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Miller, Karalee. "Road plans worry preservationists" Kansas City Star Online.http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansas...8973147.htm?1c (accessed Jun 21, 2004)
Posted on Mon, Jun. 21, 2004
Road plans worry preservationists
By KARALEE MILLER The Kansas City Star
When Earl Brown sits on his porch, he basks in the solitude of his land and the history it entails.
But a sense of foreboding is creeping up on him. He worries that a proposed expressway will slice through the heart of the Little Blue River Civil War battlefield.
Brown owns seven acres near the site of the battle, which occurred Oct. 21, 1864.
The roughly rectangular battlefield generally is bordered by Missouri 7 on the east, New Salem Church Road on the west, U.S. 24 to the south and Blue Mills Road to the north.
The battle was fought during Confederate Maj. Gen. Sterling Price's expedition in Missouri that had the goal of capturing several key cities, including St. Louis and Kansas City.
“It represents the last gasp of the Confederates to try to influence the outcome of the war,” said Tim Cox, president of the Civil War Round Table of Western Missouri.
The battle moved westward, reaching Westport on Oct. 23, 1864.
The rich history of the land is in jeopardy, Brown said, because of plans to build a 24.8-mile roadway through east Kansas City, Independence, Sugar Creek and parts of unincorporated Jackson County.
“I will hear nothing but 100 percent traffic,” said Brown, 48, who also owns Blue Hills Rest Home on his North Blue Mills Road property.
Brown said one proposed route would cut through his rest home, which is licensed for 44 clients.
“Whether it's the people that I care for or the battle that was fought here, it just shouldn't be disturbed,” he said. “There are other routes.”
The Missouri River Corridor project, sometimes called the Lewis and Clark Expressway, is awaiting environmental clearance from the Federal Highway Administration for two initial areas — from Front Street and Interstate 435 to Sterling Avenue and from U.S. 24 to 39th Street at Selsa Road, said Mell Henderson, director of transportation for the Mid-America Regional Council.
“Elements of this project have been on somebody's plan for well over 30 years,” he said. “It was within the last decade that they've been pulled together into one project.”
Supporters of saving the Little Blue area recently attended a Little Blue Reveille in Independence. The fund-raiser, offered by the Civil War Round Table of Western Missouri and The Guardians of the Little Blue, included tours of the battlefield, exhibits and information on artifact preservation.
Henderson said that when the regional council researched the area for historical sites for its environmental study, the battlefield did not come up because it had not been designated a historic site. He is aware of those who don't want the land affected.
“The alignments we're looking at would cross that area of land they're looking at,” he said. “I think at this point we're just trying to stay apprised of discussion with others about that property.”
Henderson said the next step would be to enter into design engineering plans. Public hearings would be held at that time.
Cox, a charter member of the round table, said he didn't oppose development, which probably would come with the road project.
“But I want to draw attention that this is a public asset — this battlefield,” he said. “Once things are destroyed, you can never go back.”
Cox, 47, of Independence, said a grant application had been submitted to the American Battlefield Protection Program to get the battlefield on the National Register of Historic Places.
If that happens, Henderson said, adjustments could be made to the road plan.
“At this point, there's plenty of opportunity for what they're working on to take shape and for us to take that into account,” he said.
Money raised from the Little Blue Reveille will go to the Sonny Wells Little Blue Battlefield Preservation Fund.
Harold Wells, another charter member of the round table, was instrumental in the fight to save the Little Blue area. He died in March.
“We want to continue the work that he had previously started,” Cox said.
Wells' widow, Karen Wells, said her husband had many hopes for the area, including the installation of markers at specific battle points and a walking or driving tour of the battlefield.
“There are some people living on this site who have no idea what happened there,” she said.
Brown said he felt the impetus for the road project was economic growth and not traffic relief, as residents have been told.
“It's going to destroy this battlefield area that's not really well-known, which is a shame,” he said.
To reach Karalee Miller,
call (816) 234-7802 or send e-mail to kmiller@kcstar.com.
Posted on Mon, Jun. 21, 2004
Road plans worry preservationists
By KARALEE MILLER The Kansas City Star
When Earl Brown sits on his porch, he basks in the solitude of his land and the history it entails.
But a sense of foreboding is creeping up on him. He worries that a proposed expressway will slice through the heart of the Little Blue River Civil War battlefield.
Brown owns seven acres near the site of the battle, which occurred Oct. 21, 1864.
The roughly rectangular battlefield generally is bordered by Missouri 7 on the east, New Salem Church Road on the west, U.S. 24 to the south and Blue Mills Road to the north.
The battle was fought during Confederate Maj. Gen. Sterling Price's expedition in Missouri that had the goal of capturing several key cities, including St. Louis and Kansas City.
“It represents the last gasp of the Confederates to try to influence the outcome of the war,” said Tim Cox, president of the Civil War Round Table of Western Missouri.
The battle moved westward, reaching Westport on Oct. 23, 1864.
The rich history of the land is in jeopardy, Brown said, because of plans to build a 24.8-mile roadway through east Kansas City, Independence, Sugar Creek and parts of unincorporated Jackson County.
“I will hear nothing but 100 percent traffic,” said Brown, 48, who also owns Blue Hills Rest Home on his North Blue Mills Road property.
Brown said one proposed route would cut through his rest home, which is licensed for 44 clients.
“Whether it's the people that I care for or the battle that was fought here, it just shouldn't be disturbed,” he said. “There are other routes.”
The Missouri River Corridor project, sometimes called the Lewis and Clark Expressway, is awaiting environmental clearance from the Federal Highway Administration for two initial areas — from Front Street and Interstate 435 to Sterling Avenue and from U.S. 24 to 39th Street at Selsa Road, said Mell Henderson, director of transportation for the Mid-America Regional Council.
“Elements of this project have been on somebody's plan for well over 30 years,” he said. “It was within the last decade that they've been pulled together into one project.”
Supporters of saving the Little Blue area recently attended a Little Blue Reveille in Independence. The fund-raiser, offered by the Civil War Round Table of Western Missouri and The Guardians of the Little Blue, included tours of the battlefield, exhibits and information on artifact preservation.
Henderson said that when the regional council researched the area for historical sites for its environmental study, the battlefield did not come up because it had not been designated a historic site. He is aware of those who don't want the land affected.
“The alignments we're looking at would cross that area of land they're looking at,” he said. “I think at this point we're just trying to stay apprised of discussion with others about that property.”
Henderson said the next step would be to enter into design engineering plans. Public hearings would be held at that time.
Cox, a charter member of the round table, said he didn't oppose development, which probably would come with the road project.
“But I want to draw attention that this is a public asset — this battlefield,” he said. “Once things are destroyed, you can never go back.”
Cox, 47, of Independence, said a grant application had been submitted to the American Battlefield Protection Program to get the battlefield on the National Register of Historic Places.
If that happens, Henderson said, adjustments could be made to the road plan.
“At this point, there's plenty of opportunity for what they're working on to take shape and for us to take that into account,” he said.
Money raised from the Little Blue Reveille will go to the Sonny Wells Little Blue Battlefield Preservation Fund.
Harold Wells, another charter member of the round table, was instrumental in the fight to save the Little Blue area. He died in March.
“We want to continue the work that he had previously started,” Cox said.
Wells' widow, Karen Wells, said her husband had many hopes for the area, including the installation of markers at specific battle points and a walking or driving tour of the battlefield.
“There are some people living on this site who have no idea what happened there,” she said.
Brown said he felt the impetus for the road project was economic growth and not traffic relief, as residents have been told.
“It's going to destroy this battlefield area that's not really well-known, which is a shame,” he said.
To reach Karalee Miller,
call (816) 234-7802 or send e-mail to kmiller@kcstar.com.