Brief History of Troost Avenue

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Brief History of Troost Avenue
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Overview of Troost

• 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.

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Avenue Named after Dr. Benoist Mary Ann Troost
Dr. Benoist Troost (1786-1859) First Resident
Physician in KC Founding Father Dutch Slave Owner

• Named for Mary Ann K. Troost, wife of Dr.
  Benoist Troost.

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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

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1911 Drawing of 1833 Porter Home
The Big House 2709 Tracy
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Map of Porter Plantation
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The forests on Porter land were cleared by the
slaves
Missouri Forest 1888
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The Porter land, north of 27th Street, became
grazing pasture for livestock
Missouri Pasture Land on Leunen Farm
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The Porter cornfield was between 30th - 31st on
Troost
Common Cornfield
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The Porter Fruit Orchard was between 27th
28th, and Forest Troost
Missouri Fruit Orchard
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Water Supply was Troost Lake (a natural spring)
Troost Lake with Boat House Boats 1890
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Plantation Became Millionaires Row 1865-1912
2709 Tracy Ave.

• 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

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Millionaires Row 1890s
R.W. Hocker 2425 Troost
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Millionaire's Row (cont) 1890s
Dr. Flavel Mrs. Tiffany 2457 Troost
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Millionaire's Row (cont) 1890s
F. L. Kaufman 2817 Troost
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Millionaires Row (cont) 1890s
W. J. Smith 3000 Troost
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3100 block of Troost 1890

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

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3101 Troost 1890
Residence of Webster Withers
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Evolution of 3101 Troost 1916
Paul L. Westover Bldg 2nd Church of Christ
Science
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Evolution of 3101 Troost 1926
Prices Candies Isis Theater 2nd Church/Christ
Science (looking north)
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Evolution of 3101 Troost 1929
Prices Candies Isis Theater (looking south)
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Evolution of 3101 Troost 1935
Looking South from 31st and Troost
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Evolution of 3101 Troost 1954
PARADE KC BLUES (farm team for NY
Yankees) Sponsored by S. Central Business Assn.
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Evolution of 3101 Troost 1955
North view from Woolworth's Building
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3101 Troost TODAY
Friendship Dance Troost Festival 2006
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Overview of Troost (cont)

• Millionaires 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

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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/2/6/91/84/81869184OTdX
  KJ_fs.jpg
• Missouri Fruit Orchard. Retrieved April 12, 2008
  from http//www.bakerealty.com/missouri20ozark20
  photos.htm
• Missouri Grazing. Retrieved April 12, 2008 from
  http//www.angelfire.com/mo3/leunenfarms/Photo20G
  allery.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/ar
  t/CollectionDatabase.cfm?
• Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. George Caleb
  Bingham, American, Mary Ann Troost, ca. 1859.
  http//www.nelson-atkins.org/art/CollectionDatabas
  e_ImageView.cfm?id28964 themeAmerican