Hermann Jaeger Mansion

Just on the outskirts of Neosho, Missouri in the small town of Monark Springs sat an unassuming historic home. The Hermann Jaeger Mansion, maybe not mansion in today’s standards but definitely by the standards of when it was built around 1865.

Herman Jaeger and his brother John had each bought adjoining 40-acre properties and combined them. It was on this land that he had found a wild grapevine growing in the Ozark hills. He had described the grape as being sour but hardy. Curious as to what kind of hybrid this would produce with the Virginia vines he had already planted on his vineyard he bred them together.

Jaeger had created a new breed of grape that could fight against disease much greater than most. Noticing this he had reached out to his Native Europe and propagated thousands of cuttings of his new breed to send back home and save the wine industry that was being plagued by grape root louse. The French government paid him for his plants and awarded him with the French Legion of Honor for his efforts.

Here Hermann Jaeger established a successful vineyard in Newton County and went on to grow over 100 different species of grapes. He was commonly known as the grape collector around town and often hosted tours of his vineyard to others wanting to save grapes and were fascinated by the process. His vineyard was very successful – even having George Washington Carver watch over his work as a young boy. In addition to grapes, he had peaches, pears, strawberries and many other fruits.

But Hermann had been experiencing some financial troubles through the 1890s due to a local law being passed that banned the sale of alcohol. He had bought the Morse Farm outside of Joplin and moved his operation there in the spring of 1894. He continued to struggle, worrying all his hard work would be lost on this new law. On 16 May 1895, he mysteriously disappeared after going on a trip to Kansas City, Kansas. Before he left he went into the room of his children and kissed them telling them to be good for their mother. He then kissed his wife and said goodbye with tears in his eyes, as if it would be the last time he saw them. It was a few days after he was reported missing that his wife received a letter in the mail from Hermann, it was a suicide note that said this:

“My Dear, Good Elise: When you read these lines I won’t be no more alive. The more I think over everything the more my mind gets troubled. It is better I make an end to it before I get crazy. Since for a length of time I am not able to attend to business I was a food but I meant it good. Do not hunt for me. I hope to end up someplace where nobody can find me. Dear Elise, you deserve better luck. I hope you will have it yet. Kiss the children. Enclosed you will find all I have got in cash – Your Unlucky Herman.

Jaqueline M. remembers her family owning the house for around 30 years, “This was the house I grew up in until I left home in ’66. My parents bought it in 1948 and sold it around 1982. I have so many fond memories living there. My favorite was hanging out in the mulberry tree. It was a time I spent talking to God when the rooster was in the barnyard. My mother donated a couple of acres to build a church, Monark Baptist Church. I loved going there and I accepted Jesus as my Savior when I was eight. The house is gone but I go back sometimes to reminisce. Reminds me of words in a song my father sang, once you cross the border you can never return.”

Friends of hers also recall spending time there, “Jackie, I was always fascinated by your house. I have many fond memories of playing with you, growing up & spending the night here. After dark when the cars came around the S curves, their lights seemed to come in one window & go out the other one. The history of this place was very interesting. The barn was fun to play in, then a drink from the old water pump on hot days! Good times” said Maxine Reynolds Tanner.

In 2022 the scenic Hermann Jaeger Mansion met an unfortunate demise of demolition, this was due to a housing development that is set to go into the area. Housing developments are causing us to lose our history rapidly. Instead of adaptive reuse, we are demolishing history because of the housing crisis, instead, these buildings should be renovated into multi-family housing. The rise in adaptive reuse over the last decade has seen a surge in the preservation of our historic buildings but we are still far from being where we need to be to ensure the saving of our history for future generations.

Gallery Below of Hermann Jaeger Mansion

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