The house, locally referred to as the “Kidder Slave Mansion,” was built by Patrick S. Kenney between 1870-1876. It was located approximately 1/10 mile North of the intersection of NW Grandview and Kenney Drive, just southwest of Kidder, Mo.

There are many stories connected with this old mansion. One says that it is haunted, but no one knows whose ghost it is. One story tells that Kenney built several underground passages leading from the big cellar. But none of the later residents of the house know about such passages and credit it as part of the folklore which has grown up around the big house on the hill.

The Cameron Sun 1944-03-12

It has long been referred to as the “Slave Mansion,” which begs the question, was it?

Actually…probably not.

The 1850 and 1860 Census Slave Schedules show no Kenney as having owned slaves. Kenney was also pro-Union, having served as a Union Cavalry Officer from 1862 until near the end of the War in 1865. However, the most persuasive reason it was unlikely to have been involved in slavery is because it was not even built until the 1870’s.

This fact in no way detracts from the property’s historical mystique. A thorough investigation of the record has unravelled many threads, including Kenney’s downward spiral. He suffered multiple fires destroying stock and fields, financial ruin, and an unsolved murder perpetrated on the property seemingly on his behalf.

Stay tuned…more to come.

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