Long ago on independence square (Kansas City, Lee's Summit: identification, mountains, home)

[WCHS'59]

Originally Posted by Mad Anthonie

What can you identify in this view from 1957?

Looks to be US 71 Bypass passing over Truman Road with the more extensive rail system along Truman Road of that time. However, that access road from Truman up to the bypass looks a little flaky to me, chuckle. Stewart Sand and Gravel would be in the vicinity of the rail car siding to the west of the bridge.

[Mad Anthonie]

Originally Posted by WCHS'59

Looks to be US 71 Bypass passing over Truman Road with the more extensive rail system along Truman Road of that time. However, that access road from Truman up to the bypass looks a little flaky to me, chuckle. Stewart Sand and Gravel would be in the vicinity of the rail car siding to the west of the bridge.

Well, I wanted this Monday morning quiz to be easy, but I was hoping for at least one wrong answer before the correct one!

[WCHS'59]

I don't remember the access from Truman road to the bypass as being that straight.

There is a "path" to the east of the access ramp up to US 71 bypass. That looks more like the roadway that I remember taking.

This is a 1957 view and I started driving in the fall of that year so not sure what the situation is, chuckle.

[WCHS'59]

Originally Posted by 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.

Robert L. McBride.


In addition to the above schools, he also built DeKalb and Wachter. He also built the First Christian Church at Pleasant and Kansas.


He built the Home Deposit Trust Company on west Lexington which was where the stubby building immediately east of the Bank of America high rise is today.


He was also the architect but not the builder of the city hall at Kansas and Main.


He was supposed to have built over 100 homes in Independence with the first being across the street from the original Bryant School.


He attended Woodlawn College in Independence and an architect school in St Louis.

[Mad Anthonie]

Originally Posted by WCHS'59

Robert L. McBride.


In addition to the above schools, he also built DeKalb and Wachter. He also built the First Christian Church at Pleasant and Kansas.


He built the Home Deposit Trust Company on west Lexington which was where the stubby building immediately east of the Bank of America high rise is today.


He was also the architect but not the builder of the city hall at Kansas and Main.


He was supposed to have built over 100 homes in Independence with the first being across the street from the original Bryant School.


He attended Woodlawn College in Independence and an architect school in St Louis.

Woodlawn College occupied the same site as Bryant School.

[WCHS'59]

So the story goes:


What famous individual, as a sixteen year old youngster, came to Independence on a mule from St Louis to be with his brothers--only to be told to go back home where he belonged. The brothers had set him up to be a saddle maker apprentice in St Louis and they were not happy to see him as they were preparing to go to Santa Fe.

He left Independence as directed but a few miles out of town he got off his mule and supposedly headed his mule in the direction of St. Louis and then overtook another wagon train headed for Santa Fe on foot. He convinced the wagon master to take him on convincing him that he was a straight shooter.

He subsequently became one of the most famous men of the west becoming a mountain man fur trapper and guide, sheep rancher, Indian agent, and army officer ultimately becoming a brigadier general. He died at the early age of 60 having married three women and siring ten kids.

[WCHS'59]

Two men from Kentucky came to Independence, Mo, and in 1869, opened this place on 7.5 acres at Waldo and Union with a total outlay of $17-19,000. What was it?

[Mad Anthonie]

Originally Posted by WCHS'59

Two men from Kentucky came to Independence, Mo, and in 1869, opened this place on 7.5 acres at Waldo and Union with a total outlay of $17-19,000. What was it?

Something discussed very recently, I suspect!

[wchs61]

Originally Posted by WCHS'59

So the story goes:


What famous individual, as a sixteen year old youngster, came to Independence on a mule from St Louis to be with his brothers--only to be told to go back home where he belonged. The brothers had set him up to be a saddle maker apprentice in St Louis and they were not happy to see him as they were preparing to go to Santa Fe.

He left Independence as directed but a few miles out of town he got off his mule and supposedly headed his mule in the direction of St. Louis and then overtook another wagon train headed for Santa Fe on foot. He convinced the wagon master to take him on convincing him that he was a straight shooter.

He subsequently became one of the most famous men of the west becoming a mountain man fur trapper and guide, sheep rancher, Indian agent, and army officer ultimately becoming a brigadier general. He died at the early age of 60 having married three women and siring ten kids.

Kit Carson

[WCHS'59]

Originally Posted by wchs61

Kit Carson

Good show.


Kit Carson (1809-1868) is the correct answer. This information comes generally from Webb’s Centennial History of Independence, but there is a disconnect. He says only that Carson came to Independence at a young age. He had been orphaned at age nine and had to work which prevented him from having the proper schooling.


One web site says Carson left St Louis at age 16. Another says 14. If he had come this way at either of those ages Independence would not have yet been in existence. So it would appear that Carson actually arrived at either Franklin or possibly Ft Osage before heading on to Santa Fe. If he came this way at a later age when Independence was in existence, there probably would have been no reason for the brothers to tell him to go back home.


At any rate Christopher Houston found his way into the west.