🏨 A Landmark Year for Construction in Joplin: 1925

by: Brady Cloud
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The year 1925 marked a significant period of growth and construction in Joplin. During the year, a total of 612 building permits were issued, representing $1,072,127 in construction costs. Of these permits, 232 were issued for new buildings and 380 for improvements to existing structures. Approximately $800,440 was spent on new construction, while $271,687 went toward repairs and enlargements. Several major projects completed that year would leave a lasting mark on the city’s architectural landscape.

In March, the Joplin National Bank Building was completed at the corner of Fourth and Main Streets. Developed by the Liberty Building Company, the project was backed by several prominent Joplin figures, including George Spiva, E. Z. Wallower, and members of the Christman and Junge families. Rising eight stories tall, the building became the tallest structure completed in Joplin since the Frisco Building twelve years earlier. Upon completion, it was proudly described by its owners as “one of the handsomest buildings in the West,” reflecting both its scale and architectural ambition.

Another major milestone came in May with the completion of Freeman Hospital at 20th Street and Sergeant Avenue. The seventy-five-room facility was built as an addition to the former John Freeman House, which the Freeman family had donated to the Methodist Church in 1922 in memory of their son, Orley, who died from typhoid fever. The hospital’s dedication drew an estimated 10,000 visitors, and it accepted its first patient on June 1, 1925. A substantial addition was constructed in 1958, but the hospital ultimately closed in 1975 when operations moved to the current location on 32nd Street. The original building later served as office space before passing through multiple owners. Over time, it fell into severe disrepair, becoming abandoned and posing health and safety concerns for nearby residents. In July 2025, just shy of its 100th anniversary, the Freeman Hospital was demolished. The site is slated for redevelopment into Habitat for Humanity housing.

In October 1925, Joplin Memorial Hall was formally dedicated. The $250,000 structure honored Joplin servicemen who lost their lives during World War I and was funded through a combination of American Legion fundraising efforts and city bonds. The building was designed by brothers Augustus and Alfred Michaelis, architects responsible for many of Joplin’s most notable landmarks, including the Carnegie Library, the Miners’ Bank Building, and the original St. John’s Hospital. Tragedy struck during construction when Alfred Michaelis fell fifty feet from scaffolding while inspecting the site and later died from his injuries. Following his brother’s death, Augustus Michaelis never again designed a building in Joplin. Memorial Hall would go on to serve as a central civic venue for decades, hosting performances, conventions, and public events. Although it has sat vacant since its closure in 2020, renewed interest and preservation efforts suggest the building may yet see a future once again.

Brady Cloud