AN INTRODUCTION TO MY HOMETOWN – HOLDEN, MISSOURI
AS SEEN THROUGH MY YOUNG EYES, BACK IN THE DAY!
I was recently asked what or who has been the most influential in my life. After much consideration, I answered, “my hometown and my family.” My town, Holden, Missouri, located in Western Johnson County, has a rich and interesting history; one that I think effectively reflects the evolution of our society as a whole. I want to share my thoughts with you by giving you many of my experiences and thoughts about growing up in my little town.
Holden has been my home since I was two years old. World War II was just over and families were excited to build upon the promises of a future of peace and prosperity. My father, E. Benjamin Cast who also grew up in Holden, left to serve in the United States Navy during the war in many locations, but returned to Holden where his parents, brothers and sisters, and many friends still lived. My Dad returned to Holden and bought and operated the Cast Funeral Home that opened in 1946. I owned and operated the funeral home after his death in 2006 until I retired and sold the company in 2013. I still own and operate the Cast Monuments Company that keeps me very busy and connected.
By the time I was six years old, Holden became mine to explore, a typical, thriving small town in 1950 with a growing population of almost 2000 people. Everyone knew most everyone and we had a modicum of security and basically knew no fear. My friend, Wilmer Carter, and I spent lots of time exploring Holden and we wanted to know all we could about almost everything! I came to know most everyone in town, too, which made it easier to sell the surplus from our garden to Holden residents, selling the fruits and vegetables from my Radio Flyer wagon.
My family always impressed on me the importance of hard work, thrift and good citizenship. At age eight, I got a bicycle for my birthday, which expanded my curiosity and ability to discover Holden. I remember vividly riding north on Vine Street to the railroad tracks and seeing the stockyards for the first time. I learned that Holden had previously been a point for rail shipments of livestock into Kansas City. We had a milling company, four grain elevators, an ice plant, the Holden Creamery, the Rockledge Farm Equipment manufacturer, the Beaumont Canvas Company, the Dunhill Manufacturing plant, the local utility companies, two packing houses, three automobile and three farm implement dealerships, the Talmage House Hotel and a thriving business district. We had jewelers, hardware stores, croquet courts (one indoors), bakeries, appliance stores and drug stores. There were eight grocery stores in town and my mother, Gene, would send me to those stores and let me collect the Green, Yellow and Gold Bond savings stamps. I redeemed the stamps for tools and accessories for my bicycle!
I also began a lawncare business after my father purchased a rotary lawnmower! That opened new entrepreneurial opportunities and I had a thriving business! I soon began trimming shrubbery as well and very soon opened a bank savings account at the Bank of Holden and began purchasing United States Government savings bonds!
I entered first grade in 1949 (we didn’t have a kindergarten). My class had forty students in one room with the same teacher who had taught my father in first grade. Miss Long was kindly but her rules were more strictly applied than allowable today.
During the 1950’s Holden was very active! Families from surrounding farm communities came to shop and socialize every Saturday, crowding the streets as they visited the multitude of stores, restaurants, and the Holden Theater, a modern movie theater. Most of the businesses were open until the movie theater cleared at about ten p.m. and many restaurants were open until midnight.
The Holden Chiefs, a semi-professional baseball team, provided sports entertainment weekly for large crowds. The team was highly competitive against teams from the Kansas City metropolitan area and Eastern Kansas featuring the likes of Sachel Page. The ballpark was built largely by Verle “Stub” Roberts, the owner of the Johnson County Lumber Company and was the Manager of the Holden Chiefs. Stub was also a scout for several major league teams as well. We had the Chamber of Commerce Park, that over the years housed livestock sheds, a go-cart track, the Boy Scout Cabin, and a swimming pool. Today, the area is owned by the City of Holden but the pool and the Boy Scout Cabin are gone. Basketball courts and picnic facilities have been added as well as a horse show arena, the Holden Saddle Club.
I will be writing much more about Holden as I write more for this blog. So much has changed and much as stayed the same and eventually I will bring you into the present! I was recently elected to the Board of Directors of the Johnson County Historical Society and I will share these stories in their quarterly newsletter. Holden has had a very rich history and many very interesting people have lived here. Your input is appreciated; you can reach me at castsmith713@gmail.com
Thank you for reading – stay tuned…DBC