Newman Brothers Building - 1910 - Joplin, Missouri - Dated Architectural Structures Multifarious on Waymarking.com

The storefront on the Main Street facade consists of five bays with the central bay containing the facade's primary entrance. This entrance has two sets of original wood and glass double doors of single light paneled design. Above each set of doors is a rectangular single light transom. Flanking the doors are small display windows which are elliptical in form and have elliptical glass panels resting on stone bulkheads. The display windows in the flanking bays have copper or steel muntin bars and rest on stone bulkheads or sills. Above the display windows is a cast iron transom bar decorated with a Greek fret band.

Above each transom bar is a three light transom with wood muntin bars. Dividing each storefront bay are stone Doric pilfers. Extending above the display windows is an original cast iron canopy supported by large brackets and decorative rods anchored into the face of the building. This canopy has roof detailing of finials designed as small bound torches and a single light and cast iron valence. The glass lights of the valence have been painted in recent years. The canopy support brackets also contain original hanging glass globe fixtures.

Above the storefront is a stone entablature and cornice. The second, third, and fourth stories have identical plan arrangements and detailing. Each story is divided into five bays with each bay containing tri-part Chicago Style windows. Each window has a central fixed rectangular light with flanking single light hinged casement windows. Above each window is a rectangular single light transom. Each window has a stone sill, bracketed sheet metal lintel, and corner floral and ribbon medallions. Between each window on the second, third, and fourth stories are recessed brick panels in the spandrels. At the third story central window is a cast iron balcony with its railing resting on a stone platform. The platform is supported by stone volute brackets and beneath are stone medallion blocks. The railing has square balusters and inset wreaths which contain the letter "N".

Dividing the fourth and fifth stories is a copper cornice with ball and ribbon medallions. Above the fifth story is a large projecting copper cornice with medallion blocks, voluted brackets, egg and dart molding, and acroterions at the roofline. Between each bay is a relief of a lion's head design and copper cartouches. Below the cartouches are wreaths which contain original electric light glass globes and below the wreaths are copper strips arranged in the letter "N".

The Sixth Street facade has a similar five-bay configuration and is identical in all respects to the Main Street facade with only a few exceptions. At the storefront on this facade the original single light glass and frame doors have been removed and replaced with ca. 1970 solid wood doors. Several windows on the upper stories of this facade have been covered with plywood and the roofline lacks electric glass globes.

The rear, or west, facade is divided into five bays and has an exterior of five course common bond brick. Entrances on the first story face an alley and have ca. 1970 glass and metal doors. Windows on each floor are three-over-three vertical light sash with stone sills and wire glass lights. The upper facade windows are grouped together in threes on each floor. At the roofline is a brick smokestack for the heating system and also on the rear facade is an original full height steel fire escape. The south facade shares a party wall with an adjacent two-story brick building. The upper floors have a five course common bond exterior and three light vertical sash windows. Above the fifth story on this facade is a raised brick penthouse story which houses the building's elevator machinery and mechanical rooms.