The nearly century-old Memorial Hall in Joplin, Missouri, has been added to the National Register of Historic Places, according to a recent email from the National Park Service that administers the program.
The listing was effective Oct. 7. Memorial Hall sits one block south of Seventh Street, aka Route 66, in the city.
Memorial Hall serves as a veterans’ memorial and a community center, with a seating capacity of 2,750, according to the city’s website. It hosts concerts, conventions, fundraisers, sporting events and other events throughout the year.
City officials began plans in 1918 for a memorial dedicated to the soldiers who perished during World War I.
In January of 1920, the Robert S. Thurman Post of the American Legion and the Women’s Auxiliary began preliminary plans for a campaign to provide Joplin with a suitable memorial hall in honor of the men who served in the war against Germany. In a special election in July of 1923, Joplin voters approved a proposal for issuing bonds to provide for the construction of Memorial Hall. The election effort was sponsored by the American Legion. Members of the Joplin City Commission informally approved school property at 8th Street and Joplin Avenue as the site for a new Memorial Hall in October of 1923.
In August of 1924, construction of the $250,000 Memorial Hall began. A.S. Greenwell was awarded the contract for construction of the Hall. He was quoted as saying, “The building may be used as an opera house and convention hall. The auditorium will seat 4,110 persons. The stage will be larger than that of Joplin’s largest theater. The auditorium will measure 187 feet long, running north and south, and 140 feet wide. On the first floor, plans call for a seating capacity of 2,497 persons. The entire auditorium, balcony and stage, are designed to be as magnificent as a building constructed for the purpose of an opera house alone.” Plans called for a two-and-a-half story structure, covering almost the entire site between Joplin and Wall Streets and Eighth street to within a short distance of Ninth street. The front entrance would support four massive pillars and contain five double-door entrances and face Eighth Street.
A large crowd attended ceremonies dedicating the new Memorial Hall in October 1925. The News Herald stated, “In a spirit of patriotism and reverence, Joplin’s Memorial Hall was dedicated yesterday. Built as a tribute to the sacrifices of those who served their country in time of war, the massive structure was consecrated in peace. The building was dedicated as a monument to three generations of defenders of the flag.” Quarters in the new Memorial Hall were set aside for use by the Robert S. Thurman Post, American Legion, and Auxiliary when the building was opened in 1925.
According to a story earlier this year in the Joplin Globe about the National Register nomination, the building underwent extensive renovations during the mid-1970s after electrical failure interrupted shows. The new work added memorials to those killed in World War II and Vietnam on the lawn.
Two brothers, August and Alfred Michaelis, were responsible for building Memorial Hall and several other significant buildings in the region. Alas, Alfred fell 50 feet from a beam to his death as he was inspecting a construction detail on the almost-complete Memorial Hall. He was 44, and a brass plaque in the lobby commemorates him.
A consultant hired by the city also proposed early this year a $25 million renovation of Memorial Hall to make some needed repairs and an expansion of its purposes so it could be used almost daily.
(Image of Memorial Hall via the City of Joplin website)