10/04/2026
Dear Members and Friends,
I am writing to you today as one of the many dedicated volunteers who pour our hearts into caring for the Bingham-Waggoner Mansion & Estate.
In an era when political cynicism runs deep and skepticism about the misuse of public funds is entirely justified, asking voters to support any public measure requires absolute candor. Every resident of Independence has a right to know where their hard-earned dollars go, to demand strict oversight, and to reject blank-check spending.
That is why I am speaking about Question 1 on the November 2026 ballot.
Question 1 is not general revenue, and it cannot be diverted to fill operating shortfalls or fund political priorities. It is a dedicated, single-purpose General Obligation (G.O.) bond restricted solely to the physical preservation and restoration of Independence’s public historic treasures:
• The Bingham-Waggoner Mansion & Estate
• The Vaile Mansion
• Old Fire Station No. 1
• The 1827 Log Courthouse
• The Truman Memorial Building
As volunteers, we see the day-to-day realities of maintaining these landmarks. We patch, clean, guide tours, and do everything humanly possible with volunteer labor. But volunteer hands alone cannot replace aging roofs, stabilize historic foundations, or protect century-old masonry from irreversible water damage.
Administrations and political cycles come and go, but the physical landmarks of Independence belong to the people who live here. Question 1 represents a clear, accountable agreement to protect our community’s shared inheritance before time and decay take it away forever.
Why the Bingham-Waggoner Mansion & Estate Matters
When you walk the grounds of the Bingham-Waggoner Estate—proudly listed on the National Register of Historic Places—you are standing directly on the timeline of American history:
• The Living Footsteps of Westward Expansion (1829–1870): Plotted in 1827 along what became part of the Santa Fe Trail, this estate served as a vital cut-through for covered wagon trains before formal streets existed. When visitors come here, we can show them the actual wagon ruts (swales) still carved into the soil—physical, tangible proof of the thousands of pioneers heading west on the Santa Fe, Oregon, and California Trails from Independence.
• Civil War Art and Battle (1864): In 1864, renowned Missouri painter George Caleb Bingham bought this property and created his famous, explosive Civil War masterpiece Order No. 11 right here. That same year, the Second Battle of Independence erupted just two blocks north, where Union cavalry under Gen. Alfred Pleasonton charged through our streets, driving Confederate forces westward.
• The Industrial Revolution & Our Truman Connection: The estate preserves our working-class roots. Starting from an 1830 water-powered grist mill, Peter Waggoner purchased the site in 1867 and in 1875 partnered with George Porterfield Gates—the maternal grandfather of First Lady Bess Wallace Truman—to form the Waggoner-Gates Milling Company. This evolution from water wheels to an electrified mill producing 1,000, and later up to 13,000, barrels of flour a day with a 350,000-bushel elevator mirrored America's transition into the modern industrial age, linked directly to national railroads.
• Irreplaceable Architecture: From its 1852 Italian Villa origins to its 1899 expansion into a magnificent 3-story, 26-room mansion with nine historic fireplaces, it is a treasure of craft and character that could never be rebuilt if lost.
Together with the 1827 Log Courthouse from the year our town was born, the Truman Memorial Building honoring our service members and hometown President, Old Fire Station No. 1 celebrating our civic protectors, and the stunning Victorian grandeur of the Vaile Mansion, these sites are the heart and soul of Independence.
Why Your Vote Matters Now
Politicians, elections, and administrations will come and go. But once an original hand-hewn beam rots, a historic ceiling collapses, or a wagon trail is paved over, no amount of money can ever restore genuine history.
• Legally Bound to Historic Sites: By law, funds from this G.O. bond cannot be funneled into general operating deficits, pet projects, or bureaucracy. They go straight into physical preservation.
• Supporting Local Small Businesses: Heritage tourism brings visitors who eat in our family restaurants, shop at our local downtown merchants, and keep tax dollars circulating in our neighborhoods.
• Keeping Our Heritage in Trust for Our Children: These buildings belong to you and your family. They remind our children of the courage, grit, and innovation of the people who built the town we call home.
As volunteers, we give our time freely because we believe our community's story is worth saving. (A special thank you to Mark Mangels for his time, generosity, and expertise in helping me get the historical details of our estate and city are told and honored.) Today, we kindly ask you to stand with us.
Please look past the political noise, hold government accountable to its promises, and vote to protect what is rightfully ours.
Please vote YES on Question 1 this November.
Steve Euritt
Board President
