Carthage Historic Preservation, Inc.
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 375 | Carthage, MO 64836
Phelps House: 1146 Grand Avenue, Carthage, MO
417.358.1776
MEMORIAL HALL
circa 1922
407 S. Garrison Avenue
In 1924, the Carthage Memorial Hall was dedicated in memory of Carthage’s soldiers lost during the First World War.
On November 11, 1918, an armistice was signed between the Germans and the Allies, ending World War I. A week later, on November 18, the Carthage Business Men’s League held a meeting that would go down in history for other reasons. A proposition had been pitched calling for a large “memorial hall” for the thousands of soldiers from Carthage who were in the war. Many of the businessmen were in favor of this idea, believing this to be of great public interest. A committee of 9 members was established to provide plans for the building and to finance the project.On January 4, 1919, preliminary plans for the Memorial Hall were completed by architect Percy K. Simpson and received by the Business Men’s League. By this time, Simpson had moved to St. Louis and established a firm there, but continued to be involved with Carthage. The plans prepared by Simpson were displayed in a local business, attracting much public attention.
Public support for the Memorial Hall grew, when on the evening of May 17, a patriotic event was held at the Elk’s Club, where the Memorial Hall Association was formed to help manage the project. 300 people were in attendance, with many veterans and even people from outside Carthage attending. Filled with music and excitement, the crowd marched to the nearby armory, where a large banquet was held. On July 5, the Memorial Hall Association began the Memorial Hall’s fundraising campaign, enlisting the services of the E. J. Hockenbury System of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, to direct it.
The fundraising campaign for the Memorial Hall was like nothing Carthage had ever seen before. Local officials, Missouri senators, and 200 volunteers from all over Jasper County took to the streets to help pitch the Memorial Hall to Carthage. Less than a month after the campaign had started, the Memorial Hall Drive had already raised nearly $60,000. No other campaign had raised that much money in Carthage history at the time!
While it seemed like the Memorial Hall Drive would reach its $75,000 goal, the sudden departure of the Memorial Hall Association’s President and internal conflicts led to the campaign being put on hold. It wouldn’t be until January 1921 when the Memorial Hall Association managed to restart the campaign. The 1921 campaign proved to be successful, raising $25,000 by May. People from all over the country who had roots in Carthage donated to the campaign. The farthest contribution was from Sarah Franks, a teacher who moved to the Maunaola Seminary at Paia, Maui, in the Territory of Hawaii.
On August 8, the Memorial Hall Association had created a Site Committee to determine the future site of the Memorial Hall. Some of the possible locations were in Central Park, on 7th Street, west of the county jail, or across the street from the Elks Club. However, it was the lot on the corners of Garrison Avenue and Oak Street, previously occupied by the Carthage Foundry, that would be mentioned the most. Ultimately, the Garrison Avenue and Oak Street lot would be chosen in a unanimous vote by the Committee on November 5. The final offer for the site was $5,000.
With a location for the Memorial Hall found, Percy Simpson went to work drawing up new plans of the building. The final design for the Carthage Memorial Hall was revealed in January 1922. Simpson put an impressive amount of thought and time into the design. The front would be built entirely from Carthage Marble, with the rest of the building made from brick, elaborately trimmed with Carthage Marble. It would feature an auditorium, quarters for the American Red Cross and American Legion, and also a museum.
Despite the rain, Colonel Hanford MacNider, the national commander of the American Legion, dedicated the site of the Carthage Memorial Hall at 4:00 p.m. on March 30, 1922. Mayor J. D. Carter proclaimed that all businesses in Carthage close between 3:30 and 5:30, urging citizens to welcome the Colonel. MacNider arrived in Joplin earlier that day to speak at a luncheon at the Connor Hotel and arrived in Carthage at 3:50.
Groundbreaking for the Carthage Memorial Hall was held on May 4, 1922, and construction started afterwards, under the supervision of Simpson. In April 1923, the City of Carthage sent a telegram to President Warren G. Harding asking him to dedicate the Memorial Hall, as he was currently planning a tour of the Western United States at the time. Although Carthage was not on his itinerary, President Harding sent his best wishes to the City of Carthage.
By September, the exterior of the Memorial Hall was completed, with interior work progressing nicely. However, out of the pledges of the $75,000 fund, only $60,000 had been fully paid for. The Memorial Hall Association submitted a proposal for a $38,000 bond to help balance the funds needed to complete the building. A special election was held on November 7, where the Memorial Hall’s completion would be part of a $110,000 bond issue. The bond was passed with 868 votes in favor over the 257 votes against the issue. After much delay, construction was finally able to resume on the Memorial Hall.
By June 1924, nearly all interior work was completed, including wiring, plumbing, electrical, and ventilation. Two 7,000-pound cannons were installed for display at the front of Memorial Hall. One of them was a 5-inch siege gun, and the other was a 7-inch howitzer, both mounted on carriages. The date set for the dedication of the Carthage Memorial Hall was September 12. It was arranged by Mayor C. W. Thomas to fall on National Defense Day, a now-defunct holiday that would have its inaugural celebration that same day.
On September 12, 1924, at 8 a.m., the Carthage Memorial Hall was dedicated by Missouri Governor Arthur Hyde in front of a crowd of 2,500 people. The Memorial Hall was open to the public for inspection later that afternoon to see the culmination of the years of struggle it took to make the Memorial Hall dream a reality. Along with the dedication of the Memorial Hall, a large parade was held for National Defense Day with Mayor Thomas proclaiming all businesses to be closed so employees can enjoy the festivities. As the Citizens of Carthage celebrated their new Memorial Hall, nearly 17 miles away, the cornerstone of the Joplin Memorial Hall was laid.
Memorial Hall has continued to serve the Community of Carthage as both a memorial to our fallen heroes and as a place for our community to gather. Although threatened with demolition in the 1960’s, the Carthage Memorial Hall has remained a vital part of Carthage, and a reminder of the struggles and challenges of not just our veterans, but what it takes to remember them.
Credit: Brady Cloud, Weekly Architecture Series
