|
|
|
The Jackson County Historical Society is taking up a new location for about a year and a half while the county gets ready to renovate the historic Truman Courthouse in the middle of the Independence Square.
“We will have completely vacated our space by March 1,” said the group’s executive director, Steve Noll.
Noll, Director of Archives and Education David Jackson and others have been hauling books, boxes and other materials to space lent by Commerce Bank at its 300 N. Osage St. location a couple of blocks away. Other help has been available, too, such as the Mid-Continent Public Library system lending a truck.
“It’s not a long move, and we’ve had fantastic weather,” Noll said.
Noll and Jackson have offices on the bank’s first floor, and many of the materials are stored downstairs. Jackson said much of his work has been sorting and making sure the materials most likely to be needed are within easy reach.
“We can address most of the needs of anyone doing research,” Noll said. Some searches might take a little longer. The phone number – 816-461-1897 – stays the same.
The county has been addressing needs at the 1836 courthouse in the middle of the Square for some time. Three years ago officials launched an all-out effort to save the building itself from such issues as rainwater getting in and threatening the foundation. That project also gave the grounds a new look – actually more like an old look from 40-plus years ago – but the county didn’t have the money to renovate the interior.
Since then, officials have been setting aside set aside funds, and last month the county hired a Kansas City firm to redesign the interior. Renovations are expected to begin this summer. The county plans to move such offices as collections, assessments and records there. The Historical Society, which has been on the first floor for years, will also move back in, but it’s not clear what space it will have. There’s also the Truman courtroom on the east end of the first floor – popular with tourists – and there’s been talk of using some space in the building for tourism.
Noll notes that when County Judge Harry Truman oversaw the renovation of the courthouse in the early 1930s, the rededication of the building was on Sept. 7, 1933. The county’s timeframe – having the courthouse ready to go again by two summers from now – would be right at 80 years from that date.
“Gosh,” says Noll, “if there’s ever a goal to shoot for.”
The Jackson County Historical Society is taking up a new location for about a year and a half while the county gets ready to renovate the historic Truman Courthouse in the middle of the Independence Square.
“We will have completely vacated our space by March 1,” said the group’s executive director, Steve Noll.
Noll, Director of Archives and Education David Jackson and others have been hauling books, boxes and other materials to space lent by Commerce Bank at its 300 N. Osage St. location a couple of blocks away. Other help has been available, too, such as the Mid-Continent Public Library system lending a truck.
“It’s not a long move, and we’ve had fantastic weather,” Noll said.
Noll and Jackson have offices on the bank’s first floor, and many of the materials are stored downstairs. Jackson said much of his work has been sorting and making sure the materials most likely to be needed are within easy reach.
“We can address most of the needs of anyone doing research,” Noll said. Some searches might take a little longer. The phone number – 816-461-1897 – stays the same.
The county has been addressing needs at the 1836 courthouse in the middle of the Square for some time. Three years ago officials launched an all-out effort to save the building itself from such issues as rainwater getting in and threatening the foundation. That project also gave the grounds a new look – actually more like an old look from 40-plus years ago – but the county didn’t have the money to renovate the interior.
Since then, officials have been setting aside set aside funds, and last month the county hired a Kansas City firm to redesign the interior. Renovations are expected to begin this summer. The county plans to move such offices as collections, assessments and records there. The Historical Society, which has been on the first floor for years, will also move back in, but it’s not clear what space it will have. There’s also the Truman courtroom on the east end of the first floor – popular with tourists – and there’s been talk of using some space in the building for tourism.
Noll notes that when County Judge Harry Truman oversaw the renovation of the courthouse in the early 1930s, the rededication of the building was on Sept. 7, 1933. The county’s timeframe – having the courthouse ready to go again by two summers from now – would be right at 80 years from that date.
“Gosh,” says Noll, “if there’s ever a goal to shoot for.”
