NEWSPAPER RELOCATES TO UPDATED OFFICE SPACE
After many years at 252 Main Street in Platte City, The Landmark Newspaper has relocated its headquarters to a newly-renovated space a short distance off of Main.
Effective Thursday, Aug. 31, The Landmark relocated to 212 Marshall Road, Suite C, in Platte City. The Landmark office is on the east (back) side of the building, which formerly housed the Platte County Health Department.
The former health department facility was purchased earlier this year by David Barth, an active developer in Platte County. Multiple tenants will eventually occupy space in the building. The Landmark is the first tenant to take up residency there.
The Landmark is located in 1,100 square feet in the lower southeast section of the two-story facility. Barth over the past two months made significant improvements to the space being leased by The Landmark, including installing luxury vinyl flooring in the lobbies and hallway, new carpet in offices, all new LED lighting, new windows and fresh paint.
The Landmark’s new home includes a spacious entrance lobby, a roomy front office space ideal for customer service, carpeted individual offices for staff members, as well as a kitchenette.
“We’re thrilled with our new office space. We loved the paper’s history and old printing equipment at 252 Main, but our new location better fits modern day newspaper production. This is by far a more appropriate and productive office setting for us in today’s business environment,” said Ivan Foley, owner and publisher of The Landmark.
The newspaper plans to hold an open house for readers to tour the new location later this fall.
Foley praised the work of Barth for the renovations at the 212 Marshall Road, Suite C location.
“The improvements that Dave and his team are making to the former health department building are impressive. And the speed at which they got everything ready for us to move into our space is impressive, as well,” Foley said, adding that he first toured the spot with Barth back in mid-July, before renovations began and shortly after there was a deal in place to sell The Landmark building.
Ivan and Linda Foley have sold The Landmark building at 252 Main to Blake Barth of Lookout Tower LLC. Blake is the son of David Barth. That deal closed last Friday, Sept. 1.
“Blake told us he is really excited about The Landmark building and the possibilities with it. We are happy that he was willing to include the historical printing equipment in the purchase, and are anxious to see how he develops the space and what will eventually occupy the main floor of the building that The Landmark called home for so many years.
“The Barth family has a history of quality developments, so I’m confident it will be an exciting project for Downtown Platte City as a whole,” Foley said.
“I view Platte City as an extraordinarily good investment right now, without having to contend with big city prices and problems. I would hope my investment shows that I believe in Platte City and aim to be a long term participant in its development,” Blake Barth said this week.
“The best thing about The Landmark building is that it sits on Main Street in mostly original condition. Much of the building materials and equipment have remained unchanged for ages. The structure has character, and that passes along with the building and not just the owner. I’m looking forward to adding to that and producing something that fits the image of Downtown Platte City,” Blake added.
Family members and staffers moved most of the newspaper’s office furniture, office equipment, years of historical bound copies of the newspaper, etc. into the Marshall Road location on Saturday, Aug. 26 and Sunday, Aug. 27. For a few days the newspaper’s computer equipment remained at 252 Main, in order to complete production of the Aug. 30 edition.
Once the Aug. 30 edition hit the streets last Wednesday, a few last-minute items were moved by staff to the new location that evening. The Landmark’s first full day in the new space was Thursday, Aug. 31.
SOME HISTORY OF
THE LANDMARK
BUILDING
In March of 1899, The Landmark moved into the building at 252 Main Street. The building was constructed in 1869 by Dr. G.W. Smith as a drug store and a post office. In later years a grocery store and hardware store occupied the building before the newspaper took over occupancy.
In 1899, The Landmark installed a large sheet-fed Babcock press that would be used until 1979. A Babcock press, weighing roughly 8,000 pounds, remains in the back portion of The Landmark building.
Until 1923, the type had been set by hand. Several of the typecase cabinets from the 1800s and many typecase drawers remain in The Landmark and were included in the sale. Since 1923, a Linotype machine has been located in the front window of The Landmark building.
A few years ago, two smaller job presses used in the printing of things like business forms, envelopes and letterheads, were sold by Foley to a Kansas City printer who refurbished them and put them back into present-day use.
Even after selling the newspaper operation to Dwayne Foley in 1979, Lucy Jones continued to own The Landmark building for many years. Then Ethel Mae Foley bought the building in 1998 and in 2002, Ivan Foley and his wife, Linda, purchased the building.
In a months-long project in 2008, Ivan and Linda renovated the front exterior of the building to return it to more of its original look. Commercial Waterproofing of Parkville was hired to strip away paint that for years had covered the building’s original brick. The firm tuckpointed the brick for a fresh look and added water-repellant sealer.
Topping off the project were four new large arch-style windows installed on the second story. The aluminum energy efficient windows were installed by JPI Glass of Platte County.
The rehabilitation work was recognized by the City of Platte City, with Foleys being presented the first-ever William Paxton Preservation Award for preserving Main Street’s architectural heritage. The award was presented by Mayor Frank Offutt and the board of aldermen in March of 2009.
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