Long ago on independence square (Kansas City, Sedalia: subdivision, train, automobile)

[WCHS'59]

Kansas City Times, December 15, 1953.

This date would have been when I was in seventh grade at Independence Junior High.

[pearjas]

You guys are so good I thought you might know off the top of your head! I can definitely check into it more. I did go by there yesterday, and I did not see where it said these words on the building. So the person might have been mistaken, unless I just happened to miss it, but I looked pretty good!

Originally Posted by WCHS'59

Have not been able to find anything concerning the location of a morgue at that location in any of the Sanborn maps. Apparently, no mention of an Independence city morgue in any of the old Kansas City Journal or Kansas City Times issues. Kansas City, though, was trying to establish a city morgue in the early 1900s.

In 1909, Thomas Swope (Swope murders) was taken to Ott’s Furniture store where there was apparently a mortuary in the basement. No address mentioned for the furniture store.

[WCHS'59]

Where was Elm Park?

It had its own train station.

[Mad Anthonie]

Originally Posted by WCHS'59

Where was Elm Park?

It had its own train station.

Was it between Oak Park and Walnut Park?

[WCHS'59]

Originally Posted by Mad Anthonie

Was it between Oak Park and Walnut Park?

Here is a hint. It was served by the Missouri Pacific RR.

[WCHS'59]

Originally Posted by WCHS'59

Have not been able to find anything concerning the location of a morgue at that location in any of the Sanborn maps. Apparently, no mention of an Independence city morgue in any of the old Kansas City Journal or Kansas City Times issues. Kansas City, though, was trying to establish a city morgue in the early 1900s.

In 1909, Thomas Swope (Swope murders) was taken to Ott’s Furniture store where there was apparently a mortuary in the basement. No address mentioned for the furniture store.

Ott's Furniture was a three story building on the northeast corner of Main and Maple that occupied a portion of what is now the Emporium. It had a morgue and undertaking in the basement, probably accessed by a Lynn Street entrance.

Tucker Furniture later occupied the building before moving over to the 200-west block of Lexington. Save-Mor drug store seems to have then went into the building.

The building burned in 1949. The S.S. Kresge dime then rebuilt the building integrating it into their existing store just to the south on Main that abutted Bundschu's department store.

[Mad Anthonie]

Originally Posted by WCHS'59

Here is a hint. It was served by the Missouri Pacific RR.

Would that be the name for the "temporary" depot at Liberty & Short?

[WCHS'59]

Originally Posted by Mad Anthonie

Would that be the name for the "temporary" depot at Liberty & Short?

No.

One newspaper printed that it was three miles east of Independence.

However, another newspaper printed that it was four to five miles west of Independence.

I question both those descriptions, though.

It definitely was in Blue Township and was being considered by one newspaper report to become a designated polling place, apparently because of population growth in the area.

[WCHS'59]

I see where the former Rockwood Country Club has been purchased by the city for another solar farm and open space to boot.

Elm Park was about 2.5 miles, as the crow flies, from the area of this new proposed solar farm.

[Mad Anthonie]

Originally Posted by WCHS'59

No.

One newspaper printed that it was three miles east of Independence.

However, another newspaper printed that it was four to five miles west of Independence.

I question both those descriptions, though.

It definitely was in Blue Township and was being considered by one newspaper report to become a designated polling place, apparently because of population growth in the area.

I haven't found it on any of my old maps yet. What time-frame does it appear in?