Celebrating National Historic Districts & Places That Matter

Austin Allen, The Architect Remembered

Enjoy Austin Allen featured homes in this flip book

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.

United Hebrew Congregation 

There has been a Jewish presence in the Joplin area longer than Joplin has existed, with the first arriving during the 1860s. Early Jewish settlers of the area were shopkeepers, business people, and executives and managers in the mines, who settled here to take advantage of the Tri-State area’s lead and zinc mining boomtown opportunities. Jewish area residents met in local churches to worship during these early years.

Property at the corner of Seventh Street and Sergeant Avenue was purchased from Aaron Haughton of Corpus Christi, Texas, a Mason and former Joplin resident for $6,000 ($124,695 todays equivalent). In September 1916, contractors Dieter and Wenzel received the building permit. The synagogue was completed later in 1917 through the generous efforts of Jewish residents of Joplin, Pittsburg, Galena, Webb City, Carterville, Carthage and New York City. The final cost of the building was $35,000, which about $727,390 today.

The United Hebrew Congregation of Joplin was formally organized in 1911 with planning and fundraising efforts for a permanent synagogue accelerating in the subsequent years. Joplin Rabbi Joseph Leiser called for a building worthy of the Jewish citizens – one that will be an ornament to the city and be acceptable to all citizens of this district, not merely to the particular worshippers.

One of the United Hebrew Congregation founding members, Gabriel Newburger, is credited with the inspiration of the temple’s architecture after bringing back his sketches of the magnificent Hagia Sophia, which is now a museum and is located in current day Istanbul, Turkey. Mr. Newburger was accompanied on this trip by his brother-in-law and business partner Solomon Newman, Sr. By 1910, Sol, his brother Albert Newman and their father Joseph Newman together with Gabe were all part of Newman Mercantile Company in Joplin.

Newspaper accounts touted the yet-to-be completed structure as a Byzantine-style building with Oriental trimmings and along the lines of a Hebrew temple and a Turkish mosque. The Oriental look was in vogue in Joplin around this time and examples of it could be seen in Schifferdecker Electrical Park’s Moorish entrance and towers (circa 1901-1914). The interior Oriental-style lobby was similar to the Turkish baths at the Elks Club Lodge (circa 1904).

October 1916 witnessed the Masonic cornerstone laying ceremony, which was attended by 600 people, to include every member of UHC, 225 Masons and visitors from the surrounding area. It was a gala event including speeches delivered by Rabbi Leiser and congregation president Morris Scherl.

FRANK CARMANY WALLOWER

Frank C. Wallower was one of the notable pioneer developers and operators of major lead and zinc mines in both Missouri and Oklahoma.  He was the son of one of Joplin’s even earlier builders, Mr. Elias Zollinger Wallower, who came from Pennsylvania in 1890.

Frank married Marie Russert in 1906.  She was born on July 11, 1882.  She died at the home on December 21, 1920 after contracting a cold which later became complicated and culminated in acute blood poisoning.  She was widely known throughout the city and was chairman of the cafeteria committee of the Y. W. C. A.
Frank married Marie Elizabeth Lambert in 1926.  She was born on June 9, 1898.  Her name was also Marie and she also died at the home.  On March 14, 1929, she died of septic pneumonia after an illness of only 48 hours.  She was socially prominent and a director of the Woman’s Club.  She was active in the mining transactions of her husband and his associates.  Marie had nearly completed work for a degree as a certified accountant before her premature death at the age of 30. 

Frank was one of the organizers of the American Zinc Institute, was its national president in 1923 and served on the board of directors until 1956.  He was a Legion of Honor member of the American Institute of Mining and Petroleum Engineering.  

In 1925, Frank became general manager and one of the receivers of the Southwest Missouri Railroad Company.  He liquidated the property in 1939 after operations were suspended.  (See the A. H. Rogers House at 623 W. Fourth Street on the virtual tour.)

Frank was one of the organizers of the American Zinc Institute, was its national president in 1923 and served on the board of directors until 1956.  He was a Legion of Honor member of the American Institute of Mining and Petroleum Engineering.  

In 1925, Frank became general manager and one of the receivers of the Southwest Missouri Railroad Company.  He liquidated the property in 1939 after operations were suspended.  (See the A. H. Rogers House at 623 W. Fourth Street on the virtual tour.)

After closing out his mining interest in 1932, he organized the Tri-State Casualty Insurance Co. in Oklahoma, and in 1945 the Tri-State Fire Insurance Co.

In 1937, at age 54, Frank married his third wife, Juanita Hammonds (born in 1904), at the groom’s father’s house in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.  After the wedding, Juanita continued her position as manager of the Keystone Hotel in Joplin.  Earlier she had modernized the hotel and placed it on a sound financial footing.  Interestingly, Frank’s father founded and owned the Keystone, Joplin’s first major hotel.  It was demolished under “urban renewal” in the late 1960s.  

After closing out his mining interest in 1932, he organized the Tri-State Casualty Insurance Co. in Oklahoma, and in 1945 the Tri-State Fire Insurance Co.

In 1937, at age 54, Frank married his third wife, Juanita Hammonds (born in 1904), at the groom’s father’s house in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.  After the wedding, Juanita continued her position as manager of the Keystone Hotel in Joplin.  Earlier she had modernized the hotel and placed it on a sound financial footing.  Interestingly, Frank’s father founded and owned the Keystone, Joplin’s first major hotel.  It was demolished under “urban renewal” in the late 1960s.  

Side bar of Redell Motor Car Co.

In June 1916, Redell Motor Car Co., at 520 Virginia, printed an advertisement in the Joplin News Herald proudly listing the local men and women in the Tri-State District that owned a Cadillac.  Next to each name was the city where they lived and their affiliation such as mine operator, clothing merchant, attorney, capitalist, etc.  However, for the women on the list, Mrs. R. F. Campbell, Mrs. W. V. White, and Mrs. Nina M. Bryant, only the city where they lived was listed.

ORONOGO STREETCAR DEPOT

HMP believes this structure was designed by Austin Allen based on photographs donated to the Joplin Museum several years ago by a caregiver to the last descendant of Austin Allen.  

Regardless of its original designer, this landmark is a must see!  It is one of the most attractive, unaltered, restored depots of its kind in Missouri – – – a true hidden jewel.   

The depot was part of the Southwest Missouri Railroad Company (see page 14) which was an interurban system that was active in the Tri-State Mining District.  The railroad, also called a trolley or streetcar, had a vast network of tracks connecting most mining camps and towns in the mining district running through Carthage, Oronogo, Alba, Webb City, and Joplin.  The building was used as a waiting place and had a small concession stand.

The depot closed in 1926 and has been vacant more or less since then.  It is currently owned and maintained by the City of Oronogo.

FREDERICK ROGERS HOUSE

North Heights Neighborhood

When Austin Allen designed this house for Frederick Rogers (1849-1906), he combined several popular architectural styles, which was common in early-day Joplin. The yellow brick house, shaped like a massive box, features a low-pitched hipped roof and a full-width porch. Neoclassical elements, such as modillions beneath the roof and porch cornices were used. Pedimented dormers, Greek columns, quoins, and balustrades dominate the symmetrical façade. The interior of the house is magnificent with hand-carved woodwork imported from Europe, mahogany-paneled dining room and mahogany-beamed ceilings, and leaded windows.

A native of Springfield, Massachusetts, Mr. Rogers pursued a career in the lumber business in Michigan, St. Louis and later in Joplin in 1900.  He was an active civic leader and reputedly was one of the first to own an automobile.  Sadly, Mr. Rogers died in 1906 shortly after his home was completed.  

Mr. Rogers second wife, Mary Evangeline Rogers (1856-1933) and her daughters lived here until 1917. Second owners were William and Edith Cotton Landreth.