Scenic Byway Goes Volcanic

In an area not known to be seismic alarming signs of island creation are underway. North Terrace Lake is churning with potential new lava land. Kansas City Parks and Recreation has mobilized to move the newly nesting geese to safety until the danger has passed. A team from the US Geological Survey is on site to measure seismic activity and gaseous outflow.

Photo courtesy of the estate of B. Finch.

FDIsee

View from Penn Valley Park of the "new" FDIC Building.

One Last Farewell

This is the last time I'll probably blog about this... The wonderful Victorian Duplex at 2116 -2118 Minnie is gone. This structure achieved landmark status in 1989.

Built in 1888 by L.A. Copley it was Chateauesque in design with B.H. Brooks as the architect.

Original occupants were: 2116, Henry Albers, wholesale flour business. 2118, LeGrand A. Copley, the builder, who previously lived at 409 Wabash.

What the Missouri State Landmark survey said: "This duplex is a rare example of the Chateauesque style in Kansas City, Missouri. Main or south elevation features entry porches, east and west bays, featuring classically-inspired columns. Inconspicuous entrances, south elevation. Fenestration is double-hung, sash-type with multi-panes. Prominent terra-cotta lintels feature intricate, low-relief carving. Pedimented dormers feature arched fenestration with brick voussoirs. Other features include terra-cotta pinnacles with crockets; and terra-cotta false arches with basketweave brick design, low-relief carving and decorative keystones. Cornice line features carved brackets. Two=tier porch, north elevation, non-original."

The first image is a copy of a copy of the photo with the Missouri Landmark Survey taken in 1989. The second image is last Monday, 3/23, just before demolition. The last image is how Kansas City and a negligent owner treat historic properties.

Thank you to Kent Dicus who provided me with a copy of the Missouri State Landmark Survey.

Humor for Monday

Your caption here.

Ice Cradle

Japanese Maple leaves to be.

Recovery

Every year I worry about my Japanese Maple leaves making too early an appearance. The rain Saturday froze on the buds and, I hope, helped protect them. Still frozen early this morning. The forsythia I don't worry about... they're hardier.. and the little redbuds? Well... they just never seem to learn.

Harlem in KC

On the north side of the Missouri River between the Heart of America Bridge and the Downtown Airpot lies Harlem. Called by that name since the middle of the 1800s it was for many a village in an urban setting. Harlem had church, school, markets and quite the fishing industry for years despite being flooded repeatedly . 1881, 1903, 1951... just to name a few. Comes from being right on the riverfront. Today the levee blocks most of the view of the city to the south and only a few homes remain. This part of North Kansas City is now mostly industrial. St. Peter's Church, picture above, proclaims itself Orthodox Catholic.

Maternity Island

The geese at North Terrace Lake along Cliff Drive settled on a nest spot this week. Roughly 30 days from now we should see fuzzy little goslings.

Window Seat

My friends Frank and Audrey say this cat will come each evening, during nice weather, and lay in their window while they eat supper. The cat belongs to a neighbor.

More on Vanishing Victorian

At: http://f-stop-etcetera.blogspot.com/

So Long Victorian-update 3/27

Northeast KC lost another venerable old structure today as wrecking crews demolished a building over a century old. Due to a negligent owner the property was in such disrepair that an emergency demolition was ordered by the city. Another piece of our past gone forever.

These two pictures show: closeup, last summer, whole view, today just before the destruction. The house stood at Minnie and Brooklyn in the Pendleton Heights Neighborhood. Update: Original reports stated that the third floor of this building had fallen into the basement... as you can see from the top three photos taken on 3/26 the third floor is still there.

Pondus Remodelus

I dug a pond in my back yard about 10 years ago. At that time the water spectacular was on the right side.... then I moved it to the left side.... today I moved it to the middle. None of this means anything really. I have hastas planted all around the pond at the base of the stones. They will come up in another couple of weeks.... barring a frigid spell. I also insert faux water plants to cover up the intake pipe. I have two kinds of hastas... La Vista and Luego (pausing now for guffaws). All the rocks came from Cliff Drive... don't tell Parks and Rec.

Probably Never Left, But Glad You're Back

Taken next to North Terrace Lake along Cliff Drive.

Waffling on This One

I can't decide whether I love or don't love this building.... thus the "waffle" aspect... of course it does sorta look like an upended waffle. It's the West Edge development at 48th and Roanoke designed by architect Moshe Safdie.. who's also the designer of the Kauffman Center for the Performing arts. While certainly an intriguing edifice from a design standpoint, it is very large for where it is located and dwarfs its surroundings. One day I like it and the next day I don't like it.

Outlaw Cigar Company Benefit

Don't ride myself (no cycle) but have friends that ride. This shows the end point of the Adjutant General's Ride to benefit the Wounded Warrior Project. Three separate groups of riders converged on the Outlaw Cigar Company (I do like a cigar now and then). Deals on cigars, free food and drink, a band and LOTS of bikes. Also, Rocky Patel of Rocky Patel's Premium Cigars was there (he's shown being interviewed on streaming internet video). All in all a fun morning on a great spring day.

Skyline Spring

Taken from the westside looking east standing on the Jefferson Street Bridge.

Spring Beauty

These little flowers grow naturally in the woods along Cliff Drive in early Spring... like now. And that's actually their name... "Spring Beauty."

Sunset, Scarritt Point

A Grand Demise

High water marks aren't the only things we erase in KC.... more often it's whole buildings. The Grand Opera House (ironically on Walnut) is now being rubblelized. Built in 1881 it entertained audiences for 40 years.... it was closed in 1921, gutted, and reopened in 1926 as a parking garage.

That reconstruction rendered it basically unusable in any other way and made it ineligible for any National Register nominating. I would ask though why the facade could not have been saved.... it wouldn't have cost that much and you could still have your surface parking lot... which is what it is destined to be. Many thanks to Kent Dicus who sent me the picture of this wonderful building in its heyday.