Memorializing Racists

KC topics that don't fit anywhere else.
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chaglang
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Re: Memorializing Racists

Post by chaglang »

Genuinely surprised how fast the Parks Department started switching out the JC Nichols Blvd signs, especially given the fact that there are still MLK Blvd signs up on some places on the Paseo.
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im2kull
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Re: Memorializing Racists

Post by im2kull »

chaglang wrote: Fri Jul 03, 2020 11:46 am Genuinely surprised how fast the Parks Department started switching out the JC Nichols Blvd signs, especially given the fact that there are still MLK Blvd signs up on some places on the Paseo.
Why does that surprise you? Politics are politics. Clearly they want to remove the JC Nichols Blvd signs, and keep the MLK JR signs... regardless of the legality of such.
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Midtownkid
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Re: Memorializing Racists

Post by Midtownkid »

I noticed they removed not only the J.C. Nichols memorial plaque...but they also took away the signage about the origins and history of the fountain.

The fountain was part of an estate on Long Island (if I remember correctly). The estate was demolished and the fountain scrapped. Nichols (or his team or family?) salvaged the sculptures and brought them to KC. It was missing one of the cherub/fish sculptures. A subpar replica was created and installed in the 1960s. At some point recently, the missing statue was 'found'. Someone had it at their house. It was sent to KC and reunited with the other sculptures when the fountain was restored a couple of years ago.

The history marker explained all this in detail and told about the meaning behind the sculptures as well. It also talked a bit about Nichols and how he salvaged it etc. The replica cherub/fish is still there on a pedestal next to the fountain. It seems very odd now. Without a marker, makes you wonder, "Why is that little sculpture sitting there?"

Do you think new markers are being made? Maybe new ones that take any mention of Nichols off? If so, how will they explain how the fountain made its way to Kansas City? If they are not going to put up any markers, do you think there is a loss in not reading about the fountain's history?

It seems like we could rename the fountain but still leave up markers that tell its history. The markers don't have to 'glorify' Nichols. They could explain why he was 'bad' and why the city has now decided to reject his gift.

I think taking down the historic markers is an act of 'erasing history.' This is the city's attempt to forget about Nichols and act like the fountain and the Plaza's very existence have nothing to do with him. That just seems ignorant.
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