Long ago on independence square (Kansas City, Jackson: foundation, entertainment, cultures)

[SilverDoc]

Originally Posted by WCHS'59

Cool, I printed that out.

You know, I have seen that bird's eye view of Independence before. I have always marveled at how an artist could make such an aerial illustration having only a street by street ground perspective for visual reference.

When I was a kid I thought those 19th century bird's eye views were sketched from a hot air balloon.

Rats!! You mean they weren't??

If you like bird's eye views, how about this?: http://www.loc.gov/resource/g4164i.pm004260/

[WCHS'59]

Originally Posted by SilverDoc

Rats!! You mean they weren't??

If you like bird's eye views, how about this?: Bird's eye view of the city of Independence, Jackson Co., Missouri 1868.

The view is looking southwest in 1868.

Lexington Street has its curve to the southwest.

I dont see the long rock wall along Pleasant Street where the Union forces retreated from their headquarters in the Chrisman-Sawyer bank building to take up a defensive position in the first Battle of Independence, six years earlier.

River Blvd was Ruffner Street in this view.

Maple Street was Rock Street.

Noland Road is not named but you can see a four block section that ends at Walnut and then apparently continues a block later as Harmony Street.

No evidence of a mill on south Osage but there is a three to four story industrial looking building at the foot of Pleasant Street.

A sketch artist would have to have done an awfully lot of research to locate all the houses and draw them in an aerial perspective. I wonder how much an artist would charge for a sketch like this?

[SilverDoc]

Originally Posted by WCHS'59

The view is looking southwest in 1868.

Lexington Street has its curve to the southwest.

I dont see the long rock wall along Pleasant Street where the Union forces retreated from their headquarters in the Chrisman-Sawyer bank building to take up a defensive position in the first Battle of Independence, six years earlier.

River Blvd was Ruffner Street in this view.

Maple Street was Rock Street.

Noland Road is not named but you can see a four block section that ends at Walnut and then apparently continues a block later as Harmony Street.

No evidence of a mill on south Osage but there is a three to four story industrial looking building at the foot of Pleasant Street.

A sketch artist would have to have done an awfully lot of research to locate all the houses and draw them in an aerial perspective. I wonder how much an artist would charge for a sketch like this?

A lot of research and lots of time! I think that this map is so neat because you can keep zooming in so you can make out all the little details.

[WCHS'59]

Originally Posted by SilverDoc

A lot of research and lots of time! I think that this map is so neat because you can keep zooming in so you can make out all the little details.

The bird's eye view of the COMPREHENSIVE PLAN CHAPTER 11, HISTORIC PRESERVATION that you posted does not have a date but appears to be the same sketch. However, the quality of the transfer to PDF has not held up making it difficult to compare.

[SilverDoc]

A blast from the past... actually a twofer:

[Mad Anthonie]

Originally Posted by SilverDoc

A blast from the past... actually a twofer:

Maybe someday a future owner of the bank building will undo the bland facade it now has. The old way had much more character.

[MRG Dallas]

Originally Posted by SilverDoc

A blast from the past... actually a twofer:

Clippard-Rodekopf Motors 813-815 W. Lexington, which puts it on the s. side, between Union and River. A part of "Paradise" now paved with a parking lot (for all you J. Mitchell fans out there).

While the Church's expansion did clean up that area from an aesthetic point of view, it wiped out so much of the buildings that we remember there.

[MRG Dallas]

Originally Posted by weimlover6

The first 3 are from July 1996....the black and white is from 2001, when the restoration was almost done.

The work was paid for by the now defunct historic preservation non-profit, Preservation Renaissance Independence.....there are many other buildings in Independence that are slowly deteriorating from lack of interest, lack of money, or just outright neglect

Welcome back. What are some of those buildings that come to mind, in order of your priority (i.e., what would you like to see preserved first, second, third, etc.)?

[MRG Dallas]

Originally Posted by WCHS'59

Do you know of anything else the Preservation Renaissance Independence is working on?

I looked for a web site but did not find one.

Weimlover's post said the organization was now unfortunately, defunct.

Regrettably, it appears none of the monied Independence families set up an entity to fund to preserve, restore, rehab much of the history (as has been done in other cities).

[SilverDoc]

Originally Posted by MRG Dallas

Clippard-Rodekopf Motors 813-815 W. Lexington, which puts it on the s. side, between Union and River. A part of "Paradise" now paved with a parking lot (for all you J. Mitchell fans out there).

While the Church's expansion did clean up that area from an aesthetic point of view, it wiped out so much of the buildings that we remember there.

This photo was taken after they moved to Englewood in 1960 on the north side of Winner Road. Later it became just Rodekopf Motors, and moved again in 1974 to the "miracle mile".