Joplin Historical Neighborhoods, Inc.

09/12/2026

𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗥𝗼𝘆𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝘁 𝗛𝗶𝘀 𝗛𝗼𝗺𝗲
Through the years, Charles Schifferdecker owned profitable mining operations, while accumulating thousands of acres of property. Demonstrating his commercial acumen during the early 1880s he invested $4,000 in a mine. The Joplin Globe reported that within three years the value of his investment had escalated to $40,000.

Schifferdecker made enormous profits by leasing his land on the royalty plan. In 1892, Schifferdecker established the Spring City Lead and Zinc Company with capital stock of $5,000. According to Larry James in his book Earth’s Hidden Treasures Mining in Newton County, Missouri, “from the development of those mines came the creation of the Spring City community. During the years of 1893 and 1894, over $59,000 worth of primarily zinc ore was mined.” To put this into perspective, according to the 1899 Missouri Annual Bureau of Labor Statistics Report, the average daily wage for males was $2.45 and for females, $1.08. At that time, the average annual earned income for a male was $505.15 and for females, $268.92.

When Schifferdecker’s home was built, southwest Missouri and southeast Kansas were the largest producers of zinc in the United States producing 𝟳𝟱% 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘇𝗶𝗻𝗰 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗺𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝗔𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮. Internationally, the region’s mines outproduced every country except Germany.

The Schifferdecker home remains at 422 South Sergeant and it is open for tours, along with its neighboring Zelleken home. Tickets in our profile.

09/11/2026

𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗪𝗶𝗹𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗮’𝘀 𝗚𝗶𝗳𝘁𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗵𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗵
Charles and Mina were extremely kind and generous. They were faithful members of the Immanuel Lutheran Church. In fact, the church’s site located at 9th and Moffet was gifted to the congregation from Mr. & Mrs. Schifferdecker. The Schifferdeckers purchased the two lots for $1,500 and donated the property to the church. They presented both the land and the newly constructed church building to the congregation on Sunday, September 12, 1897.

Almost a decade later the Schifferdeckers enhanced the look of St. Peter’s Catholic Church, built in 1906. This $50,000, Gothic Revival style house of worship was designed by architect Austin Allen. The Schifferdeckers donated the funds for the impressive stained glass rose window above the main entrance of the 1,000-seat church, bathing the choir loft in colorful rays of light.

Generous gifts keep us going. Come visit the Schifferdeckers’ newly remodeled home. Tickets in our profile.

09/10/2026

𝗔𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗳𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗵: 𝗕𝗲𝗱 𝗪𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗿𝘀
A question we receive regularly is, "What are those things on the beds?"

Heating a home during the late 19th century was challenging. In the winter, home interiors were damp and the beds were cold. The late Victorians used bed warmers during cold weather to heat the bedding before going to sleep. The bed-warming pan functioned in a similar way as an electric blanket would today, except it was not a constant heat source throughout the night as the electric blanket offered.

Various bed warmers had existed for centuries with some of the earliest examples dating back to Queen Elizabeth I. Hot stones or bricks were used during those days.

Later designs such as the ones displayed in the homes feature metal pans that were filled with hot coals, stones, fuel or water, then it was passed between the sheets and covers. Long wooden handles enabled the user to reach into the far corners of the bed.

The metal part of the bed warmers were made of silver, copper, or brass. Many bed warmers had lids embellished with incised decorations. The more ornate warming pans featured elaborate perforations incorporated in the design. The silver ones were the most expensive.

The person using the bed warmer needed to be cautious and aware of the surroundings so that the bed would not catch fire or scorch the sheets. For the ones with air holes, the embers would keep smoldering allowing the heat to last longer.

The bed warmer became a prized family possession handed down from one generation to another. When not in use the pan warmer could be found resting near the fireplace or hung on the wall next to the hearth.

This is the second Artifact of the Month. Objects like these have somewhere to live because members like you help us maintain the proverbial roof over them. Join the museum today and enjoy our many membership perks. Link in the comments.

09/06/2026

Before the construction of his home, Charles Schifferdecker spent many of his early days in Joplin behind a mule team, hauling beer and ice. He kept horses, wagons and carriages for decades. In fact, he constructed a grand Carriage House to accommodate his exquisite carriages. (The restored Carriage House is the first stop for our guests. Inside visitors watch an introduction film before touring the two homes.)

Schifferedecker also understood and embraced the new era of transportation purchasing a Pope Waverly. Through our records a reference is made to the Pope Waverly and a need for it to have a charging station.

Today, remnants of the horse age are still present. In addition to the Carriage House, two hitching posts, one directly in front of the Schifferdecker home and another on the Fifth Street side, harken back to the horse and buggy era.

Schifferdecker’s next-door neighbor also adapted to the winds of change. Edward Zelleken constructed one of the first structures in Joplin for the sole purpose to harbor a car.

In 1903, George Graves opened Joplin’s first automobile agency. The Joplin Automobile Company featured a variety of brands—Buicks, Overlands, and Fords. During that year, Missouri legislators established a nine-mile-per hour speed limit. The car trend continued to expand and by 1909, five hundred and twenty automobiles were registered in Joplin. Mr. Schifferdecker and Mr. Zelleken were two of the early pioneers who could be seen driving around Joplin in a horseless carriage.

The Schifferdeckers and Zellekens were eye-witness to an amazing transformation from the horse and buggy era to powered vehicles.

Joplin will be the host site for the Model T Club next week. The Model T was another step forward in the evolution of transportation.

Stop by the museum to see these fine photos and more. Open Thurs-Sat 11:30-5 and Sun 12:30-4.

09/04/2026

𝗕𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗪𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗡𝘂𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱, 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗪𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗡𝗮𝗺𝗲𝗱
The 1915-1916 Jefferson Highway connected Winnipeg (in the province of Manitoba, Canada) and New Orleans, Louisiana. The storied path followed various routes through Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas, and Louisiana. The eight-state highway was named in honor of President Thomas Jefferson who acquired the Louisiana Purchase in 1904. The marketing phrase “Pine to Palm” summed up the geographical route taking the traveler from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico.

𝗧𝘄𝗼 𝗥𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗞𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗮𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗠𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗶
Designing the highway south of Kansas City was most contentious between Kansas and Missouri. Instead of agreeing to one route, each state constructed their own highway. Both were identified as official routes. When they reached Joplin, both state routes merged into one. Joplin hosted the Jefferson Highway Association (JHA) international conference in 1918 and 1923. And this year Joplin takes center stage once again as JHA celebrates its centennial in here September 19 through 22. Attendees are touring the homes at JHN Museum. 𝗷𝗲𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗵𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘄𝗮𝘆.𝗼𝗿𝗴

𝗝𝗲𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝗦𝗶𝗴𝗻 𝗡𝘂𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘀
By 1919, over 15,000 stenciled pole markers and 2,500 enameled steel signs were in place to denote the route. The pole markers consisted of 2 six-inch blue bands separated by a 12-inch white band. The conjoined letters “J” and “H” in black were placed on the band. The signs were placed along the route at one-mile intervals.
Note: The Jefferson Highway route ran through 4th Street past the Edward Zelleken home. Adding to the interurban rails and normal traffic, the Jefferson Highway made 4th street a busier thoroughfare.

Stop by for a visit! Tickets and hours are linked in our profile.

09/04/2026

Hot air balloons over Missouri Southern this weekend, and two houses from the 1890s only 15 minute drive away.

Both homes are open for tours Thurs-Sat 11:30-5 and Sun 12:30-4. Tickets are linked in our profile. Come find us on Sergeant Avenue.

08/29/2026

The forty acres he gave to the city in 1913 are why Schifferdecker Park exists. Originally the site of a dairy farm during the 1890s, Charles Schifferdecker purchased this property in the early 1900s, then leased a portion of the land to three local businessmen for the development of Electric Park.

The park featured rides, side shows, animals, musical entertainment, concessions, and souvenir stands. Architect John H. Stem, a Kansas City and Newark, New Jersey, amusement park designer, selected a distinctive Moorish style for the Joplin site. The theme park represented the new era of electricity as thousands of electric lights draped the structures and most park visitors arrived via electrically powered streetcars. Although the legend of the park prevailed long after it closed, the business operated only a short period of time, from 1909 to 1912.

Charles Schifferdecker served on the Joplin Park Board. As a park advocate, he graciously donated to the community the 40-acre tract in western Joplin to be used as a city park. Schifferdecker Park is located a mile and a half west on Fourth Street. Following his death his generosity continued. The Schifferdecker estate, worth close to $744,725 when he died, included another $100,000 gift of land to the city, which led to an extension of the park that bears his name.

Today a busy aquatic center, an 18-hole golf course (the first 18-hole grass green golf course in the Four-States area), and an impressive history and science museum (est. 1931) occupy the property.

The house Schifferdecker was living in when he made his initial gift is just a few minutes down West Fourth Street from the park, and it's open through the holiday weekend.

Both the park and the museum are well worth a visit today! Visit Joplinhistorical.org for more info.

08/28/2026

Three levels, one tradition: JHN Museum's corporate sponsorship program comes as Patron, Benefactor, and Partner. The businesses that built this city, First National Bank of Joplin, Miners Bank, the Inter-State Grocery Company, as well as supporting numerous philanthropic endeavors of early Joplin all trace back to the same founders’ homes we work to preserve. If your business wants to be part of that same tradition, membership and corporate sponsorship details are linked in our profile.

08/22/2026

They made them sturdy back in the 1890s, in some instances the walls were three bricks deep. Also referred to wythes: that's how thick the Schifferdecker Home's exterior walls were constructed. That extra thickness turned out to matter more than anyone in 1891 could have guessed. On March 4, 1991, an early morning kitchen fire tore through the interior, and the house sat exposed to the weather for many years afterward. Restoration masons spent 2020 to 2024 rebuilding everything the fire damaged, replacing about 1,500 bricks with historic-matching material, which included 1890s hydraulic bricks from a St. Louis salvage site.

Preserving that work for the community to enjoy needs people who choose to support it by becoming a member of the museum. Perks of becoming a member (besides the satisfaction of supporting an important piece of history) include unlimited visits to the museum, visiting the gift shop at any time during opening hours, and special invitations to events.

Joplinhistorical.org/membership

08/20/2026

Have you been meaning to visit the Schifferdecker and Zelleken homes? Make this the day to check out this one-of-a-kind historic house museum!

For first-time visitors we recommend the guided tour which gives a great overview of the history-filled, informative presentation of a piece of Joplin history. Rather explore at your own pace? Self-guided visits are offered as well.

We are open Thursday–Saturday from 11:30am-5:00pm and Sunday from 12:30-4:00pm. Tickets can be reserved at Joplinhistorical.org

Two historical homes built by C. Schifferdecker and E. Zelleken in the 1890s in Joplin, Missouri, open as a museum about Joplin history.