“Preserving the Past for the Future”
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The Central Hyde Park Historic
District is located in the center of Kansas City, Missouri. It is
bordered by Armour Boulevard, 39th Street, Gillham Road and Troost
Avenue. Hyde Park is a well-preserved, turn-of-the-century neighborhood
characterized by large residences built in a variety of architectural
styles which reflect the work of many leading local architects. |
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The Janssen Place Historic District retains the original layout plan as
formulated by Arthur E. Stilwell (1859-1928) and the Janssen Place Land
Company in 1897. It was listed on the National Register of Historic
Places in 1976.
Mr. Stilwell was born in Rochester, New York.
After a short stint in Kansas City in 1879, Arthur returned home because
of illness. He returned to Kansas City in 1889 to start a railroad.
First though he started the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Trust Company
with a capacity of $1,250,000. In ten years the capital invested through
the company had reached $30 million.
The genesis of his
enterprises began with the Kansas City Suburban Belt and Kansas City,
Pittsburg, & Gulf railroads. When problems arose with Wall Street
circles, Arthur went to Dutch financiers. After repeated delays, he
eventually opened the train service from Kansas City to Port Arthur,
Texas in 1897.
Stilwell developed more than 40 corporations,
which have established and controlled railroads, terminals, and various
other business interests along his railroad line. During this period of
railroad promotion and development, Stilwell was deeply involved with
real estate ventures. One of these ventures was Janssen Place. Notable
restricted residential districts in New York and St. Louis inspired the
design as formal area for upper class dwellings. It was named in honor
of August Janssen, a Dutch capitalist. |
From As We See' Em;
A Volume of Cartoons and Caricatures of Kansas Cityans, ca
1908. |
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