Joplin Historic Preservation Commission announces annual awards During Preservation Month in May, The commission gives out three awards — the Murphysburg Award, the Leslie Simpson Award and the Jeff and Carolina Neal Award.
A ceremony was held Thursday in the lobby of the historic Frisco Building in downtown Joplin. William Mountz, chairman of the commission, said those who received awards worked to save buildings as well as memories from Joplin’s past.
Winners were:
The Murphysburg Award – Awarded to groups or organizations who have made significant contributions to historic preservation in Joplin by way of improving our historic neighborhoods through community engagement or rehabilitation of a historic home. RICK BUSSEY, recipient of the 2025 for his work restoring the century-old home at 402 N. Wall Ave.
The Leslie Simpson Award – Awarded to an individual who has made significant contributions to historic preservation in Joplin by way of preservation administration, education, events, outreach, planning, research, or service. EMILY AND KAY ELLIS, formerly of Joplin, were honored for contributions of reenacting as Living Historians and Period Dressers.
The Jeff & Carolina Neal Award – Awarded to people who have made significant developments to historic preservation in Joplin by way of developing and restoring/revitalizing buildings and property within Joplin’s commercial corridors. DAVID GLENN received the Jeff and Carolina Neal for his work nearly 40 years ago saving a classic train station that sat at 10th and Main streets.
Then on April 29th they were one of eleven “Preserve Missouri” honor award recipients given by the Missouri Alliance for Historic Preservation, also for the Pennington Lofts on the rehabilitation of the 400,000 square foot Pennington Drug Company building began nearly seven years ago. Although the building stood vacant for nearly 40 years, the historic open floor plates and exposed structure provided a clean canvas on which to start the rehabilitation. The first step in the project removed a non-historic 1950s facade which allowed the building to be listed in the National Register of Historic Places and qualify for historic tax credits. The developer immediately added a new roof and then, over the course of four years, rehabilitated the once vacant building into 21 apartment units, called “Pennington Lofts,” and three commercial spaces. The apartment design highlights the building’s historic industrial use, and features unique inverted steel rod trusses and historic steel windows. The project overcame several obstacles, including the global pandemic, increased construction costs, and higher-than-expected interest rates. Within the first three months of the building reopening, it was nearly 85 percent occupied. In addition to state and federal historic tax credits, the project received Chapter 353 property tax abatement from the City of Joplin. This retrofit celebrates sustainable design, art, open-mindedness and is a great example of giving a 100 year old building a better next century.
