HISTORIC MERRIAM

Historic Merriam HOCKER GROVE

Born in 1853, in Kentucky before the Civil War began, Richard Weaver (R.W.) Hocker was a notable local citizen in Kansas City from 1886 until his death in 1918. Married in 1887 to Mary Ketcham Hocker of St. Joseph, the couple raised three daughters together as R.W. developed a portion of Merriam, still known today as Hocker Grove. R.W. Hocker was a prominent banker, lawyer, and real-estate investor who envisioned early suburban development in Johnson County. Just a few years after Merriam Park closed, R.W. developed the second largest amusement park in Merriam. Named Hocker Grove Park after its founder, the park was established in 1907 and remained in existence until 1919. Located north of Johnson Drive and west of Turkey Creek, the park was near the Hocker Electric Trolley Line (also known as the Kansas City, Topeka, and Lawrence Electric Line), which offered passenger fares of 10 cents and ran from Kansas City through Rosedale, Merriam, Shawnee, and Pleasant View. Hocker Grove Park offered hot air balloon rides, boxing matches, basketball games, picnics, and trolley parties. A large dance hall was used for dances and roller skating, and there was even a baseball diamond for the Hocker Grove baseball team.

In addition to Hocker Grove Park, R.W. also created a housing development called Hocker Grove. Seventeen craftsman-style bungalow homes were built of native stone and set on large lots along wide streets. The houses were located near the trolley line, making it convenient for homeowners to travel between Merriam and Kansas City. Today, many of the original homes remain, and the Walker House now sits on the National Register of Historic Places.

This is Sara, and she’s the great granddaughter of R.W. Hocker. She lives in the Pacific Northwest but still visits her sister Barb, who lives in the Kansas City area. When asked about her memories of her great grandfather, she recalls stories told of his professional achievements, but mostly remembers hearing that he was a true family man. When Sara’s great grandmother Mary died, R.W. never remarried and continued raising their three daughters, Lucy, Margaret, and Sara, on his own.

Hocker Grove Hidden History

Did You Know? A Merriam resident of 5732 Connell Drive once discovered a perfect circle of rocks approximately 30 feet in diameter in his backyard. Assuming it was left over from the Native American occupation of the land, he later found an article published by the Johnson County Museum about Johnson County’s round barns in the early 1900s. After more digging, he found the foundation of a round barn, and history later verified there was once a dairy farm located on this site many years ago.