Purchase Price $89,000

3 bdrms - 2 baths (each side) - 1,845 sqft

Sitting on a corner lot and centrally located, this property has a cap rate of 13%! Three bedrooms and two baths on each side, kitchen appliances stay. All electric, with new soffit and gutters with leaf guard. 1202 side has newer windows. One side is currently occupied. Brick, full front porch, main floor laundry and separate meters. The cap rate makes this an idea investment property, or live in one side and rent the other.

Contact: Evans Realty Team with Keller Williams Kansas City - Northland

Call: (816) 233-1119

House History & Gallery

Built at the turn of the 20th Century, the substantial duplex at 1202/04 N. 10th St. has been home to some remarkable people associated with many of the leading enterprises in the booming city.

This charming duplex served as a temporary stopping off place for important men as they transitioned into larger homes reflective of their status. For a year, from 1904-05 Frank L. Goetz, the Vice-President of the M.K. Goetz Brewing Company lived here before he moved to his quite substantial home at 1023 Powell. When Frank left the house, his place was taken by the President of Pioneer Sand Company, Edward L. Hart who later moved just down the street to 1307 N. 10th St. At that time, Dudley G. Woodard, the treasurer of Nave McCord Dry Goods Company, and his family took up residence before moving to Denver in 1912 and then on to Los Angeles.

The railroads were a huge employer in St. Joseph and there were several railroad employees associated with the house. In 1902, one of the first tenants was James Berlingett and his wife Alice. James was the General Manager of the St. Joseph and Grand Island Railroad. In his capacity as general manager he had a private rail car that he used to entertain his friends. He resigned his position with the SJ & GI to take a job with the Virginia Railway in Norfolk, VA.  Between 1912 and 1921 Charles F. Lechler, a passenger ticket agent for the Mo Pacific Railroad lived in 1202.

After about 1915, 1202/04 N. 10th St. became more working class. Living with Charles Lechler was his extended family; his daughter Mildred and son Charles worked respectively as a time keeper and apprentice buyer in one of the packing houses. His other son George owned a retail shoe business.

From 1913-15 Erba D. Smith, a department manager for Hirsch Brothers Dry Goods lived at 12-4. He was known in the city for physical fitness advocacy, working with the YMCA.

From the mid-1930s to 1941, Pauline Shaner, a nurse had an easy commute to her job at St. Joseph Hospital just across the street. Her husband Bert had a bit farther to go for his position as a hog buyer for Armour & Co.

Any house that has been around for well over a century will have seen its share of heartbreak. In December 1915, Orville Marvin Smith, the 15-year-old son of A.D. Smith who lived at 1204 died of scarlet fever and is buried at Mt. Auburn. His siblings Catherine, Lionel and Gerald all contracted the disease as well but appear to have recovered. In 1924, Charles King, also a resident of 1204 committed suicide by “inhaling gas from a jet in the bathroom of a vacant house at 915 south Twentieth Street.” King had been ill for several weeks and it was believed that he was despondent due to his sickness. In July 1934, St. Joseph was experiencing a terrible heat wave. In this age of air conditioning we sometimes forget how deadly the heat can be, but this one claimed the life of Myra Stallard, a resident of 1202 who had just celebrated her 97th birthday.

But there were also times of laughter and joy. On Sept. 11, 1900 the Gazette-Herald reported under the headline, “Will Fight the Indians” “Small boys leave their hoe for some such purpose – one took father’s revolver and $6.” George, the 10-year-old son of Dudley Woodard and a friend “left the quiet home roof at 2:30 yesterday afternoon and with the strong breezes tanning their young faces, sturdily turned to the West in quest of large game.” The boys were returned home with no damage done. George’s sister Belle was married at the house in June 1910. Three years later, Vera Lechler was wed at the home accompanied by “the soft strains of ‘Annie Laurie.’”

Wonderful houses bring out the creativity in people, and this duplex was home to several very creative women. James Berlingett’s wife Alice was a poet. On May 28, 1908 the Gazette printed her poem “Homeward Bound.” Edward Hart’s daughter Ethel was a musician who in 1906 took the very bold step of moving to “Miami, Indian Territory to take charge of a music class in a summer school at that place.” In 1932, the Gazette published the poem “Prospect Hill” written by Myra Stallard who lived at 1202 with her son and his family.

This house is ready to inspire your inner poet!