This Week in Kansas City History
"The Frank Lloyd Wright of Kansas City"
July 1, 1865: Louis Curtiss, whose innovative architecture and flamboyant lifestyle will make a lasting imprint on Kansas City after his 1887 arrival, is born in Belleville, Ontario.
Kidnapped!
May 27, 1933: Mary McElroy, daughter of city manager and member of the Pendergast political machine Henry McElroy, is kidnapped from her Kansas City home, only to be released after 34 hours and a $30,000 ransom is paid.
Shades of Gray
April 30, 1861: A Confederate flag is raised in Kansas City, prompting Mayor Robert T. Van Horn to call in Union troops from Fort Leavenworth for support.
The Annexation That Wasn’t
January 21, 1879: The Kansas Senate approves a proposal to move the state border eastward in order to annex Kansas City, a plan that is blocked by the Missouri legislature.
The Great Indoors
November 24, 1927: The Pla-Mor Ballroom, the largest indoor amusement center in the country featuring a ballroom, bowling alley, billiard room, and an ice skating rink, opens to a crowd of 4,100.
