Long ago on independence square (Raytown: sales, shops, plumbing)

[WCHS'59]

Close to Eaton, I also found something called "Independence Chute." One site describes it as a gut in Jackson County. Close to the chute was something called "Blue Mills Island."

[Major Tom 58]

http://www.kchsoc.org/cultural/boati..._encrypted.pdf

The above address lists steamboats that were active on the "Missouri" from 1865-1888. Tells of some of the fates of some boats.

[WCHS'59]

I have read that the steamboat Independence built in 1819 was the first steamboat to ply the Missouri River in 1819 but did not make it past Franklin before retreating to St Louis. It might have came back a few years later to land at Wayne City Landing, though.

The first steamboat to get past and go farther than the site of Independence was the Western Engineer also built in 1819 and also sailing in 1819. The steamer was part of a flotilla carrying 1100 US Army Troops on an expedition to the Yellowstone. The Western Engineer got only as far as the Platte River. Years ago, Fort Osage handed out literature with an illustration of the Western Engineer. It had paintings of huge snakes along each side of the boat so as to scare the Indians.



This is supposed to be the Western Engineer but does not show any snakes.



As an aside, the worst maritime disaster in US history was the explosion of the riverboat Sultana in April 1865; 1800 of 2400 passengers were killed when the boat blew up around Vicksburg, Mississippi.

[Mad Anthonie]

Here is a blast from the past. Name it for a great virtual prize!

[WCHS'59]

Originally Posted by Mad Anthonie

Here is a blast from the past. Name it for a great virtual prize!

Maybe Frandsen at Truman looking east?

[Mad Anthonie]

Originally Posted by WCHS'59

Maybe Frandsen at Truman looking east?

My, what an incredibly sharp memory you have! The building just edging in at the left is the store we had discussed a few months ago.

[WCHS'59]

Originally Posted by Mad Anthonie

My, what an incredibly sharp memory you have! The building just edging in at the left is the store we had discussed a few months ago.

The same corner today via Google Earth.

When that now gone place on the corner was a mom and pop grocery I never did stop there.

[WCHS'59]

Originally Posted by Mad Anthonie

My, what an incredibly sharp memory you have!

I cannot remember where I went yesterday or why I came in here......

[Mad Anthonie]

Where?

[WCHS'59]

Originally Posted by WCHS'59

I am searching my ram.

Now that you mention it, I think I and my Dickinson Road sweetie went to a Railroad hobby shop that might have been on Railroad Street in Raytown. I cannot recall the name of it and I was only there one time. This guy specialized in railroad stuff. Spotlight Railroad? Maybe that was on Troost, though. Redball Railroad? Cannot recall.

Here is a Google Earth shot of the former RR hobby shop.

It is half a block away from where the Raytown depot would have been on Railroad Street. I do not recall seeing the depot at the time I went to the hobby shop.


The little area in front was the sales area. This guy was in business for dyed in the wool RR hobbiests who liked to model from scratch. He advertised in Model Railroader or Railroad Model Craftsman, or both, and was one of only a handful of scratch railroad hobby shops in the KC area at the time.

I purchased something but cannot recall what it was. This place has probably been closed for years and years.