Following the establishment of Grain Valley on September 5, 1878 people began to move into the town to be closer to the Chicago & Alton Railroad. By 1881 the business directory of the town included three doctors; G.U. Keener, James H. Daniels and J. W. Starnes.
     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.
     Dr. James Daniels also owned a combination grocery and drug store. The 1880 U. S. Census stated that he was 44 years old and lived in a boarding house run by the Hawkenberrys. He doesn’t appear to have stuck around for very long.
     Dr. John Starnes and his family were still living in the area in 1900, however when he died in 1909, they were living in Independence, MO. His son was a druggist so one would assume the doctors all dispensed their own medications.
     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; Frank Gregg, general store; William Morrow, depot agent; J. A. Spindle, blacksmith; George Kreigel, shoe repair shop; H. A. Hamilton, painter; Joseph Wright, carpenter and Joseph Keshlear, livery stable.
     One would assume that most of these businesses would have been in the original town although there is much evidence that James Cannon built the first store in Grain Valley on lot seven in what is called the Cannon 2nd addition.  Most of the early homes and businesses were built on the north side of the railroad.
    Therefore, the Graves and Ashcraft Addition was probably the next land to be platted and developed. This addition included the two blocks west of Main Street and north from the railroad to Walnut street.
     It would appear that the town had a difficult time deciding on street names. The 1877 map identified the street west of the original town as Main Street. The 1904 Map called this street Broadway. The street running west off Broadway was temporarily called North Main Street. 
     The street on the south side of the railroad was called Main Street. Today Broadway is once again Main Street, North Main is Front Street, and Main Street is Harris Street.  Are you totally confused? 
     Visit the Historical Society and view the maps on display including the 1924 Jackson County Map that still has a corner of Broadway and North Main!
 
Next week: Learn more about the John Graves, J. H., Mary and William Cannon, and William T. Ashcraft.
 

     The quest to learn more about the establishment of the town of Grain Valley has led to some surprising revelations.  From previously written histories I had learned, “When the railroad came through, the two townships (Pink Hill & Stony Point) relocated at a midway point between them. They consolidated and formed the City of Grain Valley, Missouri on September 5, 1878 at a location near the main line of the railroad. James Lucas surveyed the land for Joseph Peters.”  Several histories noted that the town size was 10-acres.
     In last week’s article for Valley News, I noted the land was probably owned by Lucas. Several hours of research on ancestry and a telephone call to the Jackson County Recorder of Deeds revealed what I believe is a more accurate picture.
     In 1877, James F. Lucas of Lake Fork Township, Logan County, Illinois, owned 120-acres in the southwest quarter of Township 49, Range 30, Section 35 in Jackson County, Missouri.  A genealogy search for Mr. Lucas revealed that he was born in Logan County on December 20, 1845, married in Logan County in 1867, farmed in Logan County and appeared on the U. S. Census as a Logan County resident from 1850 through 1880. By 1890 he had moved a few miles south to Illiopolis, Illinois, now a suburb of Springfield, in Sangamon County. In other words, he was a lifelong resident of Illinois.  On the 1900 Census it did state his occupation as “landlord.”
     When I contacted the Jackson County Recorder of Deeds, I received this document.
     A strong magnifying glass and a couple hours work revealed this statement at the top of the first page. (The top of the map is East, the left is North, the bottom is West, and the right is South)
     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
 
This statement appeared on the top of page two.
 
State of Missouri
County of Jackson
 
Be it remembered the James F. Lucas who is personally known to me the undersigner, Notary Public, within and for the said County to be the person whose name is subscribed to the foregoing instrument in writing
As proxy there in this day and hour (?) and acknowledged that he executed and delivered the same as his voluntary act and deed for the title and purchase wherein mentioned given by my hand and official seal this fifth day of September A.D. 1878
      J. H. Cannon
     My commission is dated April 7th, 1877
     And expires April 2nd, 1882
 
     While the wording is unusual, the second document grants Mr. Cannon the right to represent Lucas and turn the land (only “about” 4-acres) over to the City of Grain Valley. I would suspect that Mr. Lucas never left Logan County. James Cannon was a resident of the area and had a vested interest in the town.  He had moved his mercantile business to a store he built on Main Street south and adjacent to the new railroad.   
As for Joseph Peters, there is no record that he ever lived in Grain
     Valley. However, I did learn that he married Amanda Parlee Christison on July 29, 1869. She was the daughter of John Christison who owned property in Section 36 (just north of U. S. 40 Highway & the East Kansas City Airport). His post office box was Blue Springs because there was no Grain Valley at that time. The Christison family was living on this land in 1845 when Amanda was born.
     Joseph and Amanda Peters may have lived with her parents or rented a house, but there is no record of their having owned any property.  The 1880 U. S. Census stated their residence as Preston in Jasper County, MO. The 1885 and 1895 Kansas Census stated their residence was Key West Township, Coffey County, Kansas and Joseph Peters occupation was listed as “surveyor.”  They remained in California, Coffey County, Kansas until their deaths in 1909 (Joseph) and 1915 (Amanda).
     So, it might be safe to say that Peters & Lucas were just in town to earn a living as a surveyor and make a buck off of some land when the town came to the railroad. They didn’t stick around to earn any prominent citizen awards.
 
Next Week: Learn about the Cannon Addition, and Graves & Ashcroft Addition.
 

​     I’ve read the history of Grain Valley so many times I practically have it memorized. James Lucas, presumably a surveyor, laid out the original town for Joseph Peters. The town, 10 acres in size, was incorporated as a village on September 5, 1878. Those 10 acres were East of and adjacent to what is now Main Street.
     My original question was, “Who were these men?”  At this writing I have found only one piece of information regarding either of the men.  The 1877 Township and Railroad Map of Missouri published by Brink, McDonough, & Co. shows that James Lucas owned 120 acres in Township 49, Range 30, Section 35. 
     That might mean that Lucas and not Peters owned the land where the original town of Grain Valley was established the following year.
     It is also interesting to note that the railroad went right through the middle of Mr. Lucas’ land. Therefore, I believe he may have been a land speculator who never actually lived in Grain Valley.
     An exhaustive search of the 1877 and 1904 plat maps do not show the name Joseph Peters on any land within a 5-mile radius of Grain Valley.  This fact  makes me wonder if he surveyed the land for Lucas and not the other way around.
    When the 1904 Map was published, the Lucas land, as well as land belonging to W. S. May, were part of the 219.7-acre Ravensmere Stock Farm owned by Frank Colvin. A few years later this land along with an addition 1500-acres became part of Sni-A-Bar Farms.
     At this time I’m left with more questions than answers.  Over the next few weeks, I will not only try to answer those questions, I will also let you know about the people who owned the land west of the original town and when Ashcroft, Graves, Finnell, Storms, Minter, Cannon and other additions were included in our town. With new homes constantly being built, I have much research in my future!
 

​     I found this old advertisement mailer in items belonging to my granddad Rumbo.  Other than knowing it is from the Grain Valley Mercantile Co., I have no idea about when it was mailed as the postmark is not complete (sometime between 1910 and 1919).
     Copies of the 1889 and 1922 city directories do not mention a “Grain Valley Mercantile Co.” So, we don’t know the year, we don’t know the owner, and we don’t know where the mercantile was located! What we do know is there were plenty of great bargains including men’s fleeced lined heavy underwear for only 19-cents.
     The mailer talks about the “largest variety of merchandise it has ever been our pleasure to offer,” however it is interesting to note that only two actual items are mentioned --calico fabric and men’s underwear.  It is also interesting to note that neither of these items are available in Grain Valley today, over 100 years later!
 
     Visit the Grain Valley Historical Society at 506 S. Main on Wednesdays or visit us online at www.grainvalleyhistory.com and Facebook (@grainvalleyhistory).
 

     Growing up, I probably saw the Williams home on a nearly daily basis. It sat on the southeast corner of the intersection of Main Street and Walnut Street. It was the only house left in “downtown” Grain Valley.  Like many of the older homes in Grain Valley, it has been torn down and today it is a parking lot.
     I remember the house quite well and I also remember the family that lived there --  Otis Williams and Laura McQuerry Williams along with their 3 daughters, Norma, Rosemary and Peggy Ann. Laura was the daughter of Robert and Myrtle McQuerry. She grew up on the family farm on McQuerry Road east of Grain Valley near Lefholz Road.
     Otis was the youngest son of Edward and Alma (Hostler) Williams.  According to the 1900 U. S. Census 5-year old Otis was living at the house on Broadway (now Main Street) with his mother, father, brother Loyd (age 24),and  brother Roy (age 16).
     From recent donations to the Historical Society by Otis’ granddaughter, Karen Carmack, I have learned that the Williams family were quite the entrepreneurs.  I knew Otis as the butcher behind the meat display cooler at Frantz’ Grocery Store in the 1950s and 60s. I recall hearing that he and his father ran a grocery store in Grain Valley years before.
     But here is what I didn’t know! Around the turn of the last century Edward Williams owned a brick-factory. It was located across the street from the house on Walnut Street, just behind the Herrington House (today the community gardens occupy that space). Brick from their brickfield were used to build the Bank of Grain Valley (1905) as well as several other brick structures in town.
     The business directory of Grain Valley for 1922 lists as one of the business in town the E. F. Williams Slaughter House where they processed over 800 head of cattle and hogs yearly.  And an early photo showing businesses on the west side of Main Street includes Williams Auto. 
     Housed between the Bank of Grain Valley and Worthmore Shoe Store, both in brick building which still stand today. I can’t help but wonder if the bricks for the family-owned auto store were made at the Williams Brick Yard?
 
     Visit the Grain Valley Historical Society. We can show you a photograph of Otis and his father, Edward, inside the grocery store.  We also have a photo of Williams Auto as well as an original copy of the 1922 Business Directory of Grain Valley.

     For the past two weeks I have written about some of the theatrical events that brought “culture” to our town.  From the files at the Historical Society, I found additional photographs of the Spring Festival, which was a yearly event until at least 1947-48. That was the last picture I found.
     In addition to the festival, I found advertisements, programs and photographs from a variety of “cultural” events enjoyed by the citizens of Grain Valley. A couple of play scripts and some photos are proof of the plays performed at the Royal Playhouse during the 1920s.  
     Over the years, many groups did “community” theater, such as the womanless wedding.  Although no year is found on the advertisement, Noel Wilkerson, “the Bride,” was the high school principal from 1929-1938,  so I believe this particular event probably occurred around 1936.
     Old yearbooks, dating back to the 1940s, contain pictures from band and choir concerts. The Junior and Senior Class plays were performed each year until the late 1960s when these twice-yearly productions became all school plays.
     When the auditorium was built at the high school in 1996, a musical replaced one of the shows. And for a couple of years, the community could purchase a season ticket for Sunday afternoon musical performances by groups ranging from the Independence Symphony Orchestra to military bands and ensembles.
     Over the years, there have also been other “cultural” events. Father Daughter Dances and Mother and Daughter Banquets have been around forever.  They have been sponsored by various churches, civic groups such as the Lions Club and even the City of Grain Valley has been doing a yearly Father Daughter Event (until the recent pandemic!). 
     Whether to raise money or merely to provide entertainment, Grain Valley has been a mecca of culture and great fun!
Visit the Historical Society any Wednesday from 10 AM to 3 PM and see photos and memorabilia from these events from the past!
 
 

     When Grain Valley’s first brick school burned in 1925 it was replaced by a new $75,000 building considered to be one of the finest schools in Jackson County. The new building had both a gymnasium and a stage. Any one graduating from GVHS between 1926 and 1964 received their diploma on that very stage. 
     Students also performed on that stage. From vocal music and band concerts to musical revues and plays, it was the cultural center of Grain Valley where many of us “old-timers” remember with fondness our “great times” on stage. 
     The photo above of the 1932 May Festival was undoubtably one of those great times.  While we will never know how the yearly festival began, it may have been influence by the famous Ziegfeld Follies.  The follies, a musical spectacular, were the American version of Folies Bergere of Paris. Begun by Florenz Ziegfeld in 1907, the follies came to the Amsterdam Theater in New York in 1913. They lasted into the 1930s and had a tremendous influence on American musical theater. 
     Since we will never know her motivation for producing and directing the May Festival, I am going to believe Mrs. Scott, the music teacher, was influenced by Ziegfeld, Jerome Kern, Irving Berlin and others to bring entertainment and culture to our town.
     As for the photo, there are no names but I do recognize Linnea Snow and Paulina Farley, the first two girls on the front row.  I also know their dresses, along with many others in the photo, were made from crepe paper.  Costumes made from crepe paper was very popular back them. The rabbits on the front row are wearing long underwear, but judging from the size of it, I’m thinks it must have belonged to an older, and much bigger, brother!
 
Visit the Historical Society to see this and many other photos from Grain Valley “back in the day.”
 

​     I’m not sure Grain Valley could be called the cultural mecca of the Midwest, however there seems to have always be an audience for live entertainment. Over the next few weeks I will share some old photographs of the talented citizens of Grain Valley.
     Since the turn of the last century, citizens have been entertained. First, they came to the Royal Playhouse, built by Jasper “Newt” Sanders around 1910.  From silent movies to plays, often directed by his daughter Ruth Sanders Belford, this old playhouse was a popular place on most Saturday evenings. All-school plays, performed on stage in the school gymnasium, were popular all through the 1930s.
     I remember my parents being in a few shows put on by the alumni to raise funds to support the alumni banquet. That was popular around 1949 and 1950.  Of course, there were the junior and senior class plays performed to raise funds for prom and class trips. By the late 1960s they became all-school productions to allow all would-be stars, freshmen through seniors, to land a role.
     From 50 years ago, this week’s photos feature some of the stars of “Grain Valley Hee Haw” presented December 4, 1970. Skits, song and dance routines, and one-liners were combined in a fast moving country show, no doubt based on the popular TV variety show at that time.
     “You never know what’s coming out of the cornfield!” agreed Mrs. Mary Harper and Mrs. Barbara Murry, co-directors.
 
Visit www.grainvalleyhistory.com for more information on the Grain Valley Historical Society.
 

     I wish I could tell you who these people are and I wish I could tell you when this photograph was taken. I do remember the old café in downtown Grain Valley. Today this building is the pottery shop on the west side of
Main Street, but until the mid 1950s it was a restaurant.
     The photo is probably a family; Dad, Mom, a married son with his wife and daughter.  Then there is grandma, and perhaps another daughter.  From the clothing, I’m guessing the pictured might have been snapped sometime in the early 1940s.  By the late 1940s ,the sign on the window on the left side of the building read United States Post Office.
     Before I entered first grade, I ate there often on days when my mother was working across the street at the hardware store. The restaurant was run by Mrs. Greer, and also by Mrs. Grace Michael. They served fried chicken on Sunday, complete with mashed potatoes and gravy, and probably green beans. It was good home cooking and every day there was a “special.” Hot beef sandwiches, ham & beans, vegetable beef soup, and goulash were some of the specials I remember.
     In the summer, when tomatoes were ripe, there were BLTs and Ham & Cheese sandwiches.  And pie. There were always homemade pies. 
     I only remember the restaurant being opened at noon time.  I can’t say if it was opened past 3:00pm., but I don’t think so.  I remember it being filled with people at noontime.  I think all of the downtown merchants ate there. 
     After all, where else could you get a hamburger for 25 cents, the daily special for $1.50, or pie for a quarter.  And a bottomless cup of coffee was still just 5 cents!
     The lunch counter was at the rear and a few tables occupied the space in front by the windows.  One day the man sitting next to me at the counter ordered shoofly pie.  I could not imagine how flies could possibly be good in a pie. Then he told the waitress she could just get some flies over there and pointed to a fly strip near the door into the kitchen.  
     Everyone sitting around us had a big laugh! My mother explained that he was kidding and he was ordering raisin cream pie, one of Mrs. Greer’s specialties.  To this day, I have never tried shoefly pie.
 
Visit www.grainvalleyhistory.com to learn more about the Grain Valley Historical Society and “like” the Historical Society on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram (@grainvalleyhistory).
 

​     As the school year draws to a close, one cannot help but reflect on their own time in high school and realize what the Class of 2020 has missed.  Of course, prom is only one of the many events graduates have missed out on and for this, I am truly sorry.
     Back in the 1950s and 60s prom was very different than today’s extravaganza.  It was known as the Junior & Senior Prom because the juniors sponsored the event to honor the seniors.  This is how it worked.  When a class entered the 8th grade they began massive fundraising.  All of the monies raised went to 5 major events; 8th grade graduation, homecoming floats, prom, senior trip and high school graduation. While the senior trip may have been the most expensive, prom expenses exceeded the other three by far.
     For most classes planning began during the first week of junior year.  The prom committees were formed and a theme was chosen. Of course, it was the goal of every class to out do the previous year.  One of the responsibilities was planning a menu for dinner, served in school library before Grain Valley got a cafeteria in 1954.
     The meal was served by a group of sophomores and it was considered an honor to be chosen to serve. After the meal, each junior was presented with their class ring, another BIG deal.
    Decorations to carry out the theme required months of planning. I remember staying after school for days to make all of the apple blossoms required for the fake trees in the apple orchard at the entrance to the gymnasium.
     The gym was closed for classes during the week of prom so decorations could be put in place.  The doors were covered with heavy brown paper so no one could get a sneak preview! By midnight on Friday the miraculous transformation had to be completed. While there was no hiding the basketball court lines and circles on the floor or the goals at each end, the fake ceiling hid the balcony, and the walls were covered with crepe paper.
     There were no limos, no champagne glass souvenirs, no $100 dinners, and certainly no $500 outfits or $150 to $200 tuxedo rentals. There was a printed invitation that came in the mail, a dance program, favors, a live orchestra and refreshments.
     We didn’t have a project graduation but we did have some post-parties.  My class met for breakfast the next morning before leaving for our senior trip to Scott Valley Dude Ranch in Mountain Home, Arkansas.
     While I don’t know where every class went I do remember my cousins class went to Rock-a-Way Beach and my brother’s class spent a week in Branson. Oh yes, those were the “good old days.”
 
Visit www.grainvalleyhistory.com to learn more about the Grain Valley Historical Society and “like” the Historical Society on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram (@grainvalleyhistory).