Michael Bushnell
Publisher
In order for lumber baron Robert Alexander Long to build his new home at 3218 Gladstone Blvd., three homes needed to be moved off the lot. One, a brick Queen Anne belonging to Judge William Wallace, was moved from the southwest corner of Gladstone Boulevard and Walrond Avenue. It was remodeled and now the stone castle sits at its new address of 3200 Norledge Ave.
Another home was moved twice before its final resting place at 321 N. Indiana.
But the home requiring the most work was that of Herman Schmelzer, whose cut limestone mansion was moved from the southeast corner of Gladstone and Indiana to the northwest corner of the same intersection.
In order for it to fit on the lot, however, the back 40 feet needed to be removed from the house. The Schmelzer house is one of six historic homes that will be on tour this Saturday, October 14 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. for the Northeast Kansas City Historical Society’s 10th Annual Historic Homes Tour. For tickets or more information, visit nekchs.net.
