Missouri Southern State University - Crossroads Yearbook (Joplin, MO)

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Unique In Structure And History Take a walk around campus and the one thing that stands out and unifies the school is its buildings. All the buildings have red brick and marble exteriors with flat roofs. All except one, the mansion, or the more familiar name—Business Administration Building. This building does not resemble the others In structure or history. It is unique and contrasts the old with the new. Buck Buchanan, a successful area mine operator and builder of the Joplin Stockyards, built the 11 room Mission Hills Estate during the 1920 ' s. It was situated on 618 acres with a one foot thick concrete stuco wall surrounding the house and area grounds. Mr. and Mrs. Frank Wallower, from Harrisburg, PA, purchased the estate following Buck Buchanan ' s death in 1940. Frank Wallower mined a rich zinc mine called the Golden Rod near Carden, OK. He tried mining on Turkey Creek, behind the mansion, but water problems prevented fortune here so he turned to raising prize dairy cattle. The mansion was built on a bluff, facing south, overlooking a valley of trees, lakes, and Turkey Creek. An imported fountain in the midst of a formal garden flanked the north side and vegetable gardens were to the west with a small orchard where Kuhn Hall parking lot is now. Sixty- one native and foreign plants and trees surrounded the house. Hare and Hare Landscape Artists from Kansas City did the landscaping. A gold leaf gate, over a cattle guard east of the house, was bought from the William R. Hearst collection on display in New York City. Four barns, each with running water, were estimated at $20,000 apiece at construction. A 300 ton silo, and an elaborate wash room were connected to one barn. The wash room housed a utility room with a natural gas furnace, hot water heater, two-car garage storage space, office space and a 12x12 cork lined cold room. A maid’s quarters and guest cottage each were equipped with their own fireplace and well. A nine section radiator heating unit, convertible to coal, gas, coke, and oil, served the house along with tiled fireplaces and a circulating hot water system. A mosaic tile fountain in the living room had running water coming out of a fish mouth. African mahagony paneling and maple floors ran throughout the house. There was a formal living room, dining room, three bedrooms each with a private bath, kitchen, breakfast nook, cocktail lounge, patio room, and a large basement with a laundry room. Leading from the basement to the well room was a sixty-two foot tunnel which provided easy access to the well in winter. Bronze leaf light fixtures with three way switches were another rarity included in the house. The wrought iron staircase in the south entrance had an automatic electric chair lift attached to go up and down for Mr. Wallower, who was crippled later in his life. On July 3, 1964, an offer of a gift of $100,000 to apply The mansion’s garages were torn down and a one floor wing was add¬ ed for classrooms. towards purchase of the Mission Hills Farm as a site for the new campus was received by the Trustees. Later in the week, a group of influential citizens lead by Morgan Hillhouse, formed the Friends of the College” committee to raise the remaining money. In sixty days the committee completed the fund drive and presented the college officials with money and pledges totaling $305,000. The college bought 230 acres, including the house and grounds. The house and grounds went under extensive changes to accommodate college uses. President Leon C. Billingsly used the sun room as his office for two months until Hearnes Hall was finished. The garages were converted to a cafeteria-student union for two years and were also used as a bookstore. In 1969 the cafeteria was converted to the Business Administration Building. The house was changed to offices and classrooms for the Bus iness School. Partitions were put up in the house to make more office space and the fountain was turned off. The tunnel was sealed off and the basement doors locked. Many trees and bushes encompassing the house were destroyed to make room for the college. The orchard disappeared along with the lakes and the vegetable and flower gardens were also razed. One barn remains and is used as a theatre. The mansion ' s main structure was left intact and gives students a chance to imagine what it was like several years ago and to wish that more of the trees and gardens could have been left. The mansion, a simple and elegant house, is a landmark that the college is proud to host. MANSION 12