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Crystal Cave Joplin Missouri
Six miles of chartered underground passages, it is one of the most significant caves in the state according to Missouri Caves in History
Deep beneath the bustling streets of Joplin Missouri lies a hidden crown jewel. Once the subject of intense personal pride by area residents, this gone, but not forgotten, crystal-lined geode cave is now permanently flooded by the high water table in the area.
On Saturday, July 4, 1908, the cave entrance building was completed, and the cave was opened to the public. Admission was 25 cents. Guests descended down 80 wooden steps to enjoy year round entertainment in a comfortable climate.
Carbon arc electric lights existed in the cave. The wooden dance floor in the cave was about eight feet wide, by 20 feet long.
In the late 1800’s and early 1900’s, the Tri-State area of Oklahoma, Kansas and Missouri has seen a great deal of mining activity. A variety of minerals were mined, with the primary ores being lead and zinc. The ores in the Tri-State area were deposited in cavities that had been dissolved out of the limestone. From time to time, considerable voids would be found containing minerals such as galena and large calcite crystals.
The cave chamber is elongated from the northwest to the southeast. Being located some 80 feet beneath the city streets, the cave was like a giant geode full of large calcite crystals up to 22 inches in size! The entire surface of the cave, including the top, bottom, and all sides, were covered with closely packed calcite crystals with well formed faces!
The Honorable James Roach broke into the natural cave while digging a mine shaft in the early part of 1893, near the corner of 4th Street and Gray Avenue in Joplin.
Crystal Cave was closed by 1932, the cave entrance was blocked so vandals could not enter the closed cave. The uniquely constructed cave entrance building still remained standing.
After World War II, the remaining mines in the area shut down. Their pumps were all turned off, and the water table gradually rose. This water eventually flooded the mine level and then Crystal Cave above. The smaller mine above Crystal Cave flooded also.
The information was taken in part by the MISSOURI’S CRYSTAL CAVE Joplin’s Crown Jewel by Gary K. Soule’s article In the publication The Journal of Spelean History.
Jere & Maude Charlow House
101 S. Sergeant Avenue
circa 1908 | American Foursquare
Jere J. Charlow (1880-1947) was a Native American, born in Wyandotte, Oklahoma. He was an 1898 graduate of the Haskell Institute located in Lawrence, Kansas. The school’s current name is Haskell Indian Nations University. The school was founded in 1884 as a residential boarding school for Indigenous children.
While living in Joplin with his wife Maude Ellen Gregg Charlow (1876-?) He was a bookkeeper for Picher Lead Company and according to The Indian Leader newspaper in Lawrence, Kansas, “…receives a handsome salary and is trusted and greatly respected by all who know him.” He left Joplin to become a clerk with the United States Indian Service-Cheyenne Agency in Dewey, South Dakota. Upon his death he was a special disbursing agent for the United States Government Interior Department In Lansing, Michigan. Jere maintained his membership in the B.P.O.Elks Lodge No. 501 of Joplin and was honored at the Elks annual memorial service after his death.
On April 27, 1942—at 61 years old—Jere was obligated to register in the “Fourth Registration” of the World War II draft! Known as the “Old Man’s Draft,” it was intended to provide the government with a register of manpower between 45-64 years of age who might be eligible for national service on the home front.
Architecture
The two-story pyramidal house has a limestone foundation and wide eaves. A one-story bay window projects from the north elevation. A gabled dormer rises from the east slope of the roof.
Historic Highways…Jefferson and Route 66 in Joplin Missouri
History buffs can get their kicks on Historic Route 66 & Jefferson Highway
The Mother Road (1926-1985) that winds through Joplin. The route was revived circa 1990 and continues to run east-west on 7th Street, bordering the Murphysburg District. The north-south Jefferson Highway (1916-1926/29) has a historic route wayfinder sign at 4th Street and Moffet Avenue next to the Olivia Apartments. The Historic Murphysburg District properties are roughly on Sergeant, Moffet & Byers Avenues between 1st and 7th Streets.
Jefferson Highway
Route 66
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.