Looking Back: Roots for another “This Old House”

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!