Jackson County (Mo.)
Historical Society
Historical
Perspective
by David W.
Jackson
Celebrate Westport anniversary
John
Calvin McCoy—son of the Rev. Isaac McCoy, who had founded the Shawnee
Mission—made an investment that he soon wished to capitalize upon. In 1833,
he built a two-story log building on the northeast corner of Westport Road
and Pennsylvania to serve as a business structure and residence. The next
year “West Port” (two words) was appointed a U.S. Post Office.
Then, on February 7, 1835, McCoy
filed a plat for 62 lots that became the nucleus of
Westport, Missouri. Santa Fe…and later Oregon and California Trail…travelers
outfitting in Independence 20 years thereafter, would have the opportunity to
enjoy “civilized” society one last time before “jumping off” on their journey
west. Remember, State Line up to 1854 was the western edge of the United
States, and Westport was the farthest ‘western port’ of access to the frontier
prairie.
Westport became a thriving trading
station. Traders following the two-way trail between Westport and Santa Fe,
Mexico, exchanged fine goods, staple groceries, clothing, and blankets
imported from Manchester, England, for Mexican silver ingots. And, the furs
and buffalo robes of the Shawnee, Delaware, Wyandotte, and other Native-American
cultures were exchanged for goods supplied by European-American traders and
mercantilists like McCoy and his contemporaries, Alexander Majors and Jim
Bridger, who are memorialized today with a larger-than-life statue in Pioneer
Park at the intersection of Westport Road and Broadway.
McCoy’s next achievement was to
convince Missouri River steamboats to continue upriver from Independence and anchor
at a landing closer to Westport. This natural rock ledge, located at the base
present-day Grand Avenue, allowed for the transport of supplies and settlers
to the edge of the frontier..and much closer to McCoy’s
Westport community.
A settlement soon formed at the
River’s edge, and “Westport Landing” soon became the new "Town of
Kansas," which McCoy and other investors purchased and incorporated.
This town eventually grew into a major metropolitan city…Kansas City.
Westport was incorporated in 1837,
when a special charter for the city was obtained.
Thirty years later, the climax of
the great attempt of the Confederacy to break the Union defense west of the
Mississippi took place on October 21, 1864 with the Civil War Battle of
Westport. The fighting began near present-day Forest Hill Cemetery and
stretched through present-day Loose Park and into the area of the Country
Club Plaza. Imagine 29,500 men in the engagement where 1,000 were killed, and
several thousand were wounded. A new
Battle
of Westport Museum is operated by volunteers in the main shelter at the
entrance to Swope Park.
The town was eventually incorporated
as a fourth class city in 1881, and A. P. Warfield was elected mayor. However,
within 15 years, Westport ended with its annexation into Kansas City. D. D.
Drake’s term as Westport’s last mayor ended at 5 o’clock on December 2, 1897
(a challenge to the annexation was settled by the Missouri Supreme Court in
1899).
On Saturday, October 25, plan to
celebrate Westport’s 175th Anniversary at these participating
locations: Pioneer Park; Harris-Kearney House; Duke Simpson’s Lot; Westport
Public Library; Westport Presbyterian Church; Nathan Scarritt Home; and,
Boone’s Trading Post. And don’t forget Kelly’s and Loose Park and the John B.
Wornall House Museum.
Collaborators have planned a Santa
Fe Trail dedication; covered wagon rides; guided walking tours; historical
re-enactments (Shotgun Wedding; Reverend Johnson Speaks; Runaway Bride;
Border War; Order No. 11); Missouri Town Band and “Bluegrass Missourians”
performances; trading post with oxen, artisans and food; special exhibits and
displays; and frontier arts and crafts workshop for children. Plus, the film
screening of “A Step Above the Plaza: Celebrating Westport’s African-American
Community.” For more information visit:
www.westport175.com
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