The A.H. Rogers Home – Before and Now

A.H. Rogers, one of the more influential men in Joplin’s history, who wrested control of the Joplin Globe from Gilbert Barbee, had a home in the area of the Murphysburg Historic Residential District.  As we work on the next depot post, and other topics like the 1903 lynching, this morning we present you with a wonderful comparison of how Rogers’ home has survived over a century.  Below is a photo taken no later than 1902, and then photographs taken last summer, in 2010.  The home is one of the legacies of a more bustling age in Joplin’s past.

The Rogers home around 1902.

The same view of the home, as seen, can no longer be achieved. Note that the property has since been decreased in size with an alleyway going straight through the front wall.

A front view of the home (the only way to capture most of the home) reveals little has changed for the home over the last 100 years.

Source: Historic Joplin collection

Historic Murphysburg Hosts Dickensfest

For those of you who have escaped notice of the festivities being held in the Murphysburg Residential Historic District, here’s one more reminder to go check out Dickensfest going on right now. The festival which creates a village right out of a novel by English author Charles Dickens, began today at 7pm and continues nightly through Sunday from 6:30 to 9 pm. In addition to walking through incredible surroundings, there are a number of events from music to characters straight out of the Christmas Carol to enjoy. Here’s a link to the official Joplin Dickenfest page, and here’s a link to the website for Historic Murphysburg, the neighborhood hosting the event.