March 13, 1915 Kansas Farmer with Neodasha, KS address.
The Fruit Grower and Farmer - April 15, 1915 with Neodasha, KS address.
The Fruit Grower and Farmer - May 1, 1915 with Neodasha, KS address.
Blakesee & Stanford advertisement for the 1916 Maxwell
Clipping from Independence Daily Reporter - Nov 20, 1915
Note address of 224 West Main Street in Independence, KS.
Date of clipping unknown,but believe this circa 1915-1916 due to Independence location
and business titling of both Blakeslee and Stanford. See below.
Advertisement clipped from Montgomery County High School class of 1916 yearbook.
Blakeslee & Stanford advertising in the Independence Daily Reporter - April 12, 1916
Barton Blakeslee and Guy I. Watt mentioned as recently buying the Independance Motor Co. Garage. in Feb 28, 1917 Motor World. [The
Independence Motor Car Company with W.W. and J.S. Curtin, proprietors, was built at 301 W. Main about 1912.]
Barton Blakeslee advertised as selling Cadillac & Hudson in July 2, 1917 Independance Daily Reporter.
Barton Blakeslee mentioned as moving into his new quarters in the Auto Sales Building in July 10, 1918 Motor World as shown in picture below.
Hudson Triangle Vol.8 No.14 from January 1919 shows building at 211 West Myrtle measuring 50 feet wide and 140 feet
long. There was a two-story showroom with mezzanine in the front and a second floor storeroom in the rear above a lower service garage.
"Mr. Blakeslee has built up a wonderful business in the last six years, and has done so by carrying high class cars, such
as the Hudson, Cadillac, and Essex cars, with the Acme and Republic trucks and the Cleveland Tractors. This building and lot
costing Mr. Blakeslee something like $33,000 give him one of the most complete buildings in the state, and he thereby shows
his confidence in the future of Independence."
unknown newspaper quote, assumably dating to around 1924.
Unfortunately, the building was overbuilt for the business that Blakeslee had and he sold the property in October 1926. He was later listed as an auto dealer at 217 N. 6th in 1929 and at 121 W. Laurel in 1931, but unknown if he sold Hudson at these locations. The business did not survive the early effects of the depression. The Blakeslee family left Independence sometime between 1931 and 1935.
Auto dealer George J. Marr was the building's tenant in at least 1929, but unknown what make(s) he sold. By 1931 the property was occupied by the Plamor Bowling Alley as well as a luncheonette and a confectioner. By 1937 the property was also listed as the Plamor dance hall. The combined use continued for many years and the property was known as the Plamor until after 1953. In 1957 Cordie and Martha Peterson operated the bowling alley and grill under their name.
Tri-State Electrical Supply Company occupied only the front showroom and the lower rear garage during the 1980s. In 1989, the Blakeslee Motor Company Building was added to the National Historic Register of Historic Places. At least four other auto buildings from this period still remain in Independence.
Although deteriorated, the building still stands in rather original condition with minor alterations inside.
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