In 2008, Mid-Continent Public Library purchased a unique property in the Shoal Creek area of Kansas City from the Crouch Family. This 33-acre property became the site of what is today the Woodneath Library Center. On this property stands a historic home that is the only site in northern Kansas City designated as a landmark on the city, county, state, and federal registers. Listed in 1978 on the National Register of Historic Places, the home is a Greek Revival-style farmhouse built in 1855-56 and is known officially as the Elbridge Arnold Homestead or the Edwin Y. Crouch Residence.
Funded by support from individuals, private foundations, and a National Endowment for the Humanities Challenge Grant, a multiyear renovation of the historic home was completed in November 2021. The home now houses The Story Center, a mission-enhancement program of the Library, and provides unique interior spaces designated for public use.
MCPL is committed to maximizing customer experiences of the Story Center and the home while maintaining stewardship of this significant cultural resource, using it in ways that complement the Story Center’s mission, and making it accessible to the many communities in our service area. For more information about the historic home, reserving rooms, and accessibility, please contact Mark Livengood, Story Center Director at (816)883-4793 or mlivengood@mymcpl.org.
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