Place

Kansas City, Missouri

A sepia toned postcard showing the Kansas City Train Station in early 1900\'s

After arriving in Kansas City, Sandburg had little trouble finding his next job.

In Kansas City Mrs. Mullin had a sign in the window of her restaurant on Armour Avenue, “Dishwasher Wanted.” ... It was a fight in that dish trough to get enough dirty dishes cleaned for serving the customers. I swept the eating room morning and afternoon and mopped it on Saturday. My sleeping place was the end of a hallway with my cot curtained off, and I washed and shaved, using my pocket mirror, at a sink and faucet in the hall... I worked every weekday till eight o’clock at night except for an hour or two in the afternoon. I had three good meals a day. I had Sunday off and walked miles around Kansas City comparing it to Galesburg, Peoria, Keokuk, and Chicago.

 

Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site

Last updated: May 12, 2021