By MICHAEL BUSHNELL
Northeast News
June 27, 2012

The venerable Densmore Hotel was part of Kansas City’s downtown landscape for almost 100 years before succumbing to the wrecking ball late in the 20th Century to make way for Ilus Davis Park just north of City Hall.

Built in 1898, the Densmore was unique in that it consisted of two seven-story towers with roughly 82 rooms each, connected at the base by a common lobby and a huge front porch and veranda.

The postcard, published by the Elite Postcard company of Kansas City, shows the Densmore during the springtime with flowers hanging from the porch and in planter boxes along the front porch. Next door to the hotel was the residence of early Kansas City lawyer J.V.C. Karnes, an early member of the school board. Karnes was also instrumental in the establishment of the public library as well as the innovative Karnes School originally located near Independence Avenue and Cherry. The school was later moved in 1907 to the North End, now Columbus Park, and educated students through the early 1970s before being demolished in 1982.

The card was sent to Mr. Virgil McNiel of Kingsville, Mo., on Dec. 13, 1913.

The personal message reads: “Dear brother and sister. I will write you a few lines. Wallace has been real sick all week but has started to school this morning. I hope you are all well. We are coming down the 23rd. We are going to grandma’s and stay all night and come to your house the next day. Will take the little ones too. Love, your Sister.”