Long ago on independence square (St. Louis, Union: city hall, homes, high school)

[Mad Anthonie]

Originally Posted by WCHS'59

I was not alive then, chuckle.

No, but interesting.

The 1859 Jail cell slabs came from a quarry on Rock Creek, so they must not have known anything about any potential rock on Pacific.

Seems like there would be some evidence of a former operation, today. Maybe it did not pan out like they thought it would.

In that stretch of Pacific there is a portion of limestone outcropping along the north ROW. Perhaps the operation closed in just a few short years.

[MRG Dallas]

Originally Posted by Mad Anthonie

Today's Examiner's 100 years ago column mentions the opening of the city quarry. It was on Pacific between Pleasant and River. Do any of have any recollection of such an operation there?

Damn, we're not THAT old!

[WCHS'59]

The structure was large and was built by an Irish immigrant who was a prosperous cattle dealer and was a name in the coal business. He later became an Independence city councilman.

This building was not the only one in town but it was advantageously constructed away from the others.

Erection was in 1865 with mortis and tenon and pin carpentry. An addition was added in the 1880s.

By 1930, the original usefulness of the building declined and the RLDS church purchased the structure.

For a short time the church used the building for its members—and perhaps others—but four years before I was born, the building was torn down.

What was this building?

[MRG Dallas]

Originally Posted by WCHS'59

Archbishop O'Hara it was, chuckle.

Can you confirm there was advertising billboards around the outfield and the netting along 51st and Swope Parkway. From the outside looking in, my opinion was that this would have made a good minor league field.

When did you last attend a game there?

I can't recall the screen but the guys at that age were fully capable of hitting over 300 ft so it wouldn't surprise me.

Not sure also about the billboards but again, that wouldn't surprise me. I do remember teams like Feld Chevrolet, Katz, and Western Auto being long time sponsors. If you Google "O'Hara Stadium Ban Johnson Kansas City" it will bring up excerpts from Newspapers.com re KC Star which would publish schedules, box scores and standings on a frequent basis.

I am in occasion contact with a couple of WA ex players. I'll test their memories to see if the billboards and screens were there. I know I was at O'Hara many times in 1967 and probably 68 as well. Over the decades I had forgotten it was just down 50 from 3&2. I can picture sitting in the stands but not the details although I do remember it as a neat place to play ball. Dugouts and fences were pretty cool things to have and not many places had them.

[Mad Anthonie]

Originally Posted by WCHS'59

The structure was large and was built by an Irish immigrant who was a prosperous cattle dealer and was a name in the coal business. He later became an Independence city councilman.

This building was not the only one in town but it was advantageously constructed away from the others.

Erection was in 1865 with mortis and tenon and pin carpentry. An addition was added in the 1880s.

By 1930, the original usefulness of the building declined and the RLDS church purchased the structure.

For a short time the church used the building for its members—and perhaps others—but four years before I was born, the building was torn down.

What was this building?

The Pacific Hotel next to the Missouri Pacific Depot?

[WCHS'59]

Originally Posted by Mad Anthonie

The Pacific Hotel next to the Missouri Pacific Depot?

Yes. According to Pearl Wilcox it was two stories built in 1865 but looking on the 1868 Bird's eye view of Independence, I did not see it.

The RLDS used it to house homeless people until 1937.

[WCHS'59]

He and his company built Bryant, McCoy, and Benton grade schools in addition to the first school in Sugar Creek, and the Grain Valley high school.

[Mad Anthonie]

Originally Posted by WCHS'59

Yes. According to Pearl Wilcox it was two stories built in 1865 but looking on the 1868 Bird's eye view of Independence, I did not see it.

The RLDS used it to house homeless people until 1937.

The 1879 C&A Depot has several furniture pieces from the Pacific Hotel.

[Mad Anthonie]

Originally Posted by WCHS'59

Yes. According to Pearl Wilcox it was two stories built in 1865 but looking on the 1868 Bird's eye view of Independence, I did not see it.

The RLDS used it to house homeless people until 1937.

The Bird's eye view does have a cluster of buildings in the Depot area, but I suspect some artistic license came into play.



Here is how Sanborn shows the relationship of building locations in 1892.

[Mad Anthonie]

What can you identify in this view from 1957?