Buildings On North Main St.

Photos edited by John Schehrer

Hotel Ruth was on north Main St. at Commerce.  Main Street in Commerce ran north along the west side of the town.  Most businesses are now on what is called Commerce Avenue which runs east and west and was once part of Route 66.  Harry Truman once was involved in mining in Commerce near the old Lost Trail Mine and this is where he stayed when in town.  Joplin Supply Company is visible at the left of the picture.  It is still in business at Jopln.

Empire Foundry was a producer of castings for use in mines and mills of the area and was near North Main in Commerce.  All of these pictures are from a larger photo of the area and are very small in the original.  They are enlarged and shown here for the first time ever.

Commerce railroad depot.  Tracks ran near north Main St. in Commerce and this depot is part of that system which could be the Mineral Belt or N.E.O Railroad.  The school is also visible in this picture and chat from the Emma Gordon mine is in the foreground.  North Main ran in front of the school and the houses in the distance.

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10/15/07