Kansas City Shirtwaist Housing History ALMOST Explained

A glimpse at what was once considered "affordable" in Kansas City . . . Most of these homes now sell for close to a half mill . . . Check the backstory . . .

The shirtwaist house, like its namesake blouse that was popular among the growing number of working women in the early 1900s, is all about structure. A solid limestone or brick first floor serves as a sturdy “waist” while wood or stucco upper stories resemble the blouse’s lightweight top. A steeply pitched roof mirrors its collar, and as a finishing touch, a covered front porch echoes the blouse’s cuffs and pleats.

Shirtwaist homes, built primarily in the early 20th century, are a defining feature of Kansas City’s original neighborhoods, from Roanoke to Hyde Park to Brookside—and for good reason. A variation of the popular American Foursquare, a standard home style of the era, shirtwaists kept the practical and boxy design while incorporating a few distinct details. At the time, both sides of the state line were booming with limestone quarries and brick factories, which ensured a steady supply of materials for these homes.

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .

A history of Kansas City's most iconic house style

Kansas City's most notable historic home style, the shirtwaist, takes after a piece of clothing-and the resemblance is hard to miss.