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Morton-Simmons
Building
(Keen Kutter)
830 East First
The Morton-Simmons
(Keen Kutter) Building was constructed in 1905 by the St.
Louis-based Morton-Simmons Hardware Company. Built as a
distribution center for the company's line of "Keen
Kutter" products, the building was reported to have
contained more floor space than any other building in
Wichita, 80 thousand square feet.
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Designed by the St. Louis Firm of
Mauran, Russell and Garden, the architecture of the building
incorporated both the Italianate and Romanesque styles. The
four-story, nine bay red brick building boasted an automatic
sprinkler system that included a 20 thousand gallon water tank
located 20 feet above the sprinkler heads "hidden" in
the cupola portion of the building. The 40-foot high square
cupola features a hipped roof with pairs of brackets flanking
circular window openings.
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