Riverside City History
Incorporation

Although Riverside had existed as an unincorporated community for more than 100 years and had accumulated an extensive history it still lacked what other area communities had achieved - legal recognition as an incorporated city. In 1951 a number of factors contributed to Riverside residents finally taking the legal step to incorporate and become a city. First, the growing community increasingly recognized its interconnectedeness - from fire protection to socializing. A key catalyst, however, involved efforts by the neighboring city of Parkville to annex what is now part of Riverside and the overall concern that Kansas City would annex both towns.

One anecdote recalled how Red-X owner E.H. Young was reading his morning paper when an article caught his eye. To his surprise, Parkville was about to annex all properties to the south and east of their city limits— Riverside! Young quickly called a meeting, at a local Riverside restaurant, with Vic Panus, an attorney and developer of Riverside's Indian Hills subdivision and Ferd Filger, another Riverside business owner. The group discussed the annexation and decided to visit Parkville. After a meeting with the Parkville mayor, Parkville agreed not to annex the additional lands. They did, however, encourage the Riverside group to seek additional protection to keep the area from being annexed by Kansas City. At the time, Kansas City was in a period of aggressively seeking expansion north of the River. Riverside residents held a meeting at the Brenner Ridge School to discuss possible city boundaries. By the end of the evening, several neighborhoods elected to remain independent from Riverside — creating the communities of Northmoor, Houston Lake and Northern Heights.

Young, Panus and Filger scheduled a meeting with Platte County Presiding Judge, A.J. Hillix to determine what procedures were to be followed in appointing a mayor and board before an election could be called the following April. On June 21, 1951, the Platte County Court was presented a Petition for Incorporation. ( Presiding Judge/Commissioner was A. J. Hillix, George Offutt was Eastern Judge and O. W. Thompson was Western Judge. Holman Ham was the County Clerk.) On June 26, the court issued an order declaring the City of Riverside a Body Corporate, Fourth Class City and appointed First Officers of the newly formed city. Ferd F. Filger was appointed mayor of Riverside by the Platte County Court. He and other city officials served until the first regular city election in April 1952. Aldermen included E.H. Young, Roy Renner, Dr. Thomas Eagle and Will Scrivner. John Scott served as marshal, Lowell Brenner as collector and Mrs. Curtis (Helen) Brenner, City Clerk. Boundaries for this new city were generally north from the Missouri River, east to Highway 169 and north to Northmoor. A census by Dr. Eagle showed 750 persons living in the area. The petition for incorporation was signed by 400. Businesses in the area included the Riverside Stadium and a motor car racetrack in the vicinity of the former Riverside Jockey Club. Riverside's first city election was held in 1952. Mr. Filger was then elected Mayor. The elected aldermen were E.H. Young, Mrs. Francis Clark, William Scrivner, O.V. Beach, Roy Renner and Lowell Brenner.

NEXT»