Looking Back: One Last Time

by Marcia Napier, Grain Valley Historical Society

 
As has been the case for the last seven plus years, I sit down pondering what to write about this week. On Sunday I took wreaths to the cemeteries where my family members, having lived a good life, have been “laid to rest” as the saying goes. Well, today this column is being laid to rest.

But, I believe this column, too, has had a good life.  And in the research and writing for my weekly musings, I have had a curious adventure, sometimes challenging, but always giving me interesting new insights into the history of our town. I’ve learned about many of the families that helped to shape our town.  I’ve learned about the roads, and their namesakes. I’ve learned about many businesses both old and new, successful and not so much so.

I’ve learned about the churches and traipsed through nearly every cemetery in the area. I’ve learned about Grain Valley when Sni-A-Bar Farms was world famous and I’ve learned about Grain Valley when they experienced the Great Depression, and lost sons during World War II.

I’ve also learned about our schools, and the talented and successful people that call Grain Valley High School their alma mater.

But mostly, I learned to be extremely proud of the place I call HOME.      

I am grateful to Cory and John Unrein, owners of the Grain Valley News for asking me to experience this great adventure! While writing a weekly column is not something I ever thought about doing, I have thoroughly enjoyed the experience. So, thank you!

If you would like to read more stories about Grain Valley, send me your email and I will add your name to the growing list of readers who receive The Voice. It is a monthly newsletter from the Grain Valley Historical Society.  I always include a story about Grain Valley and it is certainly my intention to expand those stores. Hopefully they will have more depth as my research of “all things Grain Valley” continue to find its way to my desk (computer).

And, if you want to reread any old stories you can visit the Historical Society Museum at 506 Main Street in Downtown Grain Valley. We have notebooks with copies of all of the articles I have written and artifacts that might trigger a future article for The Voice!  Come visit soon.
                       
Thanks for reading,
Marcia “Marty” Napier
[email protected]

Grain Valley Historical Society, 506 N Main ST
Photo credit: Grain Valley Historical Society
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