National Murphysburg Residential District
HISTORIC MURPHYSBURG PRESERVATION, INC. (HMP)
2023 ACCOMPLISHMENTS & ACTIVITIES
JANUARY : For an understanding of the future, look to the past
Continued the distribution of the coloring book, Coloring JOMO: Women Who Made Their Mark, walking tour brochures, and hand illustrated maps. Continued research on original and or significant owners of Murphysburg houses. Received Visit Joplin (formerly known as Joplin Convention & Visitors Bureau) grant funding for HMP website updates.
MARCH: Bring to light often overlooked history
HMP promoted Women’s History Month by featuring two (unrelated) women that lived at 101 N. Sergeant in the early 1940s to late 1950s. Mary Kirk Kelly, as a professor at Joplin Junior College, started Model United Nations for students. They would travel to regional and national simulations which continues today; after retirement she became an internationally known ceramic artist. Dora Kneeland invented what came to be known as Williams Chili Seasoning and her son-in-law produced it in the garage before moving the operation to Webb City
APRIL: We envisioned new projects
Completed research on the Pearl Brothers House (101 S. Moffet) and requested a local historic marker sign. Continued advocacy for the rehabilitation or abatement of apartments at 117-121 S. Byers (built in May 1950) through direct conversations with Tyler Casey with ProX Management and City officials. Represented HMP at the Spring meeting of Missouri Route 66 Association and the Visit Joplin Tourism Connection regional meeting.
MAY: Bring awareness to underrepresented communities
Partnered with Downtown Joplin Alliance’s Loft Tour. Presentation to City Council asking for historic street name signs. Provided Mt. Hope Cemetery with QR codes for 50 original Murphysburg residents interred at the cemetery. Staffed a booth at DJA’s Third Thursday.
JUNE: The impact you helped make possible
Represented HMP at the annual Missouri Preservation Conference held in Joplin.
JULY: We advocated for
Partnered with the Scottish Rite Cathedral to commemorate the 100th Anniversary of the building.
AUGUST : Promote heritage tourism
Facilitated a feature story & photographs of Murphysburg walking tour in the 417 Magazine.
OCTOBER: Benefitting from new energy
Hosted the annual membership appreciation meeting at the Cornell Complex with guest speaker Neely Meyers, Science Center Creative Learning Alliance director.
NOVEMBER: Home for the holidays…in Murphysburg
Installed Christmas Wreaths on Murphysburg District utility poles. Monitored HMP’s “Giving Tuesday” donation website. Guest appearance on MSSU TV Newsmaker show.
DECEMBER: Overlooked history
Conducted the Austin Allen, the Architect — Remembered historic building tour and lecture which was co-sponsored by Visit Joplin and Joplin Celebrations Commission . Received a Visit Joplin grant to pay for production of a booklet featuring Murphysburg District houses. Continued dialogue with City officials to save 130 S. Moffet, the Albert Newman House from demolition.
ONGOING
- Manage Pinterest, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, Mail Chimp, HMP website, liability insurance, storage unit, and more.
- Manage communications, inquiries about houses for sale, Joplin history & media inquiries.
- Conduct historical research using Ancestry.com, Find-a-Grave, Newspapers.com, etc.
- Interface with North Heights Neighborhood Group, Downtown Joplin Alliance, City of Joplin, Joplin Historical Neighborhoods, Inc., Connect 2 Culture, Bluehaven Homes & Bykota, REI (the Olivia Apartments) and many other community organizations/projects.
- Welcomed new Murphysburg homeowners with historical documentation on their house and general HMP membership information.
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 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.
