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A History of Waldo
by Bette Tillotson
(Bette Tillotson Studio of Dance)

The Waldo Tradition

Waldo Profiles:
  Dr. David Waldo
  Alexander Majors
  David Waldo, Jr.

Waldo Promotions
Waldo Vignettes

Waldo Neighbors:
  The Wornall House
  Armour Hills
  New Santa Fe
  Watts Mill
  Daniel Morgan Boone Home

Waldo Facts
Waldo Historical Pictures

Acknowledgements
About the Author

Waldo Neighbors: New Santa Fe

The town of New Santa Fe, Missouri, or Little Santa Fe as some called it, stood at the junction of the Santa Fe Trail and State Line, what is now 121st and State Line. It was the last bit of civilization before pioneers heading for Oregon or New Mexico crossed into the wilds of what is now Kansas. If they needed a wagon wheel or a bottle of whiskey at that point, they either got it in New Santa Fe or got along without it.

An Indian village was first on this land and the ancient Indian trail heading south and west was used by many traders. The path became known as the Santa Fe Trail. The area became a popular stopping place because of the grass, water and camping grounds. Originally called Blue Camp 20, the settlement was approximately 20 miles from Independence, and less than two miles from the Blue River.

The first documented wagon train stopped at the settlement in the spring of 1823. A year later, a log tavern was built which became an outfitting point for wagon trains headed towards Santa Fe, New Mexico. A saloon stood on the state line, making it easy to transact business on both sides of the border. Several of these business people became well know historically.

Jim Bridger and George W. Kemper built one of the original stores in the town. William S. Gregory, a wholesale grocer, became the first mayor of Kansas City. George B. Longan, Sr., an early New Santa Fe school teacher, was later Kansas City's superintendent of schools.

In 1861, a Civil War battle nearby took the lives of two Union soldiers and wounded six. In 1864, during the Battle of Westport, Confederate General Sterling Price's wagon train and Union Generals Curtis and Pleasonton and their troops camped there. In 1977, a historical society was formed to preserve the memory of the area.