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.

A Crest In March 2019

 The Missouri River crest occurred Saturday March 23rd at about 35 feet.   Roughly six feet below flood stage.   I ventured down to Kaw Point to view the high water Thursday morning and evening.   Above, the super moon rising east of downtown.  Looking southeast from Kaw Point.    Below, the view from above the boat ramp which is completely covered by water.

Below, the same view as above before sunset. 

 Above and below, views Thursday morning from the Riverfront Walk at the foot of Main Street.

Above, skyline from Kaw Point... the entire foreground in this shot is normally dry. 

                      Above and below, the encroaching waters on the Kaw Point Park path.  You can see the Lewis and Clark Statue a little left of center in the above picture... that and the area just beyond it are usually totally dry.

 Below, lots of visitors to the Park to see the water.   Millions of gallons flowing silently by.

Flood Light

         The "Super" Full Moon last night just after rising over the Missouri River at Kaw Point.

Visiting Old Haunts

Visited Liberty Memorial last week just for old times sake... got a couple of shots... above is a panorama composed of five vertical shots stitched together.  The resulting image is 27" by 57".
Gives great detail.   Other pix below are just one shot each.