House in shambles gets an award-winning face-lift

Golden Hammer Award winner


John Cox received the Golden Hammer Award winner for his property at 805 Mulberry St. A former eyesore, the home now restores curb appeal to Jefferson City's Old Munichburg neighborhood.
John Cox received the Golden Hammer Award winner for his property at 805 Mulberry St. A former eyesore, the home now restores curb appeal to Jefferson City's Old Munichburg neighborhood.

A little bungalow in the South Side of Jefferson City received a master's touch.

Neighbors felt 805 Mulberry St. was a horrific eyesore when John Cox first acquired the home.

"When I got to that house, every ceiling was falling down and you could see through the basement," said Cox, who has been owner of John Cox Contractors Inc. for 38 years. "That house was in shambles."

He has converted the solid concrete home into a spacious one-level living area for him and a second-story loft area for company.

The restored curb appeal of this home brings additional revenue to the city, too, Cox said. His hope is to see the Old Munichburg neighborhood continue a turn-around.

"We want to make it a clean place again," Cox said.

His efforts caught the attention of the Historic City of Jefferson, which awarded him with the September Golden Hammer Award.

"HCJ likes to recognize all restored historical properties, big or small," committee member Laura Ward said. "Although this bungalow is a less prominent home within Jefferson City, it's also these properties and their owners who raised families within their walls and contributed to building our great community. Their history is no less important."

Ward said she was pleasantly surprised when she discovered this street on an evening walk. The secluded neighborhood has early homes with wonderful architecture, she said.

"This is what this award is all about - recognizing restored homes in all neighborhoods which, not only saves them for years to come, but also shows pride in our historic neighborhoods."

Cox filled, leveled and seeded the lawn and also added retaining walls to make the property safer and more sightly. He rebuilt the windows with new ropes and weights, keeping the original glass.

Inside the home, which was built in 1906, all of the light fixtures are polished brass with cut crystal, and three layers of flooring were removed to expose the original hardwoods.

His life motto has been "the very best I can do is not good enough," Cox said.

The humble home may have been built as a rental, said researcher Debbie Goldammer.

Then, about 1943, Richard and Ellen Gnagi were owner-occupants. He was a conductor with Missouri Pacific Railroad.

The Gnagis sold to Charles and Ellen Clibourn, who also lived at the property, Goldammer said. Clibourn was an assistant treasury and accountant for Missouri Power and Light and he kept the books for Pat's Place.

Michael and Lucille Gerling bought the home in 1949, where they lived and operated Mike's Radio and TV until about 1991. A series of other owners lived there before John Cox.

"It was just occupied by normal, working people," Goldammer said.