Brief History Of Troost Avenue

•  TROOST is Dutch for Comforter, ‘Paraclete’. The same root gives us the words: “tree, trust, true.”

•  Troost Avenue: former canoe trail of 18th century Osage Nation.

•  In 1808, most of the Osage lands were sold to the U.S, including present day Troost Avenue.

Dr. Benoist Troost (1786-1859) First Resident Physician in KC Founding Father; Dutch Slave Owner

Porter Slave Plantation: 1832-1865 •  365 acre plantation owned by

Rev. James Porter •  40-100 slaves, including

Simon (bought in 1829), Aunt Ann, and ‘Fiddlin’ Dick’

•  Stretched from 23rd to 31st Streets, Locust Ave. to Vine St.

•  Big House at 2709 Tracy •  Slave Quarters surrounded

the house in a semi-circle, west of Tracy

•  Forests cleared to become housing, crops, orchard, and pasture land

1911 Drawing of 1833 Porter Home

The Big House: 2709 Tracy

Map of Porter Plantation

The forests on Porter land were cleared by the slaves

Missouri Forest 1888

The Porter land, north of 27th Street, became grazing pasture for livestock

Missouri Pasture Land on Leunen Farm

The Porter cornfield was between 30th - 31st on Troost

Common Cornfield

The Porter Fruit Orchard was between 27th & 28th, and Forest & Troost

Missouri Fruit Orchard

Water Supply was Troost Lake (a natural spring)

Troost Lake with Boat House & Boats: 1890

Plantation Became Millionaire’s Row: 1865-1912

•  Home of Mrs. W. Ewing Hall (granddaughter of Rev. James Porter) at former site of “big house”.

•  After Civil War, Porter family began to sell lots •  Porter and Hall made a fortune in Real Estate

2709 Tracy Ave.

“Millionaires’ Row”: 1890’s

R.W. Hocker: 2425 Troost

“Millionaire's Row” (cont): 1890s

Dr. Flavel & Mrs. Tiffany: 2457 Troost

“Millionaire's Row” (cont): 1890s

F. L. Kaufman: 2817 Troost

“Millionaire’s Row” (cont): 1890s

W. J. Smith: 3000 Troost

3100 block of Troost: 1890

Home of L.V. Harkness (richest man in KC) in foreground; Home of Webster Withers in background

3101 Troost: 1890

Residence of Webster Withers

Evolution of 3101 Troost: 1916

Paul L. Westover Bldg; 2nd Church of Christ Science

Evolution of 3101 Troost: 1926

Price’s Candies; Isis Theater; 2nd Church/Christ Science (looking north)

Evolution of 3101 Troost: 1929

Price’s Candies; Isis Theater (looking south)

Evolution of 3101 Troost: 1935

Looking South from 31st and Troost

Evolution of 3101 Troost: 1954

PARADE: KC BLUES (farm team for NY Yankees) Sponsored by S. Central Business Assn.

Evolution of 3101 Troost: 1955

North view from Woolworth's Building

3101 Troost: TODAY

Friendship Dance: Troost Festival 2006

Overview of Troost (cont) •  Millionaire’s Row: 1865 -1912 •  City in a city: 1912 -1950 •  Walt Disney: 1920-1922 •  Jazz District: 1917-1939 •  Immigrant Center: 1912-1950

–  Jewish, Greek, Irish, African American •  White Flight: 1950s - 1980s •  Civil Rights: 1954 - 1968 •  MLK and Riots: 1968 •  Urban Redevelopment: 1968 -1985 •  Ghost Town: 1985 – 2000 •  Gentrification: 2000 – Present •  Troost Folks: 2004 - Present •  Future: TROOST VILLAGE -

Development without Displacement

References DeAngelo, D. (1995) What about kansas city! a historical handbook. Kansas City:

Two Lane Press, Inc.

Photos and Illustrations

Claymore-Osage Indian (2006, May 23). Courtesy of Osage Nation in Pawhuska, OK.

Cornfield. Retrieved April 12, 2008 from http://image02.webshots.com/2/6/91/84/81869184OTdXKJ_fs.jpg

Missouri Fruit Orchard. Retrieved April 12, 2008 from http://www.bakerealty.com/missouri%20ozark%20photos.htm

Missouri Grazing. Retrieved April 12, 2008 from http://www.angelfire.com/mo3/leunenfarms/Photo%20Gallery.htm

Missouri Forest. Courtesy of the Missouri State Archives. Missouri Valley Special Collection Room of the Kansas City Public Library.

Articles and photos from The Kansas City Star and The Kansas City Journal. Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. George Caleb Bingham, American, 1811-1879"

Dr. Benoist Troost, ca. 1859. Weblink: http://www.nelson-atkins.org/art/CollectionDatabase.cfm? Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. George Caleb Bingham, American, Mary Ann

Troost, ca. 1859. http://www.nelson-atkins.org/art/CollectionDatabase_ImageView.cfm?id=28964

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