Celebrating National Historic Districts & Places That Matter

2018 Murphysburg ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Historic Murphysburg Preservation invites you to become a member or renew your membership.  You may not realize the significance of your membership and donations, but it, along with all the other memberships, are the most dependable source of funding. Member’s generosity allows HMP to make substantial progress in the historic district.

March

  • Produced & distributed new, professionally produced “Walking-Driving Tour” brochure
  • Represented historic preservation goals on Vision 2022 initiative committees

July

  • Received CVB Grant Funds for Heritage Tourism
  • C2C Arts Roundtable: Joplin Arts Preview — HMP spoke to the arts community regarding future HMP events and cultivated partnerships within this community
  • Hosted a neighborhood meeting with the Joplin Police & Code Enforcement Departments

August

  • Staffed an educational booth at Wildcat Glades 100th Anniversary Celebration & WaterFest; used an interactive informational and artistically beautiful poster for the event; poster is now on permanent display at the Nature Center  
  • HMP board and Brad Belk toured the Schifferdecker, A. H. Rogers, and Zelleken Homes; discussed Joplin Historic Neighborhoods, Inc. plans and how HMP can partner with David and Debra Humphreys and Mr. Belk.  Murphysburg resident, Paula Callihan was asked to be on their board of directors.

September

  • Sponsored the First Friday Wine Share at the Columbia Trader Building
  • Installed flag pole brackets and flags on additional poles to mark the “National” Historic District

October

  • Tied Pink & Purple Ribbons on Sergeant & Moffet parkway trees in recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month and Domestic Violence Awareness Month; special thanks to block captains: Mary Ann Neff, Mindy Miller, Sarah Cracker-Nedwed, Ann Leach, Joan Howerton, and David Pommert; received television, newspaper, and social media coverage.
  • Hosted a Bus Tour in conjunction with the CVB at Mark and Paula Callihan’s house 

November – 

  • HMP attractions and events will be featured in one of the Joplin City Hall windows decorated for Christmas; unveiling is November 27 at 6 PM 
  • Annual Membership meeting was held at the Unity Church with a guest speaker J.D. Colbert on a 100 year old murder cold case of Sam Adams at the Schifferdecker Caretaker house

Get ready for December !

  • December 8th Bourbon Tasting at the Scottish Rite Cathedral
  • December 8th Bus Tour at The Haun’s and Hogan’s house in conjunction with the CVB
  • December 9th Holiday Homes Tour; volunteers needed for docents and ticket sales

All Year – Engaged in discussions regarding the proposed Wilson-Hutton Historic District and North Heights Historic District; Installed Christmas Wreaths and Flags on local district street light poles; managed Pinterest, Instagram, Twitter accounts and Mail Chimp email blast; managed communications (such as inquiries about houses for sale) on the HMP web site; continued HMP’s liability insurance coverage; historical research continued in order to expand the Joplin story . . . Turn Page Over To Get Involved!

Your continued support enables HMP’s work to move forward on behalf of the historic district. 

Membership renewals will help underwrite efforts to:

  • Collect historical data and images to expand our information for a tourism booklet
  • Educate the public and raise awareness of the historic district
  • Encourage investment and homeownership in the neighborhood
  • Investigate period street lighting
  • Fund “Deck the Light Poles” (Wreaths, Banners, Flags)

We urge you to help promote the preservation of Joplin’s architectural heritage.

2023 ACCOMPLISHMENTS & ACTIVITIES

JANUARY 

Continued the distribution of the coloring book, Coloring JOMO: Women Who Made Their Mark, walking tour brochures, and hand illustrated maps.  Continued research on original and or significant owners of Murphysburg houses.  Received Visit Joplin (formerly known as Joplin Convention & Visitors Bureau) grant funding for HMP website updates. 

MARCH

HMP promoted Women’s History Month by featuring two (unrelated) women that lived at 101 N. Sergeant in the early 1940s to late 1950s.  Mary Kirk Kelly, as a professor at Joplin Junior College, started Model United Nations for students.  They would travel to regional and national simulations which continues today; after retirement she became an internationally known ceramic artist.  Dora Kneeland invented what came to be known as Williams Chili Seasoning and her son-in-law produced it in the garage before moving the operation to Webb City.

APRIL

Completed research on the Pearl Brothers House (101 S. Moffet) and requested a local historic marker sign.  Continued advocacy for the rehabilitation or abatement of apartments at 117-121 S. Byers (built in May 1950) through direct conversations with Tyler Casey with ProX Management and City officials.  Represented HMP at the Spring meeting of Missouri Route 66 Association and the Visit Joplin Tourism Connection regional meeting.

MAY

Partnered with Downtown Joplin Alliance’s Loft Tour.  Presentation to City Council asking for historic street name signs.  Provided Mt. Hope Cemetery with QR codes for 50 original Murphysburg residents interred at the cemetery.  Staffed a booth at DJA’s Third Thursday.

JUNE

Represented HMP at the annual Missouri Preservation Conference held in Joplin. Staffed a booth at DJA’s Third Thursday.

JULY

Partnered with the Scottish Rite Cathedral to commemorate the 100th Anniversary of the building. Staffed a booth at DJA’s Third Thursday.

AUGUST

Facilitated a feature story & photographs of Murphysburg walking tour in the 417 Magazine. 

OCTOBER

Hosted the annual membership appreciation meeting at the Cornell Complex with guest speaker Neely Meyers, Science Center Creative Learning Alliance director. Staffed a booth at DJA’s Third Thursday.

NOVEMBER

Installed Christmas Wreaths on Murphysburg District utility poles.  Monitored HMP’s “Giving Tuesday” donation website. Guest appearance on MSSU TV Newsmaker show.

DECEMBER

Conducted the Austin Allen, the Architect — Remembered historic building tour and lecture which was co-sponsored by Visit Joplin and Joplin Celebrations Commission.  Received a Visit Joplin grant to pay for production of a booklet featuring Murphysburg District houses.  Continued dialogue with City officials to save 130 S. Moffet, the Albert Newman House from demolition.

ONGOING

  • Manage Pinterest, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, Mail Chimp, HMP website, liability insurance, storage unit, and more.
  • Manage communications, inquiries about houses for sale, Joplin history & media inquiries. 
  • Conduct historical research using Ancestry.com, Find-a-Grave, Newspapers.com, etc.
  • Interface with North Heights Neighborhood Group, Downtown Joplin Alliance, City of Joplin, Joplin Historical Neighborhoods, Inc., Connect 2 Culture, Bluehaven Homes & Bykota, REI (the Olivia Apartments) and many other community organizations/projects.
  • Welcomed new Murphysburg homeowners with historical documentation on their house and general HMP membership information.