10. Veterans Memorial Building

The War Memorial Building stands on one of the most historically significant sites in downtown West Branch. Long before the current structure was built, this property was home to a Quaker boarding school established in the 1880s for children of the Osage Nation. The school reflected the Quaker community's missionary work among Native American tribes, bringing students from present-day Oklahoma to West Branch to receive an education. The school operated here for only a few years before the property returned to private use.

Following World War II, local veterans raised funds to construct the War Memorial Building as a lasting tribute to those who served. Completed in 1948, the building became home to West Branch's Post Office, while the American Legion occupied meeting rooms in the basement and second floor. For decades, it served as both a civic gathering place and an important public building in the heart of downtown.

Like many historic Main Street buildings, its purpose evolved over time. The building has housed an antique shop, a bed-and-breakfast, and most recently the workshop of internationally respected classical guitar maker John H. Dick, whose handcrafted instruments have been played by musicians around the world.

Today, the War Memorial Building represents multiple chapters of West Branch's history—from its Quaker roots and Native American educational efforts to its post-war civic pride and continued tradition of craftsmanship and small business.