Abraham Worth Onstott and Marth (Corwin) Onstott were considered Joplin pioneer residents. Mr. Onstott was in the mining business for 25 years. According to the History of Jasper County, Mr. Onstott “erected a nice residence” in Joplin. Before moving to Joplin, he grew up in Carthage. His father, Judge John Onstott was working in their wheat field when the Civil War broke out and the Battle of Carthage began on July 5, 1861. His father was taken prisoner and transported to Fort Scott, Kansas, then to Bentonville, Arkansas where he was later paroled.
The couple lived in this house until Mrs. Onstott died of complications due to an automobile accident in 1929.
Morgan’s Grocery Store
This building has been re-purposed from a two-story neighborhood grocery store, to many different purposes. Originally owned by George Morgan. George’s grocery business started on East 7th Street, he moved his store in 1935 to 505 West 2nd and lived next door at 503 West 2nd. From 1946 to 1974, His son Roy and wife Virginia took over the store. they lived east of the store in a house at 124 South Byers. The market was also home to Darral Dishman’s second story art studio, a residential rental in the 80’s and from 2007 to 2014 Madison Lane Interiors. The partners did an extensive restoration to building to house their array of quintessential home décor.
In 2016, new owners of Morgan’s Grocery Store have settled in Murphysburg. Dr. Blake Webster and Dr. Amykay Cole. They have re-purposed the Depression era concrete block commercial building into a clinical psychology office.
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.
![](https://i0.wp.com/www.murphysburg.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/coloring-book.jpg?resize=804%2C1024&ssl=1)
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
![Mary Kirk Kelly](https://i0.wp.com/www.murphysburg.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Mary-Kirk-photos.jpg?resize=791%2C1024&ssl=1)
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.
![](https://i0.wp.com/www.murphysburg.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Eternal-homes-qr-code-2.png?resize=1024%2C1024&ssl=1)
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.
![](https://i0.wp.com/www.murphysburg.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_5642-rotated.jpg?resize=480%2C640&ssl=1)
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.
![](https://i0.wp.com/www.murphysburg.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/legos.jpg?resize=500%2C333&ssl=1)
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.
Robert Cooper Walsh House
Robert C. (1863-1911) and Mary Ford Walsh (1865-1918) were the first owners of this
house. They lived here with their seven children. By 1910, the couple had moved across
the alley to 114 S. Byers Avenue. Mr. Walsh was widely known in business and social
circles of Joplin. He was involved in the lumber company for 14 years and was the
president of the Walsh-Thompson Lumber Co. at the time of his death.
Robert and Mary are buried at Mount Hope Cemetery in Webb City, Missouri.
SOUTHWEST MISSOURI RAILROAD CLUBHOUSE
In 1889, Alfred Harrison “A.H.” Rogers (1858-1920) started a railway system between Webb City and Carterville pulled by mules. After 1893, the system was electrified. It continued until late summer of 1935 for Carthage, and 1940 for other communities. The clubhouse was constructed for officials and employees.
The A.H. Rogers House is in the Murphysburg Historic District at 623 W. Fourth Street and is currently being restored by Joplin Historical Neighborhoods, Inc.
Charlie22 Outdoor’s mission is to provide outdoor activities to the nation’s veterans and their families. For more information, contact Scotty Rae Hettinger at (417) 437-7247 or charlie22outdoors.com.
Following are excerpts from the Joplin History & Mineral Museum calendar published in 2021: Originally, the first floor was divided into a pool room, a gymnasium that was also used for large social groups, a locker room, a dressing room, toilets, and shower baths. The second floor housed the clubrooms, complete with a kitchen and dining area. The clubrooms were used for reading, writing, card playing, social entertainments, banquets, and to conduct business meetings. The third floor consisted of two dormitories, where a bed could be rented by the day or week. The facility was possibly best remembered for the elaborate employee banquets.