Stuart Hall – Letter “A”
Stuart Hall – Letter “A”
“A” from Stuart Hall (and before that, Nabisco)
LUMI is now home to a giant neon letter A. Once part of the Stuart Hall Stationery rooftop sign, this capital A stands eight feet tall and almost as wide – it’s huge!
A manufacturer of school and office supplies and stationery, Stuart Hall operated in Kansas City from 1943 until the late 90s, mostly on West 20th Street in what was the National Biscuit Company building, built in 1910. It housed both the stationery manufacturing plant and the company offices. Now home to the Freight House Lofts of Stuart Hall, the property remains part of the historic Freight House District in the Kansas City Crossroads, but the iconic neon sign is long gone.
LUMI is indebted to Hallmark Cards lettering artist Jerry Lobato for his keen eye and quick action one day back in the early 90s. Looking west from his Hallmark office and beyond the Crown Center Hotel, Jerry noticed the top of a letter A moving. He dropped what he was doing and ran over to the rooftop where he found the Stuart Hall sign being dismantled.
One conversation with a workman, and $75 later, Jerry owned a monumental letter A. They lowered the face of the letter A down with a rope.
Having heard about LUMI, Jerry kindly donated this A to the museum in 2020 – we’re thrilled to include this beautiful piece of Kansas City history and artistry to our growing collection.
And now…the Story of Nabisco in Kansas City
The following Nabisco story was shared with LUMI by Jason at Stories from the City, the free weekly newsletter from kcyesterday.com/subscribe
In September 1911, the Crossroads were forever changed when a grand celebration was held for the opening of the National Biscuit Company’s newest and most advanced baking facility.
Nabisco’s grand opening in KC was met with a flurry of fanfare, drawing in guests from across the country and forever marking the history of the city.
This seven-story, 200,000 square-foot facility, situated at the intersection of Central Street and Milwaukee Avenue, was the talk of the town.
The bakery was one of the largest and most modern in the country when it was built — the event’s guests marveled at the modern technology of the bakery, with production starting on the top floor and the finished biscuits being packaged in Nabisco’s renowned In-er-seal packages on a lower level.
The bakery continued to operate until 1951, after which the building found a new purpose as the headquarters for the Stuart Hall Stationery Company. After changing ownership several more times, the building went dormant for several years.
Then, in the early 2000s, a transformation began. By 2004, the once-bustling bakery had been repurposed into the Freight House Lofts at Stuart Hall. Elements of the original architecture, like the arched ceilings, wood and concrete floors, and brick walls, were carefully preserved, paying homage to the building’s storied past.
Today, Stuart Hall stands proudly in the Freight House District of downtown Kansas City, not far from the vibrant Crossroads District. Its rich history echoes throughout the building, serving as a testament to the city’s past and an integral part of its present.
To get more Stories from the City, about the mafia, architecture, prohibition, sports, and everything in between, sign up for the free weekly newsletter at kcyesterday.com/subscribe
“A” from Stuart Hall (and before that, Nabisco)
LUMI is now home to a giant neon letter A. Once part of the Stuart Hall Stationery rooftop sign, this capital A stands eight feet tall and almost as wide – it’s huge!
A manufacturer of school and office supplies and stationery, Stuart Hall operated in Kansas City from 1943 until the late 90s, mostly on West 20th Street in what was the National Biscuit Company building, built in 1910. It housed both the stationery manufacturing plant and the company offices. Now home to the Freight House Lofts of Stuart Hall, the property remains part of the historic Freight House District in the Kansas City Crossroads, but the iconic neon sign is long gone.
LUMI is indebted to Hallmark Cards lettering artist Jerry Lobato for his keen eye and quick action one day back in the early 90s. Looking west from his Hallmark office and beyond the Crown Center Hotel, Jerry noticed the top of a letter A moving. He dropped what he was doing and ran over to the rooftop where he found the Stuart Hall sign being dismantled.
One conversation with a workman, and $75 later, Jerry owned a monumental letter A. They lowered the face of the letter A down with a rope.
Having heard about LUMI, Jerry kindly donated this A to the museum in 2020 – we’re thrilled to include this beautiful piece of Kansas City history and artistry to our growing collection.
And now…the Story of Nabisco in Kansas City
The following Nabisco story was shared with LUMI by Jason at Stories from the City, the free weekly newsletter from kcyesterday.com/subscribe
In September 1911, the Crossroads were forever changed when a grand celebration was held for the opening of the National Biscuit Company’s newest and most advanced baking facility.
Nabisco’s grand opening in KC was met with a flurry of fanfare, drawing in guests from across the country and forever marking the history of the city.
This seven-story, 200,000 square-foot facility, situated at the intersection of Central Street and Milwaukee Avenue, was the talk of the town.
The bakery was one of the largest and most modern in the country when it was built — the event’s guests marveled at the modern technology of the bakery, with production starting on the top floor and the finished biscuits being packaged in Nabisco’s renowned In-er-seal packages on a lower level.
The bakery continued to operate until 1951, after which the building found a new purpose as the headquarters for the Stuart Hall Stationery Company. After changing ownership several more times, the building went dormant for several years.
Then, in the early 2000s, a transformation began. By 2004, the once-bustling bakery had been repurposed into the Freight House Lofts at Stuart Hall. Elements of the original architecture, like the arched ceilings, wood and concrete floors, and brick walls, were carefully preserved, paying homage to the building’s storied past.
Today, Stuart Hall stands proudly in the Freight House District of downtown Kansas City, not far from the vibrant Crossroads District. Its rich history echoes throughout the building, serving as a testament to the city’s past and an integral part of its present.
To get more Stories from the City, about the mafia, architecture, prohibition, sports, and everything in between, sign up for the free weekly newsletter at kcyesterday.com/subscribe