111 Main Street Parkville, MO

Parkville Artisan’s Studio is an artist’s studio, gallery, and merchant. Originally erected in 1909 by Bert Yerrington and Dr. Johnson Underwood. Served as Vawter's Grocery.

     In June of 1909, construction began on this building and was completed later the same year. This was a joint venture between Burt Yerrington, a local builder and businessman who lived at 500 Main, and Dr. Johnson Underwood, the local physician who lived at 300 Main. Dr. Underwood arrived in Parkville around 1900. The building was constructed to accommodate two businesses. Dr. Underwood used 109 Main to house the Park Pharmacy, which he owned, as well as his office on the second floor. In the late 1920s, the Vawter brothers were operating Vawter's Super Market, a grocery store, at 111 Main.
     An advertisement in the 1916 Narva (Park College year book) lists "W.F. Vawter - General Merchandise" with no address.
     Vawter's Super Market continued to serve Parkville into the 1960s. Vawter's was one of three traditional grocery stores operating in Parkville at the time. The other two were Broadhurst Market at 113 Main and Busch Market at 103 Main. At one time, all of these stores made home deliveries.
     In 1996, the building facade was renovated to be consistent with its historic era.¹

¹Parkville History Committee