Celebrating National Historic Districts & Places That Matter

The Elisha Mathew/George N. Spiva House

When George N. Spiva bought his house in home in 1917, he created a spectacular rose garden that drew visitors from all around.

Mr. George N. Spiva was a powder manufacturer and was one of Joplin’s foremost financial and civic leaders. Originally Mr. Spiva organized the Home Powder Company, and later was founder and president of General Explosives Company, which had seven branch offices. He was chairman of the board of First National Bank, president of Old Conqueror Trust Company, president of Spiva Investment Company, and president of Liberty Building Company.

Five years after first wife Bessie Tamblyn (1874-1926) passed away at their home, George married Zella Fisher (1889-1972).

His son George A. Spiva went on to be a prominent leader in Joplin as well. Before his death, Mr. Spiva was presented with an award for his outstanding contributions to the cultural, art and civic functions of the city over a long span of years.

George A. was one of the principal contributors to the Missouri Southern college and financed construction of and donated to the city a new park at Fourth and Main streets. The park was named the Spiva Memorial park in honor of his father.  When you visit the Spiva Park in the historic Sunshine Lamp District, you can see the bronze statue of Mr. George N. Spiva sitting and enjoying the park that is named for him.

The A. B. McConnell/Sol Newman House

The McConnell family traces back to a staunch Scotch-Irish lineage.  In 1864 at the age of twenty, he entered Duffs Business College in Pittsburg, PN and took a full course in preparation for an active business life. In 1873 he engaged into the real estate business. In 1889 he chooses Jasper as a new field of endeavor.  He established an A.B. McConnell Real Estate Company in Joplin.  He is identified as handling some of the most important and valuable proprieties in the area.  Mr. McConnell made a specialty of sub-divisions and platting and improving of the same as affected the development of the most beautiful residence sections of Joplin.  He also became financially interested in mining operations.   Mr. McConnell was an active member Young Mens Christian Association and instrumental in erecting the YMCA’s first building completed in 1901.  Architects Garstang and Rea designed the structure that is now the home to the Joplin Globe since 1918.  In 1926, Mr. McConnell death notice,  reported that he was regarded as the dean of Joplin Real estate dealers.

A.B. McConnell arrived in Joplin just as the town was beginning to lose its rowdy town image in 1889 and established A. B. McConnell Real Estate Company. The home he built in 1899 is an excellent example of a Free Classic Queen Anne. Unlike the Spindlework Queen Anne houses, which have gingerbread ornamentation, McConnell preferred classical details. Note the continuous cornice-line dentils and Doric columns on the wraparound porch.

After Mrs. Nancy Jane (Patterson) McConnell passed away in August 1901, their daughter Veda Estelle McConnell presided over the home most efficiently in constant faithfulness, whose loving devotion to her father was well known throughout the entire circle of her acquaintances. (paraphrased from History of Jasper County)

Wraparound porches were a common feature in Queen Anne houses because it accentuated the asymmetry of the facade. The owners added the back porches to this house in 191O. At the turn of the century, health experts recommended fresh air for the treatment of tuberculosis and for overall health. This medical trend resulted in the addition of sleeping porches to homes. The second story was most often used for sleeping because the air was better at higher elevations and the height provided privacy.

Solomon Newman was the next significant resident of the house, along with his son and daughter.  His wife Frances (Strauss) Newman died in 1906 before the family moved into this house.  Mr. Newman was associated with Newman’s Mercantile (Department Store) along with his brother Albert Newman, his father Joseph Newman, and brother-in-law Gabriel Newburger.  Gabe and Viola Newburger lived across the street at 110 S Moffet, which was razed in 2004 due to extreme deterioration.

The Newmans and Newburgers were significant members of Joplin’s United Hebrew Congregation at 702 S Sergeant.  The Newman Department store building at 602 S. Main was restored in 2004 and became Joplin’s City Hall.  It is on the National Register of Historic Places.

The Albert Newman House

The house was built for its first residents, Albert and Helen Newman.  Mr. Newman was associated with Newman’s Mercantile (Department Store) along with his brother Solomon Newman, his father Joseph Newman, and brother-in-law Gabriel Newburger.

 Sol Newman eventually came to live at 115 S Moffet.  Gabe and Viola lived at 110 S Moffet, which was razed in 2004 due to extreme deterioration.  The Newmans and Newburgers were members of Joplin’s United Hebrew Congregation at 702 S Sergeant and played major roles in Joplin business and society.  

The Newman Department store building at 602 S Main was restored in 2004 and is now Joplin City Hall.  It is on the National Register of Historic Places.

Around 1910, the Francis and Nett (Murphy) Sharp family and their “servant” rented the Newman house until their house was built at 212 S Moffet. 

The Frank Sharp/Nett Murphy House

Frank M. Sharp, a building contractor from Kansas City, moved to Joplin in 1890 to invest in zinc mining.  He also worked as the manager for McNeal Machinery and president of Stewart Lumber.  In 1909 Frank and his wife Nettie (daughter of Patrick Murphy) purchased the lot just north of 220 S Moffet, the new home of his business partner, Frank McNeal.  The Sharps built a brick American Foursquare house similar to the McNeals’.  Nettie reportedly fell in love with the Spanish Mission-Revival houses that were all the rage from 1915 through 1920s.  The Sharps remodeled their house in the popular style, adding a pair of 3-story square towers separated by a shaped parapet and covering the walls with gray stucco. 

In the late 1960s, the exterior stucco was covered with a ground-up pink marble mixture and drawn off to mimic brickwork—thus becoming known as “The Pink House.”

The John Wise House

Hoosier-born John Wise moved to Joplin in 1874 to open a hide and grain business. As with many early Joplin merchants, he quickly realized that real money could be made in mining. Wise joined forces with Thomas Connor to operate lead mines. He also owned 3000 acres of land in Oklahoma where he invested in coal mining and cattle and horse ranching. Wise helped organize Miners Bank and served on the city council, an “uncompromising advocate of the principles of the Republican Party” according to biographer Joel Livingston. In 1898, Wise commissioned architect August Michaelis to design this fanciful Queen Anne style house. Built for $10,000, it featured round towers, balconies, and stained glass windows. Twenty years later, Mrs. Wise, who was active in civic concerns, convinced her husband that their house would make a good residential facility for the YWCA. Although the YMCA had a fine building on east 4th Street, the women’s organization, founded in 1905, had yet to find a suitable home. Instead, it shuffled between various old houses and vacant upper floors in downtown buildings. In 1920, a group of businessmen raised funds to purchase the Wise house for $15,000 and spend another $13,000 to remodel and furnish it. The new YWCA opened as a boarding house for girls who came to Joplin to work. The facility, with only 3 bathrooms, lodged up to 40 girls. The young women had to walk a few blocks to eat their meals at the YWCA cafeteria at 514 ½ Joplin Street.

John was affiliated with the local organizations of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and the Knights of Pythias, and his wife was a member of the Congregational church. At Joplin, on the 20th of February, 1878, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Wise to Miss Alice Clark, daughter of  Monroe Clark, a prominent business man and influential citizen of this city. In conclusion is entered brief record concerning the children of Mr. and Mrs. Wise: Delmar C., married Miss Jean Gregg,  Nina is the wife of Haywood Scott, Raymond F. and John Connor,  The family is prominent in connection with the best social activities of the community and the attractive home is one in which is dispensed a most gracious hospitality.