Copyright © 2020 by Wendy Waszut-Barrett
The 1900 census listed Benjamin Dunn as a scenic artist; the 1910 census listed Benjamin Dunn as a proprietor of the Kansas City Scenic Co.; and the 1930 census listed Benjamin Dunn as the president of the Kansas City Scenic. Co.
There was another scenic artist with the last name of Dunn from Olathe, Kansas, one with Chicago connections – Frank Dunn. He was born around the same time as Benjamin F. Dunn and very likely a cousin. So what was happening in Olathe?
To put the remainder of the Dunn story in perspective, Olathe was founded in 1857. It was a major stop along the Santa Fe Trail and on the Oregon and California Trail. Up to six hundred wagons stopped weekly, as settlers continued west on their way to the gold fields or new homesteads. By 1873, three railroads served the community, and by 1875 the town’s population was up to 2,146.
An 1870 US census provides a little information about the eight-year-old Franklin Dunn of Olathe, Kansas. He was the middle of three sons born to James Dunn, a carpenter, and his wife Harriet. Frank’s brothers were William (10 yrs. old) and Arthur (6 yrs. old). A sister would later arrive in 1871, Mayane “Mamie” Dunn. Of the three boys, William Dunn remained in town, following in his father’s footsteps as a carpenter, Arthur Dunn became a traveling performer, and Frank focused on the backstage and decorative work.
The 1880 census lists Frank Dunn as apprenticed to a Marble worker and living at 88 Willie St. This was common, as many young men were sent out to work at an early age, apprenticed to other families. The 1880 census also shows that his mother and sister were living on their own home that year, no sign of the father. Dunn’s new living situation was a bit odd. Joseph Hedrick, a 70-year-old widower and farmer, was the head of the household where Dunn was living. Dunn was apprenticed to Hedrick’s 24-year-old son, Hiram. In the census, Dunn’s occupation was listed as “apprentice to marble worker,” but his relationship to the family is listed as “servant;” this adds another layer of curiosity. That year, however, Dunn turned 18 and he appears to have struck out on his own.
The earliest mention of Dunn’s artistic abilities are mentioned on Dec. 22, 1881, when Dunn was 19 years old. The “Olathe Mirror” reported, “Frank Dunn has drawn a painting of himself on the head of the Bass Drum, he thumps in the band, Frank is fast and becoming one of the finest portrait and scenic artists in the west. Work that he has executed with the brush will compare favorably with some that has received encomiums from press and voice all over the country” (Olathe Mirror, page 1).
By 1886, the Kansas City Directory listed “Frank Dunn” as a scenic artist working for Graham & Davis. Benjamin Dunn had worked there the year before in 1885. In 1886, Ben Dunn but was simply listed as a scenic artist, residing at 1210 e. 19th st.
On Sept. 26, 1889, the “Olathe Mirror” reported, “Frank Dunn, of Kansas City is a former Olathe boy and scenic artist of wide reputation, has gone to Chicago where he has secured more remunerative employment” (page 7). The year before, Chicago’s “Inter Ocean” reported “On June 2, the Rev. J.J. Garvin united in marriage Frank Dunn and Miss Notlora Hurburt, of Chicago. (June 10, 1888). And that is where the trail goes cold for this couple. It is difficult to know if this is the same Olathe Frank, as there are many Frank Dunns living in Chicago; theatrical managers, painters, traveling salesman. It is almost impossible to know where he worked or resided, but he was mentioned three more times in Kansas newspapers during 1890.
On Feb. 6, 1890, the “Kansas Patron,” announced, “Frank Dunn, who is now a scenic artist in Chicago, was visiting his mother and sister here last week” (page 7). On Nov. 20 1890, the same paper noted, “Mr. Frank Dunn, the scenic artist of this city spent several days in Kansas City last week soliciting” (page 5). On Dec. 4, 1890, the same paper noted, “Mr. Frank Dunn, the head of the Kansas City Scenic Company spent Sunday and Monday in Kansas City” (page 5). The “Kansas Patron” also reported, “The Kansas City Scenic company, with studio in the Grange building, has just completed a handsome drop curtain for the Haye’s Opera House of this city” (Oct 30, 1890, page 5).
Was it possible that Frank Dunn and John Bronaugh established the Kansas City Scenic Co., while Ben Dunn simply worked as a scenic artist for the company at first? Remember in 1890, Ben Dunn was mentioned as representing the Kansas City Scenic Company, but simply as an artist.
On Jun 16, 1887, the “Little River Monitor” reported, “The carpenters work on the new opera hall is going on at a lively rate, Canfield & Co. are doing the work in good shape, Messrs. Tschudi, Dunn and Oldham, of the Kansas City Scenic company, are painting a set of scenes for the hall, and are doing a fine job.” (16 June 1887, page 3). It is unclear, which Dunn was working with Tschudi and Oldham, Ben or Frank.
We are only left with the 1931 obituary of Ben, and that raises some questions too.
Mr. Benjamin F. Dunn of 5817 Wornell Road in Kansas City died at two o’clock Monday morning at his home. He is survived by his widow, Mrs. Mattie Dunn, daughter, Miss Zula Dunn, and two sons, Benjamin Dunn, Jr., and James Dunn. He was president of the Kansas City Scenic Company which was founded in Olathe twenty years, prior to his moving to Kansas City.”
To be continued…
