Over the years many organizations have found a home in Grain Valley. Early groups like the Royal Neighbors or America, the Order of Eastern Star, and the Modern Woodman were national organizations with community service as a goal. In the 1950s a group of men started the first Lions Club International in our town. The Lions tried a comeback in early 2000, but it was unfortunately short lived.
     Currently, FOCUS (Finding Opportunities and Creating Unique Solutions) is the only community club of which I am aware. (Please contact me if I am wrong.) While there are organizations for specific group such as Youth Sports and the Grain Valley Assistance Council, I am unaware of any other general groups. 
     FOCUS was originally Optimist International.  It was started in our town when the high school principal, Dan Jones, organized a group of 25 citizens to support the schools. With a motto, “Friends of Youth,” Mr. Jones became the first president in 1993.
     By 1997, the group had doubled in numbers. The president that year was Chip Hall and his quote in The Examiner probably said it best. “What the optimist club is about is building character and community spirit in the people of this city, especially the youth.”
     What Grain Valley child did not participate in an optimist event during the 1990s and early 2000s? The Optimist Club had at least one or two events monthly. Each year they sponsored the Easter Egg Hunt, the Santa House, the Grain Valley Basketball Little League, the Bike Safety Rodeos and car maintenance and safety clinics. They provided scholarships for up to three sophomores attending the Hugh O’Brian Youth Foundation, as well as two annual scholarships for graduating seniors. They also sponsored an oratorical contest, an essay contest and a poster contest for third graders with a theme to fight drugs.
     In the community, they sponsored Respect for Law Day, took treats to the fire department, as provided volunteers and goods to the Grain Valley Assistance Council.
These activities were supported by chili suppers, pancake breakfast (with Santa) popcorn, candy and nut sales, trivia nights and booths and bingo at Grain Valley Fair Days.
A few years ago, the group decided to discontinue their affiliation with Optimist International. Dues to the state and national organization had greatly increased and attendance at their quarterly meetings was waning. 
     Locally, FOCUS has replaced the Optimists. A very small group of loyal supporters continues to “do good” for our community. Much of their work goes unnoticed by the citizens as they continue to be a friend to youth in a more private way. They currently support four programs. Originally called Pairing with Optimists, FOCUS provides $50 toward the purchase of shoes for nearly 100 students each year. The also maintain an emergency clothes closet in the elementary schools, buy eye glasses for needy students, and furnish the lice kits to all of the school health rooms.
     Oh yes, let’s not forget the $1000 scholarships they award yearly to two graduating seniors! While Optimist International is HISTORY in Grain Valley, it’s not too late to join FOCUS. 

           As I get older, I find myself referencing most events “by the years.” This happened twenty years ago or that happened fifty years ago. That was very apparent this past weekend when the Historical Society teamed with our neighbor, the Iron Kettle, and conducted the first historical tour of Grain Valley. And while you must begin 144 years ago with the founding of our town, other dates were relatively recent.
            One hundred years ago this July, my father moved with his family from Prescott, Michigan to Grain Valley, Missouri. Over the next 75 years he saw many changes in our town. But, over the next few weeks I want to focus on the changes since his death, 25 years ago.
     In June 1997, Grain Valley had fewer than 5,000 people. Although it would be another 9 years before the first graduating class had over 100 students, the high school had moved to the present location in 1996 and the south side of town was starting to grow.
     In January 1997, State Bank of Missouri announced they would be adding a second location on Eagles Parkway at Sni-A-Bar Boulevard where according to then bank president Mark Heins, “Grain Valley has experienced such a strong residential boom.”
     While the bank and some new businesses, including Sonic Drive-in, were locating in Grain Valley, the U. S. Post Office was threating to leave. Early in 1997 it was announced the Post Office would be moved to Blue Springs. After several weeks of dispute and arbitration, in March residents learned that while rural delivery would come from Blue Springs, the Grain Valley Post Office would remain open, and we would have a separate Post Master.
     Owner Operators Independent Drivers Association had been in Grain Valley about ten years when their president, Jim Johnston, announced that his company had “run out of space.”
     The company was started in 1974. Since coming to Grain Valley in 1987, their membership had tripled to represent “36,000 truck drivers and individuals across the nation and in Canada.” 
     In late March, 1997, the Board of Alderman approved their proposal to tear down their present structure, an old truck stop, motel and restaurant, and replace it with a new 49,000 square feet building carrying a price tag of $3 million to $3.5 million. (I wonder what it would cost today?)
     Twenty-five years ago, Grain Valley was not without some excitement. A film crew came to town to shoot actors driving a car down Buckner Tarsney Road. They were filming a scene from “Oklahoma Faded Love,” about the late country music singer Patsy Cline from fictious Rayville, Oklahoma.
     John Penn, of Red Earth Productions in Oklahoma, said Grain Valley was picked for a couple of reasons – it is where Wade Richardson (country music recording artist and actor in the film) lived and it perfectly depicts the small-town flavor they wanted for Rayville.
     If you want to read more about small-town Grain Valley flavor, don't miss next week’s article. Learn about the antiques, the Optimists, motorcycles, and powwows!

     According to the 1949 Treasure Chest Yearbook, the Grain Valley High School Band, under the direction of Mr. Phil Turner, had a membership of 28 including the Drum Majorette, Virginia Tate. During the year they made several appearances. One of the most memorable ones was the Appreciation Concert in which the new uniforms were shown for the first time.

     Prior to these uniforms, the band performed in black slacks and long-sleeved white dress shirts. For marching in parades, a cape and hat were added.  As is evidenced by the photo, matching shoes were not a luxury the students could afford. The formation is on the gymnasium floor in the 1926 school building.
     Note the double row of theatre style wooden chairs along the west wall. The stage was on the East wall. The gym also had a balcony with chairs along the west wall and benches on the ends.

     By 1955 the band still had only 28 members, however they also had a Drum Majorette and two baton twirlers for football games and parades. The six-year-old band uniforms were still being used. Mrs. Barbara Starke became the music teacher in 1951. She was followed by Mr. Toll, Mrs. Barbara Murry (1957-59) and Miss Karen Smith. Mr. Moyer became the band director in the fall of 1961.  We still had only about 30 members in band. AND WE STILL HAD THOSE 1949 UNIFORMS.
     My brother talked about going with Mrs. Murry and Bill Newton (a fellow student) to Lone Jack to borrow 6 uniforms so they would have enough for the Homecoming Parade. Their uniforms were slightly different, but at least they were blue and white.  He particularly remembered that Mrs. Murry stopped at the Tarsney Store and bought them both a bottle of pop for going with her! It was 5-cents!  I also remember borrowing uniforms from Lone Jack a year or two later. And I recall that one year the school was able to purchase a few new “used” uniforms from Grandview High School. We were required to furnish our own white gloves and black band shoes which we purchased at J. C. Penney’s.
I cannot tell you when the band finally got new uniforms, but let me assure you, it was not too soon!

     Although the Historical Society Museum has copies of earlier yearbooks, beginning with 1936, the 1939-40 yearbook was the first to have a photograph of the band.
 

    Last week I was on Instagram following  gvbands and Eagle Strong (Grain Valley Marching Eagles). From the photographs I found online, I can tell you the percussion section is larger than the entire band “back in the day” when I was a band student. It started me thinking about our Grain Valley band history. When did band start in our schools? Let me just begin by saying, “I have no idea.”
     Without yearbooks, written history is very difficult to find in a small town. When the first yearbook was published in 1936, there was no record of a band. But there was also no record of football, or basketball, or glee club either. So rather than tell you what I don’t know, I’ll tell you what I do know.

     The completion of the Chicago & Alton Railroad to Kansas City brought many “temporary” residents Grain Valley. By 1881, the business directory of the town included three doctors; G.U. Keener, James H. Daniels and J. W. Starnes.
     Others on the directory included J. H. Cannon, Justice of the Peace; owner of a general store and Postmaster J. A. Porter; Notary Public John Graves; general store owner Frank Gregg; general store owner William Morrow; depot agent J. A. Spindle; blacksmith George Kreigel; shoe repair shop owner H. A. Hamilton; painter Joseph Wright; carpenter and Joseph Keshlear; as well as a livery stable.
     Dr. George U. Keener and his wife Lucretia had 10 children, the youngest born in 1876 in Richmond, Missouri. So, I’m thinking that like many of the town’s early residents, he sought an opportunity for success near the railroad. Dr. Keener was listed four times on the directory as follows: Physician, Minister, Drug Store, and Hotel. I learned that in 1872 he had been appointed as a bishop for the Methodist Episcopal Church for the Boonville District. The family did not remain in Grain Valley for a very long time. From research on Ancestry I learned he was gored by a bull and died in Allenton, St Louis County, Missouri on October 4, 1889.
 
Killed by a Mad Bull
     Last Friday evening George W. Schweich received a  telegram from Allenton, St. Louis county, informing him that his father-in-law, Rev. Dr. G. U. Keener, had been fatally injured, and to come at once. Himself and wife left on the first train that evening arriving in Allenton that next morning at 9:15 o’clock, not however, in time to see the doctor alive, death having approached at 8:30 o’clock the same morning. Dr. Keener went to a sale Friday for the purpose of purchasing a bull, and before going, and after arriving at the sale, was warned and advised not to purchase the bull, as it was a vicious and dangerous animal, he finally concluded to make the purchase and take the chances, thinking that by kind treatment he could tame the animal. After the sale he took the bull home, and turned him loose in the lot, and afterwards went out to catch him. He had taken hold of the rope that was hanging loose from the bull’s head, and was trying to get hold of a stick fastened to the nose for the purpose of holding him off, but before he could get hold of it the bull made a lunge at him and threw him over his head. At that moment a negro man who was working in the field near by, discovered what was going on and ran to relieve the doctor, at the same time giving the alarm. Mrs. Keener heard him and ran to the lot to drive the bull away, and after he had plunged his horns into the doctor inflicting a mortal wound he turned upon Mrs. Keener and would have killed her had it not been for the negro man and a faithful dog, the first having a shot gun and the latter holding the bull by the head with its teeth. A shot from the gun ran the bull away, but he made a second attack and was again driven away. The doctor was then picked up out of a gully into which he had been thrown, and taken to the house. Upon arriving at the house his wounds were examined and it was found that the bull’s horn had entered and terribly lacerated his left lung, and seriously effected the nerves of his heart, and that his injuries were necessarily fatal. The deceased was a practicing physician and a local preacher of the M. E. church, and owned a splendid farm near Allenton, upon which he lived, and was highly respected by the community.

     When was Grain Valley established? I supposed that would depend on how we interrupt our history. Some of you may recall an article I wrote two years ago about the original town (July 23. 2020). Part of that article included the statement on file with the Jackson County Recorder of Deeds:
     Know all men by those present that I James F. Lucas of the County of Logan in the State of Illinois do by those present set apart four acres of land located in the County of Jackson and the State of Missouri described as follows, that is to say, commencing fifty-eight feet south of northwest corner of the east quarter of the southwest quarter of Section (35) thirty-five, Township (49) forty-nine, Range 30, hence seven hundred and fifteen feet, hence east four hundred and forty feet, hence south to the railroad hence following the railroad due West one hundred and twenty feet hence south to the southern limits of the town hence West to the place of beginning making in all four acres more or less all of said tract of land situated on the Kansas City-St. Louis and (  ? )  railroad. For the ( ?  ) and purpose and profit of the town of Grain Valley.  The aforesaid town being laid off by Joseph Peters given under my hand and seal this fifth day of September A.D. 1878.  James H Cannon.
 
       For those of us who were around in 1978, we will remember the weekend celebration of our centennial. There was a parade with old-cars, horse drawn carriages, music, old-fashioned clothing,  and Tom Heidelberger and Ruby Johnson were named the Centennial King & Queen.  I remember! It made the newspaper!
     Last week, Grain Valley received a matching grant from Missouri Main Street. We hope you will soon see the results of that grant as the city and the business owners strive to revitalize the historic downtown area.  It was at that time that I saw a sticker with the words, “GRAIN VALLEY, EST. 1884.”  What? 1884? How can this be. However, a bit of internet searching led me to learn that our town was incorporated on July 11, 1884. Finally, Grain Valley became a 4th class city in 1945.
     So when did we become Grain Valley? I’m going with 1878! I’m celebrating our Sesquicentennial on September 5, 2028!
     After a certain age I realize I may not be around in 2028, but if I am I will celebrate then, too! And If I’m around in 2045 (which is highly doubtful, but who knows, I may live to be 99!) I will celebrate them. I never want to miss the opportunity for a good party!!!
     It’s not a party, but it will be fun. First Fridays, June 3, July 1, and August 5 will welcome the Friday Night food trucks to the downtown district. The Historical Society will be opened from 4 PM until 8:30pm. Stop in, enjoy our air-conditioning while you eat your dinner, visit our exhibits, and purchase a Grain Valley (established in 1878) tee-shirt! 

     In the July 22, 2020 edition of the Valley News, I wrote about the Williams’ Building.  Constructed in 1912, the spacious garage was equipped for handling the work of the machines of the community and of tourist parties. Today, 110 years later, the build still stands. It is a part of the “historical” downtown area of Grain Valley.
 
 
West Side of Main Street
Historic Downtown Grain Valley
 
     In 1919, the following article appeared on the “Grain Valley News” page in the Oak Grove Banner.
 
Building Being Repaired
 
“The Williams Building, formerly occupied by Huff and Baumgardner Garage is being renovated. New shelves are being put up and arrangements are being made to use the building for a store. As to what line of business will occupy this store has not been published. But rumors have established butcher shops, dry goods stores, furniture stores and grocery stores, but so far no  one has moved in.”
 (If the wording or grammar seems strange, please know if it is copied as written in 1919.)                                          
​
     Today, the Williams Building is occupied by an annex to The Bank of Grain Valley and The Pottery Palace. But over the last century, this building has housed many businesses. When it was renovated in 1919, the left half of the building became Storms’ Drug Store. Edward Storms and later his son George “Ellis” Storms were the pharmacists.  In those times,  the fundamental role of pharmacists as a healthcare practitioner was to check and distribute drugs to doctors for medication that had been prescribed to patients. A college degree was not required for this occupation. In the 1950s Jim Casey bought the drug store. Casey’s had no “prescription” drugs, only band-aids, gauze and ointments, aspirin, cough syrups, and ex-lax, personal grooming products, miscellaneous items, beer and a soda fountain (literally all of life’s little necessities)! I remember on other owner for a year or so. Shortly after the last drug store closed, it was bought by the Bank of Grain Valley.
     At some point the post office was moved to the right side of the building. It was there that I bought 3-cent stamps! The U. S. Post Office occupied a very small area at the front. Patrons entered the door into a short hall way. On the left, you could go into the post office. At the end of the hall, the door led to Grace Mickel’s restaurant. Those were the days when coffee was a nickel, vegetable beef soup or ham and beans soup were 50-cents and a piece of homemade pie was a quarter! Those were the “good ole’ days,” for sure!

     ​Dennis Patrick Costigan, from Ireland, married Martha Elizabeth Richardson O’Connell, a widow, in St. Louis in 1881. He came to Grain Valley around 1886 to work on the railroad. Soon after, his wife and their children joined him. The family included Alice, James and John T. O’Connell, children from her first marriage; and Charles, Patrick, Martha Katherine, and Michael Costigan.  Ellen, William and Maggie Mae were born after they came to Grain Valley.
     Joseph Patrick Costigan was born January 5, 1883 in St. Louis. On March 16, 1904 he married Mary Frances Taylor and they had seven children.  Two sons, Charlie and Harold, received agricultural degrees from the University of Missouri. After graduation, Harold joined the Army and was an unfortunate participant of the Bataan Death March during World War II. (September 8, 2019 article in The Valley News)
     Like his father, Patrick worked for the railroad, on a crew that repaired and replaced the Chicago & Alton tracks in western Missouri. The following article appeared on the Grain Valley News page of The Oak Grove Banner in April of 1921.
 
     Costigan May Recover
 
     “If Patrick J. Costigan of Grain Valley recovers from injuries received last Week, it will be a case of surgery which will find a place in the books. It seems now that Mr. Costigan will recover to a much greater extent than expected if not entirely.           
     Mr. Costigan is a railway worker at Grain Valley. He stepped to one side of the track to let a fast train pass when an iron pipe fell from the rapidly moving train and struck him in the side of the head. The skull was crushed and the brain protruded. He was brought to the Independence Sanitarium where a surgical operation was performed by the Doctors Twyman. A part of the skull was removed and a part raised so that it would no longer impinge on the brain.
     For some time Mr. Costigan could not talk but could read written messages. One side was paralyzed. Now he is beginning to recover his speech and can move the paralyzed arm a little and seems to be getting better every day. Mr. Costigan has a wife and six children.”

     He lived at home for some time after that, then in various institutions until his death in 1954. A seventh child, Dale, was born in 1923.  Dale’s son, also named Patrick Costigan is currently president of the Oak Grove Historical Society. I sure Pat can tell you  “the rest of the story.”

From 101 years ago: “The Grain Valley News,” from The Oak Grove Banner
 
Personal Paragraphs (quoted as written)
            HUFF TIRE CO., Grain Valley,
          Mo.
            White Rose Gasoline at Huff
          Bros. new filling station
            SNI-A-BAR BANKING CO. the
          progressive, conservitive bank of
          Grain Valley.
            FOR SALE---one mare. For par-
          ticulars see Lee Seymour
 
I am guessing “progressive conservitive” might have had a different meaning  to Grain Valley folks 101 years ago. Perhaps because “conservitive” when spelled with an “I” doesn’t mean conservative?
 
And more news from the papers of April, 1921
 
W. H. Loring has returned home from St. Joseph hospital, Kansas City, where he had a cataract removed from one of his eyes. The operation failed to improve Mr. Loring’s eye sight. (Mr. & Mrs. Loring owned the hardware store)
 
The Senior Class play of the Grain Valley High School will be given Friday evening, April 15th in the Royal Play House.  It is a three-act comedy, entitled “And Home Came Ted.”
 
BARN FOR SALE - - 28 X 28 feet. Outside good grade pine, inside mostly native lumber. Contains crib 10x12x8 feet granary 6x8x5 feet, one good box stall and four double stalls. An excellent barn for farm. See Lloyd Williams, Grain Valley.
 
The Grain  Valley town board elected on April 5, has organized with the following officers: Chairman, A. O. Tate; Clerk F. W. Stump; Marshal, C. H. Johnson; Treasurer, D. C. Herrington; Street Commissioner, Albert Hoehn.
 
The following two articles appeared in the Banner in 1921. This would have been just after the original Chicago & Alton Depot burned. The postmaster, A. O. Tate was working out of a box car. The 1922 depot was moved from east of Main Street on the south side of the railroad tracks to west of Main Street on the north side of the tracks.  During that time, Mr. Tate worked from an old boxcar.
 
Evidently The Banner proofreader had not yet determined if “post office” was one word or two words. Nor did they know when it should be capitalized. (Post office is two words, capitalized only after the name of the town.)
 
Postoffice To Be Moved.
            The Grain Valley postoffice will be moved about the first of May to the brick building formerly occupied by the Grain Valley Light & Power Co. This will be a much larger and better building than the present location and more convenient to the depot and business houses. The building now occupied by the post office is to be moved off the railroad right-of-way.
 
            The change in location of the Grain Valley post office has been postponed until about May 16th to allow time for the sale and removal of the electric light plant, which now occupies the building to which the post office will be moved.
 
            And, buy the way, “Mrs. A.O. Tate who was injured in an automobile accident at Santa Ana, California, about two weeks ago, is reported to be improving rapidly and the family is expected to return to their home in Grain Valley in the near future.”
 
            And yes, these articles did appear 101 years ago.  It seems the newspapers from 1922 are currently on loan to the newspaper in Oak Grove!