(originally published 1/9/20) When I was a kid growing up in Lawrence, Sundays were often spent riding in the back seat of some Chrysler product looking at construction sites. My dad was in the building materials business, mostly concrete blocks, and he loved to see buildings going up, whether they had his product or not.Continue reading “Photo Series: The Construction of Union Station”
Category Archives: Transportation
The Train Out of Westport: Part 4 – The Trolley Track Trail
(originally published 11/28/19) Over the past three weeks, we’ve traced the history of the rail lines metaphorically buried beneath the Trolley Track Trail, that pedestrian and biking trail that connects the Plaza area to points south along Brookside Boulevard. In this, the final post of the series, we pick up the story in the aftermathContinue reading “The Train Out of Westport: Part 4 – The Trolley Track Trail”
The Train Out of Westport: Part 3 – The Country Club Freeway
(originally published 11/21/19) For the past two weeks, we’ve been looking at the history of the Trolley Track Trail, the pedestrian and bike trail that runs from Brookside Boulevard and Volker, all the way south to Dodson at 85th & Prospect. What began as a freight line connecting Westport to south Jackson County in theContinue reading “The Train Out of Westport: Part 3 – The Country Club Freeway”
The Train Out of Westport: Part 2 – The Country Club Streetcar Line
(originally published 11/14/19) Last week’s post covered the first of four pieces on the origins of today’s Trolley Track Trail. The growth in Kansas City’s late 19th century gave rise to a small railroad that connected Westport to Waldo and beyond, a line that would continue to be influential for more than a century. ByContinue reading “The Train Out of Westport: Part 2 – The Country Club Streetcar Line”
The Train Out of Westport: Part 1 – The Waldo “Dummy” Line
(originally published 11/7/19) Younger or newer Kansas Citians may only know it as the Trolley Track Trail. Long-time residents know it as the Country Club District street car line, south Kansas City’s connection to the early local rail system. And to those long gone, it was a reason to speculate on land, or build aContinue reading “The Train Out of Westport: Part 1 – The Waldo “Dummy” Line”
Kansas City’s First Flying Field(s): Part 2 – Raytown
(originally published 10/10/19) My trip to the Raytown Historical Society a couple of weeks ago opened my eyes to, as I said in Part 1, “the really important and unexpected role that Raytown has played in Kansas City’s early aviation history.” And I followed that with a quick – “Raytown, who knew, right?” Well, clearlyContinue reading “Kansas City’s First Flying Field(s): Part 2 – Raytown”
KC Backstories 