In Memory of Father Bruce

This post is in Memory of Father Bruce Rahtjen who loved and appreciated the preservation of our history far more than most and was an absolute delight to have as a Northeast neighbor. He, like many of us in our community, treasured the architectural wonders we possess and was constantly vigilant against any who would diminish all of us through selfish destruction of our inheritance. Bruce will be sorely missed. More shots from the bike ride on Sunday through the three neighborhoods north of Independence Boulevard/Avenue. Above and below... this home was used for part of a movie production, Robert Altman's "Kansas City" released in 1996... the production company helped refurbish the exterior of the home.

Above, a bed and breakfast on Gladstone Boulevard.


Below the porch of E. Harry Kelly's house. Kelly was a ragtime performer and composer in the early part of the last century. This house is listed on the local Register of Historic Places.

Above and below.... stately. The dual garages belonged to the Heim Brothers who erected twin houses to live adjacent to each other. They owned and operated the Heim Brewery in the East Bottoms... as well as the first iteration of Electric Park in the same location.

Above the newly renovated Benton Circle and below two more views of the "Kansas City" house.


Many of the homes in Pendleton Heights are just plain cute.


Even SOME of the apartments are getting into manicured lawns.

Above and below as seen along Gladstone Boulevard just east of the Museum.

Above, one more from Pendleton.

An Aztec Solstice

Although there is considerable disagreement with my conclusions I am happy to show the Summer Solstice at the Aztec creation known as Carl DiCapo Fountain. Only one week per year does the sun strike the face of the water marvel reaching its peak illumination on this day each year. Constructed approximately in 400 BCE (the brickwork dates it) the fountain/waterfall/sacrificial pond thingy was the earliest use of electricity in the New World.

The face of the fall is re-cycled mud brick covered with syrup for water proofing. Ancient symbols frequently, mysteriously appear on its face. And I rest my case with .... Who else would build something to catch the sun just once a year?

ScarrPendleMound--or, Today's Bike Ride

I try to ride the bike several times a week and generally travel amongst Indian Mound, Pendleton Heights and Scarritt Renaissance neighborhoods... which I have shortened to ScarrPendleMound. Lot's of nicely maintained homes and yards and just enough hills to make for a goodly amount of exercise. Today was much nicer with lower humidity.




Above home glows in the dark....I like how the "Beware of Dog" sign matches the house color.
There is probably an excessive amount of Day Lilies posted here but they are in bloom now.



I like symmetry....

Above and below homes on adjoining lots elegantly planted.


Homes of all sizes live in our hood......

Above the Concourse Fountain with St. Anthony's in the background. Below, an Indian Mound home on Van Brunt Boulevard. Tomorrow... the other half of the ride.

Biker Drive By

The Kansas City Bike Club held it's City of Fountains Bicycle Tour 2010 this morning and three fountains in the Northeast were on the route. Actually there were 5 routes of 9, 17, 22, 31 and 39 miles respectively. Above, a portion of the riders by the Carl DiCapo Fountain along Cliff Drive... and, below, the group coming back from visiting the War Dead Memorial at Van Brunt and Budd Park Esplanade.... they are heading up Gladstone Boulevard toward the Concourse Fountain and sites beyond.
I hope you all appreciate the fact that Hyper got out of bed at 7am on a Sunday to get these shots.....

Bride+Groom+Chapel=Marriage

Rachel and Dean exchanged vows at the Grand River Chapel on the William Jewel Campus yesterday.... the weather cleared just in time.The Chapel was originally built in Jameson, Missouri, a town about 100 miles north of Kansas City... in the last census it had a population of 120 people. Constructed in 1918 the college moved the chapel to campus board by board in 1992 and rebuilt it. It is very popular for small weddings, holding about 100 people.

A small group of friends and family attended the service and the reception afterward at the groom's family home....

They are a hugely fun couple and are perfect for each other.... congratulations.....