Foundation Loses its Footing in Truman’s Neighborhood

After two decades in the Commerce Bank Building at Truman Road and Osage, the “Truman Heartland” Community Foundation is moving to the Little Blue Parkway. This move comes right after the US Department of the Interior announced the expansion of the Truman National Historic Landmark District that placed the new and improved district on three sides of the Commerce Bank block. The district expansion announcement is intended to invoke community pride and a desire for institutions and families to want to reinforce their presence in an area that was truly near and dear to the heart of President Truman. Now the Foundation joins the list of other institutions that have left Old Town to improve their lots and to better serve the community. Local families have to make these decisions all the time; whether to stay in their home and neighborhood or to move to another part of town or another community where it perceived to be more stable and prosperous. A reoccurring theme from the National Trust for Historic Preservation has been just two words: “Place Matters.” These special historic spaces and districts are not intended to be admired and studied from afar. Successful historic districts nation-wide are ones that are relevant to today’s modern living. They are places where people live, children attend school, employees work, shoppers spend money, souls worship, and tourists walk. The new and improved-expanded Truman National Historic Landmark District will only be successful when all aspects of our community appreciate and respect these spaces. Are we there yet? Good luck to the good folks at the Truman Heartland Community Foundation in their new space on the southern edge of town, but please, don’t forget about Truman’s true heartland, his beloved neighborhood.