Dr. Albert Newton Winchester, M.D. cared for the aches and ailments of three generations of many Joplin families who came under his attention. Coming to Joplin in 1897, six years after his graduation from Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tenn. He twice was a post-graduate of the New York PolyClinic Institute having held diplomas for operative surgery and for operative gynecology. Dr. Winchester was admitted as a member of the American Medical Association in 1904.
He was the first occupant of what was known as the Spring Building located at 620 ½ South Main, at what was then the extreme south end of Main Street. During the mining boom days, he was forced to maintain five horses to keep his surrey going on his numerous and rugged calls. He related that he drove one time while three other horses were kept as spare to be hitched to the surrey when those he had been driving became exhausted. It was his claim that he kept two horses in harness day and night for about 10 years.
Mrs. Hinda Etheridge Winchester graduated from Lebanon College for Young Ladies located in Lebanon, Tennessee with a Bachelor of Arts degree. She became known as an authority on parliamentary law after serving as parliamentarian for the Seventh District Federated women’s clubs; national director of parliamentary law of the Theta Sigma Phi sorority, state and national parliamentarian for the P.E.O. Sisterhood, and county and state parliamentarian for the Women’s Christian Temperance Union. She wrote the book, “Practical Parliamentary Points” and later authored a game of cards called, “What Do You Know of Parliamentary Law?”
ARCHITECTURE: Gabled wings with pent roofs and imbrication project from the east and south elevations. A hipped wing projects from the rear (west) elevation. Dentil molding ornaments the roofline; simple pilasters articulated the corners. A hip porch spans the primary (east) elevation. It has brick columns on each end and a brick pier with a turned wood post in the center, and a wood picket railing.
The Alfred Harrison Rogers House