Introduction
–
African
Americans first came to Liberty
in 1817 with Southern slave owners from
The
decade before the Civil War was a time of great unrest in western Missouri. Clay Country experienced this turmoil over the issues of slavery and
free soil states. In 1850, the population of
Two
years later and eleven months before the ratification of the thirteenth
amendment that abolished slavery in the
United
States,
the Missouri
legislature passed the slave emancipation act, known as “Manumission
Day,” ending slavery across the state on
When
Confederate soldiers returned home from the Civil War, they brought
prejudices against blacks with them. So deep were passions from the
War in
Clay
County
that it was not until 1912 that the United
States
flag was hoisted above the Clay County Courthouse for the first time in
more than 50 years. In spite of Jim Crow laws of segregation and Klan
activity, the black community remained an active part of the city.
Before integration and
the passing of civil rights laws, living in segregated communities forced
blacks to provide small, home-owned “mom and pop” restaurants,
entertainment, and community services for the black community. This
tour presents just a small sample of the Clay County heritage enriched by
its African-American residents who lived mainly on streets in the old
North end of town: Gallatin, Prairie and Grover, and in the south end of
town on South Main Street.
If
you take a walking tour, you may wish to park on the Liberty Square, then walk 4 blocks north on Main Street
to the Garrison
School. You will end
your tour on the Square.
Garrison
School. Prior
to 1865 it was against the law to teach a slave to read or write. When the
Civil War ended, African Americans in Liberty
first
attended a private school located on West Mill for black and Indian
children in the home of Mrs. Laura Armstrong, a liberal white woman, and
later in a series of other homes in Liberty. African-American residents established Garrison School in 1877. The
first Garrison School building
stood until 1910. The current building was built in 1911.
Garrison School, however,
only provided its students with a 10th grade education, and the
"separate but equal" laws barred them from attending Liberty's white high
school. Therefore, many Garrison graduates had to ride buses into Kansas City to attend
the all black Lincoln High School. Finally, on
May 17, 1954, as a result of arguments in the Supreme Court case Brown vs.
the Topeka Board of Education, the court ruled "separate but equal
education" unconstitutional, and the Liberty School District began to
integrate its African American students.
Inside
the Garrison School are archives of the Clay County African-American Legacy, Inc, committed to educating and informing the community of the
accomplishments of African Americans of Clay County, and how they have
influenced and contributed to the rich history of the Northland.
Retrace
your steps south on Main Street.
St.
Luke AME
Church
(443 N. Main) —Rev. Jesse Mills organized St. Luke African Methodist Episcopal (A.M.E.) Church
in 1875. The
present structure was built in 1935 and completed and dedicated in 1942. Dr.
John Priest Green, former president of William
Jewell
College,
donated the stone used for the building from his land nearby, and male members
of St. Luke quarried stone, and transported the loads by wheelbarrow to the
church site where women mixed mortar and the stones were placed according
to Rev. A. G. Thurman's plans.
St. Luke is a Clay County Historical Landmark. In the history of this
church, there have been three fires, one caused by lightning, and major
damage from the 2003 tornado.
Walk
west through the alley that leads to
Gallatin Street. Walk to your left (south) to the
James
A.
Gay
Home
(415 N. Gallatin Street
).
This Colonial Revival Bungalow was the home of Professor James A. Gay, a
graduate of
Continue
walking south to First
Baptist
Church.
First
Baptist/Mt.
Before
the Liberty
congregation built a sanctuary, slaves, masters, and free blacks
worshipped in the northeast corner of the courthouse, often sharing the
communion cup. Later the
church moved to an old barn on Missouri
Street
where they worshipped until the group purchased a lot and built First
Baptist/Mt. Zion on Gallatin
Street.
If
you wish, walk one more block west to 403 North Prairie.
The
Lucy Colley Home (403
North Prairie Street).
This 1890 Gothic Revival house (note the center gable) was the home of
Mrs. Lucy Colley, affectionately called “Miss Lucy” by community
residents. She was a
graduate
of Garrison
Her personal piano, an
ornately carved “Aaron
of
New
York”
walnut wood antique is now on display at Garrison School
.
Retrace
your steps back to Gallatin and then south to 310 N. Gallatin
(310
N. Gallatin Street)
This 1903 Folk Victorian House, owned by Sam Houston (pictured center,
below), one of Liberty’s
most outstanding citizens. His grandparents helped build First
Baptist
Church
established in 1843. Sam served on the City Council for 18 years and was
the first African-American to be so elected. During his tenure, he
initiated the first Juneteenth celebration
and the first Martin Luther
King, Jr. Birthday Celebration north of the River, starting in 1984.
He
has received numerous civic awards, and in 1980 Former Missouri Governor
Teasdale appointed him to the Commission on Human Rights.
Continue south on Gallatin to Franklin Street. Then walk east (left) up the hill to the Clay County Administration Building (the old Court House). If the Building is open, take steps or elevator to the third floor.
African-American
Mural
– 3rd
floor Old Courthouse. Enter
the old Court House and walk to the third floor. On the long wall at the
top of the stairs you will find the African American Legacy Mural to your
left. This mural depicts
selected early 19th and 20th Century
African-American pioneers, businesses, churches, and schools, including
White Oak Chapel
(the restored Chapel has been relocated to the grounds of Stroud’s on
I-35) and Cemetery from the Fountain Waller Plantation (1836) located on
Shady Lane Street, in the “Carriage Hills” subdivision of Gladstone;
Dr. D.A. Ellett’s Sulpho
Saline Bath House and Swimming Pool in Excelsior Springs(1880); First
Baptist Church (1843); Peter Biggs, the first American owner of a barber
shop in the “Old West” (1847); and the first African-American School
in Missouri City (1877).
Return
to the north side of the Court House lawn.
The
Freedom Fountain (NE corner of the old
Courthouse lawn) – erected in 2000 by the
Clay County African-American Legacy Inc. in honor of African-Americans who
have made contributions to the growth and development of Clay County. The
Freedom Fountain is placed near the location where 150 years earlier
slaves were
regularly bought and sold. For
example, in January 1859, $20,000 worth of slaves were sold on this lawn
in one day. The single water fountain for all people reminds Liberty
of an earlier era when residents drank from segregated
(“white and colored”) water fountains. The June 2000 dedication
of this Freedom Fountain featured Governor Bob Holden, providing
the first drink to Mrs. Lulu Johnson Felder, who at age 102 was the oldest
living African-American resident of Clay
Take
a moment to read the list on the back of the monument. How
many names do you recognize because of this tour? Are there other names
you recognize?
Enjoy
your own drink of cool water from the Freedom Fountain.
Conclude your tour by visiting any of the restaurants around the Square for more refreshment. Here are possible discussion starters:
-
How important is the American flag? Why is it important? What would make you refuse to fly it?
-
How important is it to vote? How would you react if you were told that you could not vote?
-
Why is a church so important for community residents? Are there any African American churches in your community? Why or Why not? Would it make a difference?
-
If the place where you go for refreshments would serve you, but not serve someone else who enters because of race, creed, color, or national origin would you choose to patronize that restaurant? Why? Why not?
-
How many African American pioneers can you associate with white Americans in the
Special thanks to Dr. Cecelia Robinson, professor of English, William Jewell College, and to the Clay County African-American Legacy, Inc for this tour.
Historic Liberty
210 North Water Street . Liberty, Missouri 64068
info@HistoricLIberty.org