Showhouse History
55th Symphony Designers’ Showhouse, 3641 Madison Avenue, Kansas City, Missouri
The 2025 Symphony Designers’ Showhouse is located in the Roanoke Historic District at 3621 Belleview across the street from the Thomas Hart Benton home at 3616 Belleview. The water permit for the house was issued in October 1906. A house this large likely took several years to build, so it could have been begun about 1903.
The architect is believed to be George Mathews, who lived in the apartment above the carriage house while working on several homes in this neighborhood. He was a young architect who had his office in the Lyceum Building, and in 1899, 1900 and 1901 he lived at the Washington Hotel. In 1902 his address in the City Directory is listed as 3615 Belleview, which is likely the number assigned to the the carriage house. He is also credited with designing the Thomas Hart Benton home across the street and last year’s Symphony Designers’ Showhouse at 1100 Valentine Road, Kansas City, Missouri. Unfortunately, Mr. Matthews was killed in a gruesome streetcar accident in 1903.
The house stands on the original site of the Kansas City Inter-State Fair, which was sold to the Roanoke Investment Company.
The first owner of the house was was William D. Johnson, a livestock dealer, but it was until 1908 that his name in the City Directory at 3621 Belleview. Actually, there were two William D. Johnsons, father and son. In 1911 William D. Johnson Jr. was listed as a student and in 1913 as a farmer.
About 1914 the property was sold to Alvin L. Harroun and his wife Edna. Mr. Harroun first worked as Vice President of Builders Material Supply Co. Later, he had his own investment company and was a broker.
In 1939 the house was sold to William D. Harris and his wife Velma. Mr. Harris’ business was refining oil products and was called Refinoil Mfg. Corp. Velma Harris was an assistant to the President and then became head of the company when Mr. Harris died about 1945. She came from Grand Rapids, Michigan and had been a concert violinist on the Shubert Theater circuit at the age of 14. She and her husband built their business around re-refining crankcase oil.
By 1994 the house had been bought by Dr. Robert and Cindy Stokes, who lived in the home and lovingly preserved its rich heritage of early 20th century design and history. Dr. Robert Stokes moved from the profession of engineering to medicine, and practiced emergency medicine and later was a general practitioner. He died in 2016 of cancer. Mrs. Cindy Pratty Stokes was instrumental in maintaining the integrity of the house and the new owners are very appreciative of her efforts.
The house is now owned by Tim and Julie Steele, who purchased it in May 2024. They have added central air conditioning by using existing structures in the house to camouflage the duct work. The woodwork just needed to be cleaned to bring it back to its original condition.
Beverly Shaw, House Historian