A work gang of men constructing the railroad bed for the Chicago, Kansas and Nebraska Railroad through Alta Vista, Kansas is dated 1887. At the far left, the railroad’s two-story depot is visible, and at the far right, the Fairview Hotel is seen under construction. In this view, teams of mules are pulling “slips” to level the ground.

The town of Alta Vista was established in 1886, first named Pike, a name which was changed to Cable City and then Alta Vista when platted by the surveyors and engineers of the Chicago, Kansas and Nebraska Railroad in 1887. Among the first buildings constructed were the Messenger store, the Fairview Hotel and the railroad’s two-story depot.

The town of Alta Vista was under construction when this 1887 photograph was taken. The man in the foreground right is Buffalo Smith and the boy to his right is identified as Herman Syring, Sr. The two-story white building in the left center of this view is the Messenger Store, the first building constructed in Alta Vista.

Business boomed in the 1890s in Alta Vista as a livery stable, mercantile, grocery store, restaurant, hardware store and lumber yard opened in short order. The town was still in need of a bank, and in 1905 a group of local businessmen formed the Alta Vista State Bank, electing A. H. Meseke as president, an office he held until his death in 1929. Meseke’s wife, Lillian succeeded him as president of the bank until she sold the enterprise to Bruce Clark in 1931.

This view of the Alta Vista State Bank was created by Alma, Kansas photographer, Gus Meier in 1907. In addition to housing the bank owned by A. H. Meseke, the building also housed Meseke’s real estate and insurance offices, and the right half of the building as seen in this photo was occupied by J. N. Bolton’s Dry Goods Store.

In 1904, Alta Vista meat market owner, Union Thomas constructed a two story stone theater that he named the Pearl Opera House, after his son, Pearl Thomas. The top floor of the building was a large auditorium used for many public events, while the first floor was divided to accommodate two businesses. U.S. Presidential candidate William Jennings Bryan spoke to a packed house of spectators at the Pearl Opera House.

A traveling “Buster Brown Show” drew a fine crowd in front of the Star Mercantile at a Chautauqua held at Alta Vista in August of 1912. Originally a cartoon created in 1902, the “Buster Brown” character was purchased by the Brown Shoe Company as a mascot in 1904. In the early 1900s, little people were hired to portray Buster Brown in traveling shows, promoting the show brand. The Star Mercantile was located in one half of the first floor of the Pearl Opera House.

In 1900 Alta Vista received telephone service for the first time, and in 1908 the first electric company, the Alta Vista Light Company was formed. Initially, when electricity came to Alta Vista, the power was shut down to the city each night at 11:00 pm. Alta Vista was incorporated as a city in 1905 and held their first election of city officials that year.

This view of the Fairview Hotel in Alta Vista, Kansas was taken by Alma photographer, Gus Meier on August 30, 1912. The Fairview, constructed in 1887, was among the first buildings constructed in the new town of Alta Vista, Kansas. Frank Dean is the man at the left wearing a hat, and the well-dressed gentleman in the black suit is William Jennings Bryan, three-time Democratic nominee for President of the United States.

The 1907 Wabaunsee County Directory lists two banks in Alta Vista, two barbers, a dentist, furniture store, five general stores, a hardware store, two hotels, a jewelry store, lumberyard, meat market, two millinery stores, a music store, a physician, two restaurants, a produce dealer, and a newspaper.

The 2010 census enumerated 189 households and 444 residents of Alta Vista. The city serves a farming and ranching community.

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This sign, constructed as part of the scoreboard at the ball park in Alta Vista, Kansas in 1920, lists 28 merchants in the town which contributed to the sign’s construction. The sign is virtually a business directory of the town’s business community in the 1920s.

A group of men gather in front of the Bunger Hotel in Alta Vista, Kansas for this photo taken in 1908-1909. On the reverse of the photo, Alta Vista barber, Bat Nelson writes, “Man in center with arm around pole, Dr. William Smith. In 1909 the Bunger advertised in the High School annual, Board and Room $1.00 per day. Man number 3 helped dig basement for brick building that burned down, basement was dug in 1911.” No other individuals in the photo are identified.

A traveling “Buster Brown Show” drew a fine crowd in front of the Star Mercantile at a Chautauqua held at Alta Vista in August of 1912. Originally a cartoon created in 1902, the “Buster Brown” character was purchased by the Brown Shoe Company as a mascot in 1904. In the early 1900s, little people were hired to portray Buster Brown in traveling shows, promoting the show brand. The Star Mercantile was located in one half of the first floor of the Pearl Opera House.

Five unidentified men pose inside the Western Union Telegraph Office, located inside the Chicago, Rock Island, and Pacific Railway company’s depot at Alta Vista, Kansas. The first CRIP depot, constructed in 1887, was the only two-story depot in Wabaunsee County.

This real photo postcard of Alta Vista, Kansas dates from about 1908. Wolgast Hardware and Implement Company can be seen at the far left, while a printing office was located next door. This view courtesy Dan LaShelle.

This real photo postcard view of the drug store and U.S. Post Office in Alta Vista, Kansas shows the damage inflicted by a July 18, 1912 tornado that ripped through the town. Damage was extensive throughout the town.

This real photo postcard view of R.W. Hull’s Rexall Drug Store and the U.S. Post Office, cica 1910, shows the two buildings before the 1912 tornado struck caused heavy damage to the structures.

This view of the Fairview Hotel in Alta Vista, Kansas was taken by Alma photographer, Gus Meier on August 30, 1912. The Fairview, constructed in 1887, was among the first buildings constructed in the new town of Alta Vista, Kansas. Frank Dean is the man at the left wearing a hat, and the well-dressed gentleman in the black suit is William Jennings Bryan, three-time Democratic nominee for President of the United States.

A work gang of men constructing the railroad bed for the CRIP railroad through Alta Vista, Kansas is dated 1887. At the far left, the railroad’s two-story depot is visible, and at the far right, the Fairview Hotel is seen under construction. In this view, teams of mules are pulling “slips” to level the ground.

The town of Alta Vista was under construction when this 1887 photograph was taken. The man in the foreground right is Buffalo Smith and the boy to his right is identified as Herman Syring, Sr. The two-story building in the left center of this view is the Messenger Store, the first building constructed in Alta Vista.

The 1905 4th of July parade at Alta Vista drew a good crowd of participants in this Bat Nelson photograph. On the reverse of the photo, longtime Alta Vista barber, Nelson writes, “4th of July celebration 1905. Royal Neighbors and Modern Woodmen floats taken in front of “Racket Store” now the Legion Hall in 1991. Building to the north the Messenger Store, the first building in Alta Vista, later operated by the Woodard family. W.E. Kahle hauling a big log following the Royal Neighbor float.”

This view of the Alta Vista State Bank was created by Alma, Kansas photographer, Gus Meier in 1907. In addition to housing the bank owned by A. H. Meseke, the building also housed Meseke’s real estate and insurance offices, and the right half of the building as seen in this photo was occupied by J. N. Bolton’s Dry Goods Store.

Henry Dierking and Miss Lillian Addie pose in the doorway of the People’s State Bank at Alta Vista in this real photo postcard, circa 1910. The bank was one of many which failed during the Great Depression of the 1930s.

Dr. W.H.H. Smith, a doctor and registered druggist, purchased this Alta Vista drugstore from Dr. E.W. Eldridge in 1897 after practicing for several years in Eureka, Kansas. Smith established a thriving practice in Alta Vista until moving to Council Grove in 1910. This view, created as a real photo postcard, dates from 1908-1910.

A group of men pose in the doorway of the Star Livery and Feed Store, located in Alta Vista, Kansas. On the reverse of this photo, Alta Vista barber, Bat Nelson writes, “Picture taken in 1911. Barn operated by Steven Nelson and his son, Clarence Nelson. Barn was located where Lawrence Andres home is now located. Barn was torn down in the early 19920s by George Edwards. He built the three residences, Lawrence andres, Herman Syring and Mrs. Nixon. This note written by R.S. Nelson in 1970.”

A line of ladies and children pose for the photographer inside the Star Mercantile store in Alta Vista. Typical of buildings of its era, the store is long, narrow and has no side windows. This view dates from about 1905. An advertisement for Buster Brown shoes sits on top of the stacked display counters at the far right.

Six workers in this machine shop/metal working business are busy constructing large metal stock-watering tanks. This photo dates from about 1900 and was produced by Alta Vista photographer, W. A. McCoy.