Renovated Union Depot Proposed Home For Museum

At last night’s City Council meeting, City Manager Mark Rohr proposed that the Union Depot be renovated to be used as a new home for the Joplin Museum Complex. As covered by the Joplin Globe, Rohr believes that existing sources of funding exist and as a result, no new taxes would be required for the project.

Joplin Union Depot

The Joplin Union Depot not long after it was opened. A great future home for the Joplin Museum Complex.

We, here at Historic Joplin, strongly support this proposal.  We hope that it becomes reality and that someday in the near future, we can walk in and enjoy a beautifully restored depot.  Even though the Carnegie Library appears not to have been part of the new plan, we hope it too has a bright future.

Joplin Carnegie Library

The Joplin Carnegie Library as it appears in 2010.

Joplin Carnegie Library – Then and Now

The Joplin Carnegie Library may come up in a city plan to be discussed tonight, July 6, 2010, by City Manager Mark Rohr, as part of the redevelopment plan for the city. As such, we figured to show a series of photographs (and one drawing) of the Joplin Carnegie Library.

First, we have the award winning sketch of the library by August Michaelis, a distinguished Joplin architect of the time.

August Michaelis' winning design for Joplin's Carnegie Library

August Michaelis' winning design for Joplin's Carnegie Library

Next we have a photograph not long after it was built:

The Joplin Carnegie Library

The Joplin Carnegie Library not long after completion.

Now we have the library as it appears today. It is privately owned, but in need of restoration. It is easily one of the most beautiful buildings in Joplin.

Joplin Carnegie Library

The Joplin Carnegie Library as it appears today.

Source: Historic Joplin Collection

The Museum Issue May Rise Again

On Saturday, July 3, the Joplin Globe spoke with City Manager, Mark Rohr, about an announcement he will give on Tuesday, July 6.  Rohr was responsible for the planning behind the revitalization of the Sunshine Lamp district in 2005.  It was implied in the article that remaining elements of the 2005 plan may be addressed, those being the restoration and use of the neglected Union Depot, the currently privately owned Carnegie Library, and the Rains building.  It was in that plan that the Museum Complex was to theoretically be moved to the depot.

Historic Joplin supported this solution to the museum problem back in April and certainly continue to support it.  The depot is one of the city’s last remaining architectural beauties and there need not be any further Connor travesties by allowing it to fall to pieces or purposely tear it down.

For a two part history of Joplin’s Carnegie Library, click here and here.