Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-01-01
HOW 1T WAS DONE.
Story of Kansas City's Enterprise In
Raising Over $500, o and
Ruj1dinr the Hall.

little more than a year. raised over $780,
00 for a public building is an interesting
one. For many years Kansas City has
needed a big auditorium. Every time a
big convention was held here the need
would be manifested anew and the talk
would start. Every time a bigger conven-
ton was lost because Of the lack of such
a building there would be still more talk.
Plans have been made, schemes have been
unfolded, donations and subscriptions have
begun. but it remained for the year 1898
TO actually build the much desired struc-
ture.
The helping along of any project to
build such an auditorium has always been
eagerly taken hold of by the Commercial
Cub and it is largely TO the efforts of
that organization, backed by the liberal
patriotism of the people of Kansas City
and its tributary territory, that Conven-
ton hall stands to-day, nearly completed.
a monument to the zeal and enterprise of
The people.
More than two years ago. upon October
Is. 1856, President NJ. V. Watson. upon as
Stunning his position as president at the
annual meeting of the club. urged strongly
in his opening address that. with the re-
turn Of prosperity, the club should take
IN which to hold conventions. The senti-
ment met with a warm response from the
members.
A little later was started the project
which gave the first strong impetus to-
ward building Convention hall. the Home
Products show. Early in the spring of 1897
i. T. BGlly introduced a resolution at Il.
Commercial Gu meeting for the holding
OF a home products show. The resolution
was adopted and the work of preparing
for the show was ~energetically pushed by
the manufacturers committee, of which
j. b. Kirk WAS then chairman. The
finding of a place in which to hold the
show WIS most difficult, but finally the
kevili & Waples building. at 1e21 and
floors filled with exhibits of articles made
in Kansas City.
The show opened June 1. 1897, and con-
TipUpd 10 IHna 10 President WatCnp ppak-
ing the opening address. The show was
an unbounded success from the start.
Everybody was greatly surprised at the
showing made by the Kansas City manu-
facturers. People crowded the building
during all hours Of the day, as high as
1%.O0 attending in one day, and people be-
ing turned away. During the eleven days
the show was open there was a total at
tendance of 134. S6.
The Home Product show and the :nabil-
ity- to care for the crowds brought out
stronger than ever the need of a building
was half over Frank Askew offered TO
donate a valuable piece of ground at
Seventh and Lydia, where the Priests of
Pallas den was located, if the citizens
would erect thereon an auditorium costing
$1,000. Two or three days later Bernard
Corrigan and Thomas H. Swope offered
10 sell or lease the ground at the north
east corner Of Eleventh and Baltimore.
Eighth and Grand avenue. On June 9
y. +. Stilwell offered TO lease for ten, fif-
Teen or tNtnlN Years, AT an annual rental
Of ) per cent upon Sc, 800. the ground at
Thirteenth and Central, where the Com
Veution hall now stands.
a company was partially organized to
accept the Askew proposition. and made a
canvass for donations. but found so many
objections 10 a location SO far out that
the matter was finally given up. The eX-
ecutive committee of the Home Products
show met tune 9, to consider the three
other propositions. and of the three favor
cd the acceptance of Mr.. Stilwell's offer
and talked of a $4,000 building TO seat 1860
people.
So great was the enthusiasm for an audi
forum and exhibit hall created by the
success Of the Home Products show that
before 1t had been running n week a call
was issued for a public meeting of citizens
10 raise funds for such n building. and The
ttaterncnt was given out that a Home
should the building he erected.
Decisive Meeting June IL, 1897.
The public meeting which was caIlad as
stated above was the first definite. actual
step which resulted in the present Con-
Nention hall. The meeting was held on The
afternoon OF June i, 1897. in the rooms OF
the Commercial Club. and was attended
by so representative business men. In the
absence OF President Watson, William
Barton. then vice president OF the club.
presided at the meeting. and, in a strong
speech, urged that a nan he built. Many
others addressed the meeting, and the en-
thusiasm grew rapidly. President Stilwell.
for his different companies. subscribed
S5.V1. which started the ball rolling. and
before the meeting adjourned n total Of
$1,000 had been subscribed by those pres
ent. A committee was appointed to Solicit
funds. 1t consisted of the same men who.
as the committee and as directors of Inc
Convention Hail Building Company, have
engineered the plans, and at a great sacri-
flee Of their own time. have pushed this
public enterprise to Il successful conclusion
Tine committee was Charles Campbell.
chairman; u. y. Kirk, +. 4. FaNon. George
r. Lynn. J. V. c. karnes, a I. Seested.
&. ". Fuller. A. c. Hunt. Robert Mo-ody'
j.. w. Rider. a. z. Stilwell. ]. c. James
HuGh J. MCGOWAN, NJ. V. Watson and E.
NJ. ClendeuinE.
The committee went to work with vicor
Ry the following Monday the fund had
grown to $4,000. On that day the com
uittee decided that IL would not nut the
building upon leased ground, but would
buy the ground. Upon this condition and
tho further condition that stock should he
issued 10 all subscribers. Mr.. StilwelI in
creased tho subscriptions OF his companies
10 S7.5ph. Mr.. MCGOWAN. the Armour Pack
inr Company and the Star each subscribed
s. DNl OF the same understanding.
lure y. the committee had seven offers
of sites before n. hut delayed making n
selection until the Goth. On June is, tn.
Mrtronolitan Street Railway COMPANY sub
en-.bed 1900 20 Tho stock. and Roberr
Fleming. a Scotch s~tockholder of the con-
narv. Soa0 more. Within ten DAYS from
+ra tire tho ruhscrlptions had started. a
-otal ~ efNH0 had feon raised and hv
Jr,re 90 fhig had increa sed 10 81. $50.
In view OF the large donations made nv
.he railway companies TO the Omaha exuo-
eitIou. the committee had homes OF getting
many thousands Of dollars from the rail-