Long ago on independence square (Liberty, Lexington: how much, garden, moving)

[Mad Anthonie]

Originally Posted by WCHS'59

I will start it out with:

Cable Chevrolet, on north Main, east side, although he might have relocated to Noland by this time.

Fire Station on north Main, east side

Montgomery Buick Dealer on west side across from fire station on north Main, although he might have moved also.

Furniture dealer, perhaps Wyandotte, on north Liberty, east side.

Eudora's, on east side north Main.

Old county jail on east side, north Main.

Slusher's Shoes on west side north Liberty.

Jackson County Driver's License, west side north Liberty.

Church where Margaret Truman was married, east side north Liberty.

Ott & Mitchell funeral home on north Main, west side.

Without consulting Polk's I can't come up with any others.

[Mad Anthonie]

Where and what was the Eco-Depot? It is related to something we have discussed this year, and probably in past years.

[Mad Anthonie]

Originally Posted by Mad Anthonie

Where and what was the Eco-Depot? It is related to something we have discussed this year, and probably in past years.

It operated from 1972 until 1975.

[Mad Anthonie]

Originally Posted by Mad Anthonie

Where and what was the Eco-Depot? It is related to something we have discussed this year, and probably in past years.

Originally Posted by Mad Anthonie

It operated from 1972 until 1975.

The Eco-Depot was operated by the Van Horn HS Ecology Club. It was located in Fairmount, using one rail car leftover from the former railroad museum. It was a recycling drop-off Depot.

[WCHS'59]

Off from Independence to see the elephant.

The Captain of a wagon train was referred to as the "wagon master."

How did the Captain of a large moving wagon train compact the size of the train for better control?

Why were the front wheels of a settler's wagon smaller than the rear wheels?

How much weight could a typical wagon hold?

Why did settler's usually walk along side their wagons?

In large trains, how did the Captain insure that the entire train was up at the proper time?

[WCHS'59]

From today's Examiner concerning fifty years ago this week:

"Missouri mules may not be a plentiful as they were, but Ike Johnson, 71, still finds work for his teams in and around Independence. Johnson recalls using a team of mules to excavate basements for The Examiner and the old Masonic building."


The article seems to be referring to The Examiner building at 321 w Lexington. The Examiner started at 206 west Maple, which was destroyed by fire. The paper then moved to Osage and Lexington on the northeast corner, and then to 321 West Lexington.

I only recall the Examiner being at 321 W Lexington and not at Osage and Lexington--that building was ripped out in the 70s. If Johnson was 71 in 1966, fifty years prior would be 1916, the earliest time he probably could have dug basements.

The building on west Lexington is probably the one being referred to. That building was old enough that it was given a complete rehab in the mid to late 50s.

At some point, the paper moved to 410 s Liberty near the former Missouri Pacific depot serving the Lexington Branch.

The Masonic Building was in existence in early 1928 when the Bundschu Department store moved its goods there while their new fireproof store with an elevator was completed late that same year.

[Mad Anthonie]

Originally Posted by WCHS'59

Why did settler's usually walk along side their wagons?

All of their possessions filled the wagon. Only sick or injured persons had the luxury of riding.

[pearjas]

Wow, that's an awesome overhead view! They are coming along in the construction. There's never a time during the day I don't see them working on it.

Originally Posted by WCHS'59

Here is a view as of March 27.

If those places are three stories, ouch!

The detached garages would be another drawback.

The housing market here in the Denver area has gone wild. If those units were offered here, they would all be sold within a day of the announcement and with people outbidding each other above the asking price. I was told that the market here has been fueled by people who want legal access to pot.

[WCHS'59]

Originally Posted by Mad Anthonie

All of their possessions filled the wagon. Only sick or injured persons had the luxury of riding.

There seems to be a hodgepodge of reasons for walking, but my main source says that the primary reason for walking was that a wagon provided too bumpy of a ride to be comfortable for any length of time. The ride must have been barely tolerable for a sick person.

This same source says that each wagon in a train had a mattress (probably homemade with straw or goose down fill) that was reserved for husband and wife, the sick or the very young. Most kids slept outside under the wagon, under the stars, or in a tent brought along for the occasion.

Other sources indicate many wagons were built without seats, particularly those that were to be pulled by oxen. The driver always walked and was stationed to the left of the lead ox using one short rope attached through a nose ring along with voice commands for control. The oxen would mimic the pace of the driver.

Others say some wagons had seats but they were not sprung, whiles others say some wagons had seats with springs that were for sitting.

Others say the wagon was too filled to provide any room for anyone to ride.

Riding passengers, particularly children, were ordered for safety reasons not to jump on or off a wagon while it was moving. The overall central theme of a wagon train was “KEEP MOVING!” and the oxen drivers did not want to stop each time someone decided they wanted to get on or off.

[Mad Anthonie]

Where and what was this location, as seen in 1957?