Few people may recognize the busy Missouri Highway 152 as anything other than a stretch of pavement, but thanks to MCC-Maple Woods student Matt Cieropoit, visitors to the Maple Woods campus have the opportunity to learn about the original highway across the Northland.
The Barry Trail, which runs in a path almost parallel to Highway 152 between Liberty, Mo. and Fort Leavenworth, Kan., was in heavy use from 1826 to arround 1886. It was a wagon trail originally used by the enlisted men at Fort Leavenworth to attend dances and social events at William Jewell College. During the Civil War, the trails served both Confederate and Union armies as they transported men, weapons and supplies across the state line to the fort.
After doing research at the Clay County Historical Society, Cieropoit cleared the section of trail running through the Maple Woods campus earlier this year as a project to earn his Eagle Scout credentials. While clearing the trails of brush and overgrowth, he found several artifacts and evidence of historical travel, including pieces of wood and a wagon spoke. The 300-foot trail still contains traces of the wagon ruts created by heavy use.
A member of the homeschool community, Cieropoit is now attending Maple Woods, working on computer networking and Cisco certification.
Rock on, Matt! Never knew there was an Eagle Scout sitting in the back row.
ReplyDeleteAs an Eagle Scout myself, Class of 1974, well done fellow Scout!
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