Friday, April 17, 2009

For Jennie


Every once in a while something intrudes in our lives that we cannot ignore... such is the case with me and Jennie Rutherford. Last summer I was taking pictures in Elmwood Cemetery and knelt by a headstone for a better shot of the chapel. When finished I noticed that the grave marker was for Jennie F. Rutherford, born October 6th, 1885 and died October 31st, 1896. Eleven years old. I have a daughter of my own, healthy thank God, but we who have children know what the pain would be to lose one so young. Jennie died of the croup the undertaker was D.W. Newcomer Sons she was buried November 1, 1896... these things we know. We don't know Jennie. Every 11 year old girl has dreams of her wedding, her future husband... maybe a prince, maybe the grocery clerk... a beautiful day, a church full of flowers. Jennie, I'm sure, had those dreams... and she probably teased her siblings, did her chores around the house and longed for the day when school would let out for the summer. She admired the pretty blue dress in the store window and looked forward to the time when she would hold the hand of her own daughter on her first day of school. Thoughts like that are easy to imagine... what isn't easy to handle is that this child, but for a marker, never existed. Jennie is not in a family plot... but by herself. She is unknown perhaps to the whole world. But no more... once I read the headstone I had met the child. From now on every October 6th I will blog about Jennie... hopefully I can find out more about her family between now and then... but, if not, at least she will be remembered. A child who once ran and laughed and played and cried will again live in our memory. And Jennie, a lot has changed since you passed in 1896... the words I type can be seen around the world in an instant. I have a blog follower in New Zealand .... far, far away... but now she knows about Jennie Rutherford.... so rest in peace little girl... you are not forgotten.

Thursday, April 16, 2009

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Sprint Arena Pictorial




















Toured the new Arena a while back... has some very interesting vistas both inside and out. According to todays KC STAR Pollster Magazine has ranked the Sprint Center one of the top five entertainment venues for the first quarter of 2009 in the United States and number 14 in the world. (Talk about totally unintentional timely blogging :) )

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

A Few Along the Drive





Took a few minutes today (Tues) to cruise along Cliff Drive. Encountered a group of deer along the way who didn't seem too concerned about my presence... three of the five posed for a group photo. The rest of the Drive is greening up nicely with the invasive Bush Honeysuckle leading the way. Closeup is of hickory leaves.

Monday, April 13, 2009

Melrose Methodist






Located at the intersection of Bales and Windsor, Melrose United Methodist Church has been serving the Northeast neighborhood for more than 120 years. The deep brown western portion of the complex, left in exterior view, was finished in the 1880s... the "newer" worship space on the east side, right side, was completed in 1928. The church was founded by Nathan Scarritt whose land included much of what is now Kessler Park and ran east to Elmwood Avenue.

Sunday, April 12, 2009

Star Descending


Photographed last summer. The final moments of a pretty sunset. Taken from above the Cliff Drive Scenic Byway next to Corinthian Hall (Kansas City Museum of History and Science) on Gladstone Boulevard.

Thursday, April 9, 2009

Twelfth Street Viaduct






The 12th Street Viaduct runs from Downtown into the West Bottoms. Built in the 20s it was showing its age. Two years ago crews strengthened the support columns and patched the concrete where needed. Now work on replacing the upper deck is about to begin.... and none too soon it was like driving on a washboard with steroids.