Bill Caldwell: Fire devastated downtown Prosperity in 1912

May 05-- May 5--The Tri-State District has a large number of camps and towns that once flourished as miners sought out zinc and lead. They often sprang up like mushrooms in spring, only to disappear just as rapidly, often leaving no trace of their existence other than a stone foundation or perhaps a few rows of faithful daffodils that return each year to mark a homestead.

One town with an enduring landmark is the little mining town named Prosperity. The town located between the Carterville suburb of Johnstown and Duenweg along what is now Route AA grew up around the Troup mines in the 1890s. By 1899, according to Joel Livingston's "History of Jasper County," the population had reached 1,500.

Prosperous mining camp

The mining field around the camp was known for large producing mines with names such as the Cherokee Co., Eleventh Hour, Hoosier, Irene S., Raymond, Richland, Goodenough, Grasshopper, Homestake, Gold Standard, McKinley, McGee, Mohawk, Spot Cash, Tenderfoot, Phoenix, North Star, Vernon and the original Troup.

The success of multiple mines allowed the town to construct its first school building in 1892. The four-room frame school was reported to have cost $2,632.50, which would be almost $74,000 today. The town attracted the attention of Southwest Missouri Railroad owner A.H. Rogers, who had been expanding his interurban line beginning in 1889 with a mule-drawn line between Webb City and Carterville.

Rogers electrified the line in 1894 and extended it from Carthage to Joplin via Webb City and from Carterville to Prosperity. By 1903, the Prosperity branch was extended to Duenweg. The interurban line handled the daily traffic of miners going to and from the mines all through the day. Besides the interurban, the Missouri Pacific's Webb City-Diamond-Granby line passed through the middle of town with spurs to various mines.

Prosperity's population had reached 2,500 by 1906. It had a post office, a furniture store, grocery store and meat market, restaurant and pool hall. One grocery store's upper floor served as home to four men's and women's fraternal societies.

By 1907, the old school was severely overcrowded. The district had what it claimed was "the largest fund on hand of any district in the county," as reported in the Webb City Register. It contracted locally prominent Joplin architect A.C. Michaelis to design the school and the Tarrant Construction Co. to build it. In all, Prosperity looked to be living up to its name.

Fateful day

Other than the new school, almost all the buildings in town were frame construction. It was common to read in local histories of buildings being sold and moved from town to town, even across the county. Mills were also frame construction and often sold, dismantled and moved to new locations as deposits were mined out. A brick or stone building was uncommon in smaller towns.

At 2:45 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 7, 1912, the James Gladden family were shocked to hear an explosion, which they likened to starting an automobile, coming from the post office next to their home. When Gladden investigated, he found a flame appearing on the east side of the post office, filling the interior of the building with "a mass of flames." He had grabbed a pistol that he used to raise the alarm.

As recent weather had dried out the district, the fire spread quickly. Prosperity did not have a fire brigade. The News Herald described the scene: "At Prosperity, the entire population of the town formed a bucket brigade in an attempt to stop the fire, and every well in the vicinity of the blaze was used.

"The roofs of the buildings on the south side of Main Street and the buildings west of the burned district were covered with wet comforts, quilts and carpets, even clothing being used. The roof of the Hampleman house, the boundary of the west end of the fire district was covered over with flour, the fire brands having no effect on the flour."

It was the most serious fire Prosperity had ever experienced. Two full blocks on the north side of Main Street were completely consumed. When it was seen that the bucket brigade was making little effect on the fire, residents devoted their efforts to moving furniture and the stock out of various stores and protecting nearby property.

Five businesses, the post office, two residences and the regalia of the fraternal lodges were all destroyed. Said the News Herald: "Seldom has a fire occurred where the buildings are absolutely destroyed. The foundations and a small quantity of ashes remain. Tin cans and roasted watermelons mark the grocery stores, while twisted iron beds and stove pipes tell of a one-time household or furniture store."

Postmaster L.H. DeMill believed the fire was an attempt to cover up a robbery of the office, though there was just $2 in change on hand. All the mail was burned along with stamps and stamped envelopes. In front of the post office was a gallon can used for carrying oil, which was not the property of anyone who lived on that street.

The devastation was estimated to cost $15,000, which would be $377,827 today. It was a blow to the little town. The school was saved. But the town was never the same; it is little more than a crossroads today. Yet the school stands as a landmark to the builders' skill and the town's decision to build the best school their money could buy.

Bill Caldwell is the retired librarian at The Joplin Globe. If you have a question you'd like him to research, send an email to wcaldwell@joplinglobe.com or leave a message at 417-627-7261.

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