Sunday, August 12, 2012

The Grisly Hand At The KC Museum

 The last in the Summer Concert Series at the Kansas City Museum was last Friday night and The Grisly Hand entertained a record crowd of 300 people on the Corinthian Hall Grounds.  Great group, wonderful weather, awesome night.    A few pictures follow along with a clip of the band's first song.


 Dogs are very welcome.... no cats were in attendance.
 Above, the Google Fiber truck was there giving out free ice cream.... it was popular....
















 All shots taken with the Nikon D800 and either 24-70mm lens, or, the 70-200mm lens.  ISO set on Auto. Aperture priority F5.6 mostly.

Friday, August 10, 2012

Anna, Flora, Emma, Margret, Eva

More from my Grandmother's Trunk.   Left to right,  Anna Vetter (mother/great grandmother)  Flora Remley, my grandmother, Emma Vetter, my Aunt, Margre Vetter, my aunt and holding Eva Flora's first of five children.  Eva was born in 1909 so that would be the year of the picture.  Don't know the location though... it's not the house they lived in at the time which was at 2002 Broadway.... shown below, now replaced by commercial buildings.

Thursday, August 9, 2012

Ordering A Cat 1908

 More items from Grandmother's Trunk.   A letter, below, confirming the delivery of one angora cat.  My Great-Grandfather on my Father's side was Manager of Western Sash and Door.  His boss was William Huttig, well known local business man in early 1900s KC.   The letter is addressed to Mr. Huttig.  But, since it was in with Grandmother's other things, I assume this was ordered by my Grandfather through Mr. Huttig.  (That is just a guess though.)   Above is the photo that accompanied the letter.  Below the letter is a picture of the actual cat after arrival...   as is normal the cat could care less.  This was in 1908 the same year my Grandmother married my Grandfather... she was 18.
Western Sash and Door was first located in Iowa.  William Huttig moved to KC in the 1880s and moved the business to around Southwest Trafficway and Broadway.   He then moved the business to Wilson Road in Northeast KC and the name was changed to "Huttig Mills."  It was located where the North/East Branch Library is today.... I'll have a picture of it in later posts.
Just found the above in the trunk....  a letter reminding my Grandfather to ship back the cat crate...  his last name wast "Vetter" though and not "Vedder."

Tuesday, August 7, 2012

From My Grandmother's Trunk

My Grandmother, Flora Vetter Remley around 1906
 My family arrived in KC in the 1800s...  one side around 1871 and the other in the early 1880s.  Both families resided on the West Side of Kansas City until the 19-teens when they dispersed somewhat throughout the city with my Vetter side moving to 645 Brighton in Northeast KC in 1913-14. Above are my Aunts Margurite and Emma, Flora's sisters, sitting next to the captured Spanish canon that still resides in the same spot on the Paseo Boulevard at about 12th street. Looks to be around 1906-7.
 My Aunt Margurite made hats so they were always on display in the early photographs.   Below, Flora and Lawrence, my future grandparents in the foreground... with Margurite and unknown in back... all on a picnic in Swope Park.
 Above, James Rosebury Remley, my Great-Grandfather, and his sons Lawrence, left, and Eugene.  James founded the Broadway Bank... the building still stands and was the home to Old Theater Architectural Salvage... it still houses a similar business. This was probably taken in front of his house on Pennsylvania Ave. The house was leveled to make way for Southwest Trafficway.  The home they move into after that, 2122 Jefferson, still stands.   Below, my Grandparents on the other side,  Flora's parents,  George Vetter and his wife Anna Farrar Vetter.   My Grandfather Vetter managed Huttig Mills which was located near Southwest Trafficway and Broadway for years and then moved to Northeast Kansas City.  In Northeast it used to sit where the North/East Library is now.
 Flora attended Lowell School and then Daniel Webster (Webster House now)   I have some of her report cards from both schools... and below two examples of math work at Webster.



Monday, August 6, 2012

Irony

Sent to Mars to look for life, Curiosity killed the cat....

Sunday, July 29, 2012

A Tale of Two Bridges

 The new Redbridge Bridge art installations were dedicated Friday.  Top photo the old Redbridge in the foreground, the new Redbridge in the background.    Above, all along the bridge are images of pioneer leaders of early Kansas City.


 There are also cut-outs that extend from the bridge with information on the area and surroundings with great views.

 Above, the old bridge from above... it's been totally rehabbed and is now part of a walking trail... no vehicles allowed...










 On hand for the art reveal were Councilman Scott Taylor, Councilman John Sharp, three re-enactors, and Mark McHenry Director of Kansas City Parks and Recreation.
 Mr. McHenry surrounded by guests from the Hillcrest Community Center who attended the presentation.