Frank Childress made his fortune in the mining business in the area as the owner of Lead and Zinc Mining Company. His legacy lives on with the Frank Childress Boy Scout Reservation, located near Diamond, Missouri. The grounds were originally a recreation home for the Childress family. Son, Paul Childress donated the land to the Scouts in 1964. The camp included campsites named after the characters of Rudyard Kipling’s “Jungle Book,” a large swimming pool, dining hall, pirate ship, old west fort, old mine, Indian village, and a stocked trout pond for fishing. The reservation is also home to many hiking and biking trails and abounds with native plant and animal life.
Austin Allen House
Samuel Austin Allen arrived in Joplin in 1890 at the age of 10. His father was J.W. Allen an early pioneer and successful mine operator in the area. Austin graduated from Joplin High School in 1898. He received a degree in architecture at the University of Pennsylvania in 1902 and later went to Paris where he pursued his interest in architecture. Returning to the United States Allen became associated with Bruce Price of New York, one of the foremost architects in the United States. After two years in New York he returned to Joplin to begin practicing his craft in 1905. Allen was an extremely successful architect with offices in Kansas City and in the Frisco Building in Joplin. His professional Joplin resume included such handsome structures as the Newman Building, Saint Peter’s Catholic Church, Olivia Apartments, Joplin High School, United Hebrew Temple, Elks Lodge, and many impressive homes. Mr. Allen was a member of the American Institute of Architects. His obituary in their journal noted, “that his work was marked by a “chaste dignity and scholarly restraint.” Mr. Allen married Belle Taylor and had three children.
The land this house sets on was deeded by Lulie Taylor to her daughter, Belle Taylor Allen for “$1 and Love and Affection.” The house is not first period, meaning two houses were razed and lots combined so Austin could design and build the house you see today. Belle’s parents, John H. and Lulie Taylor were Joplin pioneers and made their fortune in mining and real estate.
It is believed Austin added a second floor sleeping porch to his house at some point. At a later date, the porch was enclosed to create year-round additional living space. This practice was not uncommon in the Murphysburg district.
The living room is paneled in rich dark oak. Some of the features include a large brick fireplace, diamond paned bay windows with built-in window seats, beamed ceilings, and a leaded glass bookcase. After Belle and Austin moved to Kansas City, Missouri, this house was sold to Frank Wallower. The U.S. Census shows Frank, wife Marie, three sons, a private cook, and a private nurse residing here in 1920. The Wallowers moved out in 1943.
The Arts and Craft movement the heavily influenced Austin Allen when he designed his home in 1905, for it clearly reflects the movements principals, beautiful materials and honest craftsmanship. Prominent feature in the home include the rich polished wainscoting. Curved built-in window seats, massive brick fireplace and leaded glass bookcases. The most impressive feature however is the elegant coffered ceiling, reminiscent of the homes of the English Tudor and Jacobean periods.
The Allen Mausoleum is located at Mount Hope Cemetery. Inside Allen’s mausoleum is a resolution from the Kansas City Chapter of the American Institute of Architects. Several family members interned in the mausoleum.
The mausoleum architecture features solar disks between the pair of falcon wings at the very top. It represents the sun god, Re and rebirth. Mr. Allen married Belle Taylor and had three children. He died at the early age of thirty-six from typhoid fever.
Interned Austin S. Allen -3-3-1917, Walter Scott Estes -2-12-1926. Linda McOwen Allen -6-6-1926, Whitby J. Allen -5-22-1930 and Austin Allen Jr. – 12-2-1940
HMP 2021 Accomplishments & Activities
All made possible through your generous support
JANUARY: Made Their Mark. Continued the distribution of the coloring book Coloring JOMO: Women Who Made Their Mark
FEBRUARY: Facilitated architectural salvage of 111 South Moffet, The James Lawrence House (circa 1905) due to its fire in December and before its demolition in April. Some items were donated to the Schifferdecker House restoration project.
MARCH: Hosted a book signing party at the Thomas Connor Nolan House for Chad Stebbins, author
of Tom Connor: Joplin’s Millionaire Zinc King and Joplin’s Connor Hotel. HMP was a guest on Newsmakers TV show filmed at MSSU and aired on KGCS TV and KOAM TV for Women’s History Month and the coloring book.
APRIL: Submitted a grant request application to the W. R. Corley Memorial Trust for security lights and got denied. HMP will still research a security lighting program.
MAY: Represented Murphysburg at a Mayoral Proclamation and Awards for Historic Preservation Month.
JUNE: Hosted two days of educational tours of Murphysburg for 200 summer school students! Participated in the Trivia Night at the Museum fund raiser.
Hosted a neighborhood meeting with Nick Edwards, Joplin City Manager as guest speaker.
JULY: Partnered with Freedom of Flight Museum (at Joplin Regional Airport) with the goal of promoting original Murphysburg residents involved in aviation, such as Olivia Bendelari.
AUGUST: Hosted a Missouri Bicentennial Celebration Ice Cream Social at the Creative
Cottage. Participated in the Connect2Culture’s 6th annual Joplin Arts & Cultural Preview! Paula and Mary Anne were guests on Shannon Bruffett’s morning radio show at KKOW to promote the Murphysburg Sesquicentennial Celebration.
SEPTEMBER: MurphysburgSesquicentennialCelebration…PatrickMurphy’sLegacy. Fivehundred guests enjoyed the festivities. Installed 15 new boundary signs.
OCTOBER: Hosted the annual membership appreciation meeting at The Boardroom on October 26th; guest speaker Dr. Chad Stebbins. Commissioned Paula Guiltner to draw Murphysburg illustrated map
NOVEMBER: After conducting a genealogical search, HMP was able to turn over 50 handwritten, long- lost, World War 2 letters written to a Joplin family from Private Robert DeVaney in 1945! The story was covered by The Joplin Globe for Veterans Day.
DECEMBER: Kelly Hallecy, Mary Anne Phillips and Paula Callihan represented HMP at Regina Jennings’ “The Joplin Chronicles” book signing/presentation held at the Joplin Public Library. Regina (originally from Joplin) writes historical romance novels and novelettes. Her next book will involve historic Murphysburg stories such as rags-to-riches, the mines, crime, a baby raffle, and more. Learn more
at www.reginajennings.com
ONGOING
- Manage Pinterest, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, Mail Chimp, and HMP website
- Manage communications – inquiries about houses for sale, Joplin history, media inquiries
- Historical research using Ancestry.com, Find-a-Grave, Newspapers.com, etc.
- Interface with Downtown Joplin Alliance, North Heights Neighborhood, Group, City of Joplin, Joplin Historical Neighborhoods, Inc., and many other community organizations
- Welcomed new Murphysburg homeowners with historical documentation regarding their houses and general HMP membership information
2021 Marked the 150th Anniversary of Murphysburg
ADD SLIDESHOW OF EVENT HERE
In September 1871, Murphysburg was incorporated in Missouri and named for co-founder Patrick Murphy. At the time, Murphysburg was generally on the west side of Joplin Creek and Joplin City was on the east side of the creek. Although the two cities had a contentious relationship, they merged and incorporated in March 1873, under the name of Joplin.
Historic Murphysburg Preservation, Inc. hosted an event on Saturday, September 11, 2021, to commemorate the 150th year anniversary of the incorporation of the town of Murphysburg. Murphysburg Sesquicentennial Celebration . . . Patrick Murphy’s Legacy showcased the past and future of the Murphysburg Historic District via a behind-the-scenes tour of an ambitious preservation project, rare visits to several private gardens, pools, and porches, and numerous street fair activities
This event was a way to have fun with history and learn about the rehabilitation and future use of four significant Murphysburg properties—the Olivia Apartments at 4th and Moffet, plus the Schifferdecker, Zelleken, and Rogers Houses near 4th and Sergeant.
The celebration was on Saturday, September 11, 2021 from 2 to 6 pm, on Sergeant Avenue between 2nd and 5th Street. Activities include Irish heritage musical entertainment by The Sea Hollies (a local Joplin band) and Irish dancing demonstrations with audience participation. The area’s German heritage will also be featured with music from the The GAST Blaskapelle community band affiliated with the German American Society of Tulsa. American style standards were performed by the Heartland Concert Band. Other activities included a walking tour and scavenger hunt; period costumed reenactors; equestrian demonstrations by the Jasper County Sheriff’s Posse, miniature train rides, and more. Joplin’s city flower, the iris, was spotlighted. A Patriot Day flag ceremony to honor the victims and first responders of 9/11. Docents educated visitors about architectural details, stories about the original homeowners, and tidbits of history.
Historic Murphysburg Preservation, Inc., is a non-profit organization that implements charitable and educational activities, which promotes and stimulates historic awareness throughout Joplin.
Proceeds from ticket sales benefit the activities of HMP.
The event is in cooperation with Joplin Historical Neighborhoods, Inc.
The Olivia Hotel and Apartments
Austin Allen, Architect
Dieter Wetzel, Builder
Listed on the National Register in 2008
The Olivia had a well-deserved reputation as the “handsomest apartment house in the West.” Arthur Bendelari, a civil and mining engineer from Canada, moved to Joplin during the mining boom. He commissioned architect Austin Allen and the contracting firm Dieter and Wenzel to construct this 5-story, $150,000 masterpiece. Construction began February of 1906, and it was open in October that same year.
Arthur Bendelari had a reputation for being a well-liked charmer. He owned one of the town’s first automobiles, and he would race anyone anytime, especially if it involved wagering. He named the Olivia after his mother, Mary Olivia Bendelari.
Decorated in “Pompeian fashion,” the public spaces of the Olivia sparkled with solid Italian marble. The lobby decor impressed all who crossed the threshold where mosaic tiles spelled out “Olivia.” Passing through the elaborate rotunda, visitors entered the reception room, finished in old ivory and lit by skylights and a large leaded glass window with the name “Olivia” expertly crafted in multi-colored glass. A highly polished oak staircase spiraled up from the lobby, connecting all five floors. Electric elevators, both passenger and freight, also provided easy access to all parts of the building. A uniformed attendant provided 24-hour elevator service.
The red brick Olivia comprised 34 one and two-bedroom apartments, for a total of 110 rooms. Some of the larger apartments had almost 2,000 square feet of living space. All of them featured built-ins, fireplaces, marble bathrooms with claw-foot tubs, and every labor-saving device known at the time. Tenants enjoyed bright airy rooms with French doors opening onto private balconies. A roof garden overlooked the city, affording spectacular views in all directions. On clear days, one could even see Webb City. Trolley lines ran down 4th Street, right next to the building, taking residents wherever they wanted to go.
The Olivia’s Current Situation:
After many false starts and a tragic fire in December 2020, this Murphysburg landmark is being
restored by Blue Haven Homes and Bykota REI, along with Neal Group Construction &
Restoration.
Preservation Efforts & Updates:
- HMP partnered with stakeholders including the City of Joplin and the current owner to find ways to stabilize the structure.
- Downtown Joplin Alliance uses grant funds to conduct a professional assessment on December 11. Fire damage was limited in scope to the roof structure and the first-floor area below the lower roof. The decorative domed ceiling in the lobby has collapsed onto the floor, which has also partially collapsed. However, the exterior masonry and all floor structure areas are in sound condition and the building can still be rehabilitated.
- October 29, 2020: The Olivia is named one of Missouri’s “Places in Peril”
- December 7, 2020: The Olivia Apartments suffer fire damage (view drone footage of fire damage)
- December 17, 2020: Bywater Development’s application for tax credits to help pay for the renovation is denied by the Missouri Housing Development Commission
- Bywater Development withdraws from the offer to purchase The Olivia from Scott Tillman with Tillman Redevelopment of Springfield
- Fall 2021: New developers are making … progress to bring The Olivia back to her grandeur
- Good News Update February 12, 2021: City officials propose investment in Olivia building: Council to consider $250,000 agreement
