Celebrating National Historic Districts & Places That Matter

The Joseph E. Garm House

Joseph Edward Garm, vice-president of Joplin National Bank, was a well-known banker and financier. 

He was a member of the Joplin Rotary, president of the Joplin Parks Board, manager of Joplin Clearing House Association, president of the Missouri Bankers’ Association, and a member of the Home Building & Loan Association.

In 1946, Mr. Garm was the campaign treasurer for the proposed Tri-State World War II memorial museum in Schifferdecker Park.  The purpose was to give dignified tribute to the veterans and miners who gave their lives, and adequately display mineral specimens as well as war relics.  The prize collection of zinc-lead minerals was valued at more than a million dollars in 1946. 

The Dr. Albert Newton Winchester House

Dr. Albert Newton Winchester, M.D. cared for the aches and ailments of three generations of many Joplin families who came under his attention. Coming to Joplin in 1897, six years after his graduation from Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tenn. He twice was a post-graduate of the New York PolyClinic Institute having held diplomas for operative surgery and for operative gynecology. Dr. Winchester was admitted as a member of the American Medical Association in 1904.

He was the first occupant of what was known as the Spring Building located at 620 ½ South Main, at what was then the extreme south end of Main Street. During the mining boom days, he was forced to maintain five horses to keep his surrey going on his numerous and rugged calls. He related that he drove one time while three other horses were kept as spare to be hitched to the surrey when those he had been driving became exhausted. It was his claim that he kept two horses in harness day and night for about 10 years.

Mrs. Hinda Etheridge Winchester graduated from Lebanon College for Young Ladies located in Lebanon, Tennessee with a Bachelor of Arts degree.  She became known as an authority on parliamentary law after serving as parliamentarian for the Seventh District Federated women’s clubs; national director of parliamentary law of the Theta Sigma Phi sorority, state and national parliamentarian for the P.E.O. Sisterhood, and county and state parliamentarian for the Women’s Christian Temperance Union.  She wrote the book, “Practical Parliamentary Points” and later authored a game of cards called, “What Do You Know of Parliamentary Law?”

ARCHITECTURE:  Gabled wings with pent roofs and imbrication project from the east and south elevations.  A hipped wing projects from the rear (west) elevation.  Dentil molding ornaments the roofline; simple pilasters articulated the corners.  A hip porch spans the primary (east) elevation.  It has brick columns on each end and a brick pier with a turned wood post in the center, and a wood picket railing. 

The Cadi Klein House

Cadi Klein immigrated from Krojanke, Germany in 1881 and found employment in a Cartage clothing store owned by his uncle, A. H. Goldstein.  After working for his uncle for eight years, Klein took over management of the Model Clothing Company in Joplin as Goldstein’s partner.  Eventually he purchased his uncle’s interest and became sole owner of the firm.  Known for more than his successful clothing store, Klein played a significant role in Joplin’s Jewish community.  He was instrumental in the organization of the United Hebrew Congregation, serving as Vice-President on the first board of officers in 1916, Klein and other members of the United Hebrew Congregation’s building committee retained architect Austin Allen to design the majestic and unique synagogue that still stands today at 702 South Sergeant.

Only a short distance from the synagogue he helped establish stands Klein’s home. It is an excellent example of Victorian architecture, built in the 1890’s the house features many unique and handsome architectural details, but the corner fireplace is especially appealing with its raised classic figure tiles.  The tile in the top corner is a portrait of Michelangelo.  This outstanding example is similar to one designed by Isaac Broome, prominent 19th century American ceramic sculpture

Clara Berlowitz Klein was also born in Germany.  As a member of the United Hebrew Congregation, Mrs. Klein was one of the presidents of its Ladies’ Aid Society and for many years taught Sunday school.

407-409 S. Main St., c. 1899 Late 19th and 20th Century Revivals ~ Two-Part Commercial Block

This gray brick, three-story building is an excellent example of the influence of Revivalism on commercial architecture. The building is four bays wide, defined by symmetrical upper-story fenestration. Decorative elements on the upper façade wall include pilasters with Doric capitals, arched windows with pressed brick lintels and exaggerated keystones, and a full-width pressed metal cornice featuring brackets, swags, and dentils. The first story has two separate storefronts within the historic cast iron framing system – a small storefront at the north end and the double width storefront at the south end. The south storefront retains the original deeply recessed entrance characterized by arched openings and multiple display windows. Despite the replacement of the upper-story windows and small north storefront, the building retains its character-defining high-style decorative elements, fenestration pattern, unique façade treatment, and the historic south storefront. This building retains sufficient architectural integrity to clearly convey its historic associations…

The Model Clothing Store Building. This building replaced two earlier, two-story buildings. It is a rare surviving example of the work of the Joplin architect, August Michaelis. The building’s earliest occupants were the Criterion  Saloon (north storefront) and Cadi Klein’s Model Clothing Store, an elite Joplin clothier. Both were long-lived commercial ventures that survived into the 1960s and 1970s. Over the years, the upper floors contained various occupants including a photography studio, and Michaelis’ architectural office. The existing south storefront and parapet wall date to post a c.1902 remodeling.

The Peter and Adaline Schnur House

Both Peter Schnur (1845-1906) and Adeline Coffeen Schnur (1846-1922) were known as
Joplin’s pioneer residents, having come to what was known as Murphysburg in 1872. Five
children were born in the family. While marching in a Knights Templar parade in
downtown Joplin, witnessed by 15,000 people, Peter became prostrated by the heat and
dropped out of the line, fell near his residence, and died a few hours after being taken to his
house. A feeling of gloom was cast over the city as the news of his sickness and death
passed rapidly from lip to lip. Adeline also died at the house 16 years later.

In March 1872, Peter established the Mining News, which was the first newspaper
published in the town. It later was known as the Evening News and then the News Herald.
The paper had a great influence on the early life of Joplin. According to the book, History of
Jasper County 1912, Peter was “…its editor and proprietor, was a good writer and in the
narrative of events as they happened from week to week, told the plain truth, avoiding the
sensational and printing only so much of the news of the under-strata of society as was
necessary to correctly chronicle the happenings of the day.” Editorially he advocated a
better local government and always was on the side of public improvement. After selling
his paper and printing establishment, he was appointed postmaster. Peter was also
engaged in mining.

ARCHITECTURE – The two-and-one-half-story Queen Anne house has a limestone
foundation and a gable-on-hip roof with lower cross-gables. Gabled wings project from the
north, east and south elevations. Hipped and shed roof wings project from the rear (west)
elevation. A full-width hip roof porch spans the primary (east) elevation. It has cast stone
piers with tapered square wood columns and a wood picket railing. This elevation has
three bays. Bay 1 has a single window on each story. Bay 2 has a historic wood panel door
with glazing and a wood panel transom on the first story and a single window on the
second story. The recessed Bay 3 has a single window on each story. A historic fixed, four-
light window pierces the gable end.

The Fletcher Snapp House

Fletcher Taylor Snapp was a member of Joplin High School’s first graduating class of 1887, the first president of the Joplin Automobile Club, Joplin’s mayor from 1922-1926, one of the founders of the Citizens State Bank, a cashier of Cunningham Bank and building chairman during the long process of constructing the Scottish Rite Cathedral at 505 S. Byers Avenue.This house has suffered several devastating fires. The first of which claimed Mr. Snapp’s life when he was 79 years old and that of a handyman. The tragedy occurred when the oil furnace exploded while being repaired. His wife Elizabeth Belle (Betty) Mayes Snapp survived. This brown brick clad house has a porte cochére that provides covered access for visitors arriving by motorized transport—or back in the day for the horse and carriage. The portico, consisting of Ionic columns and a triangular pediment, beckons visitors to enter this stately home. The wrap-around covered porch with its turned balustrades serves as the venue for outdoor gatherings. The main entry door has cut glass sidelights with transoms. Furthermore, the beautiful historic wooden door is enhanced with a decorative oval arched transom. Each story has a curved bay window and all windows have limestone lintels.