Life -- way back in the day - Noland Rd. (memory lane) *NFT - Page 2

Honestly - did you ever 'cruise' Noland?

I was a tad young but would tag along w/ my sister and her friends when she'd allow it.

I remember the Wild Woodys - the Venture - there was an awesome video store where we'd rent Cheech and Chong movies. Let's see - Tippins, Arthur Treachers - Rustlers BBQ, Red Lobster, Fuddruckers.

Those were the days - 1969 Nova v8 w/ Cragar's.

WE WERE THERE!

reminiscing today for some reason...
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Originally Posted by phisherman:
Cruised it. From the car wash at 39th and Noland to the Food 4 Less parking lot at 40 Highway. Back and forth, rinse, repeat. Mostly in the early 90s.

me too, and I was from the ks side
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Originally Posted by loochy:
Question to you guys:

I lived in Independence until I was 12 or so (1992). When I go back, I am amazed at how crappy and run down the city is. Was it always like that or was I just too young to notice? Independence is kind of depressing now.

yes - it's always been like that - a ton of fat unhealthy people - crank, meth + ventilators.
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Do you have children, Simply Red?
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Originally Posted by Simply Red:
did you grown up in Lee's Summit?

No sir. Born and raised in Independence, about 2 miles south of MCI hospital. Went to Blackburn, Bridger and Truman High. I went to Lee's Summit after college when I finally saw how much of a s**thole Independence was.
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Originally Posted by JASONSAUTO:
me too, and I was from the ks side

:-) you drove all that way just to cruise noland freaking road?
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Independence has depressed areas, true. But so does Overland Park. Metcalf north of I-435 looks a lot like US 40 through Independence. Independence also has some very nice neighborhoods. And we have real, legit history. The Independence square, all the Truman stuff, Three Trails, Community of Christ and Mormon church history, Vaille Mansion. Plus our parks and streets are in good shape.

And I can leave my house on a Chiefs game day and be tailgaiting 20 minutes later. That's pretty awesome.
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Originally Posted by Donger:
Do you have children, Simply Red?

no sir. none

sometimes I hate I never did - other times I see just how hard it'd be in today's world to raise him/her/them.
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Originally Posted by phisherman:
No sir. Born and raised in Independence, about 2 miles south of MCI hospital. Went to Blackburn, Bridger and Truman High. I went to Lee's Summit after college when I finally saw how much of a s**thole Independence was.

I (for some reason) remember the area from behind Rustlers and Wild Woodys working your way back to that small Independence Airport having a huge Italian population. At least in the late eighties it did.
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Originally Posted by Simply Red:
no sir. none

sometimes I hate I never did - other times I see just how hard it'd be in today's world to raise him/her/them.

Thanks.
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Originally Posted by loochy:

Edit: I swear there was a YMCA near Noland and 35th, but I can't find it on a map.

It's behind Truman High School, just north of 35th.
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Originally Posted by Sully:
It's behind Truman High School, just north of 35th.

Greater KC YMCA closed it a couple years ago. The building is still there, but it's not open.
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Originally Posted by Sully:
It's behind Truman High School, just north of 35th.

There it is.

Wow, it's way smaller than I remember it.
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Graduated from Truman in '94.
Cruised a little, but I typically hated it. Had a few contests with friends to see who would get the most phone numbers... then none of us would ever call.
Mostly, it was an annoyance to get through in transit to somewhere else.
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Hey and screw you guys calling my home town "a shithole." I'll fight each and every one of you, and bring my methed-out Camaro head pals along with me!
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Growing up in the Hickman Mills area till High School, Independence was the nicest place on the planet (and I really don't think it was that bad in the 90s). But from a Lee's Summit perspective, it's not great to drive through there, now. Still some great parts, but a lot run down, too.
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