Our Chapter History and Activities.
Our chapter had its first meeting on February 10, 1973. We chose to
name our chapter Little Blue River since this stream rises in Grandview, Missouri, empties into
the Missouri River just west of the town of Sibley, and was the center of an important Civil War
battle in our area. Upon the ridgelines of Little Blue River, pioneer wagon trains traveling west
followed the Santa Fe Trail and the Oregon Trail.
The organizational meeting to form a new Chapter of the Daughters of the
American Revolution was held in the meeting room of Grandview Bank and Trust company in
Grandview, Missouri, on the 4th of November, 1972. Mrs. William Boney, State Regent, and Mrs.
Arthur King, State Organizing Secretary, were in attendance with approximately 20 prospective
Daughters. The Little Blue River Chapter NSDAR was officially "born" on February 10, 1973, with
many State and District officials present at the first meeting. Mrs. William Boney declared the
Little Blue River Chapter the 90th Chapter of the Missouri State Society Daughters of the
American Revolution. The Chapter was confirmed by the National Board of Management at their
meeting held on April 14, 1973.
The Chapter started with 17 organizing members and papers pending on 7 prospective members.
The chapter had rapid growth. Chapter membership consists of Daughters from South Kansas
City, Grandview, Belton, and Raymore, with two Kansas members and several non-resident
members.
Little Blue River Chapter has been involved in many local and state projects over the years.
Some highlights include the planting of 13 trees at Grandview City Hall for the Bicentennial Project;
periodic displays at local libraries and the Belton Museum; participation with the renovation of the
Harry S. Truman Home in Grandview; contributions to the preservation of Union Station and the
Liberty Memorial in downtown Kansas City; and participation in the annual Grandview Harry Hay's
Day Parade and the Belton Veterans Parade. Another notable was the donation in 2003 of two
vintage wedding gowns belonging to the grandmothers of one of our members to the Missouri
State Society Headquarters, historic Roslyn Heights, in Boonville, Missouri.
Our Chapter presents an Annual Awards Tea recognizing Patriotic and Good Citizenship Awards
to area junior high and high school students and to honor an outstanding Good Citizen of the Year
Award. The Harry S. Truman and Independence Patriots chapters, Sons of the American Revolution, annually provides the Color
Guard for our Teas. Little Blue River Chapter has a close relationship with the Sons of the American
Revolution, conducting several joint meetings and other activities yearly.
The Little Blue River Chapter NSDAR is proud of its heritage and continues its quest to promote
DAR in Missouri by supporting the DAR goals of patriotism, education, and historical preservation.
The first advertisement in the DAR Magazine appeared January 26, 1974, and still depicts our
association: "Happiness is being a member of the Little Blue River Chapter, Grandview, Missouri."
The history and activities of the Little Blue River Chapter is adapted from an article by Linda Reppell,
Past Regent of Little Blue River Chapter NSDAR, in Missouri DAR Through Time: The Histories of Missouri DAR
Chapters, published by Missouri State Society DAR 2005, edited and compiled by Lemira Stubbs Parks, State
Recording Secretary.
The DAR Insignia is the property of, and is copyrighted by, the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Web hyperlinks to non-DAR sites are not the responsibility of the NSDAR, the state organizations, or individual DAR chapters.
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