During the winter of 1875-76 the stone building - the first in Great Bend - was built on the corner lot where it still stands, then known as the corner of Maggie and Curtis Streets. Though much changed over the past 124 years, the basic structure of the building lies hidden under the hodgepodge of cosmetic alterations.

Most of the alterations were brought about through changes in ownership and function of the building. Some were done because of changing times and what some felt was the need to modernize downtown buildings.

Once the actual structure was completed, A. S. Allen began making changes and improvements almost immediately. Mr. Allen seemed to be a natural showman and knew how to advertise himself and the things he sold. In December of 1876, almost one year after the building had been completed, Santa Claus was in residence for the Christmas season and free almanacs for 1877 were available. Mid month, the following remark appeared in the Inland Tribune: "The wind took a bulge on Allen's front doors one day this week, and incontinently smashed three large glass."

Winter 1876 segued into spring of 1877, which saw Allen making the first noticeable change to the front of the building. In April the Inland Tribune noted that "Allen's has a nice awning - city style." A very early photograph shows a cloth awning over the front door that was folded against the building - was this what was considered a 'city style' awning?

Always eager to see the town of Great Bend progress, A. S. Allen initiated and for a time had in his building, the town's first circulating library - $3.00 a year to subscribe. This was in August 1877 and within the first month of operation there were 57 tickets sold. Only a matter of a few months later, in February of 1878, the circulating library was flourishing and had upwards of 90 subscribers.

In November 1877 it was noted that the "public spirited" Mr. Allen had just added a new board sidewalk extending the entire length of his building along Maggie Street. The editor of the Arkansas Valley Democrat, Mr. Flint, noted that it was a "much needed improvement" as it prevented one from wading through the mud to the post office after a rain. At one time, the post office was a wood frame building behind Allen's building facing onto Maggie Street.

In January 1878 the Arkansas Valley Democrat noted that a man named Professor Palmer was in town demonstrating a telephone. The editor, Mr. Fugate commented, "He has successfully operated a line from the court house across to Allen's Drug store." Another first for Mr. Allen, though the phone didn't remain.

August 17, 1878 it was noted in the Arkansas Valley Democrat that "A. S. Allen has recently placed in his store a handsome perfume case of unique design. It is well worth a visit of inspection."

In October of 1878, it appears a Cigar Store Indian may have been added, though it is hard to tell because of the cryptic editorial remark regarding the most recent Indian scare and Allen's possession of a small Indian.

The big news in September 1878 was an addition to the building. With this new addition the drug store would be 65 feet deep from the front door facing Curtis Avenue, now Main Street. Brinkman's Bank was in the back portion of the building facing Maggie Street, now Forest Avenue and was 17 by 25 feet. It is at this time, too, that a list of those renting offices on the second floor appeared. They were as follows: Room No. 1, Brown and Smith, land agents; No. 2, Doctors Bain and Lightfoot; No. 3, Doctors Baker and Gebhart; No. 4, G. W. Nimocks, attorney; No. 5, V. C. Jarboe, loan office. The upper story extended the length of the building with front and rear stairs.

March 1879 Mr. Allen purchased a machine for trimming wallpaper at a cost of $20. He used it to pre-trim the wallpaper he sold at no extra charge to his customers.

One month later in April, more windows were lost, this time through the indiscretions of a small boy named Clark. This occurred not once, but twice resulting in the loss of two large plate glass windows costing $8 to $10 each. The editor of the Inland Tribune was up in arms over this as the boy was part of a gang of young ruffians who roamed the streets with sling shots putting every window on the main street at risk.

In November 1883 the Great Bend Register noted that Mr. Allen had put a "handsome walnut office desk in his drug store." The editor commented, " A. S. never tires of making improvements."

One of Allen's grandest improvements was surely incorporated in June of 1884. The editor of the Great Bend Register wrote enthusiastically of the "most elegant and best finished soda Fountain that was ever brought west of the Missouri River." The cost was said to be nearly a thousand dollars and it was composed of several different colors of pure Italian marble with silver and gold mountings. Men were advised to bring their wives and children in from the country just to see this marvel of elegance and beauty.

Nearly a year later in May 1885 Mr. Allen had put in front of his building (at a cost of nearly $1000.00!) a limestone sidewalk, the only thing like it in the city. A week later a handsome iron railing appeared on the new stone pavement.

At that same time Mr. Allen and Mr. Hubbard were engaged in a land deal which eventually resulted in three new buildings fronting on Maggie Street that came to occupy the space between the end of Allen's building and the alley next to the Tribune office (the Inland Tribune).

Great Bend continued to grow and prosper keeping pace with Mr. Allen's improvements to his building. In early July of 1885 it was noted that Maggie Street had become Forest Avenue, Basset Avenue became Broadway, Curtis Avenue became Main Street and Cowgill Street was renamed Park Avenue. Thus Allen's Corner became Forest and Main.

August of 1885 A. S. Allen hosted a grand balloon ascension and fire works display in front of his store. It could not, however, have been a full sized helium balloon judging from the description, but one suspects it was another of Allen's promotions designed to draw a crowd

In March 1886, the old wooden buildings between Allen's Drug Store and the Tribune office were being moved out to make way for the block of new brick buildings as per the land deal between Allen and Hubbard summer of the year before.

In October 1887 A. S. Allen had a great curiosity on display in the drug store courtesy of Ben Dawson who captured the thing in Colorado. It was a live tarantula described as "an ugly little fellow."

After the building boom of the mid 1880s, things began to slow down some and though Mr. Allen was still in the news, it was noted that after years of hard work, A. S. was taking it a little easier and spending more time with his family.

Look for more information on this historic building as it becomes available.