Market Square was the central business district in early St. Joseph. It was built and evolved in the 90-year period between c. 1850 and 1940. The district began to fall in to disrepair – though it continued to be an active commercial district – and was one of the first targets of Urban Renewal in the early 1970s.

The threat to the district was one of the primary motivations behind the development of a local preservation movement as activists associated with the St. Joseph Historical Society worked to save the buildings from the wrecking ball. As part of that effort, the district was listed on the National Register in 1972 (it was delisted in 1999).

The effort was not successful and most of the district was demolished in 1973.

The businesses and service providers whose ads you see here are important in the work to preserve the historic assets of St. Joseph, MO. Here you will find:

  • realtors who can help you locate your perfect historic building

  • wonderful places to stay and host your event

  • businesses who are sympathetic to preservation

Lisa Rock

Lisa Rock: Re/Max

Historic Properties are Her Specialty! And Her Passion!

Buying a property – any property – is a big deal. Buying an historic property is an investment in the identity of a community. Choosing the right historic property for you is vital and thus, so is choosing the right realtor.

There is no one in the St. Joseph real estate business who understands and loves historic properties the way that Lisa Rock of Re/Max does. Lisa has been a realtor specializing in historic properties for 19 years.

Lisa is a lifelong citizen of St. Joseph who has put her heart and soul in to the community. In addition to being the leading expert on historic real estate, Lisa is a passionate preservationist and community activist. She has been a leading voice in the effort to preserve the integrity of our historic neighborhoods. Ms. Rock has been a member of the Landmark Commission of St. Joseph (the city-sponsored board that is charged with the oversight of the local landmark districts) for five years and has never missed a meeting! Prior to serving on the Commission she served five  years on the Landmark Review Board.

She can be counted on to speak consistently in favor of doing preservation the right way.

Her dedication to the preservation of St. Joseph goes back to childhood when she began her collection of St. Joseph memorabilia (a collection that now has its home in several of her own historic properties). As a young woman Lisa was at the center of a group of like-minded people who helped each other on their restoration projects. One of the striking characteristics of the group was the attention to detail – hours spent finding the right type of iron screw. She used that attention to detail on her first big restoration project, an 1860s home owned by her mother.

Lisa has been a leading voice on the board of the Children’s Advocacy Council, speaking up for those who have been denied the opportunity to speak for themselves.

When you are looking to purchase the perfect historic property or needing to sell a property you want to work with a realtor who is passionate about St. Joseph and its history and who will work tirelessly on your behalf. That realtor is Lisa Rock.

Contact Lisa at: 1119 N. Woodbine Rd., St. Joseph, MO 64506.

Call: 816.262.8462 or 816.233.2300.