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THE ORIGINAL OWNERS - 1887
The Victorian home was built by John G. Braecklein for John
and Margaret Scroggs. At age 21, this was Mr. Braecklein's first commission. It was considered at the time one
of the most outstanding examples of the Queen Anne Style architecture erected in Kansas City, Kansas. The Scroggs
family lived there for 32 years.
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Margaret E. Kerstetter Cruise Scroggs
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Margaret E. Kerstetter Cruise Scroggs was the first mistress of the mansion at 720
N.4th Street, Kansas City, Kansas.
Margaret was born in Stark County, Ohio, in 1843. She was an early pioneer to Kansas in 1863, but it is unknown
why she came to the town of Wyandotte.
In 1864 she married James A. Cruise. James was elected Clerk of the district Court in 1862 and held that position
together with the office of register of Deeds for over 10 years. He had come here from Albany, New York, in 1860
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Margaret and James had 5 children: Eugene, Marice, Chauncey, Emma and Delia. Chauncey
died in infancy. A year after Delia was born James died at age of 34. Two years after James died, Margaret married
John B. Scroggs, a prominent attorney. He was one of the pioneer members of the bar of Wyandotte.
In 1876 they had son, John Eldon Scroggs. The baby lived 6 months.John and Margaret had been married 12 years when
they decided to build a new house. It was in 1887 and they wanted a house bigger then any in town. |
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James A. Cruise
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John B. Scroggs
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The eastern slope of what then called "Splitlog's Hill" was selected for
the new home. The house sat elevated on a terrace 10 to 15 feet above 4th Street and looked out over the whole
broad confluence of the Kansas and Missouri Rivers. A stone wall contained the terrace with an ornamental iron
gate bearing the letter "S" which is still there today.
The interior of the house was as fine as exterior with stain and leaded glass windows, built ins, beautifully crafted
woodwork, tile faced fireplaces and the use of lincrusta wall coverings. In the years followed Eugene Cruise passed
away, Marice, Emma and Delia would marry. |
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It was Emma who married John E. McFadden, a lawyer, in 1890. They continued
to reside in the house with her mother and stepfather. In 1892, a daughter, Margaret Scroggs McFadden was born.
Emma was artistically inclined. Her interests were in watercolors, tapestries and china painting. A piece of her
china is on display at the museum.
In 1899, John Scroggs passed away. Margaret Scroggs died in 1915. The house passed on to John and Emma McFadden.
Margaret McFadden married Thomas P. Palmer, also an attorney, in 1916. They were married in the Cruise-Scroggs
home.
The family home was sold in 1919 to become St. John's Orphanage.
THE ST. JOHN'S ORPHANAGE - 1919
In 1918 an influenza epidemic raged throughout the United
States. Many children of the local St. John the Baptist Parish were left without one or both parents. Msgr. Martin
D. Krmpotic, the Church's Pastor, asked the Sisters of St. Francis of Christ the King to open a local orphanage
for these children. On August 15, 1919, Sister M. Bonaventure visited the Cruise-Scroggs home and purchased it
for $15,400 for use as an orphanage. The Sisters operated the orphanage from 1919 until the summer of 1988, when
it was closed due to changing social needs.
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In 1918, an influenza epidemic raged throughout the United States. St. John the Baptist
Parish recorded 51 deaths that year and 71 in 1919. Many children of the parish were left without one or both parents.
Msgr. Martin D. Krmpotic, Pastor of St.John's was determined to remedy this situation.
He asked the Sisters of St.Fransis of Christ the King to open an orphanage. Mr. John McFadden a neighbor of Msgr.
Krmpotic expressed his desire to sell his residence, located north of the parish house. |
On August 15, 1919 , Sister Mary Bonaventure, the superior, visited the McFadden home and purchased it for $15,400.
The Sisters supplied the $3,000 down payment and the sum of $12,400 was raised in the parish.
It was decided that the orphanage was to open to the children of all nationalities,
creeds and races. Along with the sheltered care for the children, the Sisters operated a day care and nursery school
program. Within a few years there was a great increase in the number of orphans. Over the course of eight years,
four additions were made to the original house but always leaving the main facade and ornate interiors intact.
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By 1931 , the orphanage was caring for 68 children. In 1940, the orphanage received
its first license from the State Board of health and was authorized to care for 70 children.
In 1950's , the Sisters started attending workshops on nursery care and become caseworkers. The Orphanage was changing.
The Orphanage operated through the Catholic Charities of the Archdioceses of Kansas City, Kansas, during the 1960's.
At that point they cared for only 35 children. |
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In 1973 , the name was changed to St. John Children's Home. During the 1970's and 1980's the focus changed from
a children's home to a long-term residential treatment facility.
In 1988 , the Sisters closed the Home. Thru it's lifetime the orphanage cared for more then 3,000 children who
called it "Home."
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THE STRAWBERRY HILL MUSEUM - 1988
Upon closing of the orphanage, the property was acquired by
the Strawberry Hill Ethnic Cultural Society for conversion into a museum dedicated to the promotion and preservation
of the Slavic heritage prevalent in the Kansas City, Kansas area.
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It was through the initial efforts of Msgr. John W. Horvat that the Strawberry Hill
Museum came into existence in 1988. Knowing that the Sisters of St.Francis of Christ the King were going to end
their mission of child care, Msgr. Horvat, Tom Tomasic and Frank Jaksa, Jr were the acquisition committee. After
months of negotiations the property was acquired by the Strawberry Hill Ethnic Cultural Society. Because of Msgr's
enthusiasm for preserving this landmark, a piece of Kansas City, Kansas history has been saved. |
At present, the museum has permanent exhibits from Croatia, Lithuania, Poland, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia and Slovenia.
During the Christmas Holidays there are exibits from Belguim, Germany, Ireland, Mexico, and the Netherlands.
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Operation of the museum, its upkeep, restoration and activities are handled by a
board of directors. It is a not-for-profit organization financed through memberships, tours, donations, memorials,
and activities. Volunteers staff the gift shop, tea room, act as tour guides and help with displays and activities.
Every time someone visits museum the memory of the Cruise-Scroggs family, the nuns, the children and the ancestors
of Kansas City, Kansas is recalled. The Strawberry Hill Museum is a remembrance to all of them. Msgr. John Horvat's
sincere wish of a “Strawberry Hill Museum” has become a reality. |
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Much of this historical information comes from the Strawberry Hill Museum's Website and from written
materials provided to Ghost Vigil Investigations by the museum staff. We were all impressed with the beauty of
the museum, the interesting displays there, and the professionalism and knowledge displayed by the staff. If you
get the chance, tour the museum, have a snack in their tea room, and shop a bit in their gift shop. Your visit
will help preserve this wonderful building and the museum it houses...and maybe you'll happen upon something paranormal...
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