Jewell Building

Wholesale District, Garment District, warehouse, George P. Ide & Co., Paul Outerbridge, Christie’s Auctioning 

 

 

This low-rise brick warehouse built in 1921 is a member of the collection of buildings surrounding Broadway and 8th Street that make up the “Wholesale District.” Elected for historical preservation in 1971 and containing the more widely-known Garment District, this area boomed at the turn of the 20th century as Kansas City’s railroad position became increasingly desirable to industry. The Jewell Building housed George P. Ide & Co. shirt manufacturing company—one of the many textile production firms that would descend upon the warehouse buildings in the 1920s. Manufacturers of collared shirts, the George P. Ide & Co. brand reached its zenith of popularity with a print advertisement in 1922 by provocative photographer Paul Outerbridge. Historic New York auctioning house Christie’s sold the original print in 2000 for $314,000.