Old Pike Road
⎯⎯⎯
Ferry Boat Operators at Kawsmouth

Old Pike Road, also, Ferry Boat Operators at Kawsmouth. . Old Pike Road is the oldest, most westerly, north-south road in Clay County. Starting at Kawsmouth on the north bank of the Missouri River in Harlem it ran north, skirting on the east an old river scar the settlers called “the slough bank,” until it reached the foot of the bluff at present day Water Works Park. Ascending the bluff it ran due north to the Military Road (later called Barry Road/152 Highway) at the Town of Barry, which sat on the westernmost edge of the United States. At Harlem ferry boats linked Clay and Platte Counties to Westport Landing (later named Kansas City 1850) continuously from 1825 to 1912. Later the following bridges connected travelers over this route: Hannibal (1868), Armour, Swift and Burlington (1912) and Heart of America (1986). For many years Pike Road was a fruit and vegetable highway, enabling Clay and Platte Counties to feed a growing Kansas City. Hack lines, including J.W. Murray, J.A. Mitchell, and Thatcher's, offered transportation from Smithville to Barry to Harlem. , Two definitions of “pike,” road and hill, particularly apply to Pike Road, which between Harlem and Barry ascends and descends no less than 16 substantial hills. In 1866 it was called the Barry to Kansas City Road. After that time it had several titles including “The Pike,” “Pike Road,” “Turnpike Road,” and “Old Pike Road.” North Kansas City residents once called it “The High Road.” In the 1920's this route was superseded by the Jefferson Highway (later called 169 Highway, later North Oak), which was superseded by 169 Highway as it exists today. In the early 1950's when Kansas City annexed large portions of Clay County, Pike Road was renamed North Main and North Broadway. , Ferry Boat Operators at Kawsmouth , . William Evans – 1820's , . Richard Linville – 1825-1826 , . Calixte Montardy (Calisse) – 1826-1830 , . Benjamin Hancock – 1830-1837 , . Pierre Roy – 1837-1844 , . Oliver Caldwell – 1841 , . John McCoy – 1841-1846 , . William Chick – 1844-1850 , . John Campbell – 1851-1855 , . Campbell and McCoy – 1856 , . Campbell, Swope, Armstrong, Chick and Northrup – 1857-1865 , . Campbell, Nelson and Co. – 1865-1878 , . William Cade – 1879-1912