We woke up early and drove I-70 east to Emma. The auction was actually on Sunday, so we decided to preview the auction and then drive a little further, to Columbia, to research its Harzfeld's location. We enjoy road trips and stopped at some antique shops on the way.
We found our exit to the small town of Emma, and easily found the auction house. We looked around at the interesting items, but alas, no display case. Although we could have inquired, we thought it best to keep a low profile to not express too much interest in the cabinet. We got back on I-70 and made our way to Columbia. We stopped at the
library, went to special collections and found great help. Our first focus was the phone book area. This helped us establish when the store moved between three different locations and who managed it over the years. We also found items in the vertical files and Harzfeld's ads from a few college yearbooks. We then sought out the locations and snapped some photos.
We spent the evening in Columbia and stopped back at the auction house on the way home. Still no cabinet. We again surrendered the fact that it might not be in the cards. We signed up to received future auction bills by mail and headed back to Kansas City.
Several weeks later, an auction bill arrived in the mail. This auction had many old store fixture items so I scanned the listings and there it was! A small photo was included, but there were no details of its origin.
Finally, it was the weekend of the second auction. We headed back out to Emma. We sat through numerous items until finally in the late afternoon, it was time for the cabinet to sell. We had decided on a limit we would bid. I calmly made the starting bid once they called out for $600. I was patiently waiting, then, an opposing bid was given. I calmly raised their bid and waited. SOLD to #168 for $800! We were excited and relieved that we would finally end up with the cabinet.
The auction house was good about storing items and offered delivery. We weighed our options, and decided to have them deliver it to our house. We were nervous about leaving our large plate glass box behind since there were many items being moved about as the auction came to a close, but since it had survived this many years, hopefully it would make it through this event. We drove home and cleared a space for the cabinet.
A week later, the cabinet was to deliver. I waved the truck and trailer in and we backed it up to our back sliding door. A nice older (than us) gentleman of medium stature came out of the truck. We realized he was alone. As we discussed how we would get this monster into the house, he shared about the pins in his back, yet had little hesitation about the task. After not finding any additional help, we strategized a bit. Then he disappeared under the cabinet. With all the assistance we could offer, the cabinet began to levitate. How he was able to raise the weight of the cabinet from all fours is still baffling. With a few moves forward and repositioning, we were at the door.
I got my side in and backed into the the house as our new friend guided his end to the door. His energy was giving way as we approached, and the cabinet was dropping with him. Thankfully he was okay and with the exception of the front right leg, so was the cabinet. After recovering, we finished the move, settled up, and wished him well with his other large deliveries.
Like much of our information, and many of the items from Harzfeld's, they seem to come to us, but not without a little effort.
(8' 2" in width)
We are saddened to learn of the passing of our friend Patricia on Sunday, December 20. She was a wonderful, talented and creative person with a zest for life. 
Here's a nifty box that has two roses that intertwine for the closure. Our example came with one of Harzfeld's signature Petticoat Lane scene handkerchiefs with a foil label stating "Created by Kimball, All Linen."
It's a big hat box with two ways to carry. 
(PAST EVENT) We're excited to announce our first to be scheduled book signing, hosted by Her Majesty's Closet, a couture consignment shop. It will be Saturday, December 12, 2009 from 11 a.m — 2 p.m. at 4113 W. 83rd St. in Prairie Village, Kansas. We greatly appreciate Her Majesty's Closet which recently moved to this new location. They offer some wonderful fashions. 
Another window display, featuring a fashion from Akris, from Michele's New York trip .
A tiny box, 
More information on the designer can be found at Enid Collins Collection, a site created by Christian Collins, Enid's grandson. Christian's sister, Lara Collins Bobo, along with her husband Tim offer a new line of fashions and accessories with similar playful design sensibilities. Check out their site at enidlifestyle.com. (image to right: Archimedes Wood Ring from enidlifestyle.com)
Michele found this hat box at a local estate sale last week. It is 7" in height when closed, and 9" wide flat edge to edge. This example just had to be animated. I thought about having a hat pop out after it opened, but for now you'll just have to imagine what type of hat might be inside. Look for us to feature an example of Harzfeld's packaging each Thursday.
We've continually underestimated the time this project would take. The History Press has been very kind in extending our deadlines. We actually just submitted our manuscript and it is now in an editing stage. More updates to come over the next several weeks.
Harzfeld's did quite the shoe business, but they never sold anything quite like this. 
The Gold Rush Days & The California Migration
This is a great photo of 125 Harzfeld's associates in front of the Plaza store from the early '80s. Let us know if you'd like to help in the identification process. Thank you to Roy Albin, Jr. for providing the image.
Our friend Paul from Tulsa just emailed to inform us of an exhibit, currently on display at The Tulsa Historical Society. Its focus is Seidenbach's, started by Siegmund Harzfeld's nephew, Joseph Leslie Seidenbach. After learning the ropes of retail at Harzfeld's, Joseph moved to Tulsa and opened his store after a visit in 1916. "Seidenbach's New Store", an impressive Gothic style building was erected at 413-415 South Main in 1927 . Sadly, it was raised after the store closed in the mid-1960s.
The boutique sized location of Harzfelds in Lawrence, Kansas, which closed in the '50s, will now be the site of the Oread Inn, opening in 2010.
Here's a shot circa 1940 of the downtown Harzfeld's, designed by architect John McKecknie in 1913. Now part of the Town Pavilion, it's at Petticoat Lane and Main in Kansas City.
There are items we're "saving" for the book, but sometimes we can't hold back. This past Sunday, we visited our friend Mac at the River Market Antique Mall. He worked for Erasmus (Ras) Beall back in the day. Ras effortlessly wrote out his beautiful script lettering for Mac to emulate in his display work. Mac was kind enough to share this with us to reproduce in our book. Here is a detail sampling from the sheet.
I recently purchased four contemporary Fiesta dinnerware mixing bowl sets on an incredible clearance deal at a mall in Denver. Instead of making multiple trips, I was given a couple versions of the device above (although the wood portion was made of plastic). I "manned up" and made the trip through the mall balancing a dozen heavy pottery bowls. These things work. Although I was pretty exhausted when I got to my car, there were no blisters or cuts on my hands.
"That Girl", on the left, is Doris Franklin. Seated beside her are Mary Lou Harkness and Helen Richardson. 
copyright by jack rees interiors
This Mother's Day ad ran in a Kansas City newspaper from the late '30s or early '40s. We've found very few examples, but this ad features a Nelly Don dress. 
Harzfeld's Precious Jewels
A few months ago we acquired a great piece of Harzfeld's history, a large display cabinet. The story is too long for one post, so we'll "break it up" a bit. Yes, as you can see from the image, a leg has been broken off, but I'll soon have that fixed. Maybe these posts will prevent me from procrastinating on that project. 
ABOUT OUR COVER... The romance of evening black, absolutely elegant from attending the premiere benefit performance of the "Medea" May 17th, sponsored by the Performing Arts Foundation. Left, flounces of fluted silk chiffon create a whimsical aura at 170.00. Right, tri-dimensional designs dot airy marquisette over a muted nude background, 140.00. French Room, third [floor] Downtown and Plaza.
She started with Harzfeld’s working part-time in sweaters at their Plaza store in the '50s. She was promoted to manager of the 3rd floor at that location and then was made assistant manager at Corinth. From there, she advanced to become “buyer of coats and suits.” Her office was downtown, but she spent the majority of her time traveling to New York and California. She bought for all the Harzfeld's stores in town. When they were building at Metcalf, they made her manager of the entire store.
You can type "3616 Belleview, Kansas City, Mo" into your TomTom gps device, but now you may more easily find Tom, or the Thomas Hart Benton Home and Studio Historical Site, via seven new wayfinding signs.
Top emerging fashion designers will take center stage during the ninth annual West 18th Street Fashion Show. This year’s free, outdoor event, Summer in Space, will be held at 8 p.m., Saturday, June 6. This outdoor fashion show– which draws nearly 2000 spectators– is held on the block of West 18th Street, between Wyandotte Street and Baltimore Avenue.
We just returned from a matinee showing of the Disney-Pixar film Up and enjoyed it so much we needed a connection to Harzfeld's to justify a post. We found six degrees of separation through Oracle of Bacon. Ed Asner, the voice of Carl, was in the movie Gus (1976) as Hank Cooper, the owner of a losing professional football team. Jeanne Bates played a nurse in the same film. Ms. Bates played, yes, a nurse, in the film Paula (1952) which starred Loretta Young as Paula Rogers. Loretta was a loyal customer of Harzfeld's of Tulsa, Oklahoma in the late '70s and early '80s.
We have quite a few images that have some unidentified individuals. This shot was taken by Erasmus Beall of his staff. A huge thanks to "Mac" for providing it. Please let us know if you can help us with any of the names.
