Remembering Thacher School, 1900-2010

 

Kansas City Public Schools honored a commitment to the Northeast community, dedicating a memorial at the site of the former Thacher School, 5008 Independence Ave. Designed by noted KCPS architect Charles A. Smith and named after Civil War Major Luin Kennedy Thacher, the school opened in 1900. Smith went on to designed more than 50 schools during his long career, including Northeast High School.

Thacher operated for more than a century, serving generations of Kansas Citians who called the Northeast home. After Thacher closed in 2010, the building sustained fire damage, and the school board made the difficult decision to tear Thacher down to improve the Northeast Middle School campus. The building was demolished in 2015. Some of the original limestone decorations from Thacher’s façade were preserved to be incorporated into the memorial that stands there today.

 

 

With many old schools to maintain, KCPS is always trying to strike the balance between preserving history and giving our students the modern education spaces they deserve. We know that losing Thacher was difficult for many neighbors. We appreciate the support of the Northeast community and involved alumni. Our students thrive when the community takes an interest in their education, and we hope to see you in our schools soon.

Special thanks to the Kansas City Public Library for helping preserve our district's history through archival photographs and documents. You can find more photos of Thacher and other KCPS buildings in the Missouri Valley Special Collections.