Historic Harrisonville Driving Tour
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Description
A driving tour of significant Harrisonville historic sites.
1. The Burnt District Monument
This solemn monument reminds visitors of the destructive nature of the Civil War upon thousands of families in Missouri. Known as the "Burnt District," this section of Missouri was destroyed by Union forces following General Order No. 11 in 1863. Recognizing that this area harbored rebel bushwhackers who were raiding homes in Kansas and other areas under the guise of supporting the Confederacy, Union leaders ordered the evacuation of all citizens from Jackson, Cass, Bates, and northern Vernon Counties. While a number of residents were aiding bushwhackers, the majority were simply trying to avoid the conflict and protect their farms and homes from raiders and thieves. After the citizens left their homes, Union troops destroyed homes, farms, and supplies throughout the region. This "scorched earth" policy was designed to prevent bushwackers or rebel supporters from remaining in the area but had a far more devastating consequence upon the people who lived in the area. The selection of a chimney represents the only portion of hundreds of homes that remained standing following the destruction by fire.
2. Abner Dean Home
The Abner Dean house is located at 702 W Wall St., Harrisonville, Missouri. The house is a small, elegant, two-story home that was built in 1867. Born January 27, 1828 Abner Dean became a baptist preacher in 1850 and was active in churches all-throughout Cass County. While a baptist preacher he became involved with the Blue River Baptist Association which opened up the opportunities he had in many of the churches in the county. After the Civil War, Dean had been arrested for refusing to take the Test Oath. The Test Oath was to prove that someone had complete loyalty to the Union army. Even though Dean had been a major in the Union army he refused to say the oath that he did not assist anyone in the Confederate Army. While Dean was in prison, George Caleb Bingham was inspired by Dean and visited him on a few occasions. During his visits with him in July of 1866, Bingham painted two portraits of him which can still be seen today. After Abner Dean was released from jail this small house on Wall St. was constructed. Dean passed away in November 18, 1912. Abner Dean’s situation is an example of the complex situations present during the Civil War. Even though someone’s loyalty should have been very clear, such as Abner’s clear allegiance to the Union army, they could still be seen as the enemy. This connects to the history of the area, where during the civil war Ewing issued the Order No. 11. It was intended to stop the surprise attacks of the bushwhackers.
3. Harrisonville Courthouse Square Historic District
Of the 37 buildings that make up Harrisonville’s historic square, 34 are significant for their historical architectural qualities. These buildings constructed between 1880 and 1940 have maintained a high degree of integrity, with some alterations to the storefronts. This includes the historic courthouse at the center of the square, believed to be the third courthouse in Harrisonville. According to court documents from February 5th, 1838, court was held at a courthouse in Harrisonville but the location of that building is currently unknown. There are records of specifications made for “a 1 ½ story, two-room weatherboard building,” but it is debated among historians whether this was ever actually constructed. Some historians speculate that it was the log building at 200 W. Wall, but this has not been confirmed.On February 14th, 1843 Charles Sims was appointed superintendent and was instructed to submit a plan for a courthouse for no more than $3,000. In March of 1843, his plan was approved and that building was completed in September of 1844. It was used for court business as well as school and church meetings. In 1860, the court issued an order for a new building that would cost $15,000. Due to economic concerns at the time spurned by the recession, citizens protested the construction of this building but their concerns were ignored. However, these plans were thwarted by the beginning of the Civil War and were ultimately dismissed until 1865. When the war ended, the 300,000 unused bricks were sold which provided money for the new courthouse.On October 14th, 1894, the Cass County court petitioned to levy $45,000 for yet another new courthouse. The following year, prominent Kansas City architect Walter C. Root was contracted to design the new building. It would become the only courthouse in Missouri designed by Root. He completed his plans in 1895 for an Italian Renaissance-style courthouse. In 1897, the courthouse was constructed in the middle of the square and became the focal point of the district. Court convened for the first time in this building on November 3rd, 1897. The courthouse includes an impressive clock tower that was added to the structure in 1909 as well as a World War I veteran’s memorial that was dedicated in 1929 and features a statue of a soldier standing at attention in their uniform. This courthouse is the “oldest remaining building which served as the seat and focus of Cass County government.”Exemplifying the economic growth and prosperity of western Missouri from before the Civil War to the mid-20th century, Harrisonville’s Courthouse and Historic Square’s abundant history is reflected in its impressive architecture and high level of integrity.
4. Cass County Historical Marker
This historical marker located in Harrisonville at the Cass County Courthouse commemorates the founding of Cass County, which was first settled by David Creek in 1825 after the land was ceded from Osage tribes. Cass County is made up of several prominent towns that include Harrisonville, Pleasant Hill, and Gunn City. The land was originally inhabited by the DHEGILA Indians subgroup which are of the Siouan linguistic stock and is made up of the Osage, Quapaw, Omaha, Ponca, and Kansa tribes. There is no evidence that the Kansa tribe had a permanent settlement in the Cass County region, but they occupied the land extending from the Kansas-Missouri River junction to the northern edge of Bates County. In 1818 a land grant was made to some of the Delaware tribe in the region but it was later re-ceded by them in 1825, after which some moved to reservations in Kansas or to Texas. Those who stayed in the region were relatives of the Sauk, Fox, or Kickapoo tribes. The first white settler in Harrisonville was James Lackey who arrived in 1830 and built a cabin on land that was meant for the county seat, making him a squatter. The County was implicated in the Border Wars between Western Missouri and Kansas, it was affected by Order No. 11 which was issued during the Civil War, and saw the violence of the Gunn City Massacre.
5. Marler Wirt Allen Memorial Park
The Marler Wirt Allen Memorial Park is 0.5 acre park on the corner of Mechanic Street and South Independence Street in Harrisonville, Missouri. It was constructed in remembrance of the three men who lost their lives in a 1972 shooting on Harrisonville's city square: Officer Donald Marler, Officer Frank Wirt, and citizen Orville Allen. They were shot and killed by a 24-year-old man named Charles R. Simpson from Holden, Missouri who was believed to have been heavily influenced by the alternative youth cultures of the 1960's and 70's. The small park features a fountain, flagpole, park benches, flower beds, and shrubbery.
6. Sharp-Hopper Log Cabin
The Sharp-Hopper Log Cabin was constructed in 1835 and is now located on the property of the Cass County Public Library in Harrisonville, Missouri. The log cabin was originally located in the northern part of Cass County, which at the time of the cabin's construction was part of Johnson County. The Sharps had moved to Harrisonville, Missouri from Virginia due to other family members moving to the area.
7. Prince Whipple School
The Prince Whipple School was a school for African Americans located in Harrisonville. The school educated students from first grade to eighth grade. If students wanted to continue onto high school, they would have had to find boarding in Kansas City and attend R.T. Coles High School. The school's name originated from a popular legend regarding an African American man who was enslaved to a Revolutionary War veteran. According to this legend, the enslaved man (Prince Whipple) was the same African American man depicted in Emanuel Leutze's famous painting "Washington Crossing the Delaware." Although this has been greatly disputed, that is where the school's name originated.
8. The Mockbee House
The house was built by Whitney Tarkington in 1847 and was purchased by the Mockbee family in 1859. It has a gable roof full porch, two story concrete columnns, and a half-round one story brick entry. The house also has two brick chimneys, one on each side of the house. Although many renovations have been done to it, it still has many original factors to it making it a rarity for the area. It is located at 105 N Price Ave, Harrisonville, Missouri, 64701. In the fall of 1861, the Mockbee’s threw a 16th birthday party for their daughter Martha. In attendance were Cole Younger, infamous Confederate guerilla and co-leader of the James-Younger gang, his sister Sally Younger, and Union Captain Irwin Walley. Despite his marriage, Captain Walley took a liking to that of Sally Younger and requested a dance from her.. She denied him, but he persisted. Cole Younger confronted Walley, and stirred him up. After this altercation, Cole Younger was told to leave home by his father. After he left he joined up with William “Bloody Bill” Quantrill and his Confederate guerrilla forces This home holds but a small bit of history of one of the more famous Confederate guerillas. This one night at the Mockbee House can depict similar situations that families faced during the time of the Civil War. A time of distrust and conflict between everyone, even in social circumstances. What was supposed to be a time of celebration and fun was turned into a fight in a matter of seconds.
