MOUND GROVE CEMETERY
by mtncorg
Located on River Road a few miles north of the center of Independence on a ridge sitting south of the Missouri River, Mound Grove Cemetery is neither the largest nor the most historic burying ground in Independence, but it is here that four former president/prophet/leaders of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ (RLDS)/Community of Christ are buried - Joseph Smith III, Frederick M. Smith, Israel Smith, W. Wallace Smith - their works on earth complete. The graves are grouped together with a view towards the office towers of Kansas City off ten miles to the west - another World and time.
HERITAGE PLAZA
by mtncorg
Heritage Plaza is across the street to the northwest from the Temple Lot. Here is the original Flournoy House - moved from its original site closer to downtown - in which the 63.33 acre Temple Lot Property was purchased by Mormon bishop Edward Partridge for the nascent Mormon faith late in 1831. The home dates to 1826 and is one of the oldest in Independence. Next to this house is another old home which dates to the early 1830's and is thought to be the oldest slave cabin in Missouri. This house was formerly on part of a farm five miles east of Independence which RLDS president Frederick M. Smith purchased in 1937. He used the house first as a study and eventually ended up moving in when his daughter's family, whom also lived at the farm, kept increasing in size. The home is restored with authentic furnishings as they were in 1940.