Hattie Davish Tour
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Description
A tour highlighting some of the locations mentioned in the historical fiction book A Deceptive Homecoming by Anna Loan-Wilsey.
1. Civic Center Park & Smith Park
Located adjacent to historic City Hall, Civic Center Park is the site for many municipal events and celebrations. It is where St. Joseph gathers to remember its history, to celebrate the Chiefs, and to eat amazing barbeque. It is a lovely open space with trees, paths, and the wonderful dolphin fountain. It is also the site of several memorials to veterans and fallen first responders.
2. Downtown St. Joseph Public Library
As a result of Missouri State Law permitting the St. Joseph School District to issue bonds on the vote of the citizens of St. Joseph, on March 31, 1900, a special election was held. 2,512 votes in favor, resulted in a building that the school district would share with the new free, public library. The building was designed by St. Joseph, Missouri’s foremost architect, Edmond Jacques Eckel. His schooling at the prestigious Ecole des Beaux-Arts school in Paris is reflected in the building’s architectural style
3. Buchanan County Courthouse
The Buchanan County Courthouse was erected in 1873 and holds significance as the only cruciform, Renaissance Revival courthouse in the state. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, it is also Missouri's second-largest courthouse, after the St. Louis Courthouse. The building features many artistic elements including a dome, large Corinthian columns, and porticos. The courthouse is also notable for being the site of the trial of Robert Ford, the man who killed infamous outlaw, Jesse James in April 1882 (see below for more details).
4. City Hall (2nd) and Market Square
This elegant three-story building, constructed in 1873, occupied Market Square and spanned 70 feet on both Felix and Edmond Streets, extending 140 feet between them. Designed by Stigers & Boettner and built by R. K. Allen, it featured brick construction with semi-circular arches and cut stone trim. The tin roof and tower caps were painted in the "South-Americo-Anaconda" style.
5. Tootle Opera House
The Tootle Opera House was constructed in 1871 and burned down in 2016.
6. The Pacific House
The Pacific House shown was not the first, but the second iteration of the hotel to stand at 3rd and Francis Sts. After a fire decimated the property the industrious people of St. Joseph were determined to reconstruct a better hotel to serve all those who traveled through the buzzing city.
7. Immaculate Conception
In the 1870s, a large community of German Catholics called St. Joseph home. They formed the Immaculate Conception Parish and a substantial complex of four structures were built on South 10th Street. As the newer immigrants came to the city from Poland and other parts of Eastern Europe, initially they worshipped at Immaculate Conception. But they became dissatisfied with the German-language services and formed their own parish of SS. Peter and Paul on Messanie Street. When SS. Peter and Paul was closed in 1978; the alters from that church were installed at Immaculate Conception.
8. Mount Mora Cemetery
Added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2006, Mount Mora Cemetery is the oldest cemetery in St. Joseph, Missouri. It was established in the early 1850s to meet the needs of a growing town. People buried here include three Missouri governors, musicians, Civil War officers from both the Union and the Confederacy, Pony Express riders, and governors. Though it was primarily used by the rich, there is a variety of graves from mausoleums to simple headstones, showing the wide range of people interred in the cemetery. The mausoleums, of which there are 30, are particularly notable. Resembling small buildings, their ornate design reflects Egyptian and Classical architecture and the wealth of the those within them.
9. Jesse James Home Museum
The museum, adjacent to the historic Patee House Museum, was once home to the outlaw Jesse James, and it was here where he was shot and killed at 34 years old in 1882. James lived here with his wife and children under the fictitious name of Tom Howard. As he stood on a chair to straighten a picture hanging on the wall, a member of his gang, Bob Ford, shot and killed James to collect the $10,000 reward offered by Missouri Governor Tom Crittenden. Today, the home is a museum with numerous artifacts and memorabilia associated with Jesse James, a man who justified his many murders and robberies as a means of supporting the Confederacy while also refusing to accept the results of Reconstruction.
10. Krug Park
Spanning an impressive 162 acres, Krug Park is one of the oldest and most developed parks in St. Joseph. Among the amenities offered by the park are picnic areas and shelters, an amphitheater, an Italianate-style “castle”, playgrounds, scenic walking trails, and a lagoon that is regularly stocked for fishing. This charming park also boasts a history of holiday cheer. Between Thanksgiving and January 1, Krug is transformed into “Holiday Park,” filled with wonderful lights and decorations to drive through. An ambitious improvement program is underway for the park, funded by Parks Tax funds. What is already a wonderful place to spend a day is going to be truly spectacular!
11. Calvary Cemetery
Founded in the 1850’s Calvary was the leading burial ground for the Catholic community in St. Joseph for about 40 years. The last burial took place in 1910, and was badly neglected until the 1960’s. Founder Joseph Robidoux and his family were originally buried here. All interments were moved to Mt. Olivet.
