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