The Dairy

Will Kramer established a dairy in Wichita, Kansas.

The dairy farm encompassed the area from Lincoln Street on the south, to Sycamore Street on the west, to Taft Street on the north, to the railroad tracks on the east.  The area was at least 10 acres, possibly more.

Street Map today of what was once Will Kramer's property

The south part of Will Kramer's property is now part of West High School

The house was built by Will & Nellie Kramer.
Will did much of the work himself.

The main building still stands adjacent to the home Will built at 430 Dayton, Wichita, KS.

The diary was successful and had at least 7 trucks.
The lower floor of the dairy still stands, and is used by the Wichita School District.

Another advertisement

This was a float used in a Wichita parade.  The girl in the milk bottle is Betty Masters (Doherty), daughter of Mabel & Fred Masters, granddaughter of Will & Nellie Kramer.

I believe this is the building above, while it was being constructed.

Will Kramer, standing next to the dairy.

When the stock market crashed in October 1929, Will Kramer thought he could withstand the economic depression that followed.  As the depression continued and turned into the Great Depression, another dairy in Wichita, Steffen Dairy offered to buy the Kramer Dairy.  But Will continued to believe he would be all right.  Ultimately, he was unable to pay his bills, and he lost the dairy and land.

In an effort to save the family home, Will & Nellie's daughter, Ruth Whited, was able to get a loan and save the home and just under an acre of land around the home.  

Will was unable to find work in Wichita.  In an effort to find work, Will left Wichita and went to New Mexico where his youngest daughter, Iris, lived with her family.