Joplin Residential Architectural Survey

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The City of Joplin proposes creating a residential architectural survey for the local historic area known as Murphysburg. This area covers roughly 100 homes and 35 acres. While the local residential district is larger, the proposed survey for NR is defined within the boundary of the100-600 Blocks of S. Sergeant Avenue and S. Moffet Avenue, as well as 124 S. Byers, and 504 S. Byers. This reduction is size is based upon concentration of intact homes and streetscapes.

This is an important area to survey and identify for its depth of participation in the historical patterns of Joplin’s original growth. Murphysburg pre-dates the incorporation of the City of Joplin and retains original structures built and lived in by architects such as Joplin born Austin Allen. Allen is responsible for designing many of the national register landmarks within the City. Homes within this proposed boundary are Queen Anne, Romanesque, or Victorian style and date from the early 1900’s.

This proposed survey is based on a visit from SHPO staff in 2001 in which they stated,” Joplin has a wealth of historic residential architecture worthy of surveying. While visiting Joplin, staff walked parts of the residential area immediately west of the core business district, namely along Sergeant and Moffet Streets roughly between 7th and 1st streets.” Staff went on to state “Future survey efforts should focus on historic residential neighborhoods bordering the Central Business district.”