Long ago on independence square (Liberty, Clinton: different, period, affect)

[WCHS'59]

From the Independence Examiner of 100 years ago this week in April:

"A little warning: We would like to urge the men who are talking about annexing Independence to Kansas City to study the matter over carefully, find out if annexation is possible; how it must be done; how long it will take; what effect it will have on the county seat; and in short, Independence would not like to wake up some morning to find that irreparable damage had been done with no resulting advantage. Let’s have some sane, careful effective information on the subject before going further."

[WCHS'59]

From the Independence Examiner of 50 years ago this week:

"The pre-Civil War colonial structure at 126 S. Pleasant St., which the First Christian Church has owned since 1961, will be razed to provide parking for the church. A letter from Howard Adams, chairman of the Jackson County Historical Sites Committee, said 'the loss of this house is only one more step towards making Independence another sterile, colorless metropolitan section.'”

Any of you fellows have a photo of 126 S. Pleasant St before it was a parking lot?

[Mad Anthonie]

Originally Posted by WCHS'59

From the Independence Examiner of 50 years ago this week:

"The pre-Civil War colonial structure at 126 S. Pleasant St., which the First Christian Church has owned since 1961, will be razed to provide parking for the church. A letter from Howard Adams, chairman of the Jackson County Historical Sites Committee, said 'the loss of this house is only one more step towards making Independence another sterile, colorless metropolitan section.'”

Any of you fellows have a photo of 126 S. Pleasant St before it was a parking lot?

I don't think I do, as that was a few years before I started taking photos. I don't think it is included in any of my collections either. However, if you squint just right it would be on the 1957 Jackson County Aerial photo!

[MRG Dallas]

Originally Posted by WCHS'59

From the Independence Examiner of 50 years ago this week:

"The pre-Civil War colonial structure at 126 S. Pleasant St., which the First Christian Church has owned since 1961, will be razed to provide parking for the church. A letter from Howard Adams, chairman of the Jackson County Historical Sites Committee, said 'the loss of this house is only one more step towards making Independence another sterile, colorless metropolitan section.'”

Any of you fellows have a photo of 126 S. Pleasant St before it was a parking lot?

I guess this is the church as presently constructed?


Postcard-First Christian Church..Independence,Missouri

EDIT: Actually the old church seems to look an awful like the present church. On its website there is a "church history" link from 1918 with a drawing of the proposed church building , a description and a list of some rather prominent Independence residents on the Building Committee

http://www.fccindepmo.org/storage/hi...churchplan.pdf

[MRG Dallas]

Ok my bad, I think I've got this figured out. The church in question at 126 S. Pleasant was across from the columned church, being where Kansas dead ends, and now the present day parking lot. For years then that building sat there until demolished in 1963 per WCHS's account.

The 1957 Aerial shows a small building on back to the west so presumably that is the old church, the rest of the property obscured by trees. Presumably this was part of the parking lot so reserved back then. Later the church building was torn down to provide additional parking for the newer church across Pleasant.

1957 Slide DL-4T-150 (far left bottom corner)

[WCHS'59]

Originally Posted by MRG Dallas

I guess this is the church as presently constructed?


Postcard-First Christian Church..Independence,Missouri

EDIT: Actually the old church seems to look an awful like the present church. On its website there is a "church history" link from 1918 with a drawing of the proposed church building , a description and a list of some rather prominent Independence residents on the Building Committee

http://www.fccindepmo.org/storage/hi...churchplan.pdf

I vaguely recall the parking lot controversy and I think the parking lot in question is just across the street from the church between the old folks apartments and the Masonic place. Parking lot does not look very wide but it is rather deep.

[MRG Dallas]

Originally Posted by WCHS'59

I vaguely recall the parking lot controversy and I think the parking lot in question is just across the street from the church between the old folks apartments and the Masonic place. Parking lot does not look very wide but it is rather deep.

Looks like my mea culpa crossed in the mail with your response

Streetview does give a pretty good look at the parking lot, and yes, it is deep. From the Aerial view, the church is quite a bit smaller (no surprise there) than the main church across the street. Looks like we might be out of luck finding a pic of the former.

[Mad Anthonie]

Originally Posted by MRG Dallas

Looks like my mea culpa crossed in the mail with your response

Streetview does give a pretty good look at the parking lot, and yes, it is deep. From the Aerial view, the church is quite a bit smaller (no surprise there) than the main church across the street. Looks like we might be out of luck finding a pic of the former.

Go back and view the 1868 Bird's Eye View of Independence that we discussed many pages ago. On it there is a structure at that location. If we knew the name of the family that lived there I might be able to find more.

[MRG Dallas]

Originally Posted by Mad Anthonie

Go back and view the 1868 Bird's Eye View of Independence that we discussed many pages ago. On it there is a structure at that location. If we knew the name of the family that lived there I might be able to find more.

Streetview and 1957 Aerial look like the old church was actually behind the Lodge building, as the property bent around "L" shaped to the north.

Also noticed in 1957 @ DL-4T-150 that 24 Hiway SC was being constructed (sounds about right) and while panning east, the Truman Library looks brand spankin shiny new. Which Wikipedia tells me it was, only 4 weeks from dedication. The photo is June 10 while the TL dedication was July 6 1957. With the Ruskin Heights tornado in May and the Library opening in July, these photos ironically capture two of the most newsworthy events of that year I will bet.

[MRG Dallas]

Was comparing the aerial photos and noticed several differences. DL was in business thru that time period as one can see the white wooden diving platform in the middle of the lake. However, in 1957 it pretty much looked like the plain Ol Swimming Hole, while by 1963 the "new and improved" version. Looks like more entry/exits (2 off Noland, still there judging by Streetview Google) and one connecting Liberty to the north. Also there looks to be a land bridge built to connect the main parcels (probably to house a picnic area). Google now shows that small portion of the lake (far NE part) to no longer exist. Probably was just filled in when the lake closed for business.

In fact, another look reveals the lake is alot smaller and lots of it was filled in apparently.


1957 DL-4T-152

1963 DL-2DD-062