Winter Color

Visitors to the back yard...one (above) Saturday...one (below) today.  

Abandoned - East Bottoms

 A night scene in the East Bottoms where once a community thrived... some homes are still there but all are aging.

House Of God

 The first church on this site was built in 1887.  The above building was constructed in 1924 and operated as St. Francis Seraph until 1991 when the Parish was combine with St. John and Assumption to become St. Anthony.  It's been vacant ever since.    A local TV station did a story on the abandoned building in 2013.  The city told the reporter the church would be gone by the end of the year. The school and rectory on the site burned and were bulldozed years ago.  Seems sad.  It's at 801 Agnes in the East Bottoms just two blocks from Knuckleheads.

Flowing Light

Concourse Fountain in Northeast Kansas City at sundown 12/16/17

William Chick Scarritt House - Update

Gutted by fire a year and a half ago, the mansion at 3240 Norledge in Northeast Kansas City is slowly returning to its glory.   The curved windows in the "tower" are now being installed.  There is only one factory in the United States that will make to order curved, thermal windows.  It is is Arkansas.  It took a while for those to arrive.  The home was constructed in 1887 for William Chick Scarritt, son of Nathan Scarritt who owned most of the land in the immediate vicinity. 

The Halls Are Decked - The Stevens Home

 The 1902 home of Edward A. Stevens is all aglow for the holiday season thanks to its current owners Jeff Zumsteg and Jeffrey Linville.  The annual decorating takes 10 full 8 hour days, although they spread it out a little more than that.   There are 19 Christmas trees in the house this year.  The home is listed on the National and Local Registers of Historic Places.  It has over 8,000 square feet of living space.

After living in the home for only six months, Mr. Stevens passed away.  His wife, Ellen Stuart Moores White Stevens, son and daughter continued living in the house after his death.  His Daughter Aileen married Herbert James, grandson of T.M. James, and after her mothers passing lived in the home until 1925. 

 The front entryway. 

 Stairs leading to the second floor with original stained glass window. 

 Above, side hallway to the kitchen.  Below, stairs to the second floor. 

 Above, dining room.  Below, Gentlemen's Parlor.  

 Above, third floor ballroom.  Below, Jeff Z's English Village. 

 Above, a Mizzou Tree. :)

 Above, Ellen Stevens' portrait painted in 1865.  The Christmas Cactus was a gift to Jeff Z's Grandfather on his wedding day in 1921.  Still going strong after 96 years.   Below, Mrs. Stevens' first husband, William White's portrait, also 1865, he died at the age of 25.  Mrs. Stevens' was a Mayflower descendent. 

Victorian Christmas

                                                      The 1880s never looked so good.