Independence marks Preservation Month

By TORIANO L. PORTER

toriano.porter@examiner.net

Independence’s long-standing tradition of preservation stewardship will be in full force this month as the city celebrates National Preservation Month.


This year’s theme is “This Place Matters.”

Festivities kicked off last Friday with the National Park Service’s Noland Home Rehabilitation Plans Tour. The home is at 216 N. Delaware, across from the Truman Home, and has family ties linked to Harry S. Truman.

The National Park Service has completed preliminary historical research and architectural stabilization toward the future rehabilitation of the historic home, said Independence’s Historic Preservation Manager Wendy Shay.

“The home has been closed to the public to date, and the Park Service is graciously giving a behind-the scenes-tour of the proposed rehabilitation of the house for future use by the Park Service,” Shay said.

Shay added this year’s events included a presentation Monday at the City Council meeting of the Hickman Preservation Awards (see related sidebar) and acceptance of the annual Preservation proclamation from Mayor Don Reimal, tours of heritage sites, including local cemeteries, Civil War battlefields and historic buildings, and city-sponsored workshops.

“Events are tapered to be of interest to a broad range of regional residents and visitors,” Shay said. “Depending on the participant’s interest, they can learn to rehabilitate their historic property, identify local architectural styles, tour 19th century cemeteries, walk in the footsteps of Civil War soldiers, tour a century-old house at the Drumm Farm Institute or the Noland Home, or learn how to research family history at the new Midwest Genealogical Center.”

Shay said she believes Independence’s preservation efforts are second to none in the country. The city was designated by first lady Laura Bush a Preserve America City in 2006, Shay said.

“Independence has a long-standing tradition of preservation stewardship,” Shay said. “From archaeological sites and the start of the westward Pioneer Trails to Mormon, African-American and Civil War sites, Independence is a cornucopia of American history.”

For more information on National Preservation Month, visit the city’s Web site at www.independencemo.org or call Shay at 816-325-7419.