Long ago on independence square (Jackson, Lexington: cabins, repairing, agent)

[WCHS'59]

Good going MRG.

I still cannot picture that particular spot on M-291 in my mind. The widened M-291 went just to the east of that spot and the bridge is gone and the road closed--from Courtney anyway.

[Mad Anthonie]

Originally Posted by WCHS'59

Good going MRG.

I still cannot picture that particular spot on M-291 in my mind. The widened M-291 went just to the east of that spot and the bridge is gone and the road closed--from Courtney anyway.

Perhaps this will help.

Bing Maps - Driving Directions, Traffic and Road Conditions


This view was taken just across the street from the previous one, still looking south.

[Mad Anthonie]

Originally Posted by Mad Anthonie

WE HAVE A WINNER!!!!

For extra credit answer these questions:

Where does M-291 cross Mill Creek?


Name the 5 parks the creek traverses.

Originally Posted by MRG Dallas

@ Courtney Rd

NOT Mill Creek Park

Mill Creek originates from one of the old springs of Independence, long since covered over. It emerges from a tube in the SE corner of McCoy Park at College & Spring. It then meanders through Slover Park (just west of the Truman Library), Mill Creek Park, the River Bluff Nature Preserve, and then empties into the Mighty Mo at the eastern end of La Benite Park.

[WCHS'59]

This view I can identify with. At this intersection location, there were once several business buildings. It was a busy corner. This would have been back in the US 71 By Pass days. By the late fifties, this area had began to die out.

M-291 to Courtney Road and then north to Atherton Road was my favorite way to go to Fort Osage. I enjoyed going the back way rather than the easy way along US 24 to Buckner and then a short jog north. Nowadays, the Courtney-Atherton way is blocked because the rickety wood bridge over the tracks east of Atherton was torn out several years ago.

One can still use Courtney Road to get to Fort Osage, though, by hitting Blue Mills road.






This view I still have a hard time mentally fitting M-291 into.

[Mad Anthonie]

Originally Posted by WCHS'59

This view I can identify with. At this intersection location, there were once several business buildings. It was a busy corner. This would have been back in the US 71 By Pass days. By the late fifties, this area had began to die out.

M-291 to Courtney Road and then north to Atherton Road was my favorite way to go to Fort Osage. I enjoyed going the back way rather than the easy way along US 24 to Buckner and then a short jog north. Nowadays, the Courtney-Atherton way is blocked because the rickety wood bridge over the tracks east of Atherton was torn out several years ago.

One can still use Courtney Road to get to Fort Osage, though, by hitting Blue Mills road.






This view I still have a hard time mentally fitting M-291 into.

The second view was taken standing next to the billboard in the first view.

[WCHS'59]

Originally Posted by WCHS'59

One can still use Courtney Road to get to Fort Osage, though, by hitting Blue Mills road.

Somewhere on the Courtney road to Blue Mills road to Sibley route, there was a lone tavern sitting on the north side of the road. It seemed to be way out in the middle of nowhere, although I think the owners lived behind it. I always wondered how it could do any business being in such a desolate area.

It also seemed out of place because the long side wall of the building, as I recall, was right along side the ditch paralleling the roadway. There was a very small gravel parking lot. Last time I drove Blue Mills road, a couple years ago, the area was not so desolate and I could not find that place. However, I had no sense of exactly where it was.

[MRG Dallas]

Originally Posted by WCHS'59

Somewhere on the Courtney road to Blue Mills road to Sibley route, there was a lone tavern sitting on the north side of the road. It seemed to be way out in the middle of nowhere, although I think the owners lived behind it. I always wondered how it could do any business being in such a desolate area.

It also seemed out of place because the long side wall of the building, as I recall, was right along side the ditch paralleling the roadway. There was a very small gravel parking lot. Last time I drove Blue Mills road, a couple years ago, the area was not so desolate and I could not find that place. However, I had no sense of exactly where it was.

Couldn't find that (not that I expected to since it was out of the City Limits, but a perusal of "Taverns" circa 1957 shows 16 of 28 establishments having "(PO KCMO) or (PO Sugar Creek)" after their addresses. Truman, Winner, US 24, N. Sterling. No doubt many a thirsty gentleman from Standard Oil or Sheffield stopping by after work

[Mad Anthonie]

Originally Posted by MRG Dallas

Couldn't find that (not that I expected to since it was out of the City Limits, but a perusal of "Taverns" circa 1957 shows 16 of 28 establishments having "(PO KCMO) or (PO Sugar Creek)" after their addresses. Truman, Winner, US 24, N. Sterling. No doubt many a thirsty gentleman from Standard Oil or Sheffield stopping by after work

Many of the wilder taverns were located outside of town, to take advantage of looser laws in the county coupled with fewer officers to enforce them. Before the 1960 annexation Fairmount and Mount Washington were rather rough places to get a drink. It took the city many years after annexation to clean them up. Even in my PD days in the 1970s there were still many a rough club down that way. Most are long gone.

[WCHS'59]

Originally Posted by MRG Dallas

Couldn't find that (not that I expected to since it was out of the City Limits, but a perusal of "Taverns" circa 1957 shows 16 of 28 establishments having "(PO KCMO) or (PO Sugar Creek)" after their addresses. Truman, Winner, US 24, N. Sterling. No doubt many a thirsty gentleman from Standard Oil or Sheffield stopping by after work

I took an aerial cruise along the entire route hoping to find a foot print on the north side without any luck. I did find one footprint, but it was too far off the road to be what I recall.

I really did not know that area back then since there were no street signs and I did not know the name of the roads and I would have to use landmarks. When going the Atherton way, I knew i was on the right track when I got to Sunshine Lakes (maybe Shady Lakes was the name) and later the rickety wood bridge over the tracks confirmed where I was.

Taking Courtney to Blue Mills to Sibley, I knew I was on the right road when I passed that tavern.

Taking these routes was more adventurous that going down US 24 to Buckner.

The civilization of that area especially long Blue Mills has probably jumped five or six fold since my days treking to Fort Osage. I noticed more than a few residences in that area have swimming pools, including a few in ground, chuckle.

[WCHS'59]

The above public square formed the basis for laying out Independence Square.

Independence was one of the first of 57 county seats in the state of Missouri to be laid out following what came to be known as the Shelbyville plan. This plan was first introduced by the town of Shelbyville, Tennessee, in 1810.

The current day Shelbyville, population 20,000, is shown above.