Kansas City in Platte County, Missouri — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
Shoe Parties
Tea biscuits, duck ponds and school shoes. That’s what comes to mind when the locals recall Kansas Citian, Ella Loose. After nearly seven decades, her name lives on through the many great philanthropic gifts she bestowed on our city.
In the early 1900s, Ella and her husband, Jacob Loose, the baking mogul behind Sunshine Biscuits, began a 30-year tradition of throwing Thanksgiving shoe parties for children at the Gillis Orphans’ Home. At these festive parties, each child received a brand new pair of shoes and a crisp dollar bill to spend as they wished. In 1923, following Jacob’s death, Ella donated 80 acres of greenspace to Kansas City in her husband’s memory. Loose Park remains one of the loveliest parks in town, with rolling, treed hillsides, walking paths and a large pond that attracts fishermen and wildlife.
Ella was also known for her lavish parties and wintered in Washington D.C., where she ruled the social scene from her apartment at the Mayflower Hotel. Legend has it that, at one of those parties, the caterer served tea biscuits from a competing company and the irritated Ella immediately terminated her lease.
Despite her “social butterfly” reputation, Ella continued her philanthropic activities until her death in 1945. The enormous charitable trusts of Ella and Jacob Loose, and those of other Loose family members, formed the basis of the Kansas City Association of Trusts and Foundations, and continue to serve as seed money for countless cultural and civic projects today.
Erected by Kansas City International Airport. (Marker Number A6.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Charity & Public Work • Environment • Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1923.
Location. 39° 18.877′ N, 94° 41.75′ W. Marker is in Kansas City, Missouri, in Platte County. Marker is at Passenger Kiosk A6, in Economy Parking Lot A, at Kansas City International Airport, 601 Brasilia Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Kansas City MO 64153, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. The Stockyards (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); KC Art Deco (about 500 feet away); The Pony Express (about 500 feet away); Satchel Paige (about 500 feet away); Aromatherapy (about 600 feet away); Heart of the Nation (about 600 feet away); All That Jazz (about 700 feet away); City of Fountains (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Kansas City.
More about this marker. The Economy Parking Lots' passenger kiosks each have unique historical markers and flashy artwork to help passengers remember where they parked.
Also see . . .
1. Jacob L. And Ella C. Loose. The Pendergast Years website entry (Submitted on June 18, 2022, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)
2. Loose Family History. Genealogy website entry (Submitted on June 6, 2011, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
Credits. This page was last revised on June 18, 2022. It was originally submitted on June 6, 2011, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 741 times since then and 53 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on June 6, 2011, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.