Long ago on independence square (Springfield, Liberty: lease, home, school)

[WCHS'59]

Originally Posted by WCHS'59

I might add that the memorial consists of everything you see in the foreground but also consists of a rose garden in the background and a number of trees situated on a larger site, which are also part of the memorial.

This memorial actually replaces a previous memorial that had to be destroyed almost fifty years ago.

[Mad Anthonie]

Originally Posted by WCHS'59

This memorial actually replaces a previous memorial that had to be destroyed almost fifty years ago.

William Chrisman Swope and Margaret Chrisman Swope Memorial at Fulton, MO, these monuments are near the William Chrisman Swope Memorial Chapel at his alma mater, Westminster College.

[CaseyMO]

Originally Posted by Mad Anthonie

William Chrisman Swope and Margaret Chrisman Swope Memorial at Fulton, MO, these monuments are near the William Chrisman Swope Memorial Chapel at his alma mater, Westminster College.

Bummer! Even my 88 year-old was wrong. Ack!

[WCHS'59]

Originally Posted by Mad Anthonie

William Chrisman Swope and Margaret Chrisman Swope Memorial at Fulton, MO, these monuments are near the William Chrisman Swope Memorial Chapel at his alma mater, Westminster College.

For our purposes you are correct, however as Paul Harvey would say, this is "the rest of the story."

This memorial commemorates the existence of a previous memorial razed in 1967.

The current day memorial consists of two brick columns each six feet tall. Each column has a copper roof with a light on top. A brick bench is between the columns and a concrete bench flanks each column. The US, Missouri, and college flags are also displayed.



The memorial is on C.F. Lampkin Drive, Westminster College, Fulton, Missouri.
One of the columns features a brass relief of and is in memory of Margaret Chrisman Swope (1855-1942).


The other column features a brass relief of and is in memory of her son, William Chrisman Swope (1878-1909). William Chrisman Swope graduated from Fulton College in 1900. He was one of the poisoning victims at the Swope Mansion in 1909.











This is the William Chrisman Swope Memorial Chapel on the Westminster College campus dedicated in 1920. Inside the chapel was the James Chrisman Memorial Pipe Organ. James Chrisman (1853-1872) died while attending the college. He was the brother of Margaret Chrisman Swope.



Funding for the chapel and the organ were provided by Margaret Chrisman Swope.


The building was demolished in 1967 due to major structural problems and this current day memorial commemorates the entire site of the chapel. I have not seen anything specific as to what happened to the organ but the stained glass windows were saved and are on display in two other buildings on campus.


The large gray item between the two columns of the present day memorial is the original cornerstone of the chapel.


According to information on the internet, there is a 1946 photo in existence showing Harry S Truman and Winston Churchill at Westminster College with the William Chrisman Swope Memorial Chapel in the background.


To tie all this in, Westminster College is a Presbyterian school. The Chrisman’s were Presbyterians. Today’s cost to attend is $33,000 per year for tuition, fees, room, and board. Books and beer money are extra.

[Mad Anthonie]

Today My Beloved and I ventured out to re-take a couple of photos. Now, for the first time ever, you may enjoy the minor differences 30 years wrought upon the view. All shots taken from the NE corner of Macy's at the Independence Center.

[WCHS'59]

The father was born in Northern Ireland under the name McCutcheon. At some point he was impressed into the British Navy but during the War of 1812 he was rescued by the U.S. Navy and joined them. Another story has him coming to the U.S. and enlisting in the Army to fight the British. After the war, he settled in Kentucky and then came to Independence.


Under his adopted American name he built the first business of this type in Independence.


In 1829, he was the first person in Jackson County history to be elected to this position.


Prior to his death, the father instructed his family that neither a tombstone nor a marker, nor a mound should identify his grave. In the mid-20th century the citizens of Independence erected a monument on his grave site.


Among other endeavors, the son manufactured plows and cultivators in a 20 x 40 foot brick building.


Almost fifty years after the father located in Independence, his son was elected mayor of Independence.


Name this father-son dynamic duo.






Samuel Weston and Robert Weston.

Samuel Weston (1783-1846) built the Weston Blacksmith Shop at Kansas and Liberty—which was the first blacksmith shop in Independence.


Samuel Weston was the first elected Justice of the County Court in Jackson County. (No legal court involved. Most counties call these positions county commissioners. I believe Jackson County now calls them legislators)



Robert Weston (1816-1899) took over his father’s blacksmith shop upon the father’s death and manufactured plows and cultivators, plus wagons and carriages and maintained the blacksmith shop.



There was a four building manufacturing complex at Kansas and Liberty.




Robert Weston was elected mayor of Independence in 1874.

[MRG Dallas]

[quote=WCHS'59;38593541]

he other column features a brass relief of and is in memory of her son, William Chrisman Swope (1878-1909). William Chrisman Swope graduated from Fulton College in 1900. He was one of the poisoning victims at the Swope Mansion in 1909.







Isn't this where Churchill coined the term "Iron Curtain"?

[WCHS'59]

[quote=MRG Dallas;38597727]

Originally Posted by WCHS'59

he other column features a brass relief of and is in memory of her son, William Chrisman Swope (1878-1909). William Chrisman Swope graduated from Fulton College in 1900. He was one of the poisoning victims at the Swope Mansion in 1909.







Isn't this where Churchill coined the term "Iron Curtain"?

He did so in the gymnasium at Westminster College, Fulton. I have the school as Fulton College, above, the name under which it was originally created. But, it became Westminster in 1853.

[WCHS'59]

Where was the Westminster Presbyterian Church located in Independence?

Built by another denomination, the church building went up in 1867 at a cost of $3,216.


It was not until 1890 that the building was turned into a Presbyterian church.


Within a span of a very short time, the building was sold to the School of the Ozarks, which held on to it for an even shorter time.


By 1907, the building was in private hands and in 1909 the new owners leased it and the building became the home of the second automobile repair garage to appear in Independence. An annex was added to the side of the building.


In 1911, an addition was added to the front of the old church building. The building became the home of a cleaning company. Even later the location was home of a Ford dealership that was purchased by Dwight L. Moody of Moody Ford fame.

[Mad Anthonie]

Originally Posted by WCHS'59

Where was the Westminster Presbyterian Church located in Independence?

Built by another denomination, the church building went up in 1867 at a cost of $3,216.


It was not until 1890 that the building was turned into a Presbyterian church.


Within a span of a very short time, the building was sold to the School of the Ozarks, which held on to it for an even shorter time.


By 1907, the building was in private hands and in 1909 the new owners leased it and the building became the home of the second automobile repair garage to appear in Independence. An annex was added to the side of the building.


In 1911, an addition was added to the front of the old church building. The building became the home of a cleaning company. Even later the location was home of a Ford dealership that was purchased by Dwight L. Moody of Moody Ford fame.

Would there be a current day building named in honor of this former church?