Long ago on independence square (Kansas City, Raytown: marriage, house, high school)

[WCHS'59]

Originally Posted by wchs61

You are correct, it was a 1953 Nash, and the car on the other side of the Chevy is a 1951 Nash. The 51 (AKA upside down bathtub) was a 3 speed column shift that was supposed to be my dad's fishing car but was mine mainly after I turned 16 and got my license. I took my drivers test on my 16th birthday in that 51 Nash. Barely passed the driving test with a 72 (70 was passing). My dad dropped me and the car off at the DMV (or whatever they were called back then) in Independence while he took a bus to work in KC. I guess I would've had to hitchhike home if I flunked. Most, if not all, of the Nash's front seats would fold all the way down flat for sleeping. The 51's passenger side broke and wouldn't stay up so I put a rock under the seat to keep it up. I took a girl to the highway 40 drive-in and the rock broke during the movie and she flopped down. I had a hard time convincing her that I hadn't planned for that to happen.

I don't remember 71 bypass being called zero highway, but I do remember the rough entrance road. I used to sit under the bridge and listen to the cars passing overhead.

Were you familiar with the roller coaster seven hills? It was further east past 7 Highway off Truman or FF highway.

The driver testing place was on Liberty Street about two blocks north of Truman. I scored 74 on the driving test. I think the state patrolman doing the judging was biased against snot nosed kids starting out to drive. I was warned that by other WCHS folks who went before me. He gave me my score before he started berating me for my driving sins. I just sat there and said "yes sir" and "no sir" but felt good because I passed. The lady who started this Independence thread said all she had to do was pay $2 and she had a license. This would have been around '51 or '52 I am guessing.

You might remember the dangerous narrow bridge off Truman going up what was then called Kiger Road going south towards 23rd Street.

[WCHS'59]

Just this side of the photo with the two Nash cars, was a mom and pop grocery store sitting on the north side of Truman.

[MRG Dallas]

Originally Posted by Mad Anthonie

A couple of additional views of 1904:

This one is for MRG Dallas...




And this one for the new "kid", showing the area east of M-291...

Also, it looks like this is in the area of N. Ferguson Springs Rd, which I traversed looking for remnants of Peacedale. Can you confirm, Dr. Mapp?

[MRG Dallas]

Originally Posted by WCHS'59

A 1957 Chevy and a Nash Ambassador (could be an early Nash Rambler, though)--what a combination. It looks like a Nash on the other side of the Chevy, also.

At the bridge this side going up to left was the bone jarring automobile path that went from Truman up to 71-Bypass or zero highway. I am not sure when zero highway became 71 Bypass.

I recall the strip being painted for drag on M-78 or 23rd. A strip on Pink Hill Road was also painted for drag.

That Little Nash Rambler (Beep! Beep!)

[Mad Anthonie]

Originally Posted by WCHS'59

You might remember the dangerous narrow bridge off Truman going up what was then called Kiger Road going south towards 23rd Street.

For WCHS '61, I posted a long series of photos covering Truman Road, M-291, Noland, Kiger, Lee's Summit, and possibly others as they appeared in the early 1980s before widening projects. They begin fairly early in this thread, maybe around page 100 +-80.

Originally Posted by MRG Dallas

Also, it looks like this is in the area of N. Ferguson Springs Rd, which I traversed looking for remnants of Peacedale. Can you confirm, Dr. Mapp?

Confirmed, it is the same piece of property we discussed during your visit.

[Mad Anthonie]

For the new guy, this is how your neighborhood looked in 1963.



Soon I'll have a view from 1957...

[Mad Anthonie]

It is soon already! Your 'hood in 1957. I think I see you in the yard...

[wchs61]

Originally Posted by WCHS'59

Were you familiar with the roller coaster seven hills? It was further east past 7 Highway off Truman or FF highway.

The driver testing place was on Liberty Street about two blocks north of Truman. I scored 74 on the driving test. I think the state patrolman doing the judging was biased against snot nosed kids starting out to drive. I was warned that by other WCHS folks who went before me. He gave me my score before he started berating me for my driving sins. I just sat there and said "yes sir" and "no sir" but felt good because I passed. The lady who started this Independence thread said all she had to do was pay $2 and she had a license. This would have been around '51 or '52 I am guessing.

You might remember the dangerous narrow bridge off Truman going up what was then called Kiger Road going south towards 23rd Street.

Yes I remember the roller coaster 7 hills. As I recall the speed limit was 70 going over those hills. Fun... There was a grocery store right next to the turnoff to the "hills" as I recall but it's long since gone.

Yes I remember that bridge. There was another bridge over a creek or something about 1/2 mile west of Kiger road on Truman Road heading toward Independence. I think I remember a kid getting killed there in a car wreck in the late 50's or early 60's while I was still in school.

[wchs61]

Originally Posted by Mad Anthonie

It is soon already! Your 'hood in 1957. I think I see you in the yard...

You do see me! Yep that's definitely my place. That white area west of my place was where the rock crusher would store piles of gravel for later loading on the freight train. I used to play in those piles.

[wchs61]

[quote=Mad Anthonie;37723297]For WCHS '61, I posted a long series of photos covering Truman Road, M-291, Noland, Kiger, Lee's Summit, and possibly others as they appeared in the early 1980s before widening projects. They begin fairly early in this thread, maybe around page 100 +-80.



I'll search back and take a look.