Most post card scenes of Swope Park's entrance were photographed looking east into the park and toward the big shelter house. This rare post card was taken looking away from the park and across the road west to Col. Thomas H. Swope's farm and country home.Thomas Swope, Kentuckian and Yale graduate, came to Kansas City in 1857, when he was 30 years old. Following his arrival here he began making investments in property and his dealings soon placed him on the road to success. His magnificent gift of 1,332 acres of farm land for a park was made to Kansas City in 1896. In size and natural beauty the park was second to none in the United States, according to a souvenir booklet published by the park board in 1914. In 1905 Swope leased the old home and grounds to the Evanston Golf Club for 15 years. The club built additions on either side of the Swope residence. Aside from the necessary improvements in transforming the grounds into a golf course and the erection of suitable buildings, nothing was done to mar the natural beauty of the rolling terrain. The old home retained its gracious dignity, sheltered in its stand of tall maples, elms and pines. A small book, Evanston Golf Club, put out in 1908 by the members, set out the club's constitution, ground rules, lists of members and officers--a select record of Kansas City leaders of the day. It also contained a fold-out tissue paper map of the grounds, Cleveland to Prospect, 63rd to 65th, with details of the 18-hole golf course - tees, greens, bunkers, bridges and sand traps. There are photographs of the remodeled Swope home (clubhouse) and lake. Colonel Swope is listed as an honorary member. Today all of the improvements and home are gone, and the changed area now is covered with the mall, wide boulevards, paved streets and homes. Dominating the scene is Southeast High School. Kansas City Star, July 17, 1971.
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