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by Marcia Napier, Grain Valley Historical Society A few years ago, I was able to establish that this photograph was taken after 1912. Each time I look at it, I try to find other clues as to the exact year. So far, the “exact” year still eludes me. However, here’s what I do know. These two building are on Lot 10 and Lot 11 of the Graves and Ashcraft Addition. They were built in 1912 by Edward Williams. Mr. Williams owned several lots in the original town, on the east side of Broadway (now Main Street). They included his home on the southeast corner of Broadway and Walnut Street. The Williams Building, Circa 1912
The buildings originally housed a car dealership, which probably sold the latest style Model T, or was it Model A (I don’t know much about cars), as well as buggy parts and wheels. I only wish I could read the sign over the door of the building on Lot 10. Was the photo taken in April? Probably not, but it is the April photograph in the 2024 Grain Valley Historical Society calendar. I further believe the photo was taken prior to 1920 because the Grain Valley property tax records that year tell us the building on the left was them owned by Edward E. Storms. An old medicine bottle on exhibit at the Historical Society is from Storms Pharmacy. I remember these two building from the early 1950s. The old pharmacy was then Casey’s Drug Store. They sold over the counter medicines and first aid supplies; however, there were no prescription drugs. I especially remember the soda fountain that had hand dipped ice cream cones! The building on the right housed the U. S. Post Office in a small room at the front and the rear portion was a restaurant with a number of different proprietors over the years. When Grace Mickel ran it they had a yummy chicken dinner special every Sunday. (Valley News , June 4, 2020 and May 9. 2022) Today, both buildings are owned by The Bank of Grain Valley. The old drug store is an annex and storage space for the bank. The building on the left is now The Pottery Palace.
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by Marcia Napier, Grain Valley Historical Society
Irene Costigan Snow Roy Gosney Herman Stokes Pearl Johnson Kaufman Jewell Johnson Graham Lorena Ketterman Ina Harris Mitchell Rosalie Phillips Hostetter Lawrence Cannon May Bailey Sallie Beggs Williams Housewives, teacher, technician, cashier, farmer, and barber. The students in the Class of 1924 pursued a variety of vocations after graduation from Grain Valley High School. Five classmates stayed in Grain Valley while four headed off to Kansas City. One became a farmer’s wife near Odessa, Missouri, and Rosalie Hostetter traveled all the way to Joplin, Missouri, where she became a technician; what type of technician, I do not know! If you are very new to our town, Lawrence Cannon may be the only surname you recognize. In the late 1880s the Cannon family owned a tract of land south of the railroad track that runs through our town. Thus, Cannon was one of the early additions to Grain Valley and Cannon Street runs through the addition. J. W. Cannon, Lawrence’s father, was the notary public that signed the document making Grain Valley a town in 1878. (Valley News, August 6, 2020) Lawrence went on to become a teacher in Kansas City. If you live North of town, you may recognize the Ketterman name, as well. The road was probably named for her parents who came to the area from West Virginia in the early 1900s. Zachariah David and Florence Elvessa owned a farmed on Ketterman Road where they raised their 11 children. Three other names may be recognizable to long-time Grain Valley residents. Irene Costigan was part of the Dennis & Martha (O’Connell) Costigan family that still have relatives in this area. Her father was Joseph Patrick Costigan and one of her brothers was Harold Costigan, the WW II veteran that survived the Bataan Death March in 1942. Irene married Ralph Snow and raised three children Leanna (Cogan), Leon Snow, and Alice Snow. Another long-time resident Jewell Johnson. She married Edgar Graham (Class of 1922) and they owned an apple orchard on Buckner Tarsney Road (between Duncan and Pink Hill) for several years during the 1950s and early 1960s. Finally, Ina Harris Mitchell lived with her family on Harris Street, just south of the railroad tracks. She married Bill Mitchell, a Scotsman, who was employed by Sni-A-Bar Farms. In addition to raising their three daughters, Ina was a clerk at more than one grocery store in Grain Valley. Her friendly face and warm smile welcomed many of us to Minter’s and later Frantz’s Grocery Store when we were growing up in Grain Valley. There are still many Harris offspring in Grain Valley, including my neighbor and her grandson, Richard Danner. As for the other members of the Class of 1924, I’m not sure. If my Class of 1962 Algebra II class hasn’t failed me, the class size has increased about 3200% in the past 100 years. I hope some of the 2024 graduates will stick around our town and become a part of our past as a legacy for our future. by Marcia Napier, Grain Valley Historical Society As the Grain Valley Police Department prepares to move to their new facility on R. D. Mize Road, I stumbled across several articles in the Historical Society archives dated January, 1999; twenty-five years ago. The Examiner, January 5, 1999: “A Grain Valley citizen committee working on planning the new community center and City Hall met with Architect George D. Lafferty and Sub-contractor Ford N. Bohl of Bohl and Associates Monday to discuss development goals for the 9-acre tract of land south of Interstate 70.” The article went on to describe a municipal complex that would include a combination City Hall and police department and a community center with a gymnasium, banquet area and kitchen. They also decided to include a community pool in the $3.5 million budget for the project. According to further articles in The Examiner and The Pointe (Grain Valley’s local newspaper at that time) the population had nearly tripled, to 6000, since 1990. With the growing town, it was widely felt that these amenities were needed. On January 12, 1999 the Board of Aldermen authorized Mayor Connie Marin to contract with FS & I Architects Inc, to plan, design and build a Community Center and City Hall. Over the next few weeks, plans were solidified and on February 23, 1999, The Examiner, ran a story announcing the approval of the plans that would go to a vote of the people. Obviously, the voters said yes and by late fall, 1999, construction began. Fast forward 25-years and we find a population that has nearly tripled once again. (16,178 in 2022). It is no wonder that a new and separate Police Station is needed. The Open House and ribbon cutting for the new station will take place on May 8, 2024 at 4:00 PM. Come for the open house and be a part of Grain Valley history. Maybe someone will write about this event in another 25 years, but it is for sure it won’t be me!
by Marcia Napier, Grain Valley Historical Society Having never seen a plat plan for the Warren Addition to Grain Valley, I am making several assumptions regarding the exact location within the town. I believe it was a small addition that stretched from Charlotte Street west to E. E. Kirby Road and from Walnut Street north to Yennie. Some readers may recall from a very early article in The Valley News, Charlotte Street was named for Charlotte (Onsley) Warren, the wife of Elsworth Warren, William Durwood Warren’s younger brother. According to the 1920 U. S. Census, William Durwood Warren and his wife Madge had a home on Walnut Street. According to the Grain Valley Property Tax records they paid taxes on Lot 14 and 15 of the Warren Addition from 1920 through 1945, the only years for which I have records. And finally, I remember from my youth, the Warrens lived in this house on Walnut Street. In the 1920s, 30s, and 40s, several larger homes were built in “the west end of town.” They balanced the few larger homes along Broadway (Main Street) just north of downtown. W.D. Warren died in 1962. His wife continued to live in the home until lived there until her death in 1970 at age 87. Their daughter Deloris (Warren) Mollenkamp and her family lived next door (on the east side of Charlotte Street.) I don’t remember too much about the home after that time. I do remember Lona Bloss Wyatt lived there in the 1990. I know some remodeling was done during those years, mostly just painting, a new roof, front porch repair and shutters. Today, the house remains a stately older home on Walnut Street with over 100 years of history within the walls. The Warren House, circa 1920. Photo credit: Grain Valley Historical Society
by Marcia Napier, Grain Valley Historical Society A few weeks ago I wrote about a house on Walnut Street in the Davis Place Addition. If you recall, Davis Place included 250 feet along the northern edge (walnut Street), 597 feet along the eastern edge (adjoining the Finnell addition), 267.5 feet along the southern edge adjacent to the railroad, and 670.5 feet along the western edge (farm land). Again, early tax records show the home on lot 10, Davis Place, was owned by Dennis & Martha Costigan from at least as early as 1920 until 1935. In 1936 and the succeeding year, the taxes were paid by Robert Costigan. In 1938 the taxes were paid by Oscar Heidelberger and in 1940 the taxes were paid by Ruth (Heidelberger) and Roy Brown. It was in this home that the Brown children were raised; next door to their Aunt Hazel (Kiff) and Tom Heidelberger and across the street from the grandmother, Margret (McAlexander) Heidelberger. The first photograph below is labeled “Feb. 1928.” It was later changed to “Jan.” Pictured are Dennis Costigan with his step-granddaughter, Nadine O’Connell with the caption, “Ready for Ireland.” Following her graduation from Grain Valley High School, Nadine did indeed travel to Ireland. The final photo below was taken recently; another home in Grain Valley to live on for over 100 years. It is good to know that these old homes have survived for over a century. It is also nice to drive around town and see that they are being well maintained and many are being remodeled and rehabilitated for the next hundred years! Photo credit: Grain Valley Historical Society
by Marcia Napier, Grain Valley Historical Society Along Walnut Street, Circa Early 1900s
According to the Grain Valley Property Tax book, in 1920, this house was owned by A. O Thieme. His land was described as “f .25/100 S. Beginning NW Corner Lot 6 Davis Place W. 80 feet S. 140 ft. #. 80 ft. N. 140 ft to beginning. It was listed as “Grain Valley Irregular,“ meaning it was not part of any platted addition. Also written in the tax book was the following information: Section 35, Township 49, Range 30. In 1920, Mr. Thieme paid $6.00 in taxes on this house, occupied by Mrs. Vermillion. By 1924, the house was owned by Mrs. Mary C. Banks and W. H. Gardner and the tax was only $4.50. The tax levy was 25-cents which I can only assume was on each $100 of assessed valuation. By 1933, still listed as “irregular,” the property must have been split as Mr. Gardner paid $4 on part of the property and Albert M White also paid $4 for his share. It remained that way for a few years. Mr. White ran a grocery store on the east side of Main Street. Fast forward to the 1940s and these two properties were owned by Aurlie Wylee and Charles R. Steele. Taxes on the house in the photograph were paid by Mr. Wylee. The last record I have for 1944 shows the property was still listed as” irregular” and the taxes of $3.30 were paid by Fred M. Roberts. Last week, while taking a walk on Walnut Street, I saw a former classmate, Mike Feagans. He and his wife are the current occupants of this cute old house. He told me his daughter had wondered why there were two front doors. Mike was able to tell her about “the parlor.” We didn’t discuss taxes, but I’m thinking they pay a bit more than $3.30! by Marcia Napier, Grain Valley Historical Society Today I left the post office and took a walk, over to Front Street and west a couple of blocks. I turned North, back to Walnut. I proceeded further North on Thieme to Yennie, Yennie to Gregg Street, then South, back to the post office. Along the route, I took several photographs of houses in Grain Valley that are at least 100 years old. I have many more old homes to write about. But, when I began to write my article, I realized that all of the background information is at the Historical Society. That’s a problem because the museum is closed for a couple of weeks while the 25-year-old carpeting is being removed and new laminate flooring is being installed. So, while you usually learn about the historical society calendar page at the end of the month, this time the March photo description is early! Downtown Grain Valley
A view from Front Street, Circa 1950 Beginning on the left, Grain Valley had a pool hall in town during much of the 1940s and 1950s. I was never in the pool hall, as only men played pool in public. At least that was true in Grain Valley. In the early 1950s Dr. Charles Himmler had his office on the second floor. Dr. Himmler was a chiropractor and he also did eye exams. (He prescribed my first pair of glasses in 1959.) Next we see the Bank of Grain Valley, built in 1905. The door at the rear opened to stairs that lead to a meeting room. I recall that the Eastern Star met there and I have been told that the VFW also used the space. During World War II, various women’s groups met there to knit sweaters, hats, and gloves and make quilts to pack into gift boxes sent to local men stationed overseas. The third building is actually across Main Street. Over the years, that building has had a variety of businesses from hotel and marina to plastics plant, pawn shop, and tattoo parlor. The next building with the gas pumps out front was Huff’s Garage when this photograph was taken. In the late 1920s and 30s it was also a small hotel. Visitors to Sni-A-Bar Farms often stayed there while studying the agricultural experiments taking place on the farm. The upstairs rooms were converted to two or three apartments in the 1940s and 50s. Finally, we get a very small glimpse of the hardware store, Circa 1902. It burned, along with the Huff Building in December, 1959. The Historical Society will reopen on Wednesday, March 27 at 10:00 AM. Come visit and see our new floor! by Marcia Napier, Grain Valley Historical Society I cannot be sure when the Yennie Addition was annexed into the Town of Grain Valley, but I do know it was around 1910. This is going to require another trip to the Recorder of Deeds office in Independence. I can tell you that the Yennie Addition covered the land from Walnut Street north to Yennie and from Gregg Street west to Thieme, a big square block with a branch running through the middle. Originally, Lots 1 through 6 were owned by Jasper N. Sanders, my great grandfather. It was on these six lots that he had three homes built; one for each of his daughters. The Sanders Sisters Mittie Frances (1889), Lula May (1887), and Ruth Arene (1892) Lula, the oldest married Walter Elliott and for a short time they lived in the middle house. By 1920 that home was sold to Ida Russell, a widow with a daughter, Goldie Russell Montgomery. Fant and Rena Ewing lived there through most of the 1940s and 50’s. The Johnson Family lived there in the 1960s and 70s. Tim and Stacey Hunter lived there in the 1980s and 1990s. More recently, the home was renovated, and the Hall family lives there. Mittie married Elmer Rumbo in July, 1906. I’m unsure of where their first home was, but I believe they moved to Walnut Street around 1910. I’ve been told their home at the corner of Walnut and Capelle was the first of the three to built. I know for certain their second daughter, my mother, was born in that house on April 29, 1914. She was so small she was placed on the oven door in the kitchen to keep her warm. He father took one look at her and called her a little “Mutt,” a name that stayed with her until he died. The Rumbos remained in the home until Mittie’s death in 1975. For a while, the Martin family lived there and the Nading Family. I do not know who currently owns the home. Ruth married James I. Belford. They only lived in the house on the east end of the block (corner of Walnut and Gregg) a few years before they moved to Oklahoma. Uncle Jib was born there before it became a state. The taxes were paid by Elmer Rumbo through 1933 and I sort of remember hearing that the house was rented to various tenants. In 1934, the property was purchased by Opal (Rumbo) and Clyde Fristoe. They lived there for the rest of their lives. Opal died in 1995 and Clyde died in December 1997. Since that time the house was owned by Mrs. Golden and for the last several years it has served as the parsonage for the First Baptist Church. Mittie & Elmer Rumbo Lula & Walter Elliott Ruth and James Belford
Next week I hope to present more “homes with a history.” Who says older, well-built homes won’t last a lifetime; maybe two or three lifetimes. If there is an older home in Grain Valley you would like to know more about, contact me. I’ll do my best. I’m at the Historical Society Museum on Wednesdays from 10 AM to 3 PM, or leave a message in the Valley News or on our website gvhistory1878@gmail.com. by Marcia Napier, Grain Valley Historical Society You know what people say about hindsight. Looking back, I certainly wish we had some old calendars from previous Leap Years. Throughout history, various events have occurred on February 29, the actual day marking leap year. For example, George Armstrong Custer fought the Battle of the Little Bighorn (1876), the Titanic sank (1912), Benjamin Franklin proved that lightning is electricity (1752), and gold was discovered in California (1848). By inserting ("intercalculating") an additional day, a leap day, or month, a leap month, into some years, the drift between a civilization's dating system and the physical properties of the solar system can be corrected. We do have a 2024 Leap Year Calendar and the historic photographs for the year featuring Downtown Grain Valley. The February photo was given to the Historical Society by Alan Lefko and Mr. Lefko told me it was given to him by someone who noted it was the year he was born! (I hope he doesn’t mind that his age has been revealed.) Downtown Grain Valley, circa 1933
The photographer was probably standing on the east side of Main Street a block south of the railroad. It is difficult to determine what was in each of the buildings. In the foreground on the left we can see what must have been an auto repair shop. At least we can be sure they sold Goodyear tires. Across the tracks we clearly see the Bank of Grain Valley which still had a corner entrance. Beyond the bank was Storm’s Pharmacy and in the distance the Sni-A-Bar Bank building and the Christian Church. On the right side of the of the photograph is the old lumber yard. It is impossible to see the remaining buildings which would have been Loring Hardware, a hotel, the Ryan Building, and the grocery store which was owned by Edward and Otis Williams in the early 1930s. While there are few cars parked along the street, this shows our peaceful little town during The Great Depression (1929-1939) and just prior to World War II. It certainly makes one wonder how many families were still using horses or walking? Electricity was not in every home, certainly not water, and just out of view on the right there was an icehouse. Many homes got 25# blocks for their ice box. My grandfather would tell you that refrigerators were a luxury in most Grain Valley homes in the 1930s! If you have a leap year calendar you are will to part with, please bring it to the Historical Society Museum. It is open on Wednesdays from 10 AM – 3 PM. by Marcia Napier, Grain Valley Historical Society The oldest Municipal Tax Book at the Grain Valley Historical Society begins with the year 1920. At that time, the houses along the north side of Yennie Street, from Broadway (now Main Street) to Thieme were known as the Johnson’s Addition to Grain Valley. There were 17 lots. In 1920, Harvey A Johnson owned the West 40 feet of lot 12 and all of lots 13, 14, 15, and 16. John W. Stephenson owned lot 17. James H. Webb owned 10 feet of the East side of lot 12 and all of lot 11, the Hard Shell Baptist Church (Valley News, January 23, 2024). The Stillion’s House
The house above sits on Lot 16. While I cannot know for sure when this house was built, I can only guess that it may have been built before 1920. At the very least, I believe there was some type of structure there because the taxes on lot 16 were $6.70 while the taxes on lots 14 and 15 were 70-cents each. Lot 13 probably had a building as well because it was taxed at $5.50. In 1922 someone wrote across the ledger, in pencil, ”not In town.” I’m not sure why they paid taxes if they were “not in town.” As always, when I research town history I’m left with more questions than answers! In the tax records we are missing between 1927 and 1933 Mr. Johnson sold his land as follows: West 40 feet lot 12 and lot 13 to B. C. Raines; lot 14 and East ½ of lot 15 to Fannie Graham; West ½ of lot 15 and lot 16 to Mary Grace and Emma Hoehn and lot 17 to Frank Anderson. As a young girl living in Grain Valley, I remember the Thompson house; the old church. I remember Mrs. Raines home. She was a widow by then. Mrs. Raines gave piano lessons. The house on lot 14/15 had been sold to Woody and Naomi Graham. Finally, the house in the photograph. It was known as the Stillions’ house but actually it was the Hoehn’s Sisters Home (No relation to the Haynes Sisters in White Christmas! It just sounds the same.) Frank Stillions came to Grain Valley to teach at the high school. He later became the superintendent. In 1946, at the age of 50 he married Grace Hoehn, a teller at the Bank of Grain Valley. The “old maid” sisters had shared the home until Emma died. It was then that Grace, also 50 years old, married Mr. Stillions. They left Grain Valley so he could teach for a year at CMSU, I believe. That was the first time that Jean and Bill Evans lived in the house. The Stillions returned for a couple of years and it was then that the garage and family room were added at the rear. Eventually, they retired or downsized as we say today. The Evans family bought the home where they lived until 1964. That was the same year that I left for Mizzou, so I do not remember the families that have lived in the home over the past 60 years. When I drive past the house today I think of the great times I had there with my good friend, Stephanie Evans. That house has stories to tell! Stop by the Grain Valley Historical Society any Wednesdays from 10:00am - 3:00pm. I can tell you a few! |
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