By Diane Euston
The Westport Historical Society, caretakers of the Harris-Kearney House at 4000 Baltimore Ave. in Westport, just announced a $500,000 capital campaign to make much-needed repairs to the oldest two-story brick home in Kansas City, Mo.
Luckily, they have a pretty important power couple as honorary chairs of the campaign: Kansas City Chiefs head coach, Andy Reid and his wife, Tammy. Tammy also serves on the board of directors of Westport Historical Society.
The house, built in 1855, was originally at the corner of Main Street and Westport Road, owned by John and Henrietta Harris, owners of Harris House Hotel across the street from present-day Kelly’s Westport Inn. In danger of being razed, the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR) and Kansas City’s Centennial Organization purchased a lot and relocated the house in 1922 to its current location. The Harris-Kearney House opened in 1982 to visitors.
It’s no secret that old homes require a lot of maintenance, and the Harris-Kearney House is no different. Today, the home is in dire need of new porches, shutters, plumbing, plaster and brick work, foundation repairs and much more.
President Marty Wiedenmann Jarvis and the board of directors needed a call-to-action to get these repairs completed. “As a board, we are driven by love—for the history, the stories, and the spirit this place holds. It’s heartbreaking to see structural problems, but we believe in the power of community to come together and save something truly meaningful,” Jarvis stated.
To kick off this campaign, the Reids announced the “Coach Andy Reid Football Package,” a raffle aimed at raising funds to make the repairs needed. For $25 a ticket or five tickets for $100, entrants will be entered to win an autographed Andy Reid football, two tickets to the September 27 Chiefs-Ravens game, two pre-game field passes and a parking pass!
“A little-known fact about Coach Andy Reid and me is that he is a well-read history enthusiast and I am an avid collector of antique quilts,” Tammy Reid explained. “Upon our move here, he read a couple books about how this great city came to be and its important position in the Western Frontier. My Collection of quilts were used in an exhibit [at Harris-Kearney House] in 2023. That’s why when our friends at the Westport Historical Society reached out in need of help, we wanted to get involved.”
People can enter to win the Coach Andy Reid Football Package at www.westporthistoricalkc.org/raffle.
The drawing will take place on Facebook Live at 4 p.m. on September 7 at Art Westport, the annual art fair. The lucky winner will be notified by phone and email.
(Diane Euston serves on the board of directors for Westport Historical Society.)
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