Honors in Architecture: Notable Commercial Structures of Osborne County, Kansas

A selection of present buildings to celebrate and preserve from across the county.

Bull City Bank, Alton (built 1882).  First a bank, and then for a long time the building served as the home for the Alton Post Office. Currently it is the location for Silly Swedes Cycle Source.                       

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Lipton Hotel, Downs (started 1880; completed 1884).  A landmark building in the city of Downs and a visible tie back to its earliest days.  Most recently it was the home of the Stuff N’ Such store.                                     

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First National Bank & Walrond, Mitchell & Heren Office, Osborne (completed 1885 & 1886).   These two native stone buildings built next to each other have now been an anchor of the city of Osborne’s downtown area well into their third century.  The two structures were united under the same business in the 20th Century when they were the home for the Bloomer, Bloomer & Bloomer Law Office.  Currently the home for Ameriprise Financial Services.  

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State Bank of Portis, Portis (built 1887).   The native stone building served as the bank’s home for a century.                                                     

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Tindal & Bros Store, Osborne (built 1888).  After six years in a frame building the Tindal family erected this native stone building with brick facade, which features the iconic Mesker Bros. metal façade.

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Downs National Bank, Downs (built 1905).  The Downs National Bank transformed the former Ruth family blacksmith and garage shop into an imposing structure for a successful business. From 2014 on the building has been the home of the Cushing Insurance Agency.

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Northway Lumber Company, Portis (built 1910-1911).  After a fire in December 1910 devastated the first Northway Lumberyard, Lorenzo “Wren” Northway rebuilt the business and this surviving building, still standing with its traditional false front intact.

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Hardman Lumber Company, Downs (built 1917).  Built for the offices of the Hardman Lumber Company and currently the location of the Downs City Office. 

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Missouri Pacific Railroad Depot, Downs (built 1918).  An authentic depot building restored to its original splendor as a museum and community room that honors Downs’ long history as a center of railroad commerce.

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First National Bank, Natoma (built 1931).  When the First National Bank went looking for a new location it chose a site at the intersection of Second & Elm Streets and built their then-new brick building.  Currently it houses Angel & Cook Public Accountants.                  

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Osborne County Memorial Hospital, Osborne (built 2019). One of the newest large structures built in the county, the building is a good example of the Modern style of architecture.   

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