Alex Taylor and the Story of Mentholatum

Fri, August 14, 2009

On August 19th, 1909, The Mentholatum Company opened a new factory at the corner of Douglas and Cleveland in Wichita. The building, which is on the National Registry of Historic Places, is now the home of the Spice Merchant. The owners, Bob and Sue Boewe, are celebrating the building's 100th anniversary with two events featuring Alex Taylor, great-grandson of A.A. Hyde, founder of the Mentholatum Company. KMUW's Frank Dudgeon talks with Alex Taylor. This is an extended version of an intervoew heard on Morning Edition. On Wednesday August 19 from 6 to 8 P.M. there will be a Centennial party at the Spice Merchant, 1308 E. Douglas, featuring a talk and book signing by Alex Taylor, author of Amazing Mentholatum, and the Commerce of Curing the Common Cold. Then on Saturday, August 22 at 2 P.M., Alex Taylor will speak on "Wichita's Mentholatum Factory Centennial: The Inside Story," at the Wichita-Sedgwick County Historical Museum at 204 S. Main. He will also share illustrations from his extensive collection and rare Hyde family photographs. For information call the Spice Merchant at 316 263-4121, or the Wichita-Sedgwick County Historical Museum at 316 265-9314.