Long ago on independence square (Country Club: neighborhood, subdivisions, club)

[Major Tom 58]

Originally Posted by Mad Anthonie

Good Monday morning! Here is a trivia quiz to help you clear your mind.

Identify this facility, this view is from 1990.

I'm thinking that is/was the Allis-Chalmers site.

[Mad Anthonie]

Originally Posted by Major Tom 58

I'm thinking that is/was the Allis-Chalmers site.

I'm thinking you are correct. It is also the proposed site for a fairgrounds that would be used for Santa-Cali-Gon. I personally think that would be a bad move, but TPTB haven't called me yet.

[WCHS'59]

Originally Posted by WCHS'59

Believed to be the oldest west of the Mississippi River. After all this time I dont know why they would not know that it is the oldest so I will stick my head out and say it is the oldest west of the Mississippi.

it was also the only one between the west Missouri line and the Pacific Ocean.

Christian Ott owned the lot and the building and offered it to the City of Independence, but the city sat on the offer for a long time taking no action.


Ott decided to offer the building to Jackson County. Jackson County, in turn, offered it to the Kansas City Parks Commission who consented and intended to move the building to Swope Park.



The county action sparked the city of Independence to immediately pass an ordinance authorizing the move of the building to west Kansas Street. The site at Lynn and Lexington eventually became a freight haul building for Inter-City Freight Lines. Today, it is a parking lot.

Seventeen years after the move and after refurbishment, Harry Truman moved his office there during reconstruction of the Independence courthouse--probably more a publicity stunt than anything else.

The answer is the 1827 Jackson County Courthouse, which in this photo was a private residence and may have been added on to and altered in some way before being moved and restored.


Even today, a good portion of the old building is covered in white clapboard siding. Not sure why.

Original cost estimated at $175 by county but came in at $150. Built by slave labor.

[WCHS'59]

Just a reminder of what that mountainous state of Missouri looked like before Jackson County came about--the straight north-south western state border was in effect for 17 years after statehood.


Lillard County became Lafayette County in February 1825 and then Jackson County was broken off and created in December 1826. And Independence came along in March 1827.

[WCHS'59]

For informational purposes, the highest mountain in the state of Missouri is Taum Sauk mountain in the southeast of the state at 1,772 feet.

The highest mountain in Kansas is Mount Sunflower at 4,039 feet in the western part of the state.

[WCHS'59]

Originally Posted by WCHS'59

Just a reminder of what that mountainous state of Missouri looked like before Jackson County came about--the straight north-south western state border was in effect for 17 years after statehood.


Lillard County became Lafayette County in February 1825 and then Jackson County was broken off and created in December 1826. And Independence came along in March 1827.

In 1837, when the Platte purchase was added to northwest Missouri by taking 3,150 square miles from Kanzas, Missouri became the largest state in the Union, area wise.

[Mad Anthonie]

In 1960 Independence had only 30 acres, divided in 2 parcels, that were dedicated to a specific purpose that is today considered rather important. What purpose is that?

[WCHS'59]

Originally Posted by Mad Anthonie

In 1960 Independence had only 30 acres, divided in 2 parcels, that were dedicated to a specific purpose that is today considered rather important. What purpose is that?

Parks?

[Mad Anthonie]

Originally Posted by WCHS'59

Parks?

Well, that was supposed to be hard! Now you have to name them!

[WCHS'59]

Originally Posted by Mad Anthonie

Well, that was supposed to be hard! Now you have to name them!

Slover and perhaps Mill Creek.