Celebrating National Historic Districts & Places That Matter

The Jobe Stevens Apartments

This property is an L-shaped, minimal traditional one-story apartment building and boasts a large communal yard.  But the story of how the structures came to be at this location is that of entrepreneurship and old fashion Joplin thrift.  It all started with Jobe Stevens and his commercial land development on West 7th Street (Missouri Route 66) between Jackson and Connor Avenues.

The apartments at 602 S. Sergeant, were first constructed as a grouping of living units in 1938 and were located at 624 S. Jackson Avenue.  Owned by Jobe Stevens of Stevens Investment Company, the units were known as the Alamo Apartments.

In order to redevelop the area at 7th and Jackson Avenue, Mr. Stevens moved five of the Jackson units to the vacant lot at 602 S. Sergeant.  According to his building permit of October 13, 1966, Mr. Stevens “moved in” five apartments and added one new living unit.  Exterior walls were to be stucco over frame or masonry; interior walls were to be plaster; and estimated cost was $5,000.

Where the apartments once stood on Jackson, Mr. Stevens built a grocery store (the new location for Foodtown Shopping/Family Center), a barber shop, a self-serve laundry, and a parking lot.  Currently (May 2026) the grocery store is known as G&W Foods Cash Saver at 811 West 7th Street.  There is a plaque on the building to the west of the front doors that reads, “Built By Jobe Stevens 1966.”  

Jobe Stevens was born on November 1, 1898 in Cave Springs, Arkansas and died on November 9, 1980.  He is buried in Rogers, Arkansas.  He was a Joplin City Council candidate in 1968.  Mr. Stevens was part owner and operator of the Crocker Packing Co., the Wallace Packing Co., and the K.C. Hotel Supply Co.  He married Ruth Harp in 1920.  Together they had three children.

The John & Annie (Zelleken)Comerford House

JOHN COMERFORD Died 1937 Born 1865  Original Owner of 115 South Sergeant Avenue  Dutch Colonial, Circa 1902 T he John Comerford House should really be called the Annie Zelleken Comerford House. This Dutch Colonial property was a wedding gift from Edward Werner Zelleken and Margarethe Zelleken to their first born child, Annie Doretia Zelleken. I n 1891, at the time her parents were buying the land ($800) and planning the stately two story nine room residence, Annie Zelleken Frantz was already a widow with an infant son, Clarence. Subsequently, in 1894 she married John Comerford and they set up housekeeping and added another son, John Patrick Comerford to the family in 1901. John Comerford owned a plumbing supply business with his brother Thomas Comerford. But happiness for Annie was not to be. By 1915 she had relocated to the sunshine of California that only her Zelleken family wealth afforded her. Her husband, John followed her but returned to Joplin in 1916 as a single man.

Research has indicated that her sons at the same time, had her declared insane by the California Superior Court and she was committed to the Southern California State Hospital at Patton, California. And there she was to remain for 22 years until June of 1938 when she was released upon the decree that she had been restored to her right mind. Interestingly on the Joplin home front, her nephew Edward P. Dwyer was representing her sons in the sale of her property at 115 South Sergeant. However, her friend and neighbor, Mr. Frank Wallower interfered with the final disposition of the Jasper County Probate Court’s order and saved the property for Annie’s own disposition. She sold the property in 1941 to four sisters who used it for investment property. The house at 115 South Sergeant has since been the home to Haywood Scott, a local attorney and civic leader. It was also the home of Clifford “Clarence” Haynes who was Joplin Mayor 1958-1968.

Architecture

The two-story gable-front house has been sub-divided into apartments. It has a parged limestone foundation and an asphalt shingle roof. Aluminum siding capped with a carved wood band clads the first story; stucco clads the second story. Gambrel-roofed wings project from the north and south elevations. A brick chimney rises from the north slope of the ridge. A full-width flat roof porch spans the primary (west) elevation. It has wide brick piers with paired tapered wood columns. On the first story of this elevation, a single fully glazed wood door flanks each side of a paired window. A band of three windows pierces the

center of the second story. All windows are historic one-over-one double-hung wood windows. A historic photo shows this house originally had a prominent gambrel roof with shed dormers, wood siding and shingle cladding, and a balcony over the porch. The alteration of the roofline, cladding and balcony have compromised the integrity of the house, rendering it non-contributing to the District.

A one-story two-car garage is located at the rear of the property. It has concrete masonry unit walls and a front-gable asphalt shingle roof. Wood shingles clad the gable end. Two replacement vinyl overhead doors access the garage on the primary (east) elevation. Constructed within the period of significance, the garage retains integrity, rendering it contributing to the District.

Helena Apartment House and Dance & Music Studio

One of the most unique structures in the Murphysburg Historic District is the Helena Apartments, built on a 50 x 125-foot lot, tightly tucked in between two historic houses.

In September 1937, a Joplin Globe classified advertisement read, “Unfurnished Apartments – NEW apartment, ready October 1st, $40. Helena Apartments, 509 Moffet.”  In October 1937 another advertisement read, “Unfurnished Apartments – Helena Apartments, four large rooms, bath, garage, $35.00.  507 Moffet.”

HELEN NUTZ and her story – Helen was born on February 14, 1924 in Joplin and died on March 13, 2023 at the age of 99 years old.  

Even though Helen was 13 years old when the Helena was built, she ran advertisements in Joplin newspapers that read, “Helen Nutz – Teacher of Dance And Music – will open her fall classes September 20 in her new building.  Helena Studios – 505 Moffet.”  Helen’s half-sister, Adele, said Helen was “talented and precocious.”  Helen continued her love of dance and was active in ballroom dancing into her 80s! 

THE HELENA and its story – According to the Joplin Globe on September 12, 1937, “Above is pictured an unusual combination apartment house and dance studio, built by James Nutz at 505 Moffet Avenue.  It was designed primarily for his daughter, Miss Helen Nutz, who will conduct a dance-music school in a specially built air-conditioned and sound-proofed studio on the main floor of the two-story section of the building.  The building is U-shaped, with two gabled one-story wings, each with six apartments, and the two-story section in the rear with two apartments above the studio.  The building is of brick.  It has been named the Helena Apartments.”

Helen’s 1941 graduation picture

Helen graduated from Joplin High School in 1941 and from Joplin Junior College in 1943.  She was accomplished on the piano and violin and performed in numerous concerts in the Joplin area.  During World War II, she was a Junior U.S.O. Hostess.

Helen married her first husband, Marion Phillips in June 1947 and they lived in Joplin.  He was a professional golfer and they had two sons.  After the couple divorced, Helen moved to California to be near her brothers.  She remarried Bert Windle in the 1960s, another professional golfer.  Helen divorced Bert and later married Joseph Campbell, a man who was a New York City Deputy Police Chief.

JAMES NUTZ and his story – James F. Nutz, Sr. (1897-1969) owned and operated Nutz Reality along with his brother Ralph Nutz, and later with his second wife Louise, and daughter Helen.  James was a skilled builder, a veteran of World War I, and an airplane mechanic during World War II.  James’ first wife and mother of Helen was Pauline Griffin Nutz.  Pauline died of tuberculosis in 1928 at the age of 28.

According to Louise Nutz, James and his brother, Ralph, were skilled builders.  Also, according to James’s daughter, Adele her father understood how to build with concrete more than building with wood.  This could explain why the Helena Apartments, the Adele Apartments, and the Glen Theater (see sidebars below) have a bunker-style construction design!

James Nutz also built the Adele Apartments at 215 North Sergeant in 1955 and is still in use in 2026.  It was named for his daughter Adele who was born from the union of James and his second wife Louise.  In an April 2026 interview with Adele Nutz Thompson, she said, “I laid some of the brickwork for the Adele.”
Also built by James Nutz around 1946 —that can still be seen in 2026—is the movie theater at 1413 South Main Street.  Originally, he named it “The Show.” The Joplin Globe reported on November 13, 1949 that the Dickenson Operating Company purchased the theater and renamed it the “Glen Theater.”  At that time the new owner completely remodeled and redecorated in an ultra-modernistic style.  The lobby was redecorated largely with mirrors, and the theater front was also remodeled.

The Glen Theater is not to be confused with the Rex Theater that was a few doors to the south at 1423 S. Main.

James & Mary Anne Dangerfield House

405 S. Moffet Avenue circa 1890 | Queen Anne

James H. Dangerfield (1842-1909 MH) and his wife Mary Anne Newman Dangerfield (1842-1908 MH) were born in England. After moving to Joplin, James engaged in mining and later launched a real estate business which grew to include loans, insurance, rentals, collections, leases on mining land, and construction. James’s office was at this house. Their son, Edward Dangerfield (1870-1955 MH) and his wife Blanch lived here with (and later without) his parents. Edward was active in the father/son duo’s business. Edward was a director of Mount Hope Cemetery and one of the founders. Edward married second wife Alma Smith (1879-1964 MH) in 1920.

Tea & Scandals story

The Mayflower Apartments

Original Owners: Harry Bennett and Richard Cole, both of Joplin
Opened February 1, 1929 Originally, the name was to be the “Colben” based on Cole and Bennett’s last names but was changed to “Mayflower” once construction started.

In October 1928, investors were sought for the Mayflower through bonds guaranteed by Cole Bennett Investment Company—“two responsible businessmen whose net worth exceeds the amount of the bond issue.” Maturity was to be from 1931 to 1938 with a yield of 5.8% to 6%. To put that timeline in perspective—and simply defined—the beginning of America’s “Great Depression” is often cited as the dramatic crash of the stock market on October 24, 1929 known as “Black Thursday” and October 29, 1929 known as “Black Tuesday.” Economic recovery started around World War II in 1939-1940.

Excerpts from a Joplin Globe August 24, 1928 news article —

The owners announced the many modern details that the 48 unit (with one unit in the basement for a live-in service attendant/janitor), six-story, fire-proof, concrete construction apartment building will have. The apartments range from compact type studios, buffet kitchen bachelor units to larger units with separate bedrooms and numerous closets. Electric refrigeration will be in each apartment and convenient service closets with “immediate incineration of all kitchen and other accumulation.” Each unit to have “sound proofing.” The laundry room will be in the basement.

The property is to be attractively landscaped in addition to the wooded character of the property to the south.

The exterior architecture is faced with tapestry brick and ornamental stone on all four sides. An interesting grouping of windows permits floods of daylight, plus the stairs are daylighted. There is a colonnade of stone columns along 5th Street and a great stone circular arch. Inside, the marble foyer welcomes tenants and guests to the attractively furnished public lounge and electric elevator.

FIRE! FIRE! While the original news release touted the building to be fireproof—through the years—structure fires occurred on July 12, 1958 and December 29, 1958, but the most significant fire was on April 24, 2006. The fire chief said a cigarette was believed to have ignited the couch in the basement laundry room. Around 60 people were evacuated from 40 occupied units. Heat damage to the electrical wiring on all six floors forced the building to close until it could be “rewired.” The First United Methodist Church at 501 West 4th Street set up a temporary shelter for those in need. As of January 2025, a small portion of the Mayflower is re-occupied.

Automobiles and the carport also succumbed to fires in 2013 and 2022.

Bennett and Cole also owned and managed the Koronado Kourts in Joplin, San Antonio, and
Corpus Christi. The Joplin location was famous for being an iconic Route 66 travel court, circa 1936. The present-day Joplin site is now occupied by the Walmart Super Center at 1717 West 7th Street.

BIOGRAPHIES
Harry M. Bennett was born in 1891 and died on April 5, 1979. He is buried at Mount Hope
Cemetery in Webb City. His first wife was Martha, second wife was Jane, and he married his
third wife, Catherine when he was 63 years old. He and Catherine eventually moved from their
prestigious address in Joplin’s Roanoke Addition (616 Islington Place) to San Antonio, Texas.
Mr. Bennett continued to own the Mayflower after Mr. Cole’s premature death in 1944.
According to the 1920 US Census, Mr. Bennett’s occupation was listed as a druggist at a drug
store. Later his occupations were in insurance, real estate, and investments.


Richard Windom “Dick” Cole was born on February 23, 1889 and died of Leukemia on
August 15, 1944 in San Antonio, Texas at the young age of 53. His wife, Mamie Evelyn Windle
Cole was born on February 1, 1896 in Pittsburg, Kansas. She graduated from Joplin High
School in 1914. She died on March 17, 1980 in Corpus Christi, Texas at the age of 84. She was
well traveled. Dick and Mamie eventually moved from their prestigious address in Joplin’s
Roanoke Addition (629 Jaccard Place) to the Mayflower around 1940, and later to San Antonio,
Texas. According to the 1920 US Census, Mr. Cole’s occupation was also that of a druggist—
just like his business partner Harry Bennett.