By Joe Jarosz
Northeast News
September 24, 2014

KANSAS CITY, Missouri – For the first two years, the Northeast Kansas City Historical Society focused its Fall Homes Tour on neighborhoods north and south of Independence Avenue.

The first year took people north to Scarritt, Pendleton Heights and the Indian Mound neighborhoods. Last year, attendees went south, visiting homes in Lykins, Sheffield and Independence Plaza neighborhoods.

Now, since every neighborhood has been covered at least once, the historical society is focusing on just one neighborhood this year.

From 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 18, six historic homes in the Scarritt Renaissance Neighborhood will open their doors to the community. The houses lie along the 300 and 400 blocks of Benton and Gladstone Boulevards. Kent Dicus, president of the historical society, said they wanted to just focus on one neighborhood this year.

“The most interest came from those in the Scarritt [Renaissance] neighborhood,” Dicus said. “Next year will be a different neighborhood and so forth.”

The houses were all built between 1890 and 1912, five of which are single family homes. One building on the tour, Dicus said, is a luxury apartment building, which is currently being rehabbed. Attendees will be able to start at any house along the route. Also different this year, all the homes are within walking distance. In the past, Dicus said the society used shuttle buses to help the attendees navigate the homes easier.

Even though the historical society selected the date of the tour last year, he said he isn’t worried about what else is scheduled in the neighborhood that date. On the same day the Scarritt Renaissance Neighborhood Association is holding a build day for its new playground in The Concourse. The day will begin at 6 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 18, at Kessler Park. A ribbon-cutting will be held six hours later, weather permitting. The playground build will need around 250 volunteers.

“We’re really excited that everything is happening on the same day because it means more activity and more people will be brought to the Northeast area,” Dicus said. “It’ll be a beautiful day. We may have to work around the parking, but I’m not worried about it.”

Tickets for the event are $12 in advance and $15 on the day of the tours. To purchase tickets, visit www.nekchs.com. The historical society is also putting the finishing touches on a book about historical homes in the Northeast. Dicus said they hope to have the book available by the end of the year.

“It’ll be a way for people to learn more about the homes of the historic Northeast,” Dicus said.