On April 13, 1902, the Lawrence Journal’s headline read “The East Side Coming to the Front.” and reported “City Assessor S.J. Churchill has finished assessing the real estate in the third and fourth wards. He says that he is greatly surprised at the great improvements that have been made in that part of town during the past two years. About four-fifths of the houses have been painted, and about forty new houses have been built, with a general repairing and fixing up all around. His policy of not raising the assessment on account of new paint or new shingles or any other needed repairs, has had its effect all over the town. On the other hand he does not believe in cutting down the assessment if needed repairs are neglected; that would be a premium on shiftlessness. He says that desirable building lots have doubled in value, and are getting scarce as they are in west Lawrence. There are many beautiful, expensive and well kept homes in east Lawrence.”