SLIDE SHOW: Murphysburg residents seek listing on national register

June 22, 2014

SLIDE SHOW: Murphysburg residents seek listing on national register

District includes many historic homes, churches

By Debby Woodin

Sun Jun 22, 2014, 08:49 PM CDT

JOPLIN, Mo. —
Homeowners in Joplin’s only residential historic district are working to get national designation for the area.

Those who live in the Murphysburg neighborhood met last week at City Hall to hear a consultant speak about the procedure for getting listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

“The national register is an honorary list of resources worthy of preservation,” said Rachel Nugent of Rosin Preservation of Kansas City. “These are buildings, houses, garages, churches, apartment buildings, structures such as bridges or roads, sites such as parks, objects and then entire districts.”

Alan and Stephanie Melot bought a house in the district in April — a Victorian at 608 S. Sergeant Ave. — because they like the historic neighborhood.

“I’m excited about the possibilities of being on the national register,” said Alan Melot. “It adds to the historic value of the house. It authenticates the historic value.”

He said the history of the house contributed to the couple’s decision to buy it, but overall, it was the architecture that drew them to the neighborhood.

“The neighborhood, from an architectural perspective, is beautiful,” he said. “Being able to walk the streets, there are some really gorgeous houses up and down the streets.”

Patrick Murphy

The namesake of Murphysburg — Patrick Murphy — came to Joplin from Fort Scott, Kansas, where he and his partner had operated a mercantile business. Lead was discovered in the area in 1870, and he came a couple of years later to start the first lead smelter.

Mining began along Joplin Creek, where the Union Depot now stands. On the east side of the creek, Joplin was platted for a settlement, while Murphysburg was on the west side of the creek, with Murphy as the mayor. After a couple of years, the towns merged in 1873 to become Joplin.

Murphy and a partner continued their mercantile business on Main Street, and Murphy also built the first large hotel in the city at Fourth and Main streets.

In 1898, Murphy had a 15-room Queen Anne-style house built at the corner of Fourth Street and Wall Avenue. It was demolished in 1913 to make way for a commercial building. But the neighborhood he platted still features a number of homes of varying historic styles erected by other mining magnates and business people.