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Jefferson Highway Mural
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A mural to commemorate the Jefferson Highway was installed Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2007 on the building owned by Shelton and Sons Construction at 1201 N. Independence in Harrisonville which was on the route of the original Jefferson Highway.
The mural was created on two aluminum panels by area artist Daniel Brewer. The 8’ x 12’ panel depicts the front of a Jefferson Highway tourist guide from the early 1920s, while the 4’ x 8’ panel is a map of the route of the highway from New Orleans to Winnipeg, Canada.
Bill Shelton commissioned the mural as a graphic marker to depict the history of the road. “This is a phenomenal chance to share the exciting history of this highway. Harrisonville had a key part in this little-known story. I enjoy seeing people experience our history.”
“The mural is cool and looks great. It shows the highway through rural America and a map of the entire route,” said Shelton.
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The Jefferson Highway was first designated in 1916 as an International Highway nicknamed the Palm to Pine. It opened up transportation links on the north-south axis through the heart of America and was promoted as a means of getting farm goods to market and tourists into the countryside.
Money to build the original highway came from individuals who paid $25 for a membership to the Jefferson Highway Association, as well as from assessments, road associations, counties, townships and donors. Towns vied to complete their sections first.
In 1916, W. B. Scruggs of Harrisonville, a Jefferson Highway Director, met with President Woodrow Wilson in Kansas City to lobby for federal support of rock roads. At the time, there were no roads fit for automobile use.
The route through Harrisonville is marked by replica signs along the entire road coming into town on Orchard Road, to South Independence, across the west side of the square, down North Independence to Locust, up Jefferson Parkway to the city limits at Waters Road. The signs were paid for and installed by the City of Harrisonville two years ago. Similar signs mark the route through Lee’s Summit.
Named roads became numbered highways in 1926 after the passage of the National Highway Act. The Jefferson Highway route through Cass County generally paralleled what is today 71 Highway from Archie to Harrisonville, through Harrisonville and north on Jefferson Parkway to 215th Street, and then Highway 291 into Jackson County.
Artist Daniel Brewer has created several murals in the area including the Loose Mansion in Kansas City, Butler City Hall and Butler Square, Gillis Opera House in River Market and Rutlader Trading Post. He thoroughly researches the history of each site before starting the project.
For maps, fliers, and history pertaining to the Jefferson Highway, visit the Cass County Historical Society at 400 E. Mechanic in Harrisonville, call 816.380.4396 or e-mail cchs@iland.net.
Photos and text presented here are courtesy Carol Bohl, director of the Cass County Historical Society.
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