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.

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.

A Labor Of Love

This home, built in 1905, has been saved.  Completely restored inside and out.  Here are before and after pictures showing the progress. Note: this house sold in under a week for over the asking price. For more on the history of the home, see my earlier blog post: 

  https://hyperblogal.blogspot.com/2017/01/renaissance-in-renaissance-on-norledge.html

The house is now on the market:  https://www.redfin.com/MO/Kansas-City/3626-Norledge-Ave-64123/home/93089189

Above, 2008, roof mostly missing, covered in vines and needing paint.  Below the house today. 

   

                Above and below, four shots of the living room before, and then four shots after.

Below, before and after in the dining room. 

Before and after in the kitchen and pantry. 

Front hall, stair case, and front parlor before and after. 

Below, 2nd floor bedroom before and after.

Below, 2nd Floor Master Bedroom, before and after.

Below, rear bedroom before and after 

2nd Floor bathroom, before and after. 

Before and after, 2nd floor hallway.  

Above, third bedroom on second floor before,  below, after and the view from the "porch". 

Below, staircase to first floor.. after. 

                                           Above and below, third floor before

Below, third floor after including closets. 

Third floor bathroom, below, before.   The third floor would make an excellent master bedroom too. 

Third floor bathroom, after.  

The Carriage House and back of house, below, before and after. 

                                                         Old coal shoot cover, below.