Accomplished Entrepreneur brings energy to Mayoral race
Beau Walker
NOVEMBER 2017 Issue 36
Vol. 04
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Tuning Fork Magazine
November
If the Pony Express were Facebook The Journals of Wither B. Camelot Smith and Wesson Today I wrote the following letter to my close friends, Thomas and Fannie Tumbly Bottoms. Dear Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Tumbly Bottoms, my most sympathetic regards for your latest flatulent tragedy. I am praying that fortunes abound for you in short time. An entire family struck by dysentery is not what one would wish upon a good Christian family! Please enjoy this picture of our Ham and Beans as a source of what good things there are to come. The children adore dipping their corn bread in the ham sauce as they say it softens it. #softcornbread #hamsauce Dear Journal, I am waiting still to hear back from my friend. I sent a letter by carriage yesterday afternoon and though I realize the transaction requires that the driver get there in an approximate month, I am desperate to hear his utterances via the pen on parchment. #parchmentisthebest #carriagelife Day 2: I am less gallant this afternoon. I am sure I didn’t say the wrong thing to him, but I really can’t know until he responds. I really hope it won’t offend him or that the passing through snow capped mountains doesn’t leave the carriage stranded. Or that the driver died from having a headache for too long. Day 17: This morning as I was emptying myself in the privy I heard the laughter I recognized as that of an old classmate I’d not seen since 2 scores ago. I smiled to myself right there on the commode thinking about the letter I shall send by post inviting her to look upon our lives after so much time. Perhaps our forced secondary school companionship is one she’ll find more interesting now that we’re old. #privylife Day 20: There are an alarming number of local women “citizens” that prefer the wearings of what appear to be exercise garments. Long dresses that cover their shoes and wool socks! Long sleeve woolen sweaters with a collar? How detestable they would don a whore’s costume in public. #whores Wither B. Camelot Smith & Wesson
Pg. 2-3
• If the Pony express were Facebook • Glimpses of the Past • Paint the wall!
Pg. 4-5
• Women in Business W • Silver Spoon • The Vinyl Court V
Pg. 6-7
• Beau Walker for Mayor W
Pg. 8-9
• From a Byrd’s Byrd’ Eye • Friedrich’s Friedrich’ Market • Remembering Doug Snyder
Pg. 10-11 • Meet me at the Square •AW Wealth ealth of T Trails rails Await You Y
Pg. 12 • Business Directory
NOVEMBER 2017
TUNING FORK MAGAZINE
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Glimpses of The Past by Gary Westcott I’m guessing that tearing our older city auditorium and rebuilding was cheaper. After all, building a new one created a few jobs for a while. The architecture that was lost due to modern improvements is heartbreaking to those of us that loved these old structures. In all honesty though, the auditorium was run down and needed a lot of work. However, if the money had been used towards preservation the old auditorium would have been much better than anything built here in the last 60 years.
PAINT THE WALL! It’s been two years since Sporting KC “painted the wall” after winning a championship. In 2015, Sporting KC won the U.S. Open Cup championship. Now two years later they have done it again. On Wednesday September 20th, Sporting faced The New York Red bulls in front of sold out crowd of 21,523 attendees in the U.S. Open Cup championship at Children’s Mercy Park. The club and city began the hype as soon as the Sporting KC defeated The San Jose Earthquakes in the tournament’s semifinal by penalty kicks. Promo videos were launched all over social media to give the people of KC another chance of “painting the wall” and bringing another sport’s trophy to city. On Wednesday September 20th during a very hot and humid evening, the game kicked off. Sporting took advantage of being the home team, and had control of most the game. In the first half, Sporting’s Latif Blessing scored in the 25th minute with an assistant of Graham Zusi. In the second half Daniel Salloi, with the help of Benny Feilhaber scored in the 66th minute, giving the fans the reality of another championship. At the end of game in the 91th minute, Bradley Wright-Phillips scored for the New York Red bulls, but it was too late at that point for a comeback. Sporting KC gave their fans the fourth U.S. Open Cup championship in the club’s history. During the trophy ceremony, Sporting received The U.S. Open Cup, given to the team’s captain Matt Besler. Besler raised the cup as confetti and fireworks were shot behind the trophy stage. After the trophy ceremony, the team took photos with the cup, and ran a lap around the stadium showing the cup to the fans. Before everyone left the stadium, everyone started yelling “Paint The Wall, Paint The Wall!” as it is tradition that every time there’s a championship won, the captain paints the honor wall at Children’s Mercy Park with the year of the championship. “2017” was sprayed into the wall by the captain, Matt Besler. Sporting’s regular MLS season is not over yet. With eyes in the future, coming into the MLS Cup playoffs, as the U.S. Open Cup champs, the club’s spirit, and hopes of also winning the MLS Cup this year is bigger than ever. Sporting KC is currently sitting in third place in the Western Conference.
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Women in Business
SILVER SPOON
Article by: Dee Marriott
I was born with a silver spoon! My great grandmother handed down through the years this antique silver ladle and I feel it symbolizes what I am going to tell you about. I grew up in a very small community in Southwest Iowa not really realizing what the greatness of my childhood until these past few years. The words “Women in Business” are difficult for me in some ways to use. he women in my family had such strong convictions, work ethic and “seemed” to make it all look easy. Now as an adult I reali e all the sacrifices and heartache they went through to do what they did. I wear many hats in my daily life and really wouldn’t trade them most days. I am a public accountant by education and have a practice in Maryville, MO. This is the nuts and bolts of all my other businesses. I went into accounting since I realized it would give me the background I could use in so many facets of my life and career. That was a wise choice. I use it in my seed business selling seed corn & beans to the farmers in the area and most certainly use it in my restaurant management. I grew up helping my mother and aunt launch farm sales, cook in the local sale barn café, cater small events and work in the local diner. I didn’t realize until I became an adult how
much they taught me in these years. Paired up with my accounting education those tools taught me hard work, customer service and appreciation for good food and good people! In 2009 I gained a restaurant as a bookkeeping customer and a good friendship with the owner, Robert Boudreau. His passion for his restaurant and the people who he served brought that back to me as a future dream for myself. I then was given an opportunity to invest in a building in Downtown St Joseph and opened a second restaurant from start-up in March 2017. Jake’s Steakhouse and ports ar is one of the most difficult frustrating, intriguing, and rewarding things I have done. Starting up a restaurant from scratch is very hard. The failure rate of restaurants is ery high and financial institutions don’t care about dreams. Managing a staff of about 80 employees between two restaurants is never boring and most always complicated. People ask me “how I do what I do”? I have learned over the years that a great team is necessary for any success. My management staff, my family, and friends are the key factors of any measure of my success. Jake’s is the culmination of all of me and my life wrapped up into one small business! I grew up riding to St Joe Stockyards with my dad hauling cattle and pigs often. My mother taught me early on to treasure the antiques and memorabilia of the past. She taught me and many others to cook and work hard daily for what you wanted in life. Jake, my son, was born in 1986 and died unexpectedly from a congenital heart failure in 2013. The years in between he spent doing what he loved working cattle, riding horses, cooking, and making friends. Wrapping these things into one is what myself, my daughter, and my staff have done at Jake’s. When asked to do this article the topics were Women in Business, Professional Advice, New Business, and Start-Up Surprises. I truly can’t differentiate between these in my advice. Whether woman or man the key to any business is hard work, a great support system and good bookkeeping to let you know where you are daily. New business and Start-up surprises are endless today. With social media so prevalent in today’s society there are many critics and constant unwanted comments from outsiders. But I learned early in life you just pull up your boots, smile and go on everyday towards where you are heading.
NOVEMBER 2017
TUNING FORK MAGAZINE
The Vinyl Court
5
Artist: Queens of the Stone Age Album: Villains (2017) Purchased at: Entertainmart (St. Joseph, MO) for $25
Clint Wiederholt It’s hard to beat Queens of the Stone Age at this point. They are hard rock enough to satisfy the urge to headbang and catchy enough for radio. Their new record “Villians” comes a lengthy 4 years after their last great effort “Like Clockwork” and looks to be just as strong. It is a different album stylistically (thanks to the efforts of producer extraordinaire Mark Ronson) but still has the feeling of a special album just like their last release. It’s a dance rock record and there is no denying it. It will make you move and that is exactly what Josh Homme and company intended. The opening “Feet Don’t Fail Me” is a raucous rave-up and “The Way You Used To Do” is simply irresistible with it’s great hooks and bouncy guitar riff. “The Evil Has Landed” is a monster late in the record with it’s crunching guitar intro that sounds like it is straight out of the Led Zeppelin songbook. The vinyl had a deluxe version but the lofty price tag made me opt for the more affordable double vinyl version. Still, it has 3 sides studio of great new Queens songs and a pretty cool etching on the 4th side. The matte vinyl jacket is always a good choice in my book and the cover is pretty killer artwork-wise as well. Overall this was a great addition to the collection. Verdict: Get it, if you like dance rock this is probably essential. Queens is likely the best hard rock band active right now; enjoy it while they are making music. Artist: Nick Waterhouse Album: Never Twice (2016) Purchased at: Live concert at Record Bar (Kansas City, MO) for $20 Nick Waterhouse doesn’t belong here. He is transported straight out of the late 50s or early 60s R&B scene and it seems weird we are lucky enough to have him here. “Never Twice” is his third record and quite possibly his best. It has a great time capsule quality that can take you away to another place and time. “It’s Time” and “The Old Place” are both driving songs that lead off each side of the LP. “The Old Place” being one of those ear-worms that is near impossible to shake. Speaking of shaking this record will make you do it, the loose style of the recording is great and impulsive with plenty of room for various solos. “Katchi” is probably the best song the radio pretty much never played too, the track features soul ace Leon Bridges and is the catchiest thing you’ve heard since George Harrison’s “Got My Mind Set On You.” The vinyl here is standard black with no frills but look at that cover... just look at it. Doesn’t it just scream out to you as something you should have in your collection It definitely does me. his is one I eep on the end of my stac so people can see the co er and be mystified by it. Verdict: You need to like this loose swinging R&B to get into it, think Buddy Holly meets Sam Cooke and you’re in the ballpark. If that sounds good and you don’t own this you are missing out. If that doesn’t sound good steer clear.
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Beau Walker for Mayor TF) You recently gave a speech in which you declared your candidacy for Mayor of St Joseph. In that speech, you stated that you’re about to turn 40, and that you’re getting ready for the next 20 productive years of your life.
ority by investing in our police force and our neighborhoods, and encouraging an environment that is favorable to local businesses and large employers so that t. oseph residents can benefit from well-paying jobs and a thriving economy.
So, let’s start off with a two-part question; A. What have been the most productive things you’ve achieved/ accomplished in the last 20 years? Beau) Being a husband for 13 years and a father for 8 years are the most fulfilling things I ha e accomplished. y family sees me more than anyone, 24/7, no hiding anything or faking it. We all love one another and enjoy doing things together so that is a huge accomplishment for me. Besides, what would anything amount to if I came home to a family that didn’t cherish me? Of course, you would remember that not too long ago, downtown revitalization was nothing more than a conversation. I made the decision 10 years ago to start a church downtown with the aim of adding tangibility to the dream of a thriving city center. With that, I located a blighted historic building, forged strategic relationships, and developed a business model, otherwise known as Paradox Theater, which would add a needed spark to the fuel of ideas both you and I shared on multiple occasions. I went all in on an idea that statistically wasn’t supposed to work. The demographics foot traffic or e act business model weren’t out there for us to imitate. Since we opened Paradox 5 years ago, we have seen multiple businesses open around us we ha e seen foot traffic increase, and an overall sense of city-pride improve.
TF) Clearly, you’ve had the opportunity to leave St Joseph, and made a life and career elsewhere. Why did you stay?
B. What would you like to accomplish in the next 20? Beau) As a lifelong resident of St. Joseph, I know what this city used to be and have a vision for what it could be. What was once known as a safe, wholesome, and welcoming city has become a sore subject for many of our own residents. High school graduates are anxious to leaving, a number of employers are relocating instead of settling here and creating jobs, and crime has risen in the past few years. This isn’t who we are. We have an opportunity to reach our full potential. As mayor, I would like to restore pride in our city by continuing my work in revitalizing downtown (along with many other areas of the city), making public safety a top pri-
Beau) We (my wife and I) have discussed this topic more than once in the past. We talked about how living elsewhere would provide our family with opportunities to experience a more robust life. The longer we thought it through; we realized that would be a thin existence for us. We wouldn’t feel right going somewhere else and living easily on the foundation someone else built. For us, the joy of staying in St. Joseph is in working together with other great people here to make it a place we can all enjoy. In sum, our friends, family, and the community involvement keep us here. TF) If you could work to change three things about St Joseph, what would they be? Beau) 1. City Pride. 2. Prioritize Public Safety. 3. Promoting Economic Development. 4. You’ve been a key player in redeveloping St Joseph’s downtown. What has motivated your actions in a too often forgotten or overlooked area of our city? In addition to what I previously mentioned, downtown is a closeknit community of people. One of the key characteristics of my mayoral role is ‘Working Together for Change.’ I want to expand on the success that we are seeing downtown to other parts of our city. In some ways, what we have accomplished with attracting new businesses, including one of the largest employers in St. Joseph, to downtown, can serve as a microcosm of what I want to accomplish in the next 20 years. So, for example, I am looking at other parts of Saint Joseph that we can focus on for revitalization. By utilizing the existing resources our city has to offer, strategically collaborating with others with shared interests, and my experience, I am confident that we can ta e other forgotten areas and turn them into places we all would be proud to call home.
NOVEMBER 2017
TUNING FORK MAGAZINE
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TF) In your opinion, what is the role of mayor in St Joseph, and how do you best fit that role Beau) The unique thing about the role of mayor is that the mayor gets to define a lot of what he she does. t this point in t. oseph’s history we need a mayor with a ision for our city. et me preface this by reminding everyone that I believe our generation needs to recognize the hard work of our predecessors and that we are always indebted to them for their ser ice. ith that said we cannot expect the type of thinking that got us to where we are today to get us where we need to be. y e perience as an entrepreneur, pastor, business owner, and leader, uni uely position me to be the mayor we need to get t. oseph out of the past and into the future. ou hail from our city’s outh ide. hat as mayor could you do to help this area of town with their own rede elopment eau he first thing I would do for the outh ide as mayor is acnowledging the ey role the area plays in the success of our city. he outh ide is filled with hardwor ing and hospitable people. any of our manufacturing and factory obs are located in the outh ide therefore ser ing as a significant ta base for the city. et when you dri e to the outh ide say ia ing ill or a e enue it loo s li e an area that has been forgotten. hy don’t those main roads loo as in iting as other parts of the city I would start there. ublic recognition for the outh ide’s contribution to our city followed by investing in streets and sidewalks in this all too often o erloo ed area of our city. ery candidate seems to be spea ing on two ma or points this election cycle crime and sewer rates. s mayor what policies would you push for to reduce crime, and what can be done about lowering our sewer rates
eau educing crime will ta e a couple of things. irst we need to ensure they have the budget, manpower, and tools to succeed at their ob. e need our police force and prosecutor’s office on the same page when it comes to sol ing crime. In addition I belie e it’s the responsibility of all of us to create a safe environment for our children to grow up. ith that in mind we should in est in our neighborhoods to encourage accountability. he recent changes to our sewer bill were a result of decisions made years ago. s mayor, I will do everything I can to keep the costs of our upgraded sewer system to a minimum. ho would win in a fight between u e ilson ssuming no ni es or chains. eau It loo s li e
wen already lost that fight
ilson and
wen
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From a Byrd’s Eye
I would like to thank the Tuning Fork staff for allowing me this opportunity to share my thoughts on the U.S. National Anthem protest. Yes, I am talking about the knee. It’s crazy, I must admit. I am eating my words because I didn’t think it would last. In fact, September of 2016 I told those close to me and those who care enough to listen to me, that this is just a trend. It will be over by the end of the season. Fast forward just about one year later, and over 200 NFL athletes have sat or kneeled during the National Anthem. This is due to our president, (whether you like it or not) Trump. He has called for owners to fire the protesting players. In fact his uote was ouldn’t you lo e to see one of these owners when somebody disrespects our flag to say et that son of a off the field right now. ut e’s fired. e’s fired ’ “Since then, this has gained much more attention than it has previously, and has remained a hot topic. If I am not mistaken, I believe the
goal was to raise awareness to this cause. Thanks, Donald. They are now halfway there. The only issue, from my standpoint, is that the message is not efficient. here are so many or should I say too many people confused about this protest. In fact, some people are confused about what the National Anthem even stands for. Hopefully I’ll be able to bring some clarity to an apparently confusing situation. In August of 2016, Colin Kaepernick was interviewed after he sat during the ational nthem. I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color.” Kaepernick told NFL media in an exclusive interview after the game. “To me, this is bigger than football and it would be selfish on my part to loo the other way. There are bodies in the street and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder.” Colin Kaepernick was visited by U.S. Veteran Nate Boyer, a retired Green Beret, and they came to the conclusion that he should kneel rather than sit during the anthem as a peaceful protest, because it’s a respectful gesture. e referred to his posture as li e a flag flown at half mast to mar a tragedy. I personally began to do my own research. In 2015, the Washington Post launched a real-time database to track fatal police shootings. 1,502 people were shot and illed by on duty police officers in . f them 732 were white, 381 were black, and 382 were of another or unknown race. So, initially, the thought is more white people are killed than any other race. #FactCheck...White people make up roughly 62 percent of the U.S. population and only about 49 percent of those who are killed by police officers. lac people howe er account for percent of those fatally shot and killed by police, despite being just 13 percent of the U.S. population. As the post noted in a new analysis published last week, that means black mericans are . times more li ely to be shot and illed by police officers than white Americans. Here’s the number that stuck out to me more than anything...100 in total were unarmed. Personally, I do not care about the race, but for those who do, 50 were black and 50 were white. These are real life people with real families. And on the other side there are cops, good cops, who are taking the wrap for these dirty cops who get nothing more than a slap on the wrist and a paid vacation. I applaud these NFL players in their success in raising awareness to this issue. I claim this protest to be a success due to the fact that millions of Americans are now forced to have an opinion. Keep in mind, this is all within their American rights. I applaud the risk that is being taken with this attention. I mean, having a reputation of ‘Our message for these three minutes is more important than military eteran’s sacrifice has to be rough. If the call for the National Anthem Protest is to raise awareness towards police brutality, job well done fellas. However, I have a feeling it is for something more. With goals like ending police brutality and racial inequality, I believe that this will call for unity. Unfortunately, in this country, this is nearly impossible when just about half of the blessed country refuses to accept things like this exist, and the other half refuse to receive help from those who do not look like them. What this country truly needs is unity, but that will more than likely never happen based on the simple fact that it was built on division. -Larnell A. Byrd
Friedrich’s Market By Tyler Sigrist
Lifelong entrepreneurs and St. Joseph residents, Dan and Nicole Radke, opened a grocery called Friedrich’s Market on Oct. 17th at 1139 Frederick Ave. The store’s opening was a fresh memory to many of a time when small, community groceries were abundant throughout the city. To both Mr. and Mrs. Radke, it was a sensible business and lifestyle decision. I thin for a while we’ e been trying to find a business that would fit where we are,” Mr. Radke said. “And this one made the most sense. It’s pretty universal. You don’t have anyone who is really anti-food.” However, the common sense of it all went deeper than that. “This is where the need is at,” Mrs. Radke said. “This is where we live. This is our home. That’s why we did it here. The one thing that is always consistent for me, and for us, how we live our life, is just living a conscious lifestyle. Even though it’s our business, we consider the community aspect too.” Fostering community seems to be the cornerstone of this corner store—a trait Friedrich’s has in common with the Radke’s past business ventures. “The more I was working with people, helping people feel better about their lives, the one thing that kept coming up over and over again is pay attention to what you eat,” Mrs. Radke said. “Pay attention to what you surround yourself with. That’s how we all should live. If you know where your food is coming from, you’re going to feel better. You’re going to feel healthier; and it doesn’t have to be an exorbitant cost. The Radke’s are focused on keeping the prices of their locally grown and made products competitive without the convenient resources of major super markets. They hope to use Friedrich’s Market as a way to teach people that if you put quality food into your body, it can positively impact other areas of life. nce indi iduals figure out how to buy things as they need them [they’re] going to save money… [and] won’t have to throw stuff out,” Mrs. Radke said. r. ad e put it simply e ha e a farmer’s mar et that’s open fi e days a week.”
NOVEMBER 2017
Remembering
TUNING FORK MAGAZINE
Doug Snyder
The kind-hearted Doug that we all grew to love was recently taken from us, too early. Most of us knew Doug as the jovial bartender that got us our drinks and always had sage advice to match almost any situation. A lover of local music oug was a fi ture at Live Band venues and outdoor music events. Always equipped with a smile and the occasional beer, Doug worked crowds with his indness and con ersation li e a local politician running for office. Doug had another side to him though. One that allowed for that sage advice that he gave you to almost always be right. Doug was in fact deeply intellectual, educated, and well read. He was born in Carmel by The Sea, California, to a family that could trace their roots all the way bac to the ayflower. is parents both ollege rofessors, Doug soon followed down the family history of becoming what I call a “Doer.” During undergraduate school, Doug scored just 4 points shy of perfect on the LSAT (Law School Admissions Test). With a score so high and proving of his potential in Law School, Doug was quickly courted by major Law Schools around the US. He settled on Loyola University in Los Angeles as his choice. After Law School, he practiced mostly real estate law for a decade and a half. During this time Doug had two sons, one of which became a Neuro Surgeon and the other becoming the 3rd in charge of the International Cargo Doc in Long Beach, California. Doug settled in the Midwest in the late 1990’s after retiring from aw ractice. fter buying se eral local properties he settled on his newest pursuit, bartending. Working at several local establishments, such as the First Ward House and Magoons, Doug quickly made friends and became well connected to the local community. After serving thousands and thousands of drinks, and consuming a couple, Doug and myself met and became instant friends. Doug quickly started to help me with my restaurant, Bad Art Bistro. He became a bartender at Bad Art. But to me, he was so much more. Doug was instrumental in forming my newest project, Aglio 614, and became my General Manager. Soon after starting the position, Doug had to leave the post over health issues. Shortly afterward, Doug passed away. Onto what he called “The Great Spirit.” Doug loved all, played hard, and would help anyone, even if it meant he had to go without. Doug’s life, like most of ours passes by like a breezy, beautiful summer day, here for a second and then gone. Doug’s legacy will endure, his impact on us greater than himself. He was after all, a person we can all aspire to be more like. Doug, we miss and will always love you. Goodbye and God Speed…… Respectfully Submitted on Behalf of Thousands, Andrew H. Clark I met oug nyder almost e actly years ago ust after we started The Regular Joe. The Queen and I were out for a walk and decided to stop in Magoon’s Deli and see if they’d let us put papers there. I’d not been in yet, as they hadn’t been open long themselves. We were greeted by the smiling, mustachioed dude behind the bar. At least he was smiling till I introduced myself. Then he told me he didn’t know whether to simply throw me out or if he should punch me in the nose first. Gosh! Usually people have to get to know me to dislike me so much. urns out he’d read a piece in our first issue called a ing a cene and took from it that we were somehow insinuating there wasn’t any good place to hear live music. Since Magoon’s was working hard to establish themselves as just that, you could see how that wouldn’t go over well. But that hadn’t been my intention. I was lamenting the fact that, so many young people were playing Guitar Hero, (10 years ago, remember?) Instead of going to see the real ones right here in town I suggested we both reread the piece and meet again, I promised that if it read like he said, I’d come back and buy him a drink. He did the same. I’ e en oyed a decade of delicious be erages there. ut the first one was courtesy of my buddy Doug. He poured us many over the years, none without an intelligent comment on something or other. He typically had a strong opinion on most any sub ect and was always a fierce supporter of local musicians. ur city ust lost a little fla or with his passing and I’m going to miss him. Jay Kerner
660-663-2154
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10TUNING FORK
Meet Me at the Square Stories of St. Joseph in the 19th Century to bars and restaurants across the city. It was business as usual in the aftermath of a brutal war between neighbors. Scorching hot, this particular Tuesday in July would cause Ben and the bustling city to stay “slightly pickled” on “sherry coolers and brandy smashes” to stave off the irritations of a breezeless heat.
Ben Ullman once woke up on a Tuesday morning, the day before the 4th of July. It was a year since the end of the Civil War, and his apartment smelled like a commode on the brink. Though Ben rolled his eyes at the scent, it was among the least surprising smells in St. Jo in 1866. The entire city smelled like refuse. At 41, the irritations Ben suffered due to years of liquor and swinging a meat cleaver would have mixed poorly with 19th century swarms of flies and mos uitos. watting the air and profanity was first order of business. From his stinking, hot, bedbug infested apartment above Fourth Street between Charles and Sylvanie, Ben awoke to the sounds of steamships steaming, silver bullets blinging, house maids singing, drunkards still sleeping, fast trains leaving (south bound). The river carried thousands of steamships annually and anyone nearby would have seen the wharves packed with ships, loading and unloading. Trains left St. Jo on July 3rd at 7am, 8:15, 1 o’clock and 1:45pm. Billiard balls sat packed and polished in their pockets. A newspaper advertised Joseph First’s newly opened bath house on Second Street near the levee. A caravan of wagons carrying a circus was parked somewhere along a street. Bags of oysters from the lakes near New Orleans were loaded from the dock and delivered
The Hannibal and St. Joseph railroad carried arrivals into the Union Station from the old cities and the new. From Philadelphia and New York, from Atchison, Omaha, and Weston came those traveling for business and for pleasure. With many people still ideologically committed, if not fully engaged, to a civil war, those arriving on July 3rd would see the first celebration of Independence ay during official peacetime in 5 years. A report from the following day’s Morning Herald read, “The market was very largely attended … produce was to be had in abundance.” About the weather it was printed, “Yesterday was exceedingly warm and sultry, not a breath of air stirring during the whole day.” hough the hotels were filled they sat momentarily vacated as their guests sprawled the streets. Mingling with the pick pockets and monied men, among gamblers and investors, together in the cosmopolitan river valley, they munched fruit and swilled iced drinks to stay cool. By 6 o’clock, Market Square was teeming with city-goers. As Jesse James sat at his family farm 50 miles south, nursing a gunshot to the lung, Mollie Bevis and Mollie Ray, dressed in tinsel and lace and high on opium and saloon gin, rode the omnibus to Market Square. As Andrew Johnson sat replacing Abraham Lincoln (gone on a bullet train out of his mind), James Clark was en route toward a chance at luck, arriving from Independence, Missouri sometime
in the mid-afternoon--sweaty, drunk, and carrying a Navy revolver. The Atlantic Hotel faced the sunset on Eighth Street between Messanie and Locust. It stood colossal and majestic before James Clark. Though we can’t know his thoughts, he probably appreciated the beauty of the building’s majesty as he entered the hotel saloon with the “For Sale” sign in the window. The Morning Herald had published the sale of the saloon in the paper that day, but James wouldn’t have thought twice about it. He was in town to collect on a debt, and was poking around to learn the whereabouts of Ben Ullman. Some folks knew Ben as a butcher, and if the city directory was anywhere in reach at a popular hotel up the block from a busy port ames was sure to find en’s address. If James took a train from Independence, he might have hailed a carriage to take him from the Atlantic Hotel to Market Square. If he rode his horse, he could have passed by Jules Robidoux’s house on Edmond, near Fourth. In a carriage, he may have turned left toward the river, passing the acific ouse on the northeast corner of Third and Francis, being dropped off somewhere on the north side of Market Square. If the two Mollies weren’t inside, they were very likely in the crowd that gathered just outside the Charter Oak Saloon, a little after 6 o’clock. A report in the Morning Herald the following day would tell of a terrible homicide. Ben Ullman was laughing with friends when James found him. After greetings were exchanged, he invited the party into the saloon for a round of drinks. Somewhere in the few minutes of chatting by the bar, James asked Ben to return his $25 from a bet they’d made on a horse
race a couple months ago. Thinking James Clark was speaking “in jest,” he turned to leave. As he was walking away, James shot him from behind, through the neck, the revolver ball “lodging in his jaw.” Ben, overwhelmed by anger, “wheeled about, blood spitting in every direction,” seized and threw the assailant to the ground and stamped James’ face, “crushing in the whole side of his head.” The 4th of July issue of the Morning Herald explained further, “His head seemed literally crushed to jelly, and death must have been almost instantaneous.” Ben, rushed to his residence at 311 South Fourth, was immediately tended to by a physician. Though an attempt was made to dress his wound, James Clark’s smashed head was too troublesome a condition to fi . hole was dug that night and filled with his body in a pine box. His tender, jelly head was laid to rest in the long sleep. The two Mollies, notoriously whores, were arrested and charged $10 each for “accidentally exposing their charms to the rustic boys in town on business for their mamas.” It was reported that several dogs throughout the city, stricken by a case of hydrophobia, were shot and killed at different times throughout the day on the 4th. A complaint came into the Morning Herald on July 8th of two dead dogs still rotting in the summer heat, near where the circus had been, threatening to stink up the neighborhood. By 8:30 that night, up above Fourth Street, a sunset painted Ben’s room an ancient orange--as the lightning bugs were glowing, as passenger train luggage was stowing, as the black snake hills were rolling, as the grass around James Clark’s grave was softly blowing. Have questions, thoughts, information? Please send them to jerrad. hardin@gmail.com
NOVEMBER 2017
TUNING FORK MAGAZINE
11
A Wealth of Trails Await You By Clint Wiederholt You’re going to crash, the sooner you realize that the better off you’ll be. We all remember scooting around on two wheels without the aid of a motor when we were young and at some point most of us lose that desire. You grow up and get your driver’s license and your bicycle gathers dust in your parents garage, that’s the way it usually goes anyway. Riding a bicycle as an adult is a little different, the motives behind it are at least. Some bicycle to work, some to exercise, some go on long rides along highways and some ride through occasionally treacherous paths in the woods; I’m going the be discussing the latter option. St. Joseph has a rough reputation in many aspects but those of us here are extremely lucky to have a superior collection of mountain bike trails at our disposal. Not only do we have the paved parkway system to bike on but we have six distinctively different single lane, dirt trails built in patches of timber to ride through. These six trails are located toward the north end of town and include two trails around Corby Pond, two trails behind Krug Pool and two large trails at Krug Park and Sunbridge Conservation area. At this point I must do something I rarely do, put myself into an article. These trails have made my life much more enjoyable. reathing the fresh air while na igating these paths has had massi e benefits for me. he ob ious positi e is exercise, beyond that I’ve found a reduction in my stress and anxiety levels as well. In many ways it just makes me feel better all around. I started by walking or hiking these paths as many people have done at some point here in town but I progressed into running through these trails and eventually hopping back on a bicycle for the first time in about years and e ploring them that way. hen I became comfortable pushing myself and not being afraid to fly o er the handlebars of the bi e I was completely hoo ed. ach exercise reveals different challenges whether you are hiking, running or cycling. You can approach them with leisure or competitively, whatever your mood strikes you to do. With this series of articles I plan to examine each way to attack the trails, one trail at a time. y hope is that others will find the satisfaction I’ e found through these trails all for free and all ery accessible for t. oseph residents. I tra el the trails by all three methods now finding uni ueness in each time out. You have the closeness of the Corby trails that travel just above the water’s edge of the pond and you have the secluded hills and valleys at the Krug trails to the breathtaking ridge overlooking the Missouri River at Sunbridge, they are all so distinct and fun, I’m always shocked I don’t see more people enjoying them. Free natural resources such as these aren’t available everywhere, I hope everyone will join me in appreciating them.
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12TUNING FORK
BUSINESS DIRECTORY TUNING FORK
Bars & Taverns Bars & Taverns TC's American Tavern
3701 King Hill Ave. (816) 273-5099
Jackson's Tavern
Peterman's Shamrock
632 South 8th St. (816) 232-3611
8411 SW 59 Hwy. (816) 364-3728
3600 S. Leonard Rd (816) 279-4310
412 Felix Street (816) 233-0524
1805 St. Joseph Ave. (816) 364-9590
Retail & Services
Dining The Yoga Room 410 Felix Street (816) 238-7101
2401 N. Belt Hwy. (816) 233-5142
3702 Frederick Ave. (816) 279-7481
2007 St. Joseph Ave. (816) 749-4000
Brown Bear Tavern 2028 St. Joseph Ave. (816) 279-4422
St. Joseph Auction & Antique Market
The Missourian
1001 N. 3rd Street (816) 273-5107
1701 Garfield Ave. (816) 364-9083
3749 Pacific Street (816) 232-8128
Betty’s Café 6307 King Hill Ave. (816) 238-9847
123 South 6th St. (816) 671-1906
620 Edmond Street (816) 364-3922
Fredrick Inn Steakhouse 1627 Frederick Ave. (816) 364-5151 Not Just Desserts by Mom 505 Francis Street (816) 344-0969
9478 SW State Hwy J (816) 675-2002
LaTonya Williams Photography 620 Francis Street (816) 248-2375
224 N. 4th Street (816) 387-9911
Bad Art Bistro Mod Podge Boutique 624 Francis Street (816) 279-0577
516 Felix St. (816) 364-2775
Mommy Towne
Johnny B's
5617 Lake Ave. (816) 259-5270
707 Edmond (816) 749-4433
901 N. 4th Street (816) 364-5939
2235 N. Belt Hwy. (816) 273-5557
St Joe Avenue Antiques
2706 St. Joseph Ave. (816) 261-5239
2247 North Belt Hwy. (816) 390-9400
815 Francis St. (816) 689-8730
3002 S. Belt Hwy. 2131 St. Joseph Ave. (816) 279-9643
Crumbly Burger
2701 Frederick Ave. (816) 387-8867
El Taco H
2420 Frederick Ave. (816) 273-0626
Muny Inn 3229 Mitchell Ave. (816) 279-9484 609 Edmond Street (816) 364-2875
The Duffel Bag
2501 Messanie St. (816) 390-9550
727 Francis Street (816) 364-5586
809 Francis Street (816) 232-4000