods. Regardless, it was run by McNellis in 1888. By 1900, it became a plumber.The garage came into business sometime around 1909, and their job was to repair Ford vehicles, a rising car manufacturer of the time. Presumably, it was named the O.K. Garage, and it was owned by Albert Mercer and Russell Bagby. In 1918, Mercer left the shop to run for chief of police (he did not win, as he ended up dropping out for alternative business plans). It remained the O.K. garage until at least 1922, but was replaced with a new garage run by Charles Rose in 1923. By 1938, the building had been purchased by Hugh Armstrong who chose to remodel the location for tenants. In 1939, it was leased to Mr. and Mrs. A. J. Tarpley and became a typewriter exchange. It remained that way until at least 2013.Today, the three buildings have combined to form the Office of Public Defender for the nearby courthouse, and it has been that way since 2017.

The current location of the Office of Public Defender at 305 N. Market Street in Maryville, Missouri, used to comprise of three smaller buildings. The stores changed over the years until they merged to become the office that stands there today. The types of businesses varied greatly from grocery stores to skating rinks. Many of them were featured in ads in the local papers, though information available about these historic businesses in the local newspapers varies dramatically.

Office of Public Defender

In 1886, the land that Maryville Lumber Co currently resides on started as a mere lumber yard that was used by the Howell Lumber Yard business according to the appropriate Sanborn map. However, 6 years ago Howell Lumber experienced a massive fire, a large portion of the lumber yard burning causing at the time, $15,000 of damage. However, even after this disastrous event Howell Lumber continued to operate receiving insurance to help. Despite this, in 1891, Howell Lumber bought the lumber yard and the surrounding land that was used in 1886. In these years, we can see that Maryville still struggles to transition from a wild countryside to a more civilized and settled community, in 1888, a man celebrating the 4th of July, rode on horseback throughout Maryville, firing a gun into the air and threatening a city official's son before finally being reprimanded by the marshal in front of Howell business' lumber yard resulting in the offender receiving a hefty fine of $165 after the court cases. On the 1900 Sanborn map, we can see that on the northwest corner resides a livery instead of a lumber shed, leaving the assumption that it had been sold by the Howell business, a livery is a small stable that rents out space akin to a modern-day parking lot. In addition, in 1901 Frank H. Rowley purchased the Howell Lumber Yard on the east side of the square and took personal charge of the business. This begins a series of change for the business.A man by the name of Dave Phillips purchased what was formerly the Howell Lumber office for a grand $4,000 in 1903. Then in 1906, a new professional college opened, the Business College which we can learn from the 1909 Sanborn map, that it replaces the second floor of what used to be the livery and by extension, property of Howell Lumber. Quickly, the Business College gathers popularity with the people of Maryville, many scholars attending the college. The 1909 Sanborn also tells us that in the same building of the Business College is the Electric Theatre, which in 1907 closed down due to the owners returning to St. Joe, though the building's ownership remains. Coming in 1908, the Business College had such a high attendance rate of 200 students that the college decided to incorporate as the Western School company "out of necessity" to handle the influx of students from their remarkable popularity. In the Sanborn we also learn that Howell Lumber Co is no longer a legal entity, E.C. Phares Lumber Co buying out the company and becoming the new legal entity. In 1912, the Business College shows results, with 138 students graduating, becoming alumni to the college and solidifying the strong affinity the Business College has with the public. Phares Lumber Company was not spared from events like their predecessor was, particularly a case in 1913 where a lawsuit for $51.70 against a debtor to Phares' was something that the company faced in which the defendant failed to pay their bills, ignoring the Phares' company requests to pay. Similarly to their predecessor, Phares continues to expand in Maryville, purchasing Garrett &amp; Son Hardware located on North Main Street, Phares assuming ownership until the building can be transferred to the east side of the building. According to Cinema Treasures the Electric Theatre officially closes for good in 1930, reopening the same year by a new owner, Clarence Cook, rebuilt the theatre into the Tivoli Theatre, installing the current modern technology within the theatre.Fast forwarding to 1970, we see an advertisement by the current business name, "Maryville Lumber Company", giving us a rough idea of when the current company we see in the year of 2024 officially began. While it is merely an advertisement, we can glean that back then they likely sold services such as construction, possibly appliances as well as other relevant carpentry services. With ownership of the company naturally changing, the business' policies and practices slightly changing to reflect a dynamic demand, we come to what is modern day Maryville Lumber Company, still proudly serving its customers in the very land where this rich history of businesses, a few theatres as well as a popular college lies in the same spot as the Maryville Lumber stands today.

Maryville Lumber Company (Co) is a business that sells hardware, supplies and appliances geared towards customers interested in home improvement. This land for the most part since the late 1800s has been used for lumber, only some parts being devoted to other goods. Originally being used by the Howell Lumber Yard, to being owned by them, to Howell constructing a livery and lumber shed, then becoming a business college and theatre with the remaining lumber shed's owner transferring to E.C. Phares Lumber Co, to becoming the business of Maryville Lumber Co in the 1970s. Despite residing in the city of Maryville, Howell and Phares have seen plenty of events whether they are legal, criminal, or disasters in their time. Maryville Lumber Co has been going strong since they bought the land, and the online store can be accessed with a quick google search, or simply going into the store during their open times.

Maryville Lumber Company

On September 5th, 1880, E.N. Hagan of Maryville, Missouri opened his first-class, brick hotel named the “Arlington Hotel.” The hotel became an appointment spot for many traveling physicians, dentists, and opticians and hosted many traveling shops, fortune tellers, and other visitors. In 1893, the hotel changed owners and was shortly repurposed as a commercial college, this change was very brief, and in 1894 the building was back to its original function as a hotel. Around 1897, the Arlington Hotel was sold to a new owner again and was renamed the “Ream Hotel”. The Ream functioned mostly the same as the Arlington but did not host as many traveling shops and doctors.In 1916, the Ream Hotel experienced a change in ownership and a name change as well. E.H. Bainum, a Maryville proprietor, purchased the hotel and completely remodeled the building. At this time, the Linville Hotel was considered the finest of Maryville. Bainum decorated his hotel lavishly and hosted many events in the hotel in order to compete with the Linville Hotel. The most popular change Bainum elicited was creating a weekly Sunday dinner in the hotel. The hotel charged 50 cents for entry and served homestyle meals such as chicken noodle soup, minced meat pie, mashed potatoes, and pumpkin pie. The hotel also put on an annual Turkey dinner night to celebrate Thanksgiving. All of the hotels mentioned put on special events but the Bainum was famous for hosting high-end luncheons, banquets, and galas. The extreme competition between the Linville and the Bainum ended in 1922 when the Nixson brothers (J.W. Nixson and W.H. Nixson) purchased the hotel. The Nixson brothers also owned the Linville and began to advertise both hotels together.On August 24th, 1974, the Bainum Hotel experienced severe damage due to a large fire. The building was completely gutted due to this fire and suffered $25,000 in damages. Unfortunately, the hotel was never repaired and was demolished in late 1974 due to public hazard. The cause of the fire was listed as arson, although the perpetrator of this crime was never caught. This was the last of the many hotels to reside on this corner of Maryville.Today the corner of 4th Street and N Market hosts Enterprise Realty &amp; Auction, a land consultant business.

The current location of the Enterprise Realty &amp; Auction LLC in downtown Maryville, Missouri has a rich history dating back to the 1800s. This location first featured the "Arlington Hotel" opening in September 1880. The "Ream Hotel" followed and finally the lavish "Hotel Bainum" resided in the same lot. These hotels played a pivotal role in the history of Maryville and Nodaway County.

Enterprise Realty & Auction

Although it is unclear when this building was first constructed, Sanborn maps provide evidence that businesses have existed on this block of 4th St. since 1886. What is now one large "mall" used to be four smaller businesses. In 1886, this space hosted two vacant lots, a restaurant &amp; bakery, and the post office/bookstore. Throughout the subsequent years, these buildings were home to a racket store, various confectionery's and bakeries, and a hand laundry &amp; bath house. The most recent Sanborn map from 1909 reveals that this space was home to a confectionery, bakery, the post office, and a general store.While not much is known about the specificities of the businesses in the buildings of 4th St, historic editions of The Maryville Daily Forum provide insight on the general store shown in the 1909 Sanborn map. According to one newspaper clipping, "The Country Store" opened in September 1908. Other clippings, which can be found in the "photos" section of this entry, detail the promotions and advertisements found in the newspaper.The Northside Mall, as it's known today, opened in 1981. In 2024, it is home to twelve businesses of various areas of specialization, including: Anderson, Sundell, and Skinner; Arnold Insurance; PPS Counseling, SATOP; J. Patrick McLaughlin, Attorney; Probation &amp; Parole; Beltone Hearing Aid Center; Taryn Henry, Attorney; Private Probation Services; MO Highway Patrol Drivers Examination; Tina M. Deiter, Attorney; &amp; Sutherland Probation &amp; Counseling Services.What is seemingly an ordinary building contains a rich history of Maryville and a glimpse into what life was like at the turn of the 20th century. Regardless of the shift in business types, one thing remains: the prominence and importance of local business in small town Missouri.

Today, 115 E. 4th St. is home of the Northside Mall. Despite the name, the Northside Mall is not a shopping center filled with retail locations and food courts; rather, the building boasts a variety of attorney offices, counseling practices, offices of the Missouri Department of Corrections, and a hearing aid center. What was once many smaller business buildings, including bakeries, the post office, and bath house, has been turned into a larger, central location for businesses that serve the Maryville community.

The Northside Mall

Willow &amp; Elm used to be two different stores that were right next to each other back in 1886. The store on the left used to be a clothing store and the one on the right was a clothing and tailor store. According to the Sanborn map of 1891, both buildings were just labeled "stores" so they could have been the same types of stores that they were on the 1886 Sanborn map. Then, in 1900, the left store (to the west) changed into a boots and shoes store, while the right store (to the west) changed to clothes for gentlemen. In 1909, the left store was changed into a store for queensware and the right side was changed into a clothing store. Queensware is pottery and porcelain, so it includes plates, bowls, and anything that you use to eat with. It was the only queenswere store in downtown Maryville at the time.Willow &amp; Elm is now the current store occupying the two buildings. Willow &amp; Elm is a woman's apparel boutique that has women's clothing and home decor. The boutique used to be two different stores called Blue Willow and White Elm. Then in 2023, they opened up as one store, combining the two buildings into one store.

Williow &amp; Elm is a woman's boutique store that has women's clothing and home decor. It is located on the north side of the square in Maryville, Missouri. The boutique started as two stores side by side back in 1886. Both have had many different uses, but they have always been stores that took care of people's needs. Recently, Willow &amp; Elm became a store for women to enjoy shopping to their heart's content.

Willow & Elm

In 1886, the Black Pony building started as a hardware store. Hardware stores at the time were often referred to as “DIY stores” and sold all sorts of goods and services to people. The “DIY stores” mostly revolved around agriculture and industrial needs for the community by providing essential tools. The store also sold home supplies such as building materials, cleaning products, paint, wallpaper, and more. The hardware store was successful for the most part in providing the needs of people and meeting their profitable desires. Although the hardware store was successful, it wasn’t long until it became a better and more successful business. In 1909, the local hardware store changed to a drug store. The drug store was characterized as a small business and sold typical products a pharmacy would today. The drugstore became so prosperous that it was selected as an exclusive agent to Rexall Products in 1921. Rexall Products was known for excellence and for being responsible for 10,000 retail drug stores throughout the United States.Rexall came to an end and the local drug store became a microbrewery. The business was thriving, but by the mid-twentieth century an increase in competition, lowered drug prices, and reduced government subsidies became problematic. By 1977, the value of Rexall became progressively worse, and it was sold to private investors. The information of what happened to the local drug store after the Rexall company shut down, lacks information. The building stood empty for several years before residents Kent Yount, Stephanie Campbell, Brandon, and Jen Jensen purchased the property to turn it into a coffee shop. The Black Pony opened in June of 2021 as the first modern-day microbrewery facility in Maryville.

Today, the Black Pony is a prosperous microbrewery shop that serves delicious food and tasty beer in downtown Maryville, Missouri. The establishment was opened in June of 2021 by four individuals. The building where the Black Pony is has a history of being successful. For instance, before it was a microbrewery it was a hardware store and drug store.

The Black Pony 

The intersection of 4th and Buchanan Streets where Kris and Kates is currently located used to hold a Beer Depot and an ice house. These businesses were not directly located in the exact spot where Kris and Kates is, but they are what occupied the general area for many earlier years. Sanborn maps depicted these businesses being located at this intersection in 1886, 1891, 1900, and 1909. During this time period in Maryville, businesses were being added and removed quite frequently. The consistency of these businesses throughout the years illustrates their importance to the town and community members.According to The Maryville Tribune, the beer depot was heavily regulated in the town by the Board of Aldermen. The regulations consisted of 6 sections all approved by the major, Howard McCommons, on June 10, 1896. Section one stated that a license was required in order to manage a beer depot. Section 2 explained that only beer depots, drug, or dram stores could house alcoholic beverages. Section 3 explained the taxes had be paid to own and operate a beer depot. It was required to pay the city collector $400 per year for a license tax and the City Collector $200 to validate your license for 6 months. Section 4 stated that a fine of between $10 to $100 would be given to any citizen who operated a beer depot without proper licensing. Next, Section 5 stated that beer depots could not be opened on Sundays. Lastly, Section 6 simply stated that after these rules were published they were instated immediately.The ice house, which also was located at this intersection, is much more difficult to find specific information about. During these time periods, Downtown Maryville had many different ice houses, and newspaper records do not go into detail about the varying locations. However, consistently throughout the newspaper articles in The Maryville Tribune, Mr. Shoemaker was one of, if not the main owner of the ice houses in Downtown Maryville. An interesting event that occurred at an ice house in Downtown Maryville during this time period was a large and destructive fire with suspicious circumstances surrounding its origin. This fire was said to have caused between $7,500 to $10,000 in damages. Although no specifics can be found on this individual ice house, in a general sense, the ice houses were a topic of discussion among members of Maryville.Overall, the ice house and Beer Depot were staple businesses in Downtown Maryville during this time period. The newspaper articles published during this time can give great insight into the history of these businesses. This allows us to better understand what came before Downtown Maryville's beloved Kris and Kates restaurant and ice cream parlor.

This bright pink ice cream cone-shaped restaurant is a business that is hard to miss in downtown Maryville! The very first Kris and Kates was purchased by Gary and Dianna Powers in 1997. Originally, this business was a Twistee Treat and opened in 1993. Mr. and Mrs. Power gave the business to their children, Kris and Kate. Kris and Kate transformed the building into a 50s and 60s-themed restaurant, featuring many pictures of Elvis Presley and loudspeakers. Kris and Kates was only located in St. Joseph, Missouri. However, in 2022 the location if Maryville opened. The ownership of this business has stayed in the family, and it is currently owned by Austin and Kelly Evans.

Kris and Kates 

The earliest log of 320 N. Main St. is on the Sanborn maps of Maryville. The first Sanborn map was made in 1886 and portrays the building as being a warehouse on the bottom floor and a tin shop on the second floor. We then see on the 1891 Sanborn map that the building isn’t labeled, but in the 1900 map it is again labeled as a warehouse and tin shop. It is safe to assume that in 1891 the building was still the same warehouse and tin shop. In the last Sanborn map of 1909, we see that once again the building is labeled as a warehouse. It is unknown when the warehouse and tin shop close, but we know for sure that they were there between 1886 and 1909.By 1970, 320 N. Main St. was the home to the Lunch Box Cafe, though it closed shortly after that time because by November 1971 there are news articles of F.W. Woolworth Co. being located there. Woolworth's closed some time in 1973 because there are accounts of them auctioning the store supplies and furniture. Then in August of 1974 Tober’s For Fashion store briefly used the space while their original store location was being remodeled.As of 2024, the most recent story at 320 N. Main St. was The Ashram. The Ashram was a wellness studio owned by Lindsay Sheley. The studio provided many services, including red light therapy, yoga, and meditation classes. The Ashram opened August 30, 2023 and occupied the space until the summer of 2024. Now the space is vacant and available for rent as of fall 2024!

320 N. Main St. is vacant as of fall 2024, but has been home to many businesses in the past. These businesses ranged from being at this location for decades to being there for a few short months. Most recently it was The Ashram, which was there for less than a year. The earliest businesses were there for at least 2 decades. Though some businesses were here for a shorter amount of time than others, 320 N. Main St. has a diverse history.

The Ashram

Before the Simply Siam Thai Restaurant became what it is known as today, between the years of 1886 and 1909, the now-restaurant was a drug store in Nodaway County. Still located on 314 North Main Street, drug stores in both 1886 and 1909 in Nodaway County were simply pharmacy general stores that housed medicine, over-the-counter remedies for home, and ready-made goods. Along with this, almost every American drug store at this time was known to be a meeting spot for lunch and even a community social center where many would find one another and create small talk over the town and other ongoing issues or gossip at hand.When looking at the Sanborn maps provided in the image section, you can see that the 1886 and 1909 maps have not changed locations. The drug store, which is now Simply Siam Restaurant, has stayed in the same place and has not moved locations since the creation of Simply Siam Thai Restaurant. Although the locations change in the images, the Nodaway Democrat, a newspaper written in Nodaway, mentions many different drug stores and what is offered at each. One of the newspapers from February 11, 1909, states how spectacles are being sold at a lower price at only Love's Drug Store. Like many of the newspapers from Nodaway County, many ads mention what is proposed in said drug stores and how customers can purchase them or possibly get a discount on specific items.As history has continued and aspects of life have changed, the manufacturing of drug stores and goods will forever be a remarkable part of what has made us get to his point in life. Although it may be a small store, it still creates much growth into who we are today, especially within the foundation of Simply Siam Thai Restaurant.

An evening out in town. Good ole' Maryville. The familiarity of it all. As you walk around, the smell of delicious food hits you and your stomach growls. Rounding the corner, a scent of salty noodles, garlic, lemon, and sweet mixed with bits of a controlling sour fills your nose as you are met face-first with the restaurant that is calling to you. Simply Siam Thai Restaurant. As you look between the two lions that outline the door, you walk inside and sit, finally enjoying a meal that reignites your tastebuds and sends you into an alternate universe.Simply Siam Thai Restaurant, which opened in 2010 and is located at 314 North Main Street in Maryville, Missouri, is a hometown favorite to many of those who live in Maryville. Until March 1st, 2016, Nok Schuler was the proud owner of the Simply Siam Thai Restaurant but handed it over to Xong and Tue Chang to carry on the profound legacy. Coming from the Maryville Forum, author Tony Brown states the history behind how the restaurant went into different owners' hands and how it is still thriving to this day. "The Changs, along with their oldest child, Eric, are currently working at the restaurant so Schuler can teach them the ropes, introduce them to regular customers, and share her management techniques and recipes. Schuler has always served as the restaurant’s sole chef, duties that will now be shared by Xong and Tue, who say they are determined to maintain the establishment’s reputation for quality cuisine" (Brown, 2016).Since 2016, Simply Siam Thai Restaurant has continued to welcome newcomers, along with college students at Northwest who find themselves needing a place to find comfort in mouth-watering food and kind people.

Simply Siam Thai Restaurant

A Step Ahead Dance Company is a dance studio located in Maryville, Missouri. This business sits at 316 North Main Street with several other businesses. This studio offers a variety of class like ballet, jazz, tap, clogging, lyrical, contemporary, hip hop, cheer, and tumbling. Its members have competed at both regional and national events/competitions. This dance studio is a very important business in downtown Maryville, Missouri. However, this is not all the building used to be.By looking at Sanborn maps of Maryville, Missouri, we can look at the types of businesses that held this spot previously. In 1891, the building was used for meat. This is where the people at this time got their meat. Instead, of the building being used as two businesses, like in later year, the meat took over both sections.The spot became two business in 1900 where a Dry Goods Store and a Jewelry Store took its places. By looking at the Sanborn maps, we can see that these businesses held up until at least 1909. By looking at pictures from old Downtown Maryville, it is possible that the jewelry store could have been Kirchhofer’s Jewelry. This building held a ton history, some we will never know about.

A Step Ahead Dance Company, located on 316 North Main Street in Maryville, Missouri. This dance studio is a very important part of downtown Maryville, Missouri. The building where the business is located holds a ton of Maryville history. By looking at Sanborn maps, this buildings history can finally be found.

A Step Ahead Dance Company

Carson's Sports Grille was founded in September 2006 by Maureen Carmichael, his mother in law, wife and Renee Riedel, on board. One of the owners, Renee Riedel, had 20 years of experience working in restaurants before he decided to open his own. The family took the decision to open the restaurant in Maryville after travelling from Denver, Colorado where they originally lived, to Kansas City and then to Clarinda, Iowa, where their in-laws lived. Carson Riedel, the vice president and manager of the restaurant mentioned that they would often get hungry around Maryville but there was no suitable place for them to stop and eat and this inspired them to open the restaurant. They made it a sports grille, recognizing how much the people in Maryville loved and were passionate about sports. The restaurant was open for almost 14 years before officially closing in the summer of 2020. While it was open, Carson's attracted not only locals but also visitors from nearby towns, including Saint Joseph. Carson’s was more than just a place to eat; it became a social hub for sports fans and families alike, offering a welcoming environment where people could gather to watch games, celebrate victories, or simply enjoy a good meal. The restaurant had approximately 45 workers who were all students at Northwest Missouri State University. As most college students were only in the area for 4 years, the owners of Carson’s faced the same difficulty as many businesses in town – having to hire new workers frequently.The space that most recently was Carson’s Sports Grille wasn’t always a restaurant. In 1886, the 6,200-square-foot shop where Carson's is now located was divided into 2 shops: the first one, on south side near the bank, was a clothing store while the other one was a drugstore. According to the Sanborn maps, both shops stayed the same through 1909.

Carson's is a family-owned restaurant founded in September 2006 in Maryville, a small city in Nodaway County with a population of around 12,000. The restaurant has other branches in Saint Louis. It specializes in pub fare, including wraps, sandwiches, burgers, and appetizers. Later, they added the pork tenderloin sandwich, which became one of the restaurant's signature items. Carson's Sports Grill closed in the summer of 2020, but as of 2024 the restaurant space remains vacant and hasn't been replaced yet.

Carson's Sports Grille

Nodaway Valley Bank was first named the Banking House by its first owner George S. Baker. It didn’t get its current name until Baker sold it to Theodore L. Robinson and J. C. Waterman in 1873. By 1890 the bank had outgrown its original location and was relocated to where it is now. Having an entrance facing Third Street and another door facing Main Street. This spot once held a hardware store in 1886, as seen in the Sanborn map. The bank operated as a private bank up until April 7th, 1894, when it became a charter bank, making it the 5th oldest charter bank in Missouri.Once Theodore L. Robinson, bank's owner and president, passed away, it was passed down in the family through generations. First to James B. Robinson then James and Frederick P. Robinson in 1932 and so on. The bank during World War 1 became very active, dealing with war bonds known as Liberty Loan Bonds and Victory Notes. Many people became new customers during this time, and the bank had to increase its lobby space by 1933. Business only increased from there, outgrowing its 70-year-old building and needing to create a parking lot on 2nd and Buchanan Street. That parking lot is still there today, near two columns from Carnegie Library and an eight-ton boulder that was placed there in 1921. Then they started remodeling, while work was happening in 1965, they opened a stand-alone motor bank in the parking lot on 2nd and Buchanan. The new building was introduced to the public in 1966. Another remodeling occurred in 2000, during which there was a fire, but no damage was made. The remodeled building from 2000 is the one that stands there today.Nodaway Valley Bank have been in banking for 150 years and throughout this time has had made historic changes and adaptions in banking. For example, they were the first bank in the county to install a posting machine in 1917. They were also one of the first banks in the area in 1938 to use Eastman Kodak Recordak to photographically record every check that passed through the bank. Then in 1960 they adopted electronic check coding. Nodaway Valley Bank also opened two new facilities in Hopkins, Missouri (now closed) and Savannah, Andrew County in 1990. They also have a location in St. Joseph, Missouri, which was built in 1995. It is the main headquarters that still operates in Maryville today.

Nodaway Valley Bank is located on 304 N. Main St. in Maryville, MO. It was first established in 1868 by George S. Baker and Company, Bankers and was known as the Banking House. It wasn’t until it was sold to Theodore L. Robinson and J. C. Waterman in 1873 did it become known as Nodaway Valley Bank. Located still on Third and Main Street this bank has played a pivotal role in banking in Maryville since it was first established and continues to play a role today.

Nodaway Valley Bank

While the pocket park is a relatively new addition to Maryville, the fountain and schoolhouse can be used to trace the town's history, whether that includes older layouts or the contemporary area that the park and its inhabitants take up today. The story of how this park and what lies within it was filled with numerous different bodies and organizations of the town, including the National Humane Alliance, Northwest Missouri State University and its Administration Building, the Maryville Downtown Improvement Organization, and many local businesses and individuals. The way that this was accomplished was through the other structures that were placed within the park, more specifically the fountain that stands at the east end of the park, but also the restored schoolhouse that was placed on its west end. The pocket park was merely an idea in 2014, but nearly 10 years later it is an idea that has come to fruition.This history begins with its centerpiece, the fountain, which found its way into the town through a request made to the National Humane Alliance and was put into the town in 1911 and dedicated to Hermon Lee Ensign, the founder of the National Humane Alliance. Initially, however, this fountain was placed at the intersection of Fourth Street and Market Street so that the horses, dogs, and other animals could have more readily accessible drinking water. Much of the work that went into getting the fountain donated seems to have been done by a single woman, Mrs. E. G. Orear, who spoke with Louis Seaver from New York City in order to arrange its placement into Maryville. In 1925, the fountain was moved to a park at the corner of Fourth and Dunn, where it became the subject of numerous pranks by students who dyed the water red or mixed soap into it. This marked the beginning of the move of the fountain to the college campus, as in 1970, the fountain was moved to the east entrance of the Northwest Missouri State University admin building, where it became one of two that guarded the entrances of the building. Somewhere in its history, the fountain lost its lion head spouts, but it was during its stint at the university that it was fixed and returned to working order by September 7, 1970. The fountain remained there until 2017 when it was moved into the storage of the University while construction was occurring beneath its old resting place. When the pocket park began construction in 2019, the University gifted the fountain back to the town so that it could be the main attraction of the pocket park.Also of importance to the pocket park is the Happy Hollow Schoolhouse. This schoolhouse was located east of Xenia, a colony that was seemingly lost to time; however, Happy Hollow Schoolhouse was not. The Happy Hollow Schoolhouse served as a Christian School, often offering a place where people of the Christian faith could congregate. Sometime after the Civil War, Elder Thornton Fakes, a devout preacher, settled in Xenia and created his own congregation which eventually found its way into the Happy Hollow Schoolhouse before once again relocating and leaving the Happy Hollow Schoolhouse empty. On August 25, 1959, the Happy Hollow Schoolhouse building was bought by Mr. and Mrs. Ed Reynolds, who planned on giving it to the community for use as its community center. Sometime during the construction of pocket park, the Happy Hollow Schoolhouse was fixed up, with help from the University’s students, and placed within the park to serve as an open shelter for rest or a place where people could host events.The pocket park itself, removing old historical buildings, was an idea floating in the heads of the Maryville Downtown Improvement Organization since 2014 and 2015, where they hoped to gather funds and private donations to fund the park in its entirety, which they did. In 2019, construction began on the park, eventually incorporating both structures that were previously mentioned. However, the park remains a work in progress, as a mural spelling out “Maryville” with the “y” missing is absent in its current state, despite being initially proposed and outlined in the plans. The goal of the mural was to have people stand within the missing “y” becoming it themselves to spell out the town name. The pocket park's location is also historied, but not as a park. In 1886, what is now a park used to sit a barber, and dry goods store run by Charles Q. Smith and J. Woodson Smith, who were credited with running the largest dry goods store in Maryville. In 1909, this space was still occupied by a barber, but also housed a clothing store, electric supplies store, piano store, club and lodge, and a vacant building. The pocket park, then, has been a way of stringing different histories together into one place, whether they are entirely purposeful or not, where those who proposed the idea hoped to bring people together and make use of parts of the town’s history uniquely.

The pocket park and the fountain within it have a detailed history across the time of Maryville. Despite the park itself being a generally new contribution to the town of Maryville, the fountain that resides within it has seen numerous different locations across its lifetime in Maryville. This storied history helps give a better understanding of how a small town was involved in greater national events and organizations, as well as giving insight into the general changes in its layout over time.

Pocket Park and Fountain

Simply Posh Boutique opened up in August 6th, 2021. This business offers carefully chosen clothing items suitable for mothers and daughters of all ages, and an online store is also available for people who cannot visit in person. This building first appeared on Sanborn maps for the city of Maryville in 1886 when it served as a confectionary and shared the block with a drugstore, book &amp; jewelry store, clothing &amp; photo store, dry goods store, a barber, and a carpet shop. Confectioners were "sweet shops" or candy stores, and several were located in Maryville at the turn of the 20th century. The 1891 Sanborn map provides less detail for this block, only listing the carpet store and drug store, but nothing is identified in the 216. N. Main St. location. By 1900 the building had become a racket store. According to the Encyclopedia of North Carolina, racket stores were similar to the five-and-dime stores that came a couple of decades late. They sold everything from shoes and hardware to clothing and groceries. At that time, only the drug store just to the south of the building and the clothing story &amp; barber shop at the very north of the block remained the same from 1886. All other businesses on this stretch had changed (from south to north: drugstore, racket store, drug store, tin shop &amp; hardware store, notions &amp; wall paper store, barber shop &amp; clothing store with a lodge meeting space located above. Like some of these other businesses, the racket store at 216 N. Main St. was short lived because the building was vacant by 1909 and most of the other buildings alongside it had also changed. For instance, the long-standing drug store to its south was now a shoe store &amp; cobbler, and at least one other building on the block was also vacant. However, two other racket stores do appear in 1909 in the section of the block just south of the alley way, both located in what is now the A&amp;G Restaurant front parking lot.As this exploration of the Sanborn maps reveals, Maryville was a lively and changing community in the late 1800s and early 1900s. This evolution continued through the 1900s and into the present day as the relatively short tenure of Simply Bosh Boutique at its 216 N. Main St. location demonstrates.

The building that houses Simply Posh Boutique is located a little north of A&amp;G Restaurant and is directly north of Maryville Florist, at 216 N. Main St. It has served the Maryville community in various ways and housed several different businesses before its current incarnation as a women's clothing boutique. For instance, in 1903 it was a racket store, which sold a variety of different merchandise. In some ways, its history as a racket store connects the building to today's boutique and connects the past to the present as both stores offered a wide assortment of goods.

Simply Posh

In 1886 a clothing store occupied the space where Maryville Florists is today. In 1909 the space was still a clothing store, so the area did not change until later on. According to a newspaper article in 1909 the clothing store was named Pixley and Co. Clothing caught on fire along with several other buildings. The fire started at The Model Laundry and quickly spread due to strong winds. Millions of dollars were lost due to this fire.While Maryville Florists has not been in the same space since they opened, they did reside in Maryville hence the name. Maryville Florists was known as the uptown florists in the 1960s. They offered coupons for their loving customers and held events like Queen for a day, where somebody's mother could be “Queen.” In the 1970s the owners of Maryville Florists were Mrs. Symanski and her husband. They used to receive their flowers, especially lilies, from a greenhouse located in Pleasant Hills. They received specialized lilies around Easter time but also sold them all year round. The Maryville Daily Forum did several pieces on shop throughout the years.  The head designer and current owner of Maryville Florists, Keitha Clapp, tries to maintain the history of the business while adapting to the customer's needs and wants. Keitha says, “We love helping our customers with all the important events in their lives.” Maryville Florists was named the business of the month in August 2024 by the Greater Maryville Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors. Maryville Florists demonstrates excellent community involvement and exceptional customer service, said the Maryville Forum in their review on the flower shop.

Maryville Florists has been in business since the 1960s but has been at this location since the owner purchased the shop in 2003. They sell fresh silk flowers, green plants, angels, steppingstones, and other related items. Maryville Florists deliver to any place in Nodaway County to carry on their customer service skills. Keitha Clapp, the owner of the shop, attended Maryville’s university, so she knows the town of Maryville and community.

Maryville Florists 

The Linville Hotel was built in 1881 and was managed by George W. Fink. According to local newspapers, the hotel became Maryville's fienst. The success of the hotel can be related back to newspaper advertisements and the high standard Mr. Fink had for his staff. They hosted small businesses, doctors, traveling men, banquets, and fine dinners.in 1947 the Linville Hotel was sold to Mr. and Mrs. Stephenson. When the Stephenson's purchased the hotel, they leased the hotel to Frank Morrissey for hotel purposes. Morrissey then leased the space out to retail shops, which was not allowed according to the agreement. Due to the damages from Morrissey, the Stephenson's filed a lawsuit for $5,000. The Stephenson's lost the case but then filed an appeal. After the lawsuit, the hotel was remodeled in 1950 and reopened under the name of Stephenson Hotel. As of 1977 the hotel was still in operation and it is unknown when the hotel closed. In present day, it is now a parking lot used for many different things around the Maryville Square.

On the northest corner of main and 2nd, now lies a parking lot. This is also across from A&amp;G Restaurant. However, from 1881 to at least 1977 it was a very popular hotel, first starting out as the Linville Hotel and then to the Stephenson's Hotel.

Northeast Corner of Main and 2nd

The northeast corner of Buchanan and 2nd Streets was residential until 1904 when the Carnegie Library was built. The Andrew Carnegie Foundation donated $14,000 in order to start and build the library. Between the years of 1886 and 1919 the Andrew Carnegie Foundation donated over 40 million dollars to libraries across the country, and the Maryville Library was just one of 1679 libraries aided by the foundation.Unfortunately, the library caught on fire in 1952 due to an overheated furnace, and the institution lost 3000 books. The library remained where it was for another decade before it was moved in 1962 to the old post office building on Main Street.Today, the northeast corner of Buchanan and 2nd Streets is a parking lot, and the original pillars that stood at the entrance of the old Carnegie Library are now on display.

The corner of this block was originally privately owned but was transformed into a public library in the very early 1900s. The library was in use until the mid-1960s when it was moved across town to the old post office building. Now, the pillars of the old Carnegie Library stand at the entrance to the parking lot to commemorate the memory of the old library and where the roots of the Maryville Public Library started.

Downtown Maryville (Missouri)

The Perk

Introduction

Images

Backstory and Context

Sources