email: [email protected] website: www.museumhill.com

12/20/2006

Volume 1, Number 6

In a couple of days, 2006 is history and the new year 2007 begins. Speaking about history, Beth and I have spent some time this month visiting with a lot of local people who own and restored old homes here in the downtown area and the stories they tell are all unique. I am continually amazed by all the different architecture styles that were brought into St. Joe throughout time especially in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s. The people that have bought and worked on these homes to restore them have their heart and souls dedicated to a time period in history that is well worth preserving.

A lot of attention has been focused on St. Joseph recently. My previous letters have covered many things and there is much more to share as 2007 approaches. True West Magazine in their January/February 2007 issue rated St. Joseph #10 as one of the top Ten True Western Towns of the Year to visit. On page 26 of the magazine, there is a small article describing St. Joe, its history and significance to the Westward expansion, and the restoration efforts taking place. This web link http://www.truewestmagazine.com/ takes you to the site where an issue can be ordered.

Our neighbor’s house right across from us is presently undergoing a major landscape renovation. The huge and steep side yard slope is being filled in and leveled out along with a nice stone wall those cascades down all the way down to the school administration parking lot just before 10^th street. The wall itself is just about completed and it changes the entire look on Felix Street giving it a much more cleaner and historical appearance. Walking up the hill on Felix is now a real nice entrance into the Museum Hill National Historical District.

The property where the old Heartland Hospital that was demolished over the summer near Hall district is now being slated for construction of town homes and condominiums. The initial plans have been drawn up and hopefully in the Spring work will begin. As a benefit, the old homes around the coinciding area will be receiving some assistance and incentives for restoration work. The whole goal is to make the area a pristine place to live and if it takes hold, it will go a long way to the progression of the downtown revitalization efforts. Other investment interests are taking a look at some of the old commercial buildings to possibly turn them into retail space or higher end lofts.

On the media front, The St. Joseph Visitors Center has a 17-minute DVD on St. Joe. The DVD is full of history and places to visit in town. I have also now have this entire video online incorporated into our website at http://www.villagepiazza.com/vp-mhstjoe-area-video.htm. The history channel recently broadcasted a special titled "The Plot to Kill Jesse James." This documentary highlights the events that led up to the shooting that occurred at his home in St. Joseph. An upcoming major motion picture movie " The Assassination of Jesse James" will be released sometime in February or March of 2007. Even though much of it was filmed in Canada, there is supposed to be a lot of emphasis on St. Joe and the area as to how it was here during that specific time period. Also sometime in the early Spring, another video release from the Visitors Center will focus on the Civil War time period and what role St. Joseph had played.

Last newsletter I mentioned the holiday lighting in Krug Park. Well that was a sight to be seen. The city and all who sponsored that event made a real special treat. The whole park is lighted with the holiday spirit as you drive in and at the beginning there is a sign to tell you to tune to a certain radio station for holiday music specific to the lighting. Beth got into the holiday spirit as well and decorated the entire house for the holiday season inside and out. This link shows pictures of how Beth had the house decorated. After you hit this link, the slide show option is a real nice way to view this album.

http://new.photos.yahoo.com/museumhillbandb/album/576460762380333561

Down in Kansas City earlier this month a new museum just opened up. The National World War I Museum is supposed to be the only museum in the country that puts a real focus on the history of World War I, a conflict that has been long forgotten. The web site http://www.libertymemorialmuseum.org/

 As I am writing this, the year is coming to a close and it is snowing outside. Not much is sticking, but there is a light dusting that brings in the Winter Wonderland atmosphere especially in the historical neighborhoods. For those who may want some fun in the snow, this site www.skisnowcreek.com goes to Snow Creek Mountain just located outside of St. Joe about 15 minutes away towards Weston. The phone # is 816-640-2200 and the neat thing about here is that you do not have to ski to have fun. For a cost of $20 you can spend 2 hours tubing the snow in an inner tube instead of skiing. The tubes are provided on site.

For something fun, Museum Hill Bed and Breakfast has just gotten delivered it latest marketing tool. The following picture is of a 1973 Dodge Charger that I was having customized and restored for over a year and a half in CA. It was finally completed and shipped in about a month ago. I will be having it registered as an historical vehicle and as the Spring and Summer approach I will be showing it at several car shows and events throughout the area.

February 9-11, we will have a booth during the Home Show at the American Royal in Kansas City. Our focus will be promoting our business and St. Joe. We will also be selling wine glasses, a recipe book and gift certificates there.

As we begin the new year, Beth and I would like to thank everyone for staying with us the past year. We hope we had made everyone’s stay here extra special and memorable.

The big Antique vendor event will be coming up soon in the Spring in Sparks and White Cloud. As soon as I get the dates I will send those out to everyone who may be interested.

Ok now for some cooking fun. This issue, I will share some recipes that will be good for entertaining. The first is a good recipe for nachos, simple to make and very hearty for your guests.

First, spray a half size commercial sheet pan with cooking spray. Cook chicken in sauté pan over medium heat, as an option you can season with some Mexican style seasoning, until breasts are cooked fully. Let cool, than dice. Spread Tortilla chips on sheet pan. Add chicken on top of chips. Add tomatoes and onions spreading them around chips. Than take a spoon and dab on the sour cream, guacamole, and salsa on top of the chips, spacing evenly throughout. Shred the lettuce with knife than top over the chips. The lettuce can be heaping. (Note, substituting lettuce with the pre-shredded kind in the bag will not work, it will wilt). After lettuce top with cheese and place in an oven at 350 degrees for 15 minutes. When cheese is melted, it is done and ready to serve. Serve with a good stainless steel spatula by cutting into portions. This dish holds up well and can be refrigerated to microwave for later as a leftover. You will be surprised how well the fresh lettuce holds up under the heat; the cheese acts like a protective cover. This can also be done in a smaller cookie sheet, just cut down the recipe amounts by half. The full recipe will serve at least 10 to 12 hungry people.

This is a great salsa recipe for chips and many other things. Sauté the onions in a medium sized pan with a little vegetable oil. Add the mince garlic. Sauté until brown or almost caramelized. In a medium size saucepan, add tomatoes with liquid and turn on medium heat. Bring to boil. After tomatoes come to a boil, turn temp down to simmer, add diced peppers, seasoning and crushed red pepper. Keep on simmer, stirring occasionally. After 5 minutes, add sautéed onions; simmer for another 15 minutes. Stir occasionally and use a whisk to gently crush tomatoes a little, not all the way, just enough to give some thickness. Salsa is finished when it begins to become thick like a good tomato sauce. Turn off stove, salsa can be served warm or let cool. To increase spice, add more jalapenos or crushed red pepper, to decrease add less. Taste throughout the cooking process to get desired spice. Salsa can be refrigerated in a good Tupperware container; it will last for about 10 days in refrigerator.

 

 

First, cook chicken on an electric or gas grille. Baste breasts with sauce on each side every couple of minutes and season with mesquite season. After chicken is done, let cool and dice. Spread out tortilla shells on a flat surface than can be carried, a half sheet pan or cookie sheet will do. Place diced chicken on one side of the open shells, spreading evenly. Sprinkle cheese on top of chicken, than fold empty half of shell over top and press the top down to hold in place. Place quesadillas on grille basting up side with BBQ sauce than turn over and baste other side. Grille on a semi medium heat. Turn after 3 to 4 minutes or until the BBQ sauce is seared into the shell and cheese is melted. Serve with a good Margarita and enjoy!!!!

 

 

Take care everyone and Happy New Year!!!

 

 

Sincerely,

John Courter

Newsletter archive:

www.geocities.com/museumhillbandb/newsletter-07-20-2006

www.geocities.com/museumhillbandb/newsletter-08-14-2006

www.geocities.com/museumhillbandb/newsletter-09-14-2006

www.geocities.com/museumhillbandb/newsletter-10-14-2006

www.geocities.com/museumhillbandb/newsletter-11-20-2006