Purchase Price $160,000
6 bed - 2.5 bath - 9,260 sqf
1890 Romanesque, all brick. Featuring wonderful interior features, 6 bedrooms, newer all slate roof, 3 open air verandas, Porte-cochere and a 2 car garage. Home is sold as is and is a major fixer-upper, there is no heating system. Home is a Local Landmark home that is governed by the city design guidelines. Covenants have been put on the home that it can not be turned into apartments or any interior features removed. Home would make a great B and B, private home or business.
Contact: Lisa Rock - Remax
Call: 816-262-8462
House History & Gallery
J.D. McNeely (April 16, 1831 – Aug. 10, 1899) made his fortune in the wholesale liquor trade and railroads. By 1870 he was worth $40,000 (roughly $1mm in today’s money), and his wealth continued to grow throughout his lifetime. He married Ellen M. Treacy in 1861 when he was 30 and she was 18. Like J.D. she was of Irish heritage, but unlike him she had been born in St. Joseph. Together the couple had 9 children, 6 of which survived to adulthood.
The house at 701 S. 11th St. is a true testament to the wealth and status of the McNeely family. Notable features designed by Harvey Ellis include a 3-story octagonal tower with a turreted roof supported by pillars, complex chimney stacks, and a highly elaborate porch and porte-cochere with marbleized double columns. Sitting on the top of a hill overlooking the growing city, this was a house that was designed to make a statement.
That statement continued as one entered the house; a visitor would be ushered in to a reception area with stunning woodwork featuring caryatids and cat-faced picture railing. The stunning nature of the interior was further enhanced by the parquet floors, built-in buffet, and eight fireplaces.
Unfortunately, McNeely did not live long to enjoy his wonderful home. He died unexpectedly while in Kansas City on Aug. 10, 1899. The newspapers of the time emphasized the fact that he was one of the wealthiest men in St. Joseph. The extended family continued to live in the home until the 1950s. At that point it became a nursing home and it continued in that role until the current owners purchased it and began the process of making it a single family home once again.
This house is a treasure for someone who loves history and is willing to undertake a major rehabilitation. Unlike most of the historic houses in St. Joseph, the McNeely carries with it a substantial documentary archive, including the building permit from 1889 (which is nearly unheard of here), and photographs of both the interior and exterior. This remarkable archive includes a multi-page document written by Gertrude McNeely, the daughter-in-law of the original owner that describes each room in the house both in terms of its architectural detail and its furnishings.
The McNeely Home is a newly designated Local Landmark, meaning that its historical integrity is protected and the owner is able to avail themselves of the expertise of the Landmarks Commission when making exterior alterations. The amazing interior features are protected by covenant that ensures that this amazing house will not become apartments nor will it be stripped of its architectural treasures. This structure would be appropriate for listing on the National Register, giving the owner access to State and Federal Historic Tax Credits. It is eligible for local grant monies including the Save Our Heritage grant program administered by the City of St. Joseph.
