Long ago on independence square (Kansas City, Jackson: inspector, arena, cell phone)

[SilverDoc]

[quote=Mad Anthonie;27035331][quote=SilverDoc;27032463]

Originally Posted by Mad Anthonie

Canon EOS 10D with a 300mm lens.

Nice! I took quite a few (after the old Kodak Pocket Instamatic) with my old Pentax K-1000 with a 70mm-210mm lens. Today, I use a Kodak Easy Share Z650 digital. I love it! No film, no waiting. If I screw up a shot, I delete and shoot another one. I use a 1 gig SD Card, so I can take a bunch of shots.

[SilverDoc]

Originally Posted by WCHS'59

That is the Trolley Diner that is at Truman Road and Vermont. There was another trolley converted to a diner that was just west of the Payless Shoes at Truman and Sterling. It was covered with a wood shell at some point but has been closed for several years.

I seem to recall a third trolley in Independence on the west side but cannot recall if it was on Truman or 23rd Street.

This is the one on the southwest corner of Truman and Sterling:

[SilverDoc]

Originally Posted by WCHS'59

That is the Trolley Diner that is at Truman Road and Vermont. There was another trolley converted to a diner that was just west of the Payless Shoes at Truman and Sterling. It was covered with a wood shell at some point but has been closed for several years.

I seem to recall a third trolley in Independence on the west side but cannot recall if it was on Truman or 23rd Street.

This is the one at Truman and Vermont:

[SilverDoc]

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! See ya when I get back!

[Mad Anthonie]

[quote=SilverDoc;27037428][quote=Mad Anthonie;27035331]

Originally Posted by SilverDoc

Nice! I took quite a few (after the old Kodak Pocket Instamatic) with my old Pentax K-1000 with a 70mm-210mm lens. Today, I use a Kodak Easy Share Z650 digital. I love it! No film, no waiting. If I screw up a shot, I delete and shoot another one. I use a 1 gig SD Card, so I can take a bunch of shots.

My earlier shots, way back in this thread, were taken with my trusty Kodak Brownie Hawkeye. Later I moved up to the Jiffy Kodak Six-10. Eventually I made it up to 35mm.

Originally Posted by MRG Dallas

For you historians out there, I suppose a big reason The Square was selected as the situs of the courthouse etc. was because it sat on an elevated plot of land?

That would make it easier to find in the days before GPS! Another factor was the availability of fresh water from several nearby springs. The best known is just east of Truman and Noland, near the Sermon Center. Another was on Spring Street (imagine that!) near the Bingham/Waggoner estate. I think there was also one near the current McCoy Park.

[WCHS'59]

Originally Posted by SilverDoc

Nice sign!

I had posted a photo of that sign before and asked if anyone knew where it was located.

I actually remember seeing the sign as a kid but cannot remember where it was at.

I am thinking either 24 and Noland or 24 and Main.

[MRG Dallas]

Originally Posted by SilverDoc

1059ft Blue Ridge Cemetery
1049ft. Ridgewood Shops
1040ft Blue-Vue Shopping Center
1036ft Soldier's Cemetery
1026ft. Gas Light Square
1030ft Raytown Plaza
990ft Indep. Square

I downloaded Google Earth and using the Elevation Feature:

Truman Library, which as we all know, sits on a small hill overlooking US 24 (great for kite flying and skateboarding B4 security days!) 990'

24 Hiway Shopping Center 992'

Remember we had that discussion where the writer/blogger couldn't find the Magical Stream somewhere along River Blvd? I suspected that might be in the massive woods that run behind 24 Hiway S/C almost to the Mighty Mo. I remember how quickly the land dropped off once the back area of the S/C ended (had to chase many a baseball down that slope).

Just a few ways into the woods, the elevation drops quickly to 930 and the further north, the more it drops (not surprisingly). But that was a quick 50-60' drop before one actually got into the woods. Now, it appears the overgrowth is so much you can't see the decline if you stood in the back, you'd just have to hoof it down to realize the slope. How many baseballs and wiffle balls are RIP back there!

[MRG Dallas]

Interesting. The "Blue Ridge Cemetery" is not the one in Independence, but a rather small one in Grandview.

The former is significantly lower @ 911'

[MRG Dallas]

Originally Posted by SilverDoc

1059ft Blue Ridge Cemetery
1049ft. Ridgewood Shops
1040ft Blue-Vue Shopping Center
1036ft Soldier's Cemetery
1026ft. Gas Light Square
1030ft Raytown Plaza
990ft Indep. Square

Doc, I know you're out for the Holiday but I'm curious where you got these numbers. Playing around on Google Earth, I stopped at my grade school Blue Ridge Elemetary (63rd/BR Cutoff) and the elevation right in front of the school is 1052.

BTW, I had to look up the familiar names like Ridgewood and Blue-Vue even though I lived many years in that vicinity. B-V is where the old A&P was (the one I asked you, WCHS about), across from Sheil Funeral Home, and Ridgewood looks to be where the Cadillac dealer that Anthonie said was going out of business (east adjacent to the BR Mall). Little did I know that part of the county had the highest points.

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone, and Sally, please come back!

[Mad Anthonie]

Happy Thanksgiving!

In the spirit of the day I offer thanks for...

Living my whole life is such a rich hometown. Not rich monetarily, but in what matters. We have an interesting and varied history, good people, a variety of weather, and Midwestern values. What more is there?

All those who have shared their memories and photos of our hometown. It is nice to have these memory joggers!

For Sally, who started it all. Get well Sally, we miss you.

For the freedoms we enjoy as Americans.

May each of you have a thanks-filled day!