Thursday, May. 15, 2008
History can be both educational and entertaining
Linda Thompson
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ReprintThose of you who missed the Cass County Historical Society’s historic walk around the square in Harrisonville last Saturday missed one of the best events I have participated in for quite some time.
To say that it was absolutely fascinating would be an understatement.
Those that know me also know that history is one of my passions and while I certainly do not consider myself an expert, I do consider myself somewhat well versed in the history of this area.
And Saturday’s program only goes to show that no matter how much one knows or may think they know, there are always opportunities to learn something new.
Just off the square at 105 W. Wall St., Luke Scavuzzo stood in front of what was Scavuzzo's grocery store there for many years. What memories that brought back. My family traded with Scavuzzo’s from the time we came here in the late 1940s until there was, sadly, no more Scavuzzo’s store in Harrisonville.
We lived in the country and as a child, a trip to Harrisonville to shop was a weekly occurrence. David Atkinson was at the building he owns at 200 W. Wall St., which is also the site of the first Cass County Courthouse. The building that stands there now was formerly an implement dealership, once housed the library and most recently was the senior citizens center before it relocated to the Harrisonville Community Center.
The society’s executive director, Carl Bohl, portrayed Beersheba Younger who was Henry Washington Younger’s (second mayor of Harrisonville) wife and mother of the infamous Younger brothers. Carol told the story of Order No. 11 through the Younger family’s eyes.
Diane Magness portrayed R.A. Brown’s daughter, Lizzie, and told about the raid on Harrisonville by the Jayhawkers. Lizzie was married to Clay Daniel, an attorney in Harrisonville who also served as mayor at one time.
Diane also recounted stories about several families in Harrisonville, as well as businesses that were situated around the square.
And at 101 S. Independence, Larry Boucher was L.O. Kunze, whose family owned a jewelry business in Harrisonville for 100 years.
On the courthouse lawn, Ron Rushly told the story of the “Bloody Bonds” which led to the Gunn City tragedy which occurred April 24, 1872, when 50 men stopped the eastbound train on the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railroad and three men were killed.
Darold Shelton was on hand at 100 E. Pearl St. at Allen Bank, the oldest continuously operating business on the square since 1868.
I certainly understand that not everyone has a passion for history, but at the very least, it was an opportunity to learn about the place we call home.
I would love to see other cities in Cass County develop similar programs. What a great way to celebrate our rich cultural heritage.
These stories certainly prove that history can be not only educational, it can be entertaining as well.
Plans call for the society to repeat the program with even more presenters and I, for one, can’t wait until next time.
