Long ago on independence square (Kansas City, Rea: nurseries, sale, real estate)

[CaseyMO]

Originally Posted by Major Tom 58

It may have already been stated here somewhere in previous postings, but I think Country Club was a golf course at one time which I assume is how it came to be named. I recall talking to a lady whose yard backed up to the park and I seem to remember her saying something about horses being there at one time or another. I can't recall the conversation clearly enough to elaborate on this. What I do clearly recall are the trees there on the grounds; they're huge! Both in diameter as well as height. Don't know what kind of tree they are.

MADMan, no offense intended to the Major, but do the words "I think" constitute proof that a golf course was actually there.
Interestingly, since the Major mentioned the woman talking about horses, one believes it was a farm prior to homes developing there. Sometimes, I think it is pretty difficult to uncover exactly what the truth is.

[MRG Dallas]

I was thinking just the other night of another regular contributor to this forum that I haven’t seen in a while

I believe I was thinking about Major Tom, although the name had escaped me

His last post was in March 2016

[gggram]

["Next at 209 was Royal Recreation, which if (means "is") probably the two-toned horizontal sign at the far left."]

I can't see which photo is being referenced, but since no comment was made about the above, it was a pool hall where the "nice" girls scurried past with eyes downcast so as not to see the locals that hung out in the smokey, dim-lit room. My cousin, a decade older than me, knew it well!

[gggram]

[quote=WCHS'59;26107357]On the southwest corner of Noland and US highway 24 across from the A&W was a used car lot (one is still there). I think back in the really old days the sales shack was a service station.

As a used car lot, that "sales shack" was a Dairy Queen, but never a service station. 24 Hiway frontage between Noland and Lynn, I lived on N. Lynn, so am well familiar with that corner. I remember when the hi-loaders and dump trucks were there scooping out the dirt to level it with 24 hiway. An alley ran between the two N/S streets and we neighborhood kids would ride our bikes down the alley to the DQ. You can see the plot is much lower than the banks on the west and south. However, where the 2 banks of soil met at the back corner of the lot, we began making our own "dare-devil" path from the higher alleyway to the lower parking area. Riding our bikes down that treacherous corner path was a sign of bravery! Today a mapsview shows the corner not much higher than the roof of a vehicle and concrete steps now block a path for potential and continued shows of bravery. But it was thrilling to be hurtling headfirst on a Western Flyer bicycle.

Even before it became a DQ, the location was host to one entrance of an underground passage leading to the opposite corner so that grade school children living south of 24 hiway did not have to cross the busy hiway to get to Ott grade school. Although fenced, gated, and locked during non-school hours, I believe it remained a viable passageway until filled in sometime in the mid 60s.

To clear up any misconception regarding the A&W 2-story building facing 24 between Noland and Main, the 2nd story was originally living quarters for the owner. We attended the same church. Facing 24 on the North side between Lynn and Main was a small grocery store whose owner also attended the same church. On maps it appears as a green "Cash" brick building but , or it may have by now been cleared out lik many of the homes on Lynn and Main that been demolished to half a block north of the highway. There's not a lot I can't tell you regarding that area in the 40s and 50s.

[Mad Anthonie]

Welcome to Old Independence GGGram! We certainly welcome your memories of our favorite hometown. I was not aware (or at least I don't remember that I was aware) that DQ used to be there. Do you recall its approximate years of operation?

[CaseyMO]

Originally Posted by gggram

["Next at 209 was Royal Recreation, which if (means "is") probably the two-toned horizontal sign at the far left."]

I can't see which photo is being referenced, but since no comment was made about the above, it was a pool hall where the "nice" girls scurried past with eyes downcast so as not to see the locals that hung out in the smokey, dim-lit room. My cousin, a decade older than me, knew it well!

I have heard about the pool hall, but I cannot recall it. I used to spend a fair amount of time at Gateway Sporting Goods and Katz, but this place has just left a blank spot in my mind.

[CaseyMO]

[quote=gggram;61596814]

Originally Posted by WCHS'59

On the southwest corner of Noland and US highway 24 across from the A&W was a used car lot (one is still there). I think back in the really old days the sales shack was a service station.

As a used car lot, that "sales shack" was a Dairy Queen, but never a service station. 24 Hiway frontage between Noland and Lynn, I lived on N. Lynn, so am well familiar with that corner. I remember when the hi-loaders and dump trucks were there scooping out the dirt to level it with 24 hiway. An alley ran between the two N/S streets and we neighborhood kids would ride our bikes down the alley to the DQ. You can see the plot is much lower than the banks on the west and south. However, where the 2 banks of soil met at the back corner of the lot, we began making our own "dare-devil" path from the higher alleyway to the lower parking area. Riding our bikes down that treacherous corner path was a sign of bravery! Today a mapsview shows the corner not much higher than the roof of a vehicle and concrete steps now block a path for potential and continued shows of bravery. But it was thrilling to be hurtling headfirst on a Western Flyer bicycle.

Even before it became a DQ, the location was host to one entrance of an underground passage leading to the opposite corner so that grade school children living south of 24 hiway did not have to cross the busy hiway to get to Ott grade school. Although fenced, gated, and locked during non-school hours, I believe it remained a viable passageway until filled in sometime in the mid 60s.

To clear up any misconception regarding the A&W 2-story building facing 24 between Noland and Main, the 2nd story was originally living quarters for the owner. We attended the same church. Facing 24 on the North side between Lynn and Main was a small grocery store whose owner also attended the same church. On maps it appears as a green "Cash" brick building but , or it may have by now been cleared out lik many of the homes on Lynn and Main that been demolished to half a block north of the highway. There's not a lot I can't tell you regarding that area in the 40s and 50s.

I remember the A&W on the NW corner of Hiway 24 and Noland, but I cannot recall anything else on any of the corners. I thought there were houses on the SW & SE corners, but that appears to not be true. I remember a Safeway Store on Hiway 24 & Liberty, but that may have arrived there in the 1960s. In 1962-1963, I had a friend that lived at 100 W. Moore Street. That has now been turned into a museum. And the museum is not for Ken Starr.

I hope you return gggram.

[dmouse]

The Safeway on 24 hwy is now the motorcycle place, right?

[CaseyMO]

Originally Posted by dmouse

The Safeway on 24 hwy is now the motorcycle place, right?

I am not sure. I know it has not been a Safeway for many years.

[Mad Anthonie]

Originally Posted by dmouse

The Safeway on 24 hwy is now the motorcycle place, right?

For many years it was Unclaimed Freight, but the last time I was up that way (last year) it was a motorcycle shop.