| Trego County State Bank 1907 |
| Kansas Pacific Depot
built in 1879 |
| DOWN TOWN WAKEENEY
Main Street, pictured in the early 1940s, was known as Franklin Street in the late 1800's. The main arteries
of WaKeeney were paved with brick soon after the advent of the automobile. Completed in February 1925,
the paving job cost $31,187.65, including the construction of storm sewers. The WaKeeney City Building
was erected in 1937 & is the large white building visible in the upper left corner. |
| OAKES HOUSE
Built in 1879, the Oakes House was a hotel operated by Daniel Barclay. The hostelry was named for
Oakes Ames, President of Union Pacific Railroad Company & a friend of city fathers Warren &
Keeney. On February 23, 1880, the first grand ball was held in the Oakes House to honor
Washington's birthday. The inn is now a private residence owened by John & Luetta Boeve.
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| LOUIS PLACE - WAKEENEY
Many remember Louis Place, built in 1928 by Louis Masopust. By day, the business was a busy
full-service gas station & auto repair garage on the main floor. By night, the upstairs came alive with
dancing & bootleg whiskey during Prohibition era. The property also housed vacation cabins for rent.
Emil Masopust took over in the mid-1900s.
Louis Place was on U.S. Hi-wa 40 & was a popular Truck Stop in the 1940s & 50s. The Watson Brothers & P.I.E. truck lines made regular stops here. My parents delivered many a 48 count case of fresh farm eggs & Cream to the drivers & they bootleged it in to Denver.
Louis Place was demolished in 1989.
comments by: Gayle M. Garrett |
| WAKEENEY OPERA HOUSE
The WaKeeney Opera House was built in 1880 by the Honorable J. F. Keeney, co-founder of
WaKeeney, at a cost of over $20,000.00. The Two-story native chalk limestone structure was
tragically destroyed by fire on February 4, 1895. This structure was located on the N/W corner of
Main Street & Russell Ave.
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