Cross Country Vacation Sept./Oct. 2025-Post 23

Front Street, Dodge City, Boot Hill Museum, Kansas-Part 4

During Dodge City’s first four months of existence in 1872, the town grew to a population of slightly less than 200, and there were at least 12 untimely deaths; 1873 would bring at least 24 more. Many did not take what law there was seriously. The Atchison Daily Champion wrote in 1876 that Dodge City, “was infested principally with gamblers, horse thieves, prostitutes, and murderers, who look upon the law as a huge joke. The arm of the law is palsied and hangs powerless by the side of Justice, who stands away in the background like a statue of a forlorn and helpless exile. Horse thieves, burglars, disturbers and even murderers go at large.”

*Clicking on a photo will give you a closer look!

Continuing our stroll on Front Street, Dodge City, Kansas (from the previous post), we come upon a fun Gunsmoke display. The iconic television series centered on Dodge City, Kansas, in the 1870s, during the settlement of the American West. I grew up watching Gunsmoke. Maybe you did too.

Buck Taylor, who played the character “Newly” on Gunsmoke, created this painting of the Long Branch Saloon:

A quick visit to the Dry Goods store:

The Tonsorial Parlour was where cowboys and buffalo hunters could get a haircut, shave, bath, and have their teeth pulled.

The straps in front of the chairs are called “strops” and have a rough surface for sharpening razors. Shaving mugs were personalized with names and occupations of regular customers and were stored until their next visit. A gauge of the success of a barber was the number of personalized shaving mugs on his shelves. Though the tools of the trade were standardized, many barbers were “jack-of-all-trades” with various skill levels. Many moonlighted at other jobs or offered hot baths in the back for a quarter to make ends meet. One of the proud professionals was Dodge City barber, George Dieter, who advertised himself as “the eminent tonsorial artist of the Arkansas Valley”.

The print shop:

The Undertaker’s shop:

*Remember, clicking on a photo, and then clicking on the i in the lower right, will give you a closer look and you will be able to read easier if you wish.

Following the Civil War, men arrived out west wearing low heeled stovepipe boots or military issue cavalry boots. Neither style suited the cowboys who spent 10 to 12 hours in the saddle. To satisfy the drovers needs, the boot was made to feature round toes, reinforced arches and higher heels that kept the boots from slipping through the stirrups. The new style became known as the Coffeyville boot because it originated in Coffeyville, Kansas. It also made the cowboy feel taller and gave him more swagger when he walked.

John Mueller immigrated to the United States in 1855 from Germany. He was wounded twice in the Civil War. Afterwards, he became an expert boot maker in St. Louis. He moved to Kansas and became friends with Buffalo Bill Cody and Wild Bill Hickok.

He opened his boot shop in Dodge City in 1874, and sold and repaired ready-made boots from $8 to $18.

In 1877, Mueller merged his business with another shoe craftsman, Walter Strater. They kept as many as six boot makers busy. Strater oversaw the shop while Mueller did the cutting and bookkeeping.

In 1881, Mueller sold out of the boot business and took up ranching.

John Mueller – “Gave perfect fits, performed excellent work and used nothing but the best material”.

The photographer’s shop:

The U.S. Army built the first post office in 1851 at Fort Atkinson six miles west of Dodge City. In 1865, the Army established the county’s second at Fort Dodge. On September 3, 1872, this office was moved to Dodge City to become the city’s first post office.

The relocation is why the city is called “Dodge City” rather than “Buffalo City”. Another town in Kansas already had the name “Buffalo”.

The City Drug Store housed Dodge City’s first post office at Front Street. The first postmaster was Herman J. Fringer.

The bank:

Just in case it is necessary to restrain you:

Reverend Ormond Wright arrived in Dodge City in early 1877. The very evening that he arrived, he performed the burial on Boot Hill of a saloon girl who had passed away.

Wright was instrumental in the building of Union Church, the first nondenominational place of worship in Dodge City. He convinced Wyatt Earp and Bat Masterson to be deacons. He welcomed people of all backgrounds, including the store owners and families, cowboys, gamblers, and dance hall girls.

On Monday mornings, he could be seen entering the saloons to cash in the gambling chips that had been left in the offering plate at Sunday services.

Wright was friends with Dora Hand, songstress of the Lady Gay Saloon, and invited her to sing at Saturday evening services. Her beautiful voice packed the house of worship.

See the world around you!

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2025