Carbide and Carbon Building

 

During the Great Depression, much of the United States suffered immense loss. Kansas City, however, kept on keeping on and managed to grow substantially in the era, both economically and in a barrage of construction – including the Union Carbide and Carbon building on Baltimore. The eleven-story (penthouse included) Art Deco structure commissioned by local real estate moguls William Hull, Barat Guignon and J. North Mehorney was first owned by Washington University (based in St. Louis). William Hull served as mayor of Weston (MO), his hometown, and is buried there in Graceland Cemetery. The savvy Hull also served as director of the First National Bank in Kansas City, as a United States representative for Missouri’s 6th district, and was a member of the Elk’s Lodge. Barat Guignon was the owner and president of his namesake KC real estate company. Involved in multiple real estate investments, North Mehorney also owned a structure at 11th and McGee streets.