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Photograph of Jewell Hall
Photograph by Dennis mccoy mo, CC BY-SA 3.0. Via Wikimedia Commons.

Jewell Hall

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.

From the record

“Jewell Hall is a historic building located on the campus of William Jewell College at Liberty, Clay County, Missouri. It was built between 1850 and 1853, and is a three-story, modified "H"-plan, Classical Revival style brick and Missouri limestone building.”

Wikipedia article Jewell Hall, CC BY-SA 4.0.

One of 39 National Register listings published here for Clay County · listed in 1978 · category: Building.

Sources: the Wikipedia article · the case file at the National Archives · the National Register database, National Park Service

The listing

  • What is counted as historic. The nomination lists 1 building as contributing to the listing.
  • Address. Jewell St. between Kansas and Mississippi Sts., Liberty, 64068
  • When was it listed? September 1978
  • Category. building
  • Township. Liberty township
  • National Register reference number. 78001642 - the number the National Park Service assigned this property when it was listed, and the key its nomination file is catalogued under at the National Archives.

The ground it stands on

47 words

This property stands in Liberty Township. History of Clay County, Missouri, published 1920 gives that township a chapter of its own.

The chapter covers position and description, early settlers, liberty landing, country churches, city of liberty, first lacorporatiou.

Machine-read from a century-old scan, so expect the errors a machine makes: misspelled names, dropped words, stray characters.

Read the whole chapter on Liberty Township - 47 words on its settlement, mills, schools and churches.

Fires near this property

28 since 2004

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal wildfire occurrence database lists 28 fires within 5 miles of Jewell Hall between 2004 and 2020, burning about 26 acres in total. None started naturally. 3 were recorded as arson. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a fire counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.

Reported cause Fires
Missing data/not specified/undetermined9
Debris and open burning6
Recreation and ceremony5
Arson/incendiarism3
Equipment and vehicle use2
Fireworks1
Power generation/transmission/distribution1
Smoking1

The most recent of them, most recent first, with the day each was reported and the service that recorded it.

DateCause SizeReported by Name on the report
9 September 2007Missing data/not specified/undeterminedunder an acreMissouri State Fire Marshal's Officenot named
13 September 2007Arson/incendiarismunder an acreMissouri State Fire Marshal's Officenot named
7 August 2007Equipment and vehicle useunder an acreMissouri State Fire Marshal's Officenot named
29 August 2007Missing data/not specified/undeterminedunder an acreMissouri State Fire Marshal's Officenot named
26 August 2007Missing data/not specified/undeterminedunder an acreMissouri State Fire Marshal's Officenot named
12 August 2018Debris and open burningunder an acreMissouri Department of Conservation177819-02412-08122018-1657
7 July 2004Missing data/not specified/undeterminedunder an acreMissouri State Fire Marshal's Officenot named
3 July 2006Arson/incendiarismunder an acreMissouri State Fire Marshal's Officenot named

Every fire recorded in Clay County

Mines and quarries near this property

10 of 39 shown

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal mineral resources record lists 39 workings within 5 miles of Jewell Hall: 37 past producers, 2 producers. 2 still produce. What was taken out: Stone, Crushed/Broken, Sand and Gravel, Construction, Silica, Clay. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a quarry counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.

Where SiteCommodity StatusRecorded
Liberty Bend Pit & PlantSilicaProducer
UnknownClayPast Producer
City Wide SandSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
UnknownSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Atwood QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Borrow PitStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Dever QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Missouri Rock Plant #2 QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Schell QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
UnknownStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer

Every working recorded in Clay County

Storms near this property

60 of 115 shown

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The National Weather Service names Liberty, the town this property stands in, in 115 storm reports between 1993 and 2025: 60 hail, 45 thunderstorm wind, 6 flash flood, 3 tornado. No death or injury is recorded in these reports. Each account below is quoted exactly as the forecast office filed it, from the NOAA Storm Events Database, and each date opens the federal record of that event.

WhenEvent Place namedHarm What the report says
May 2003Tornado (F2)Liberty$60,000,000Tornado reported on the ground near Missouri Route 291, south of Missouri Route 152, it produced spotty damage northeast to downtown Liberty. Substantial damage was noted near the square in Libery, and to William Jewel College. The tornado tracked east along Missouri Route H into rural portions of Clay county before dissipating. Maximum intensity damage noted in the area was F2, based on surveys and input from local emergency management.
March 2006HailLiberty$750,000Car dealerships hit hard by afternoon hail storm. Roof damage also noted throughout town.
April 1994Thunderstorm WindLiberty$500,000The roof and front section of a roller skating rink were blown off from wind gusts estimated at 70 mph. Damages were estimated at just under $500,000. Other damage included home roofs, large trees limbs, as well as trees blown down. The storm also produced golf ball- size hail at Paradise Point.
March 2006HailLiberty$200,000Widespread damage to cars and roofs.
March 2006HailLiberty$20,000no account filed
August 2006Thunderstorm WindLiberty$19,000Nine utility poles snapped and one transformer destroyed from thunderstorm winds.
August 2006Thunderstorm WindLiberty$15,000Street light poles damaged...street signs bent...and siding ripped off several homes.
March 2006Thunderstorm WindLiberty$10,000Barn damaged and power poles down 1 mile northeast of the Highway 291 and Highway 210 intersection.
July 2004Thunderstorm WindLiberty$8,000no account filed
June 2001Thunderstorm WindLiberty$5,000Large trees reported blown down by law enforcement.
July 2004Thunderstorm WindLiberty$5,000no account filed
May 1996Thunderstorm WindLiberty$5,000no account filed
May 1996Thunderstorm WindLiberty$5,000no account filed
June 2009Thunderstorm WindLiberty$1,000A 4 inch tree limb was snapped off, and a transformer blew.
June 2003Thunderstorm WindLiberty$1,000Several trees and power lines down.
May 2025Thunderstorm WindSouth Liberty-Downed tree limbs and wires in the Courtney and River Bend areas.
June 2025Thunderstorm WindSouth Liberty-Downed wires near Current Street south of Liberty.
July 2025Thunderstorm WindLiberty-Report of tree limbs down in Liberty. Utility company also reported power outages in the area around this time. Likely caused by thunderstorm outflow.
July 2024Thunderstorm WindSouth Liberty-Estimated 60 mph wind gusts south southeast of Liberty.
October 2024Thunderstorm WindLiberty-Social media report of downed trees and limbs near Orchard Avenue.
October 2024Thunderstorm WindLiberty-Social media report of a downed tree into a shed and a fence at a residence.
October 2024Thunderstorm WindLiberty-Route 291 closed between Liberty Drive and Kansas Street due to downed power lines.
October 2024Thunderstorm WindLiberty-Multiple reports of power lines down and power outages, with social media photos and video provided.
June 2024Thunderstorm WindLiberty-Downed power lines with power outages near Liberty.
September 2023HailLiberty-Tennis ball sized hail was reported in Liberty.
September 2023HailSouth Liberty-Mping report of ping pong ball sized hail south of Liberty.
September 2023Thunderstorm WindLiberty-Mature trees were snapped due to microburst.
June 2022Thunderstorm WindLiberty-A one-foot diameter tree was snapped at the base, with some damage to a nearby metal building.
July 2020Thunderstorm WindLiberty-Isolated downburst within otherwise non-severe storms produced some tree damage, which caused some powerlines to come down in Liberty.
September 2019HailLiberty-Report received via social media.
September 2019HailLiberty-Report received via social media.
May 2017Thunderstorm WindLiberty-A trained spotter reported a 60 mph wind.
May 2017Thunderstorm WindLiberty-A trained spotter reported a 75 mph wind gust.
July 2017Thunderstorm WindLiberty-Winds of 70 to 80 mph went through Liberty and did some minor, superficial structural damage to a few residences.
August 2017Flash FloodLiberty-The bridge over Rush Creek was closed due to high water running over the bridge.
October 2017Thunderstorm WindLiberty-Broadcast media reported a 60 mph wind gust.
April 2016HailLiberty-This hail was reported at the intersection of HWY 291 and HWY 152.
July 2016Thunderstorm WindLiberty-A large tree was down across the roadway on Liberty Drive near Fairview.
November 2016HailLiberty-Report came from the corner of Jewell and Kansas Streets.
May 2015Flash FloodLiberty-Water was half way up the doors of cars at William Jewell College in Liberty.
May 2014HailLiberty-This hail report was relayed via social media.
June 2014Thunderstorm WindLiberty-Several trees were blown down blocking the road at Main and Manor. Power lines were also reported to be blown down.
June 2014Tornado (EF1)South Liberty-This tornado did significant tree damage southeast of Liberty, MO near the intersection of Raines Rd and Highway 210.
June 2014Thunderstorm WindLiberty-Numerous trees damaged in south Liberty.
June 2014Thunderstorm WindLiberty-A piece of an office buildings roof was blown off. Numerous trees damaged and some blown onto cars.
May 2011Tornado (EF0)Liberty-At 1133CST a brief EFO tornado touchdown, was observed about a mile west of Liberty. The tornado touched down and then went right back up. No damage was reported.
August 2010Thunderstorm WindLiberty-Tree limbs down in Liberty, with winds estimated up to 80 mph.
July 2010Funnel CloudLiberty-A funnel cloud was observed 1 mile southeast of Liberty.
June 2009Thunderstorm WindLiberty-Winds were estimated to gust up to 60 mph.
June 2009Thunderstorm WindLiberty-There were several reports of trees splitting.
May 2009Flash FloodLiberty-Up to 9 inches of water was reported over roads in Liberty.
July 2008Thunderstorm WindLiberty-Winds gusted to 78 mph with a 12 inch diameter tree, snapped near the intersections of Mill and Cherry Streets.
May 2007Flash FloodLiberty-Several inches of water was reported running over I-35.
June 2007HailLiberty-Quarter sized hail was reported at the intersection of HWY 291 and I-35.
August 2005Flash FloodLiberty-Hwy 291 and Skyview closed due to high water.
September 2004Flash FloodLiberty-Flash flooding reported along old Highway 210 between Bluff Road and Raines Road.
August 2000Thunderstorm WindLiberty-Power poles were downed along US 69 between Liberty and Mosby.
June 1998HailLiberty-One inch diameter hail was reported by the public at Liberty.
September 1998HailLiberty-A severe thunderstorm dropped large hail over several sections of Clay County on the evening of September 28th. The Clay County Sheriff's Office reported two inch diameter hail in Excelsior Springs and golf ball-size hail at the intersection of Highways 291 and 169. In Liberty, police reported golf ball-size hail and the Kansas City fire Department reported dime-size hail at the intersection of 99th and Oak.
June 1998Thunderstorm WindLiberty-Severe thunderstorm winds gusted to 90 MPH in Liberty resulting in a crane toppling into Liberty Hospital. A 200 foot, fully extended crane smashed into the hospital garage just a few feet shy of the emergency room roof. A window adjacent to a hospital waiting room was shattered. There were no injuries but 10 to 15 patients were evacuated from the emergency room due to a leaking roof. Two ambulance attendants were placed at the front door of the hospital to accept emergencies. The damaging thunderstorm winds also caused widespread power and telephone outages in the Liberty area. The winds also resulted in fallen large tree limbs on many lawns.

Every storm recorded in Clay County

Map coverage status

No historic map-sheet match is published for this property yet. That does not mean no map exists. This record needs a coordinate-quality review before it can be joined to a sheet boundary. Browse the county's mapped places while that work is pending.

Listed places nearby

6 within 8 miles

Other National Register properties close enough to walk or drive between, ordered by distance from this one. Both positions come from the same geocoding pass that matched these properties to their map sheets.

Photograph PropertyDistance Listed
Mt. Memorial Cemetery0.1 miles2012
Jewell-Lightburne Historic District0.2 miles2001
Arthur-Leonard Historic District0.2 miles2001
Frank Hughes Memorial Library0.3 miles1992
Major Hotel0.3 miles1992
Clay County Savings Association Building0.4 miles1992

Sources for this property

National Archives recordThe nomination case file for reference 78001642 in Record Group 79.
Wikipedia articleCommunity-written account of this property, licensed CC BY-SA.
Clay CountyAll 39 listed properties in this county.

Provenance

  • Listing record. National Park Service National Register of Historic Places, listed-properties dataset, current to 2026-05-22.
  • Map join. Address geocoded through the United States Census geocoder, then tested against the published boundary of every sheet in the USGS Historical Topographic Map Collection.
  • How this page is made. Listing fields come from federal records; map-sheet coverage is a labelled coordinate-to-boundary calculation, not a source-field claim.
  • Wildfire. Short, Karen C. 2022. Spatial wildfire occurrence data for the United States, 1992-2020 [FPA_FOD_20221014]. 6th Edition. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2013-0009.6 Collected with United States Government funding and usable without additional permissions or fees.
  • Mines and quarries. USGS Mineral Resources Data System (MRDS) https://mrdata.usgs.gov/mrds/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.
  • Storms. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/stormevents/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105. Narratives are quoted verbatim from the National Weather Service report and are not edited or summarised.