What You Find When You Aren't Looking

 While I was photographing a house across the street I spied this architecturally delightful church.  So I had to investigate.  It is Late Gothic Revival built sometime just prior to 1902 as the Benton Boulevard Baptist Church, 2455 Benton Boulevard. .  Part of it's claim to fame is that Harry Truman was baptized there in 1902 when he was working downtown as a bank clerk with his brother Vivian.   The building was sold to the Macedonia Baptist Church in 1955 and that new congregation moved in in 1957.   Macedonia Baptist built a new building at 1700 E. Linwood Blvd. and moved to it in 2011.   The building is currently for sale  - $120,000.   It's on the register of historic places, but really needs help.  Truthfully, I had never seen this amazing building before.

The City From Northeast

The City as seen from the east.  This site is now the campus of Guadalupe Center.  It originated as National College ( I can't find anything online about it, but, I believe it was founded in the 40s ) then became a Methodist Seminary.   Day and night it's a lovely site.

Spring In Northeast

First warm and leafy day of the new Spring.  North Terrace Lake on Cliff Drive,  Indian Mound, and Kessler Park with it's great view of the skyline.   

Sol Centered

 

Perfect unintentional timing as I arrived at my previously selected spot to shoot the skyline.  The Sun setting right between City Hall and the old Telephone Building. In cases like these, you don't think about anything just react and let the camera do most of the work.  

Spring Is Sprunging

                      A few images from Historic Northeast as Spring 2019 is underway.

 Two homes above and below on Gladstone Boulevard. 

The Kansas City Museum fence has seen 119 Springs come and go. 

 The Magnolias are much healthier this year than last.  Last year's weather was awful for them. 

 Below, one of the homes behind the Museum . 

Wards Building To Be New Jail

The old Montgomery Wards Building, 1906, will be renovated to make it the new County/City jail.  The County Legislature and City Council have approved the conversion to be complete in late 2021.  Inmates will also be used to fulfill catalogue orders.

Speakeasy - Billiards - Finiś

 

Above is the Edward A. Stevens Home constructed in 1902. 

The current owners, Jeff Zumsteg and Jeff Linville, have just completed the last project within the walls of this gem... a Speakeasy and a Billiards Room in the basement.  

To see the rest of the home check out my earlier post below.

https://hyperblogal.blogspot.com/2009/05/historic-northeast-mansions-volume-2.html

Above and below the hallway at the foot of the stairs...this area was originally the Maid's quarters. Door to the speakeasy is top...note the official peephole in the door. 

 Above, the maid's bathroom... now modernized.  Below, the Billiards Room.   Table from the 1800s, a cattleman theme as William Stevens  (the son) was in the cattle business here in KC.  The other child in the family was Eileen. Eileen married T.M. James, the famous purveyor of fine china in Kansas City up to the 1960s.

 Below, William in the center with pictures of the stockyards, the building of the Hannibal Bridge, and Missouri River flooding by Union Station in the West Bottoms.

 Authentic tin ceiling, booth in the corner came from the Phillips Hotel, and the table in front of it from the Muehlebach Hotel.   Below, more pictures and the "secret" entrance into the Speakeasy.

 Above and below, the Speakeasy...entrance granted only upon visual identification.

 Very cozy. 

 Above, when the Stevens' daughter, Eileen, went to England on her honeymoon, she purchased china to bring home.  The wine cabinet above is made from the chest that her china came back to
Kansas City in.

                                                       Above, advance and be recognized.