HistorE-Calendar

From Your

Jackson County (Mo.) Historical Society

 

April 2008

 

PASS THIS ON; SUBSCRIBE FREE AT www.jchs.org

 

ALL LOCAL HISTORY & HERITAGE places are found at http://www.jchs.org/education/jacomo_bookmark.htm.

Make "Jacomo Bookmark" your Internet browser's homepage.

 

If you find this information useful, please give credit to the Jackson County (Mo.) Historical Society. If you attend any of these HistorE-related functions, mention to the hosts about the Jackson County (Mo.) Historical Society's HistorE-Calendar.

 

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Tuesday, April 1, 2008

11 a.m.

Kansas City, Missouri's fountain season starts today. All 49 fountains under the care and maintenance of Kansas City Parks and Recreation will be turned on--a true sign of the start of spring in the City of Fountains! You're invited to join the Mayor, the Board of Parks and Recreation Commissioners and the City of Fountains Foundation for the official Fountain Day ceremony at the Muse of Missouri Fountain, 8th & Main Streets.

 

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Tuesday, April 1, 2008

4 to 7 p.m. OPEN HOUSE

4:30 and 6 p.m. TRAIL CONCEPT REVIEW

Kansas City Missouri Trails Plan OPEN HOUSE

Kansas City currently only has 25 miles of shared-use trails, and needs you input to ensure the needs of Kansas Citians and other trial users are reflected in the City's future trail system. Provide your input on trial priorities, including key corridors, trail standards, and the proposed funding and implementation plan. Discovery Center, 4750 Troost Avenue. For more information call Shannon Jaax, Kansas City Planning and Development Department, 816.513.2855.

 

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Wednesday, April 2, 2008

6:30 p.m.

The Sons of Union Veterans presents Lee Ward and Josh Campbell on, "Marking the Union and Confederate Graves, Carpenter Cemetery, Johnson County, MO." All members and those interested are invited to attend. If you are a qualified male descendent of a Union enlistee in the Civil War, you are invited to join SUV. For questions and additional information, contact Lee Ward at ilward64050@yahoo.com. Sons of Union Veterans meets the 1st Wednesday of each month at 6:30 p.m., Trails West Library on 23rd street in Independence, Missouri.

 

The Jackson County (Mo.) Historical Society has also just released a new, 16-page booklet titled, "Conserving Missouri Cemeteries," which provides practical advice to those who desire to preserve small, pioneer cemeteries in their communities. $3 copies (plus s/h) may be ordered online at www.jchs.org, or by calling 816.252.7454.

 

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Thursday, April 3, 2008

7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

The Military Road

Presented by CMDR (Ret.) Orvis Fitts, Past President of the Civil War Round Table of KC, the Westport Historical Society and the Heart of America Chapter of the Military Officers Association of America and Past Chairman of Monnett Battle of Westport Fund, Inc. The Military Road was built to establish the Indian Policy of the U. S. Government. Congress approved the legislation in 1836. By 1845, it stretched from Fort Snelling in Minnesota to Fort Jesup in Louisiana. It was nearly 1000 miles long, and at that time it was the Western Frontier. After 1854, it became the conduit for white immigration into eastern Territorial Kansas. For more information call the Historical Society of New Santa Fe at The Trailside Center, 9901 Holmes Road, Kansas City.

 

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Thursday, April 3, 2008

4 to 7 p.m. OPEN HOUSE

4:30 and 6 p.m. TRAIL CONCEPT REVIEW

Kansas City Missouri Trails Plan OPEN HOUSE

Kansas City currently only has 25 miles of shared-use trails, and needs you input to ensure the needs of Kansas Citians and other trial users are reflected in the City's future trail system. Provide your input on trial priorities, including key corridors, trail standards, and the proposed funding and implementation plan. Schoal Creek Patrol Station, 6801 NE Pleasant Valley Road (I-435 and Schoal Creek Parkway). For more information call Shannon Jaax, Kansas City Planning and Development Department, 816.513.2855.

 

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Thursday, April 3, 2008 (repeated on Thursdays, April 10, 17 and 24)

2 p.m.

The Donner Party Goes West

The experiences of the famed Donner party captured the hearts and minds of the 1840's America.  In this 30-minute gallery walk, you will come to understand the tragedy and its place in the opening of the west. Regular museum admission rates apply. National Frontier Trails Museum, 318 W. Pacific, Independence, MO. For more information, visit their website found on the "Jacomo Bookmark" link at the top of this HistorE-calendar, or call 816.325.7575.

 

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Friday, April 4, 2008

6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Fashion Shows at 7:30; 8:00; and, 8:30 p.m.

Historic Garment District Museum presents First Friday Designer Vintage Fashion Show

They have a wonderful vintage collection and want to show it off. Join them for this fundraiser benefitting the Johnson County Community College and Fashion Group International, hosted by the Historic Garment District Museum. Dress in YOUR favorite vintage outfit to make it a real affair. Adults $10; students $5. Historic Garment District Museum, 801 Broadway, Kansas City, MO 64015. For more information call 816.472.2112. R.S.V.P. to Adrienne at abp@mythology.com.

 

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Saturday, April 5, 2008 (REGISTRATION DEADLINE; call for availability after April 2)

Historic Kansas City Bus Tours

Neighborhoods and Exterior Colors 9:30 am to 12:00 noon

Period Homes and Interiors from 1:00 pm to 3:30 pm

Historic Kansas City Foundation presents two springtime bus tours. Both tours begin at the Westport Presbyterian Church, 201 Westport Road.  Ample parking is available in the parking lot behind the church.  Enter the parking lot from Archibald Street which is one-way going west from Baltimore.  Historic Kansas City Foundation members ($18 one tour; $30 two tours); non-members ($23/$40). Lunch is on your own at one of the many restaurants in the Westport area. Please arrive at 9:15 am and/or 12:45 pm for check-in at the church parking lot. For more information call HKCF at 816.931.8448.

 

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Saturday, April 5, 2008

5:30 Appetizers/Wagon Rides

6:30 BBQ Supper

7:30 Presentation

Rails and Trails Annual Benefit Dinner

Join Mr.O'Brien for a musical journey highlighting songs of the Old West, the railways and characters found along the way.  Hear tales of the people and songwriters behind the stories. Classic folk music, complete with guitar strumming, banjo picking, and a sing-a-long!  Before or after the show, visit the gallery exhibits and the Chicago & Alton Depot on the National Frontier Trails Museum grounds. Reservations are requested. $25 adults; $10 ages 6-17. For more information, visit the National Frontier Trails Museum website found on the "Jacomo Bookmark" link at the top of this HistorE-calendar, or call 816.325.7575.

 

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Sunday, April 6, 2008

2 p.m.

Holocaust Survivors Panel: An Important, Deeply Moving Experience

The Harry S Truman Presidential Library and Museum hosts a one-hour forum with three Holocaust survivors now living in Greater Kansas City. Fran Sternberg, historian with the Midwest Center for Holocaust Education, will moderate the conversations with Isak Federman, Ann Federman, and Jack Mandelbaum. Truman Library Auditorium. Program included with Museum admission ($8 adult, $7 senior, $3 (6-15), 5 and younger free). Reservations are recommended for this program. For more information, visit the Library's website found on the "Jacomo Bookmark" link at the top of this HistorE-calendar. To guarantee seating, call 816.268.8261.

 

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Tuesday through Thursday, April 8 to 10, 2008

10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

A special invitation to Jackson County (Mo.) Historical Society members! Stop by the Society's Archives located in the Jackson County Truman Courthouse on historic Independence Square to sign a Statement of Support for the renovation and repurposing of the historic Jackson County Truman Courthouse. Members may add their signature to a letter that will be presented to the Jackson County Executive, Mike Sanders, and the Mayor of Independence, Ron Reimal. The Board of Directors of the Jackson County (Mo.) Historical Society have already submitted a letter of support, and they would like to afford Society members the same opportunity. Anyone wishing to become a member and add their endorsement are also most welcome. 112 West Lexington Ave, Ste 103, Independence, MO 64050.

 

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Thursday, April 10, 2008

4 p.m.

City of the Future: Kansas City's Progressive Utopia

Drawing on his new book, Boss-Busters and Sin Hounds: Kansas City and Its "Star," Harry Haskell visits our area to examine Kansas City's short-lived progressive era, the reasons behind its untimely demise, and its enduring significance today. Haskell, a third-generation Star employee, was former music critic The Star. An encapsulated perspective of Boss-Busters and Sin Hounds may be found in the Autumn 2007 issue of the Jackson County (Mo.) Historical Society JOURNAL. This Charles N. Kimball Lecture will be held in the Pierson Auditorium, University Center, University of Missouri-Kansas City. For more information and directions, contact the Western Historical Manuscript Collection-Kansas City via their website found on the "Jacomo Bookmark" link at the top of this HistorE-calendar.

 

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Thursday, April 10, 2008

6:15 p.m.

Wild About Harry Celebrates 60th Anniversary of President Truman's Whistle Stop Campaign

The Harry S Truman Library Institute hosts its annual fundraising dinner featuring legendary newsman, Tom Brokaw, who will bring his unique perspective to the current election while recalling past presidential campaigns, including Harry Truman's unforgettable Whistle Stop Campaign of 1948. Event proceeds provide vital funding for the world-class exhibitions, public forums, and nationally acclaimed educational programs of the Harry S Truman Library and Museum. $150 per person. Sponsorships start at $1,000. Kansas City Marriott Downtown-Muehlebach Hotel. Tickets may be purchased online at the Truman Library's website found on the "Jacomo Bookmark" link at the top of this HistorE-calendar. Or, call Kim Rausch at 816.268.8237.

 

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Friday, April 11, 2008

1 p.m.

Groundbreaking Ceremony

The City of Kansas City, Missouri, will hold a groundbreaking ceremony to celebrate the beginning of construction of a new pedestrian trail in the area. This project consists of the construction of a 10-foot wide, 1,200 foot-long pedestrian trail that will run from Oak to Wornall along Santa Fe Trail Road adjacent to Avila University.

Please join us at the construction site at E. Santa Fe Road and Wornall. Parking will be available at the Greek Orthodox Church of the Annunciation, 12001 Wornall, Kansas City, MO 64145.

 

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Saturday, April 12, 2008

11 a.m. and 2 p.m.

OREGON OR BUST!

Produced by the Puppetry Arts Institute in collaboration with the National Frontier Trails Museum. Made possible by funding from Muriel McBrian Kauffman Foundation, ArtsKC Catalyst grant, Marie Kellogg, Trudy Foundation, R. A. Long Foundation, Mader Foundation and Target. Joann McMillan, director, writer and puppeteer and Emma McLean, puppeteer present to you Abigail and her family as they trek 2,000 miles in a 200-wagon train adventure on the Oregon Trail. $7.00 per person for the show and museum entrance fee. National Frontier Trails Museum, 318 W. Pacific, Independence, MO. For more information visit the Puppetry Arts Institute website found on the "Jacomo Bookmark" link at the top of this HistorE-calendar, or contact Diane Houk at 816.833.9777, or pai@att.net.

 

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Saturday, April 12, 2008

Growing Your Family Tree

St. Louis Genealogical Society's 38th Annual Family History Conference is the largest single day genealogy event in the Midwest! Maryland Heights Centre, 2344 McKelvey Road. For more information visit the StLGS Web site: www.stlgs.org, or contact the St. Louis Genealogical Society at 314.647.8547.

 

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THE SIGNS OF GIVING BIG

AND A WAY TO COMMEMORATE A LOCAL HISTORY SAGA

     The Spring 2007 Jackson County (Mo.) Historical Society JOURNAL had a fascinating article by Shirley Willard, "Death at Jackson County's Doorstep: Potawatomi Trial of Death Crossed Jackson County."

     In 1838, 859 Potawatomi Indians were forcibly removed from their northern Indiana home near Twin Lakes to Kansas as part of the government sponsored removal campaigns of Indians to resettlement sites. Hardships of the journey led to 40 deaths.

     Roy Slavin, member of the Citizens Potawatomi Nation, wrote to us with a specific requests to our members and friends in the Kansas City metropolitan area. His great grandmother was on the Trail of Death in 1838.

     The 5th annual trail of death commemorative caravan will begin on September 22, 2008, at the Fulton County Museum and visit each site where the original removal caravan camped. The Potawatomi Trail of Death Association has, with the aid of Boy Scout troops, descendents of the Potawatomi who were in the original removal and many historical societies erected markers at these camp sites.

     The first of these sites in Jackson County, Missouri, is near Buckner at the Fire Prairie Creek Wetland Park. The Marker was dedicated and erected by Josh Donnici for his eagle award. The second site is at Little Blue River Nature reserve, Also known as Lake City Bicycle Park, Part of Burr Oak Woods State Forest. This marker was dedicated and erected by Jon Paul Wilson for his eagle award.  The third camp site is at the junction of Truman road and Noland road in the Robert Sermon community Center. The marker is across the walk from the front door of the Pioneer Springs Log cabin. This marker was dedicated by Mark Mareno for his eagle award. The fourth site is at Grandview in Minor Park the marker is located just north of the pavilion. It was dedicated by Scout Leader Charles Hasenyager and Boy Scout Troop 280. From this site records indicate they proceeded south on the east side of state line to the next camp site located at the corner of State Line road and 215th St. This marker was dedicated and erected by the Navaare Family, Members of the Prairie Band Potawatomi.

     From there the trail continues on to just south of Osawatomi, Kansas where the Military left them. They spent the winter there and then moved to St. Mary's Mission at Sugar Creek, Kansas, where they remained for approximately 10 years before being re-moved again.

     The Potawatomi Trail of Death Association is working to install hi-way signs (similar to the Lewis and Clark Trail signs) along the trail so motorist, bikers and hikers can travel the route. The signs will mark the route from Indiana to the final stop at Sugar Creek. On September 15, 2007, the first of these signs was dedicated in Indiana. It was sponsored by the Daughters of American Revolution, Indiana. The Indiana state DAR regent hopes to have the county DAR chapters sponsor more of these markers across Indiana.

     The signs, designed by Potawatomi artist, David Anderson, Seattle, Washington, cost $60 each, including directional arrow signs. The Trail of Death Association is asking for donations to help with the cost. They estimate approximately 20 signs per county.

     We can do this for $1,200! WILL YOU HELP?

     Please make check to "PDTA" c/o Fulton County (In.) Historical Society, 37 E 375, N. Rochester, IN 46975. Roy Slavin is at rjslavin@sbcglobal.net. Request your donation for "Jackson County" signage. If you donate four or more signs, your family or business name as the donor will also be on the sign.

 

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Saturday, April 19, 2008

8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Guided Bus Tour to Sites Connected with Quantrill Raids

The Trails Head Chapter of the Oregon-California Trails Association invites you to an adventurous day. Bus leaves 8:30 am from the northeast corner of the Sears/Kmart parking lot at I-35 and Shawnee Mission Parkway in Merriam, KS. We will lunch at the historic Eldridge Hotel in Lawrence. $45 per person includes charter bus, maps, handout materials, snacks, drinks, and lunch. Reservations may be made by calling:  816.941.0728. Send checks to Trails Head Chapter, % Jim Budde, 11712 Glen Arbor Terr, Kansas City, MO, 64114.

 

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Saturday, April 19, 2008

10 a.m.

Crazy Quilt Workshop

National Frontier Trails Museum presents the basics of making a "crazy quilt" like the pioneers did with noted local quilter Sharron Gregg.  This workshop will introduce participants to the art of making these delightful quilt squares.  The only thing you need to bring is a thimble!  A wonderful activity for grandmothers, mothers, and daughters! Suitable for ages 10 through adult. $15/per person includes all materials. Class size is limited. Reservations required.  For more information, visit the National Frontier Trails Museum website found on the "Jacomo Bookmark" link at the top of this HistorE-calendar, or call 816.325.7575.

 

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Wednesday, April 23, 2008

3:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Kick off springtime with the Heritage League of Greater Kansas City's first regional social mixer of 2008. Meet and greet history and heritage professions from around the metro. AND, tour one the area's premier house museums. Refreshments will also be served. All Heritage League members and prospective members are welcome and are encouraged to attend FREE. The 1881 Vaile Victorian Mansion, 1500 North Liberty, Independence, Missouri. For more information, visit the League's website found on the "Jacomo Bookmark" link at the top of this HistorE-calendar.

 

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Saturday, May 3, 2008

8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Guided Bus Tour to New Kansas City Historic Trail Sites. The Missouri River Outfitters Chapter of the Santa Fe Trail Association invite you on a trek you'll not soon forget. The tour covers only the new trail parks, signage and sculptures that have existed only for the last three years or less! Bus leaves 8:30 a.m. from the parking lot at Main and Truman Rd, Independence, MO. $45 per person includes charter bus, maps, handout materials, snacks, drinks and lunch. For reservations call, 913.262.6445. Send checks to MRO Chapter, % Ross Marshall, 6624 Craig Rd, Merriam, KS  66202.

 

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JOHN BROWN at the LYRIC OPERA

Saturday, May 3, 2008; 8 p.m.; OPENING NIGHT

Monday, May 5, 2008; 7:30 p.m.

Wednesday, May 7, 2008; 7:30 p.m.

Friday, May 9, 2008; 8 p.m.

Sunday, May 11, 2008 2 p.m. MATINEE

The Lyric Opera-Kansas City brings history to life in this World Premiere opera about the truly epic abolitionist, John Brown. Audiences will be immersed in the tumultuous days of Lawrence, Kansas, in the 1850s. Through gorgeous choral music, composer Kirke Merchem tells Brown's story with meticulous detail and the inclusion of historical figures like Ralph Waldo Emerson and Frederick Douglass. For more information, visit http://kc-opera.org/OurSeason/johnbrown.html. Get your tickets early by calling the Lyric at 816.471.7344 or 1.877.673.7252.

 

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EXHIBITS:

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Through May 18, 2008

"Who The Heck Was R. D. Mize? A History of Some Local Street Names. Blue Springs Historical Society, Dillingham-Lewis House Museum, 15th & Main Streets, Blue Springs, MO. Sundays Only from 2 to 5 p.m. For more information, visit their website available through the Jackson County Historical Society's "Jacomo Bookmark" linked at the top of this HistorE-Calendar, or call Jacquelin Page, 816.224-4910.

 

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Through May 2008

The Curiosity Cabinet Exhibit

A photographic exhibit of unusual oddities - the weird and wondrous, the fascinating and forgotten, the surprising and stupendous - from the collections of members of the Western Museum Association. Hosted by the Clendening History of Medicine Museum and the University of Kansas Medical Center, the exhibit is on display in the Foyer of the Clendening History of Medicine Library at the University of Kansas Medical Center. For more information, visit their website available through the Jackson County Historical Society's "Jacomo Bookmark" linked at the top of this HistorE-Calendar.

 

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through August 31, 2008

Coming of Age in Johnson County, 1960-1976

The 1960s and 1970s were a rite of passage. Check out this fascinating exhibit to explore how local residents responded to the issues of the times! For more information visit the Johnson County Museum's website available through the Jackson County Historical Society's "Jacomo Bookmark" linked at the top of this HistorE-Calendar).

 

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YOUR FINANCIAL SUPPORT HELPS US KEEP HISTOR-E ALIVE!

We can't do all of this without YOU! Remember that your Jackson County (Mo.) Historical Society is a nonprofit organization, supported by memberships, donations and bequests! If you'd like to become a member, or take your support to the next higher level so that we may continue to vigorously pursue our mission, please call us anytime at 816.461.1897; or, e-mail our executive director, Steve Noll, at snoll@jchs.org.

 

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Kindly pass this on to friends, acquaintances and family members who may enjoy Jackson County and Kansas City regional history. . .and invite them to subscribe for themselves by entering their e-mail address at http://www.jchs.org

 

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This information is broadcast via e-mail FREE once a month to members and friends of the Jackson County (Mo.) Historical Society, a private, nonprofit organization dedicated to collecting, preserving and making available items documenting the history and heritage of the Kansas City metropolitan area.

 

Jackson County (Mo.) Historical Society

114 S. Main, Ste 103

Independence, MO 64050

816.461.1897

 

If you prefer not to receive further e-mail correspondence, you can unsubscribe from our list by pointing your browser to http://www.jchs.org/lists.php and entering your email address in the appropriate box. If you have problem unsubscribing, or need assistance, please contact the Jackson County Historical Society at 816.252.7454. We welcome submissions to this e-calendar from other local historical organizations. Submit information for possible inclusion at least one month in advance of our monthly HistorE-Calendar.

HistorE-Calendar

From Your

Jackson County (Mo.) Historical Society

 

April 2008

 

PASS THIS ON; SUBSCRIBE FREE AT www.jchs.org

 

ALL LOCAL HISTORY & HERITAGE places are found at http://www.jchs.org/education/jacomo_bookmark.htm.

Make "Jacomo Bookmark" your Internet browser's homepage.

 

If you find this information useful, please give credit to the Jackson County (Mo.) Historical Society. If you attend any of these HistorE-related functions, mention to the hosts about the Jackson County (Mo.) Historical Society's HistorE-Calendar.

 

**********

Tuesday, April 1, 2008

11 a.m.

Kansas City, Missouri's fountain season starts today. All 49 fountains under the care and maintenance of Kansas City Parks and Recreation will be turned on--a true sign of the start of spring in the City of Fountains! You're invited to join the Mayor, the Board of Parks and Recreation Commissioners and the City of Fountains Foundation for the official Fountain Day ceremony at the Muse of Missouri Fountain, 8th & Main Streets.

 

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Tuesday, April 1, 2008

4 to 7 p.m. OPEN HOUSE

4:30 and 6 p.m. TRAIL CONCEPT REVIEW

Kansas City Missouri Trails Plan OPEN HOUSE

Kansas City currently only has 25 miles of shared-use trails, and needs you input to ensure the needs of Kansas Citians and other trial users are reflected in the City's future trail system. Provide your input on trial priorities, including key corridors, trail standards, and the proposed funding and implementation plan. Discovery Center, 4750 Troost Avenue. For more information call Shannon Jaax, Kansas City Planning and Development Department, 816.513.2855.

 

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Wednesday, April 2, 2008

6:30 p.m.

The Sons of Union Veterans presents Lee Ward and Josh Campbell on, "Marking the Union and Confederate Graves, Carpenter Cemetery, Johnson County, MO." All members and those interested are invited to attend. If you are a qualified male descendent of a Union enlistee in the Civil War, you are invited to join SUV. For questions and additional information, contact Lee Ward at ilward64050@yahoo.com. Sons of Union Veterans meets the 1st Wednesday of each month at 6:30 p.m., Trails West Library on 23rd street in Independence, Missouri.

 

The Jackson County (Mo.) Historical Society has also just released a new, 16-page booklet titled, "Conserving Missouri Cemeteries," which provides practical advice to those who desire to preserve small, pioneer cemeteries in their communities. $3 copies (plus s/h) may be ordered online at www.jchs.org, or by calling 816.252.7454.

 

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Thursday, April 3, 2008

7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

The Military Road

Presented by CMDR (Ret.) Orvis Fitts, Past President of the Civil War Round Table of KC, the Westport Historical Society and the Heart of America Chapter of the Military Officers Association of America and Past Chairman of Monnett Battle of Westport Fund, Inc. The Military Road was built to establish the Indian Policy of the U. S. Government. Congress approved the legislation in 1836. By 1845, it stretched from Fort Snelling in Minnesota to Fort Jesup in Louisiana. It was nearly 1000 miles long, and at that time it was the Western Frontier. After 1854, it became the conduit for white immigration into eastern Territorial Kansas. For more information call the Historical Society of New Santa Fe at The Trailside Center, 9901 Holmes Road, Kansas City.

 

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Thursday, April 3, 2008

4 to 7 p.m. OPEN HOUSE

4:30 and 6 p.m. TRAIL CONCEPT REVIEW

Kansas City Missouri Trails Plan OPEN HOUSE

Kansas City currently only has 25 miles of shared-use trails, and needs you input to ensure the needs of Kansas Citians and other trial users are reflected in the City's future trail system. Provide your input on trial priorities, including key corridors, trail standards, and the proposed funding and implementation plan. Schoal Creek Patrol Station, 6801 NE Pleasant Valley Road (I-435 and Schoal Creek Parkway). For more information call Shannon Jaax, Kansas City Planning and Development Department, 816.513.2855.

 

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Thursday, April 3, 2008 (repeated on Thursdays, April 10, 17 and 24)

2 p.m.

The Donner Party Goes West

The experiences of the famed Donner party captured the hearts and minds of the 1840's America.  In this 30-minute gallery walk, you will come to understand the tragedy and its place in the opening of the west. Regular museum admission rates apply. National Frontier Trails Museum, 318 W. Pacific, Independence, MO. For more information, visit their website found on the "Jacomo Bookmark" link at the top of this HistorE-calendar, or call 816.325.7575.

 

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Friday, April 4, 2008

6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Fashion Shows at 7:30; 8:00; and, 8:30 p.m.

Historic Garment District Museum presents First Friday Designer Vintage Fashion Show

They have a wonderful vintage collection and want to show it off. Join them for this fundraiser benefitting the Johnson County Community College and Fashion Group International, hosted by the Historic Garment District Museum. Dress in YOUR favorite vintage outfit to make it a real affair. Adults $10; students $5. Historic Garment District Museum, 801 Broadway, Kansas City, MO 64015. For more information call 816.472.2112. R.S.V.P. to Adrienne at abp@mythology.com.

 

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Saturday, April 5, 2008 (REGISTRATION DEADLINE; call for availability after April 2)

Historic Kansas City Bus Tours

Neighborhoods and Exterior Colors 9:30 am to 12:00 noon

Period Homes and Interiors from 1:00 pm to 3:30 pm

Historic Kansas City Foundation presents two springtime bus tours. Both tours begin at the Westport Presbyterian Church, 201 Westport Road.  Ample parking is available in the parking lot behind the church.  Enter the parking lot from Archibald Street which is one-way going west from Baltimore.  Historic Kansas City Foundation members ($18 one tour; $30 two tours); non-members ($23/$40). Lunch is on your own at one of the many restaurants in the Westport area. Please arrive at 9:15 am and/or 12:45 pm for check-in at the church parking lot. For more information call HKCF at 816.931.8448.

 

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Saturday, April 5, 2008

5:30 Appetizers/Wagon Rides

6:30 BBQ Supper

7:30 Presentation

Rails and Trails Annual Benefit Dinner

Join Mr.O'Brien for a musical journey highlighting songs of the Old West, the railways and characters found along the way.  Hear tales of the people and songwriters behind the stories. Classic folk music, complete with guitar strumming, banjo picking, and a sing-a-long!  Before or after the show, visit the gallery exhibits and the Chicago & Alton Depot on the National Frontier Trails Museum grounds. Reservations are requested. $25 adults; $10 ages 6-17. For more information, visit the National Frontier Trails Museum website found on the "Jacomo Bookmark" link at the top of this HistorE-calendar, or call 816.325.7575.

 

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Sunday, April 6, 2008

2 p.m.

Holocaust Survivors Panel: An Important, Deeply Moving Experience

The Harry S Truman Presidential Library and Museum hosts a one-hour forum with three Holocaust survivors now living in Greater Kansas City. Fran Sternberg, historian with the Midwest Center for Holocaust Education, will moderate the conversations with Isak Federman, Ann Federman, and Jack Mandelbaum. Truman Library Auditorium. Program included with Museum admission ($8 adult, $7 senior, $3 (6-15), 5 and younger free). Reservations are recommended for this program. For more information, visit the Library's website found on the "Jacomo Bookmark" link at the top of this HistorE-calendar. To guarantee seating, call 816.268.8261.

 

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Tuesday through Thursday, April 8 to 10, 2008

10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

A special invitation to Jackson County (Mo.) Historical Society members! Stop by the Society's Archives located in the Jackson County Truman Courthouse on historic Independence Square to sign a Statement of Support for the renovation and repurposing of the historic Jackson County Truman Courthouse. Members may add their signature to a letter that will be presented to the Jackson County Executive, Mike Sanders, and the Mayor of Independence, Ron Reimal. The Board of Directors of the Jackson County (Mo.) Historical Society have already submitted a letter of support, and they would like to afford Society members the same opportunity. Anyone wishing to become a member and add their endorsement are also most welcome. 112 West Lexington Ave, Ste 103, Independence, MO 64050.

 

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Thursday, April 10, 2008

4 p.m.

City of the Future: Kansas City's Progressive Utopia

Drawing on his new book, Boss-Busters and Sin Hounds: Kansas City and Its "Star," Harry Haskell visits our area to examine Kansas City's short-lived progressive era, the reasons behind its untimely demise, and its enduring significance today. Haskell, a third-generation Star employee, was former music critic The Star. An encapsulated perspective of Boss-Busters and Sin Hounds may be found in the Autumn 2007 issue of the Jackson County (Mo.) Historical Society JOURNAL. This Charles N. Kimball Lecture will be held in the Pierson Auditorium, University Center, University of Missouri-Kansas City. For more information and directions, contact the Western Historical Manuscript Collection-Kansas City via their website found on the "Jacomo Bookmark" link at the top of this HistorE-calendar.

 

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Thursday, April 10, 2008

6:15 p.m.

Wild About Harry Celebrates 60th Anniversary of President Truman's Whistle Stop Campaign

The Harry S Truman Library Institute hosts its annual fundraising dinner featuring legendary newsman, Tom Brokaw, who will bring his unique perspective to the current election while recalling past presidential campaigns, including Harry Truman's unforgettable Whistle Stop Campaign of 1948. Event proceeds provide vital funding for the world-class exhibitions, public forums, and nationally acclaimed educational programs of the Harry S Truman Library and Museum. $150 per person. Sponsorships start at $1,000. Kansas City Marriott Downtown-Muehlebach Hotel. Tickets may be purchased online at the Truman Library's website found on the "Jacomo Bookmark" link at the top of this HistorE-calendar. Or, call Kim Rausch at 816.268.8237.

 

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Friday, April 11, 2008

1 p.m.

Groundbreaking Ceremony

The City of Kansas City, Missouri, will hold a groundbreaking ceremony to celebrate the beginning of construction of a new pedestrian trail in the area. This project consists of the construction of a 10-foot wide, 1,200 foot-long pedestrian trail that will run from Oak to Wornall along Santa Fe Trail Road adjacent to Avila University.

Please join us at the construction site at E. Santa Fe Road and Wornall. Parking will be available at the Greek Orthodox Church of the Annunciation, 12001 Wornall, Kansas City, MO 64145.

 

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Saturday, April 12, 2008

11 a.m. and 2 p.m.

OREGON OR BUST!

Produced by the Puppetry Arts Institute in collaboration with the National Frontier Trails Museum. Made possible by funding from Muriel McBrian Kauffman Foundation, ArtsKC Catalyst grant, Marie Kellogg, Trudy Foundation, R. A. Long Foundation, Mader Foundation and Target. Joann McMillan, director, writer and puppeteer and Emma McLean, puppeteer present to you Abigail and her family as they trek 2,000 miles in a 200-wagon train adventure on the Oregon Trail. $7.00 per person for the show and museum entrance fee. National Frontier Trails Museum, 318 W. Pacific, Independence, MO. For more information visit the Puppetry Arts Institute website found on the "Jacomo Bookmark" link at the top of this HistorE-calendar, or contact Diane Houk at 816.833.9777, or pai@att.net.

 

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Saturday, April 12, 2008

Growing Your Family Tree

St. Louis Genealogical Society's 38th Annual Family History Conference is the largest single day genealogy event in the Midwest! Maryland Heights Centre, 2344 McKelvey Road. For more information visit the StLGS Web site: www.stlgs.org, or contact the St. Louis Genealogical Society at 314.647.8547.

 

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THE SIGNS OF GIVING BIG

AND A WAY TO COMMEMORATE A LOCAL HISTORY SAGA

     The Spring 2007 Jackson County (Mo.) Historical Society JOURNAL had a fascinating article by Shirley Willard, "Death at Jackson County's Doorstep: Potawatomi Trial of Death Crossed Jackson County."

     In 1838, 859 Potawatomi Indians were forcibly removed from their northern Indiana home near Twin Lakes to Kansas as part of the government sponsored removal campaigns of Indians to resettlement sites. Hardships of the journey led to 40 deaths.

     Roy Slavin, member of the Citizens Potawatomi Nation, wrote to us with a specific requests to our members and friends in the Kansas City metropolitan area. His great grandmother was on the Trail of Death in 1838.

     The 5th annual trail of death commemorative caravan will begin on September 22, 2008, at the Fulton County Museum and visit each site where the original removal caravan camped. The Potawatomi Trail of Death Association has, with the aid of Boy Scout troops, descendents of the Potawatomi who were in the original removal and many historical societies erected markers at these camp sites.

     The first of these sites in Jackson County, Missouri, is near Buckner at the Fire Prairie Creek Wetland Park. The Marker was dedicated and erected by Josh Donnici for his eagle award. The second site is at Little Blue River Nature reserve, Also known as Lake City Bicycle Park, Part of Burr Oak Woods State Forest. This marker was dedicated and erected by Jon Paul Wilson for his eagle award.  The third camp site is at the junction of Truman road and Noland road in the Robert Sermon community Center. The marker is across the walk from the front door of the Pioneer Springs Log cabin. This marker was dedicated by Mark Mareno for his eagle award. The fourth site is at Grandview in Minor Park the marker is located just north of the pavilion. It was dedicated by Scout Leader Charles Hasenyager and Boy Scout Troop 280. From this site records indicate they proceeded south on the east side of state line to the next camp site located at the corner of State Line road and 215th St. This marker was dedicated and erected by the Navaare Family, Members of the Prairie Band Potawatomi.

     From there the trail continues on to just south of Osawatomi, Kansas where the Military left them. They spent the winter there and then moved to St. Mary's Mission at Sugar Creek, Kansas, where they remained for approximately 10 years before being re-moved again.

     The Potawatomi Trail of Death Association is working to install hi-way signs (similar to the Lewis and Clark Trail signs) along the trail so motorist, bikers and hikers can travel the route. The signs will mark the route from Indiana to the final stop at Sugar Creek. On September 15, 2007, the first of these signs was dedicated in Indiana. It was sponsored by the Daughters of American Revolution, Indiana. The Indiana state DAR regent hopes to have the county DAR chapters sponsor more of these markers across Indiana.

     The signs, designed by Potawatomi artist, David Anderson, Seattle, Washington, cost $60 each, including directional arrow signs. The Trail of Death Association is asking for donations to help with the cost. They estimate approximately 20 signs per county.

     We can do this for $1,200! WILL YOU HELP?

     Please make check to "PDTA" c/o Fulton County (In.) Historical Society, 37 E 375, N. Rochester, IN 46975. Roy Slavin is at rjslavin@sbcglobal.net. Request your donation for "Jackson County" signage. If you donate four or more signs, your family or business name as the donor will also be on the sign.

 

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Saturday, April 19, 2008

8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Guided Bus Tour to Sites Connected with Quantrill Raids

The Trails Head Chapter of the Oregon-California Trails Association invites you to an adventurous day. Bus leaves 8:30 am from the northeast corner of the Sears/Kmart parking lot at I-35 and Shawnee Mission Parkway in Merriam, KS. We will lunch at the historic Eldridge Hotel in Lawrence. $45 per person includes charter bus, maps, handout materials, snacks, drinks, and lunch. Reservations may be made by calling:  816.941.0728. Send checks to Trails Head Chapter, % Jim Budde, 11712 Glen Arbor Terr, Kansas City, MO, 64114.

 

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Saturday, April 19, 2008

10 a.m.

Crazy Quilt Workshop

National Frontier Trails Museum presents the basics of making a "crazy quilt" like the pioneers did with noted local quilter Sharron Gregg.  This workshop will introduce participants to the art of making these delightful quilt squares.  The only thing you need to bring is a thimble!  A wonderful activity for grandmothers, mothers, and daughters! Suitable for ages 10 through adult. $15/per person includes all materials. Class size is limited. Reservations required.  For more information, visit the National Frontier Trails Museum website found on the "Jacomo Bookmark" link at the top of this HistorE-calendar, or call 816.325.7575.

 

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Wednesday, April 23, 2008

3:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Kick off springtime with the Heritage League of Greater Kansas City's first regional social mixer of 2008. Meet and greet history and heritage professions from around the metro. AND, tour one the area's premier house museums. Refreshments will also be served. All Heritage League members and prospective members are welcome and are encouraged to attend FREE. The 1881 Vaile Victorian Mansion, 1500 North Liberty, Independence, Missouri. For more information, visit the League's website found on the "Jacomo Bookmark" link at the top of this HistorE-calendar.

 

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Saturday, May 3, 2008

8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Guided Bus Tour to New Kansas City Historic Trail Sites. The Missouri River Outfitters Chapter of the Santa Fe Trail Association invite you on a trek you'll not soon forget. The tour covers only the new trail parks, signage and sculptures that have existed only for the last three years or less! Bus leaves 8:30 a.m. from the parking lot at Main and Truman Rd, Independence, MO. $45 per person includes charter bus, maps, handout materials, snacks, drinks and lunch. For reservations call, 913.262.6445. Send checks to MRO Chapter, % Ross Marshall, 6624 Craig Rd, Merriam, KS  66202.

 

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JOHN BROWN at the LYRIC OPERA

Saturday, May 3, 2008; 8 p.m.; OPENING NIGHT

Monday, May 5, 2008; 7:30 p.m.

Wednesday, May 7, 2008; 7:30 p.m.

Friday, May 9, 2008; 8 p.m.

Sunday, May 11, 2008 2 p.m. MATINEE

The Lyric Opera-Kansas City brings history to life in this World Premiere opera about the truly epic abolitionist, John Brown. Audiences will be immersed in the tumultuous days of Lawrence, Kansas, in the 1850s. Through gorgeous choral music, composer Kirke Merchem tells Brown's story with meticulous detail and the inclusion of historical figures like Ralph Waldo Emerson and Frederick Douglass. For more information, visit http://kc-opera.org/OurSeason/johnbrown.html. Get your tickets early by calling the Lyric at 816.471.7344 or 1.877.673.7252.

 

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EXHIBITS:

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Through May 18, 2008

"Who The Heck Was R. D. Mize? A History of Some Local Street Names. Blue Springs Historical Society, Dillingham-Lewis House Museum, 15th & Main Streets, Blue Springs, MO. Sundays Only from 2 to 5 p.m. For more information, visit their website available through the Jackson County Historical Society's "Jacomo Bookmark" linked at the top of this HistorE-Calendar, or call Jacquelin Page, 816.224-4910.

 

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Through May 2008

The Curiosity Cabinet Exhibit

A photographic exhibit of unusual oddities - the weird and wondrous, the fascinating and forgotten, the surprising and stupendous - from the collections of members of the Western Museum Association. Hosted by the Clendening History of Medicine Museum and the University of Kansas Medical Center, the exhibit is on display in the Foyer of the Clendening History of Medicine Library at the University of Kansas Medical Center. For more information, visit their website available through the Jackson County Historical Society's "Jacomo Bookmark" linked at the top of this HistorE-Calendar.

 

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through August 31, 2008

Coming of Age in Johnson County, 1960-1976

The 1960s and 1970s were a rite of passage. Check out this fascinating exhibit to explore how local residents responded to the issues of the times! For more information visit the Johnson County Museum's website available through the Jackson County Historical Society's "Jacomo Bookmark" linked at the top of this HistorE-Calendar).

 

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YOUR FINANCIAL SUPPORT HELPS US KEEP HISTOR-E ALIVE!

We can't do all of this without YOU! Remember that your Jackson County (Mo.) Historical Society is a nonprofit organization, supported by memberships, donations and bequests! If you'd like to become a member, or take your support to the next higher level so that we may continue to vigorously pursue our mission, please call us anytime at 816.461.1897; or, e-mail our executive director, Steve Noll, at snoll@jchs.org.

 

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Kindly pass this on to friends, acquaintances and family members who may enjoy Jackson County and Kansas City regional history. . .and invite them to subscribe for themselves by entering their e-mail address at http://www.jchs.org

 

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This information is broadcast via e-mail FREE once a month to members and friends of the Jackson County (Mo.) Historical Society, a private, nonprofit organization dedicated to collecting, preserving and making available items documenting the history and heritage of the Kansas City metropolitan area.

 

Jackson County (Mo.) Historical Society

114 S. Main, Ste 103

Independence, MO 64050

816.461.1897

 

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