Historic Commission

AGENDA Historic Commission Meeting 4:30 PM - Wednesday, July 15, 2026 Main Conference Room, 4800 Town Center Drive, Leawood, KS 66211 www.leawood.org/agendas AGENDA Page 1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES A. Historic Commission Minutes 5.20.26 - DRAFT 3-6 2. FINANCE REPORT 3. PROJECTS A. America 250 The Road to Independence: Speaker Series  Saturday, July 25, 10 a.m. - Leawood City Hall - Oak Room  Denise Bullock - "Women's Role in the Revolutionary War" B. Plaques for Linwood Cemetery and Leawood Presbyterian Church  Installed  Plan Dedications C. DAR America 250 Project - "Pioneer Patriot Panels"  January 22- February 4 - Leawood City Hall  Reception (Kansas Day, January 29) D. Historic Frontier Trails Interpretive Signs E. Julia Ann Ellick - Shawnee Interpretive Signage (Dedication Suggestions) 4. OLD BUSINESS A. Independence Day Events - Postmortem B. Veterans Memorial Update - Fundraising through October 2026  Veterans Memorial Build  Fall Fundraising Events o Liz Kelley - Sunday, September 20, 1 p.m. - Leawood City Hall - Oak Room o Paul Heacock - Sunday, October 18, 1 p.m. - Leawood City Hall - Oak Room o Lions Pancake Days - Friday & Saturday, October 23-24, 7 a.m. - 1 p.m. - Leawood City Hall - Oak Room  Veterans eat FREE with a paid person Page 2 of 6 Historic Commission Meeting – July 15, 2026 C. Interviews & Articles - Ongoing D. Update on 96th & Lee Property 5. NEW BUSINESS A. Oxford Schoolhouse Open House Hours through November  Saturdays, 11 a.m - 2 p.m.  Sundays, 1 p.m. - 3 p.m. B. Schoolhouse will participate in America 250 Activities through July 6. COMMENTS 7. UPCOMING EVENTS A. Next Meeting: September 16, 2026 Meetings will take place on Wednesdays at 4:30 p.m. (every other month) in the Main Conference Room, unless noted. Additional 2026 meeting: November 18, 2026 (West Conference Room). B. The Road to Independence: Speaker Series - FREE  July 25, 10 a.m. - Leawood City Hall - Oak Room  Denise Bullock - "Women's Role in the Revolutionary War" C. September Sounds: Concert Series - FREE  Fridays, 6:30-8 p.m. - Leawood City Park o September 11 - Betsy O & The Hollaback Boys o September 25 - Sons of Brasil 8. ADJOURNMENT Public Accommodation: This meeting is open to the public. If you require any accommodation (i.e., qualified interpreter, hearing assistance, etc.) to attend this meeting, please notify this office at (913) 339-6700 or email at cityclerk@leawood.org no later than 96 hours before the scheduled commencement of the meeting.  Agenda Item #1.A. Page 3 of 6 MINUTES Historic Commission Minutes May 20, 2026 Leawood City Hall Present: April Bishop (Chair), Jackie Aaron, Alice Hawk, Mitch Lohr, Janet O’Neal, Dan Throckmorton, Clara VanDraska, Jaeden Maere (Acting Staff Liaison), Camryn Ewing (Planning Staff) and Alan Sunkel (Council Liaison). April Bishop called the meeting to order at 4:30 p.m. Minutes Additions were made the March minutes, Dan Throckmorton commented about the DAR “Liberty Tree” and Jackie Aaron about the suggestion about an onsite Oxford Fraud plaque. Clara VanDraska moved, and Mr. Throckmorton seconded the motion, with amendments, for approval of minutes from March 18, 2026, meeting of the LHC. The vote for approval was 7-0. Finance Report Alice Hawk reported a check was written to the City to cover the cost of the bronze plaques. Projects Negro Creek Interpretive Sign Ms. Bishop reported that the sign dedication event, for both signs took place on March 27th at the Overland Park site at Kingston Lake. It was a bitter cold, windy event held by Leawood, Overland Park and Johnson County. Mayor Elkins gave an outstanding speech as did representatives of the NAACP. Joint event marketing proved successful with coverage by the KC Star and Fox4 News. USA’s 250th Anniversary Ms. Bishop reminded the LHC that we will participate in the city’s Independence Day events on July 4, 2026. Leawood’s Independence Day Parade at 10 a.m. will travel along Tomahawk Creek Parkway. The celebration will continue in the evening at City Park beginning at 6:00 pm with food vendors, activities, live entertainment, and an enhanced fireworks display set to patriotic music in honor of the nation’s 250th birthday. Members discussed options for our parade entry. Our best option is a convertible that Marianne Leary can get for us. Ms. Bishop will contact Marianne to verify. LHC members (probably in period costumes) will walk the route and hand out American Flags. Melissa Duggan will order the flags. The Historic Commission is hosting a lecture series, “Road to Independence”, which is scheduled to take place the last Saturday of each month, March through July, with topics such as events leading up to conflict, the Revolutionary War, Second Continental Congress writing of the Declaration, the Declaration after 1776. The series will take place in the Oak Room on the lower level of City Hall beginning at 10 a.m. Admission is free. About 30 people attend each but we would like to make more people aware of the events. Jaeden Maere posted them on ArtsKCGo and Ms. Bishop spoke to Martin City Telegraph, and they posted the series dates on their calendar. Next presentations are: • May 30 – “The Hard Part Begins: Inventing an American Nation After Independence” by Mitch Lohr • June 27 – “The American Revolutionary War in the West” by Stephen L. Kling Jr. • July 25 – “Women’s Role in the Revolutionary War” by Denise Bullock 1  Agenda Item #1.A. Page 4 of 6 For the Goal For the Goal will also include 2 Leawood events; a watch party at Park Place on June 16th at 6 p.m. and a tailgate at Town Center will be held on July 11th at 4 p.m., as well as 3 v 3 Soccer Tournament in City Park June 12-14 starting at 8 a.m. LHC inquired about having a tent/table at these events. We were turned down for all events. The City will have a table at the Park Place event and will hand out our Veterans Memorial Group fundraising cards. Plaques for Linwood Pioneer Cemetery & Leawood Presbyterian Church Plaques have arrived and will be installed by Park staff in June. The Historic Commission will plan dedication events for both plaques, on each site later in the year (following FIFA and America 250 events), with the dates being suggested by both the church and Ranch Mart. Historic Frontier Trails Interpretive Signs Ms. Bishop connected with the National Park Service though the local Oregon-California Trails Association and they have offered to help fund our trails sign project in Gezer Park up to $5,000. Ms. Bishop, Ms. Duggan, and Ms. Maere met with Larry Short to discuss details. In addition to creating copy and providing licensed images, the NPS will provide a local graphic designer. They will order the signs, and they use the same company that the City uses, so we know the quality of the signs will be to our standard. Ms. Maere reported that NPC funding for the project will be released in June. Ms. Bishop reminded the group of the $1,500.00 grant received from the Johnson County Kansas Heritage Foundation. With the installation labor of the Parks crew, the sign project should be mostly funded. Shawnee Landowner Interpretive Signs Julia Ann Ellick was the original owner of 200 acres which included the land north of 119th Street; today Tomahawk Creek Parkway Greenway is within the bounds of the property. We plan to install 2 - 24” x 36” signs at the soccer fields that are on the land she owned. Mr. Lee (Julia’s great grandson) has provided text, maps, and photos. Like the Frontier Trails signs, the signs are currently being designed. Due to the workload associated with the America 250 and FIFA events, it may be July before work on the signs progress. A traveling Smithsonian exhibit on Americans will take place at the Wyandotte County Historical Museum – May 30 – July 5th. Jim Lee, a member of the Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma, is a participant. A companion exhibit is being held at the Mahaffie. DAR Tree and Plaque The “Liberty Tree” plaque by The Tomahawk Chapter of DAR the dedication of the tree took place April 24th at Tomahawk Park. Mayor Elkins spoke at the event. Old Business VETERANS MEMORIAL FUNDRAISING The Veterans Memorial fundraising is at $197,000 with a goal of $350,000.00. In 2026 the group will strategically have speakers and events to keep fundraising efforts moving forward. Lou Eisenbrandt spoke on Sunday, March 22nd to a crowd of 170 attendees. The event was free to attend, but donations were requested. We made over $3,000.00 at the event. Lou was a nurse who 2  Agenda Item #1.A. Page 5 of 6 served in Vietnam much like in the popular book “The Women”. Lou has written and published 2 books on her experiences. The next meeting of the Veterans Memorial Group is scheduled for June 16, 2026, at 4 p.m. in the Main Conference Room of Leawood City Hall. INTERVIEWS & ARTICLES Anyone can interview someone with a connection to the history of our area. We might run information in the City’s e-newsletter asking people to contact us if they would like to be interviewed. Ms. Bishop interviewed longtime employee Mike Pelger. 96TH & LEE REPORT Camryn Ewing reported that the Planning Commission continued approval of the plans for 96th & Lee Blvd. The City of Leawood is continuing its review of plans for the 3.69-acre site at 96th and Lee Boulevard, the site of the former City Hall and former Fire Station #1. A preliminary site plan has been submitted that would transform the property into a new public amenity for the community. The current concept includes: • Demolition of the former City Hall building • Reuse of the former Fire Station #1 as a multi-purpose community space featuring a kitchenette, concessions, restrooms, and temporary display space for Leawood’s retired 1948 fire engine • Outdoor public features such as play amenities and a potential demonstration garden Meetings and Public Hearings • Monday, April 27, 6 p.m. – Governing Body Work Session to review draft master plan options. Ms. Bishop attended and reported that the Governing Body has no interest in saving former City Hall. • Tuesday, May 12, 5:30–7 p.m. – Open House at The Wave at 106 (10603 Lee Blvd.) • Tuesday, May 26, 6 p.m. – Planning Commission Meeting (City Hall) • Monday, June 15, 7 p.m. – Governing Body Meeting (City Hall, 4800 Town Center Dr.) Community members are encouraged to review the latest site plans and share feedback as the project moves through the public review process. If members wish to make comments, Ms. Bishop encouraged members to contact their Councilmembers prior to these meetings and reminded them that showing up to meets is a good way to show support. New Business HISTORIC OXFORD SCHOOLHOUSE Open House hours are Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Sundays from 1 to 3 p.m., March through November 2026. The school participated in: • America 250 activities for visiting children March through July 26th • What Freedom Means to Me Essay Contest – March through July 12th • For Peeps Sake Egg Hunt – March 29th 1 – 3 p.m. • ISC Passport to Adventure Kickoff – April 4th • Earth Day – April 24th 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. with the Prairie Oak Nature Center Open House 3  Agenda Item #1.A. Page 6 of 6 The school will host Elementary School field trips before the end of the school year and programs in coordination with the Prairie Oak Nature Center. The school will be open on Tuesday mornings in June for Grinnin’ & Groovin’ events in Ironwoods Park. The 1800s children’s art table was donated and looks wonderful and has many daily uses. Ms. Duggan secured the donation and directed Parks staff to make necessary furniture rearrangements. City Updates The spelling of I-Lan, our Sister City and park, has officially been changed to Yilan. COMMENTS Don’t miss the upcoming presentations at City Hall as well as the activities at the Historic Oxford Schoolhouse listed above. Ms. Aaron suggested a two-week temporary exhibit be held at City Hall. The Kansas DAR is making available a traveling exhibit of famous Kansans (many of which are women). There are panels much like the For the Goal panels currently in the lobby of City Hall. Each panel is 8’ tall x 2’ wide. We will need to check with the City to see if they will welcome it and have space for it January 22- February 4, 2027. We will add her suggestion of a sign on the “Oxford Fraud” incident, during an election held on October 5, 1857, to our “project list” for further examination. It was suggested that we meet in June (typically not a meeting month) for the purpose of parade preparation. We will check to see if a room is available for our regular third Wednesday. Adjournment Ms. Hawk moved for adjournment, Janet O’Neal seconded, all approved 7-0, and the meeting adjourned at 5:45 p.m. The next regularly scheduled meeting will be held on July 15th at 4:30 p.m. in the Main Conference Room. The LHC meets on the third Wednesdays at 4:30 p.m., every other month in the Main Conference Room. All meetings will be in person, and a zoom link will be provided by request. Additional 2026 meeting dates are September 16 and November 18. Submitted by: April Bishop, Chair 4