Historic arch damaged beyond repair by driver

LEE'S SUMMIT, Mo. -- An 89-year-old arch slated for historic preservation was damaged beyond repair when a construction driver misjudged the arch's height and drove into it.

The entry arch, one of two at Longview Farm in this Kansas City suburb, was to be moved to a new home in eight months.

Lee's Summit police said the collision occurred late Friday morning when a truck carrying an upright crane tried to drive under the arch. The arch had a clearance of 14 feet, 6 inches.

"The truck made it," police spokesman Mike Childs said. "But the boom did not, and it sliced through the arch."

Longview Farm, founded in 1913 by Kansas City lumber baron R.A. Long, was famous for its breeds of hogs and horses. The arches, made of stucco and red tile, are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

"The arches were symbols of a millionaire's utopia," said Betty Eubank, a member of Missouri Alliance for Historic Preservation.

Developer David Gale had planned to move the arch into a redevelopment district dedicated to preserving historic structures. He said parts of the arch, including the cornice and roof tiles, will be salvaged so that another arch can be reproduced.