Not since 1965 has any new transportation come to Grain Valley. Interstate 70, our last major highway, was completed through Grain Valley in September 1965. It brought Standard Oil, Apple Trail Restaurant, and Charlie Osborne’s Truck Stop to Grain Valley. It also brought Camper’s Inn and a small hotel to Exit 24 off of I-70.

Sixty years ago, the population was around 600 people. According to the United States census, the 1960 population was 552; the 1970 population was 709. In 1964 there were 26 graduates from GVHS; the total enrollment for the high school was 143 students.

The downtown, all two blocks from Walnut to Front Street, had a restaurant, a grocery store, a pool hall, a drug store, a barber shop, and the Bank of Grain Valley. The rest of Main Street boasted a plastics plant and some vacant buildings. There was also a gas station just south of the railroad tracks.

So while a passenger train no longer stops in our town, and the airport no longer has a small jet parked on the runway (owned by Harmon Electronics), that doesn’t mean we haven’t changed. Those same roads now have 8 traffic lights between Duncan Road and Sni-A-Bar Boulevard. The population is nearing 17,000 and the senior class had over 350 students this year! 
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Exit 24, I-70, 2024
 
This will be the final article on Transportation in Grain Valley.  Visit the Grain Valley Historical Society to see the entire exhibit about transportation in our town.  Open Wednesdays from 10:00am - 3:00pm.
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Historically, US 40 in many places replaced the National Road, built between 1811 and 1834 to reach the western settlements. The National Road, in many places now known as Route 40, was built between 1811 and 1834 to reach the western settlements. It was the first federally funded road in U.S. history.

George Washington and Thomas Jefferson believed that a trans-Appalachian Road was necessary for unifying the young country. In 1806, Congress authorized construction of the road, and President Jefferson signed the act establishing the National Road. In 1811, the first contract was awarded, and the first 10 miles of road were built. As work on the road progressed, a settlement pattern developed that is still visible. Original towns and villages are still found along the National Road. The road, also called the Cumberland Road, National Pike, and other names, became Main Street in these early settlements, earning it the nickname “The Main Street of America.”

In the 1800s, it was a key transport path to the West for thousands of settlers. In 1912, the road became part of the National Old Trails Road, and its popularity returned in the 1920s with the automobile. Federal aid became available for improvements in the road to accommodate the automobile. In 1926, the road became part of U.S. 40 as a coast-to-coast highway running from Atlantic City to San Francisco.

I still find it amazing that this historic and, in some way, “famous” road passed through our town!

The Smithsonian is coming! At the Grain Valley Historical Society, we are preparing our local exhibit, “Grain Valley’s Transportation Story.” Thus far, you’ve heard about coming to the area by horseback, wagons and boats along the river; by rail; and via R. D. Mize Road.

Grain Valley really got “on the map” in 1926 when US Highway 40 was completed in Missouri. Stretching from Atlantic City, New Jersey to San Francisco, California, it was the first major East-West Highway across America. Known as Main Street America, US 40 Highway was of historical significance because it is deeply intertwined with the National Road, the first federally funded interstate highway in the United States.

When the U. S. Highway system was established in 1926, US 40 was  designated as a transcontinental route.

Of all the towns in America, Grain Valley was fortunate to be on the route! Those early coast-to-coast travelers would have driven along the southern edge of Grain Valley, passing the famous Sni-A-Bar Farms which was also making a name for itself, both nationally and world-wide. 
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1928 O’Connell’s Place
Located on U. S. 40 Highway (Eagles Parkway)
½ mile west of Main Street and across from Sni-A-Bar Farms

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by Marcia Napier, Grain Valley Historical Society

Continuing from last week, this week’s article will highlight another segment of the story of transportation in Grain Valley. R. D. Mize Road was built from Independence to the Lafayette line, east of Oak Grove in 1900-01. 
 
Robert. D. Mize was born in 1864 during the Civil War in Liberty, Missouri. His parents took refuge there from war hostilities in Jackson County. He was the son of a wealthy Blue Mills pioneer family. His father, Roderick D. Mize, owned and operated the Little Blue Ferry, one of the finest boats on the Missouri River that ran from the Blue Mills landing to St. Louis and back.
 
His father also owned a general store and several large river front warehouses at Blue Mills Landing, that were all burned during the war by Federal troops. As a young man, Robert owned both a pharmacy and a hardware store in Independence before becoming judge of Eastern Jackson County, a position held years later by Harry S Truman.
 
Parts of the road name for the younger Mize were known as Blue Springs Road but often referred to as the “rock road,” because it was one of the first routes to the county seat that wasn’t a dirt road.  It was also one of the first roads in Eastern Jackson County that was easily traveled by automobile.
 
According to a “History of Grain Valley,” written by Frank Sebolt in 1936, Grain Valley was incorporated (1884)  shortly after its founding in September, 1878. However, a few years later things changed and I quote: “Sometime later the incorporation papers were revoked. The town was disincorporated (today we would say unincorporated) so that the R. D. Mize Rock Road could be put through Grain Valley at state expense.  If the town had been incorporated the state would not have furnished expenses for the road. The road was built in 1900-1901. August 31, 1903 the town was reincorporated . . .”
 
 The old rock road made a sharp right at Buckner Road (later Buckner Tarsney) went straight south through the “disincorporated” Grain Valley and continued south about a mile before making a sharp left turn and continuing to Oak Grove and the county line. During the early years the R. D. Mize Rock Road was truly just that. Rocks. Over the years, the rocks were oiled and eventually paved during the Pendergast years.
 
Today, R. D. Mize continues to zig, zag and curve its way through Eastern Jackson County, although at some points  along the way it has lost its’ name.
 
Just as the train helped to “create” Grain Valley, ours is the only town in which R. D. Mize Road ran right through the middle.  When built, it was nearly a mile north of downtown Blue Springs and nearly a half-mile south of downtown Oak Grove.
 
In the next few weeks you will read about other transportation events that contributed to the unique history of Grain Valley.

by Marcia Napier, Grain Valley Historical Society
 
As much as the dreaded train which blocks the track and causes delays is our modern-day curse, without the train there would be no Grain Valley. Imagine buying you groceries at Pink Hill or getting your mail at Stony Point.

As noted previously in this column, 150 years ago there was NO GRAIN VALLEY. The people living in this area were at Pink Hill, Stony Point, Lickskillet (Oak Grove), Lone Jack, Tarsney, well you get the picture. Prior to 1878, they moved about the countryside via horseback or wagons. Some may have relied on mules and oxen, or walking.

As the Historical Society prepares to welcome The Smithsonian Exhibit, Voices and Votes, we are preparing our local exhibits.  This portion of the exhibit is designed to show how local decisions influenced our town and our place in American democracy. Over the next few weeks this column will highlight the effects of transportation on our town.

The C & A railroad began in Illinois in 1847 and gradually expanded, reaching Springfield and Joliet by the early 1850s. ​​​​This railroad went through a series of name changes in its early years, becoming the Chicago, Alton & St. Louis Railroad in February 1855, the St. Louis, Alton & Chicago Railroad on January 21st, 1857 and the Chicago & Alton Railroad on October 10th, 1862.

The C&A completed its line to Kansas City in 1879, including a bridge over the Missouri River at Glasgow and a bridge over the Mississippi River at Louisiana, Missouri. This connection formed the famous "Triangle" route, linking Chicago, St. Louis, and Kansas City. 

The railroad established depots in several Missouri towns, including Blue Springs and Grain Valley. The Independence C&A Depot, built in 1879, is notable as one of the oldest and only restored two-story frame stations in Missouri. 

The Chicago & Alton Railroad in Missouri arrival spurred growth in towns like Grain Valley, contributing to the development of industry, transportation, and livestock markets. Situated only a few hundred yards west of Sni Creek, Grain Valley was a stop so they could take on water for the  mighty steam engines which pulled the trains. Later Grain Valley was a stop for passenger trains bring visitors from across the nation and several foreign countries to Sni-A-Bar Farms. Freight trains hauled the Sni-A-Bar grade cattle and other livestock to the market in Kansas City.

The Chicago & Alton underwent several reorganizations and name changes, eventually becoming the Alton Railroad in 1931 and later merging into the Gulf Mobile & Ohio Railroad in 1947.  Today, portions of the former Chicago & Alton tracks are used by Amtrak and other rail operators. 
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by Marcia Napier, Grain Valley Historical Society
 
Frequent readers of this column and long-time residents will know this, but as a quick recap, or information for new readers, Sni-A-Bar Farms was registered with the State of Missouri in 1913.

William Rockhill Nelson, the owner, died in 1915 and the farm was put into a trust. During the first ten years of operation of the Trust, it was under the immediate direction of Mr. Nelson’s daughter, Mrs. Irwin R. Kirkwood. She established a herd of purebred Shorthorns and bought the best bulls available in the United States and Great Britain for the grade herd.

Top females in the leading state, national, and international sales were secured for foundation stock. She also encouraged fitting individual steers and car lots of fat cattle (name given to grade cattle, or cattle without a pedigree). Complete reports of the operation of Sni-A-Bar Farms under her direction were made through publications of the United States Department of Agriculture, the University of Missouri College of Agriculture, and the agricultural press.

Upon her death, the administration of the farm fell to the trustees to have full charge of the estate for the remainder of the thirty years. W. A. Cochel served as advisor to the trustees. My grandfather, James Napier who was hired as herdsman for the purebred “show” herd in 1922, became superintendent in charge of all operations of land and livestock until the sale in 1945. He remained and employee of Mr. Ralph Smith until the dispersal the following year.

Some of the achievements during the first 10 years included:

• the up-building of the grade herd. Steers from the grade herd were shown in local, state, national, and international shows, where they routinely won highest honors both as individuals and in lot classifications.
• A number of steers were sold to 4-H Club members and Future Farmers of America.
• Creep feeding, feeding calves before weaning, was developed at Sni-A-Bar. Additional gains of 100 to 150 pounds before weaning made it possible to market at 12 to 15 months with weights of 900 to 1100 pounds.
• Cattle from the purebred herd were sold to Argentine, Brazil, Ecuador, Mexico, Cuba, Santo Domingo, China, and Australia.
• Sni-A-Bar made a signification contribution  to the improvement of soi; fertility and the introduction of new crops, as the first use of lespedeza in the state.
• Atlas sorgo as a silage crop was also introduced at Sni-A-Bar.

And all of this before 1925! Sni-A-Bar went on to produce many more firsts over the next twenty years.

Visit the Historical Society and learn about many more FIRST that happen right here in Grain Valley, and all before the original Highway 40 (now Eagles Parkway), "America’s Main Street", was built through our town!
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by Marcia Napier, Grain Valley Historical Society
 
A drive through Grain Valley in 1975 would reveal a completely different look. First of all, it would have taken less than 10 minutes. First, there were NO traffic lights, and I certainly know the train never blocked the railroad tracks for 45 minutes.

North of I-70 there were two gasoline stations; McLeroy’s Fina on the west side of Buckner Tarsney Road and on the east side, the Country Squire restaurant and Standard Oil Station which took up a large portion of what had once been my family home and small farm. There was also a small 8-sided structure that was built as a tourist information center, but by 1975 it had become Parker’s Liquor Store.

Once under I-70, and across US 40 Highway (which basically ended at Grain Valley) you would see the school on the west side of Main Street. I call it “the school” because for 50 years grades K-12 were all housed at this complex. Fifty years later there are six locations and with 8 schools and a leadership & transportation center.

On the east side of Main there was a service station, a convenience store, the football field, and Armstrong Park. It was about this time that Patty’s (Officer) Ice Cream Shop and a quilt store also occupied a portion of the building. Behind these businesses, there was a small hotel, with Grain Valley’s first in-ground swimming pool. Grain Valley residents could go there in the afternoon during the summer months and swim for $1.  Individual family home lined the street on both sides going south to Walnut.

By 1976, the Christian Church had burned on the northwest corner of Main and Walnut and the Williams house had been torn down on the northwest corner of Main and Walnut. The beautiful, but deteriorating Sni-A-Bar Bank building was gone and developers were building what amounted to a “strip mall” building on lots 1 through 5 of the Graves and Ashcroft Addition (the west side of Main Street).

Several businesses came and went during the 70’s including a plastic plant, a couple of beauty shops, an upholstery shop, and occasionally an antique dealer.  The two constants in town were the U. S. Post Office on the northeast end of the “downtown block” and the Bank of Grain Valley, a constant since 1905, on the southwest end.  

Just south of the railroad, businesses appeared and left during this time. There was a bottled gas and rural delivery store, a filling station, a feed store, and Dale Riffle had s barber shop. Near the corner of Main on AA Highway (now Eagles Parkway) there was a garage, once owned by Hick Kirby. Hick could repair anything with an engine: cars, trucks, tractors, school buses, and many small engines. And I was never there, but I believe there was also a bar known as Peaches. Some people went there to throw darts. 

There were probably other stores I have forgotten. But I can tell you what there was not. In 1975, there were 3 churches, not 10. There were not 8 traffic lights but with a population of fewer than 1,000, we didn’t need traffic lights! You couldn’t go to a doctor or dentist let along a physical therapist or a psychologist. The only “gym” was at the school and there was a basketball goal at each end.

And there definitely were not 16 restaurants, including 8 with fast foods and 2 with take-out pizza, plus Price Chopper Deli, a donut shop, a bakery, and four gas stations with tons of deli/fast food offerings.

And, let’s not forget the four coffee houses and the new Main Street Sweets Shop.  Yes, the last 50 years have definitely brought change, and people!
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by Marcia Napier, Grain Valley Historical Society
 
When the town of Grain Valley was platted in 1878, the east side of Main Street (then known as Broadway) stretched from Harris Street to Walnut. Lots 1 through 18 were on the south side of the Chicago and Alton Railroad tracks. On the north side of the track was lot 19, 20 (now a parking lot), and Front Street on Lot 21. The remaining lots, 22 through 30 continued north to Walnut Street.
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Today, the lot numbers remain the same as they were in 1878, but they definitely have a new face, especially Lots 22 through 27.

During the Remodel
Left to Right: Lot 25,Hughes Defense; Lot 24, The Local Table & Bar; Lot 22 &23, OG Tattoo
 
On the wall at the Grain Valley Historical Society a 1924 map reveals that lot 25 was a restaurant, lot 24 was a garage, lot 23 was a barber shop in the front and part of the general store on lot 22 in the rear. Further north, lots 26 through 30 had two houses on them.

Broadway, now Main Street, Circa 1915
 
Information from the Recorder of Deeds indicates that while these lots were originally owned by Young & Keshler (22 &23), J. F. Gregg (24), Elisha Moore (25 through 28), and Edward Williams (29 & 30). By 1920 W.A. Cannon owned lots 22 through 28.

Other photos and maps indicate several businesses occupied these lots over the years. (But with a single property owner, it is very difficult to determine what business might occupy the space.) It seems apparent that Lot 25 was primarily a grocery store from as early as 1930 until it closed in 1973. Many older residents may remember when Model Engineering operated a plastics plant from 1956 until the early 1970s.

Ironically, I have not talked to anyone who remembers what businesses occupied lots 22 through 24 during most of the 1940s and 1950s. While they recall there briefly being a beauty shop, a marina, and a used clothing store, all we can be sure of is the grocery store, and the Post Office on lot 26. If anyone remembers more, please contact the Historical Society. It is my hope that one day this mystery can be solved!

Lot 25, Circa 1930
Williams Meat Market & Grocery
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by Marcia Napier, Grain Valley Historical Society
 
On April 11, 1871, James H. Cannon, a Virginia native, married Miss Mary Elizabeth Dyer, a native of Hickory Grove, Warren County, MO. They came to Stony Point in Jackson County, and he engaged in farming and teaching until July 1873, when he opened the mercantile at Stony Point. The Cannons had six children: Marshall D., William A., Mary E., Blanche D., Martha A. and Annie S.  
 
The July 23, 2020 issue of Grain Valley News carried my article about the transfer of land from James Lucas to the town of Grain Valley on September 5, 1878. James H. Cannon was the Notary Public who signed the documents. In the spring of 1879, James and Mary Cannon purchase 129 acres of improved land in Grain Valley. Mr. Cannon established the first business, a mercantile located on Main Street just south of the railroad tracks.

He was also appointed the Postmaster in Grain Valley - a position he held until his death on November 18, 1882. His wife Mary succeeded him as Postmaster. Following his death, their son William Cannon (Annie) and son-in-law John William “Bill” Minter (Martha Adeline, “Addie”) became partners in the mercantile.

Eventually, Bill and Addie became the sole owners until the sale in 1926. This sale marked the final ownership by a family member of the business her father began in 1873. (note: the date in the article below, “Cards of Thanks” is incorrect). The business was sold  to Mr. A. N. Rice of Kansas City, who immediately held a 19-day closing-out sale. Eventually the building burned.

The Minters and the Cannons both had large homes on Main Street which were torn down in the 1970s to make room for the auto store and Sonic Drive-In. All that’s left of the Cannon Family in Grain Valley is the Cannon Addition south of the railroad and Cannon Street.
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by Marcia Napier, Grain Valley Historical Society
 

While I usually look for stories about events that occurred “about” 100 years ago, in perusing issues of Oak Grove Banner, I was also drawn to items that appeared in the column titled “Grain Valley News”.

This week I will share some of those items from January, 1926, or as I call it, 100+ years ago.  (Copied as written.)

• Not with standing the muddy roads, we had a good crowd at the Pink Hill Sunday School and preaching last Sunday morning and two additions to the church. Our services next Sunday at Grain Valley will be Sunday School at 10:00 a.m. Bart Fishback, Supt., preaching at 11:00 a.m. subject, “Elements of Church Strength.” At 7:30 p.m. subject, “The Lamb of God” We invite everyone to these services. Members are urged to be present. J.W, Owen, Pastor
  
  

Note: At that time, Pink Hill was part of a three-church charge with Grain Valley and Oakland Methodist Churches.

• (advertisement)           
  BARBER SHOP 
  In the Sni-A-Bar Bank Building
  Grain Valley, Mo
  LET US SERVE YOU                                                                                                                               AUBREY HAYS, Prop.

 

• Fred McQuerry of Mayview visited his mother, Mrs. Myrtle McQuerry last week.
• Grain Valley High School basketball team played a double header last Tuesday night. They played Maywood basket ball teams. The Grain Valley boys won 23 to 22. The girls won 18-14.
• Mr. & Mrs. Will Armstrong and son, Hershel, were Thursday guest of Mrs. Sarah Butler.
• Ellis Storms has returned from Brunswick where he attended the School of Pharmacy.
• Mrs. E. E. Storms, Mrs. D. H. Shrout and son were shopping in Independence of Thursday.
• Mr. and Mrs. Clyde Fristoe were guest of her parents Mr. & Mrs. Elmer Rumbo.
• Miss Ordie Chiddix was shopping in Oak Grove on Saturday.
• Miss Delores Warren returned to the University of Missouri last Tuesday after being absent several weeks following an operation. Mrs. W. D. Warren spent several days with her.
• A dance was given last week at the Royal Playhouse
• The high school basketball teams motored to Maywood Tuesday and played the boys and girls teams there. The boys tied and the girls won 31 to 8.
• A. O. Tate, C & A Agent, received a telegram Saturday stating the serious illness of his father in Illinois. Mr. Tate left Sunday for that state

And finally, those on the sick list are Mrs. Wyatt, Grandma Hosler and  Mrs. Ada Wynn.
 
I find these old news papers to be quite amusing. Sometimes I recognize a name; sometimes I don’t. But I am always curious about how some of the items came to be news!
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by Phil Hanson, President & CEO, Truman Heartland Community Foundation
 
The Truman Heartland Community Foundation Board of Directors, in September of 2024, committed to move forward with an initiative to address Affordable Housing in our Eastern Jackson County community.

The data that compelled the board to make this decision indicated that 22% of households in our region are housing cost-burdened, meaning they spend more than 30% of their household income on housing. And 9% of households are severely cost-burdened, meaning they spend more than 50% of their household income on housing.

The Jackson County Health Department identified Affordable Housing as the third-highest rated overall community health concern in its latest community health survey.

No doubt, there is someone in your family or network of friends who is struggling to obtain affordable housing. We have new teachers, nurses, police officers, and other public servants who are unable to afford housing in the community they serve. We know this is not a local issue but one common to most communities in the United States; however, we believe the solution to this challenge will be local.

One new tool that we have created to address this challenge is our “Community First Loan Fund”. This fund, valued at approximately $900,000, is available for projects that address the affordable housing challenge in our community. It’s available for both nonprofits and private companies. We recently made our first loan from this fund to Truman Heritage Habitat for Humanity. They are rehabbing a house that was donated to them in Raytown, and we are providing a short-term construction loan that will be repaid when they sell the newly renovated home.   

This new tool is what is often referred to as “Mission Related Investing”.  Yes, it’s an investment of the foundation, and it helps us achieve our mission of “Improving Area Communities”. We are utilizing funds that came from our endowed funds, which provide the revenue for our annual competitive community grants process.

This money that was previously invested in our fixed income pool on Wall Street, is now invested here locally, on Main Street. This investment does not decrease the amount available for our annual competitive community grants program; it simply changes the source of revenue.

We look forward to making additional loans for affordable housing projects in our Eastern Jackson County community. If you know of someone working on an affordable housing project that I should talk with, please let me know or have them contact me.

I will share other aspects of our Affordable Housing Initiative in future articles. It’s a big challenge that will require multiple strategies and tools to make an impact, and our “Community First Loan Fund” is just one essential tool. I can be reached via email at [email protected].

by Marcia Napier, Grain Valley Historical Society
 
Among the “treasurers” I found in the Oak Grove Banner, published on the 8th day of January 1926 was this “Official Statement of the Financial Condition of the Bank of Grain Valley, at Grain Valley, State of Missouri, at close of Business on the 31st day of December 1925”.

The Bank of Grain Valley was founded in 1905 with J.H. Webb as President and W.A. Cannon as Vice President. Prior to opening the Bank of Grain Valley, William A. Warren was in the hardware business with Tommy Webb. Mr. Cannon, the son of James H. Cannon, had multiple properties and business interests in Grain Valley. 

Because this statement is difficult to read, there are a few items I will highlight.

James H. Webb was the president of the bank and W. T. Webb and W. D. Warren were directors.  Larkin Webb and his seventeen children came to Jackson County in 1840 and Benjamin Warren came with his family in 1843. There were (and still are) so many Webb descendants in Eastern Jackson County I haven’t made the connection to Larkin,.

However, I can tell you W. D. Warren was the great grandson of Benjamin. William A Warren and Tommie Webb were partners in the hardware store, built in Grain Valley around the turn of the last century (1900). It makes sense that the Warrens and a member of the Webb family might have chosen a site directly across the street from the hardware to build Grain Valley’s first bank. I do not know who  H. A. Johnson was; perhaps a story for another time.

By the 1960s W. D. Warren was the owner and president of the bank and Grace Hoehn was still a cashier. And, by the way, her brother Walter Hoehn ran the hardware store!

In 1925, the total assets from loans, bonds, cash, and the bank building and furnishings equaled the total liabilities; $158,007.68. Just for fun, I looked at the inflation calculator. That money today, multiplied by the inflation rate of $18.37 would be $2,902,601.08, a ton of money in 1925!
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