One wonders what Alexander Majors and John Wornall might have made of the recent merger between the John Wornall House Museum (6115 Wornall Road) and the Alexander Majors Historic House and Museum (8201 State Line Road). No doubt their paths have crossed before. They are both considered key figures in Kansas City's earliest history, in the 1850s. As one of the West's great freighters, Majors' wagons likely rode past the Wornall Homestead, for Wornall Road is an extension of the old Santa Fe Trail.
Whatever the opinions of Wornall and Majors, the community certainly thinks the merger is a fine idea, for many reasons. First, it brings stability to the future of the Majors House, which had faced challenges since its long-time champion, Terry Chapman, passed away last January. It also brings capacity to the Wornall House, which operates an extensive program schedule within its relatively small confines. The Major House, also prominent in programming, has expansive grounds and a barn that serves as a large event venue. And of course, the merger furthers and strengthens the missions of both organizations - to keep alive these important chapters in local history through education and experience.
The merger has a special significance for the communities and organizations in Southtown, Waldo, and Brookside. With the Wornall House in Brookside, and the Majors House in Waldo, it creates yet one more important bond between these areas, much as they were linked in the days of the trails. And that, no doubt, would please John Wornall
and Alexander Majors thoroughly.