Celebrating National Historic Districts & Places That Matter

Second Annual Murphysburg Treasure Hunt

Help us celebrate Historic Preservation Month in May at the second annual Murphysburg Treasure Hunt, a race to solve riddles, uncover clues, and explore Joplin’s rich history.  The event starts at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 16, 2026—rain or shine—in the west parking lot of Joplin City Hall, 602 S. Main Street.

Your host, Historic Murphysburg Preservation, Inc., has raised the bar this year by adding cash prizes for second and third place!

The event promises to take treasure seekers on an interactive adventure to find iconic historic sites, links to significant events and people, and hidden history stories in the Joplin metro area.  

At the start of the event contestants will receive their first riddle to solve that will lead them to a landmark. Once they arrive at the correct location, they will find a QR code. Scanning the code will unlock their next clue that will take them further along the treasure trail. The race continues until someone solves all the clues in the correct order and reaches the final destination—destination—thus claiming the $1,000 prize money! The second-place contestant
will receive $750 and third-place contestant will receive $250.

The treasure hunt is open to participants of all ages. The entry fee is $35 per person.

First place 2025 winners pictured to the right. Far right, Michelle Ferguson from Southwest Missouri Bank met the winners at the final clue to deliver the $1,000 prize!

Winners of the first Scavenger hunt with Michelle Ferguson from Southwest Missouri Bank to hand them the $1,000 1ts place prize

Register here to start the adventure . People can also pay in person on May 16 starting at 9:00 a.m. at the parking lot on the southeast corner of 6th and Joplin Avenue.  For questions contact Paula at paula@murphysburg.org

WOMEN ON JOPLIN’S ROUTE 66

TIMELINE

Historic Route 66: 1926 to 1985

Dorothy Peck at Mac’s Pie Shop-Bakery-Donuts: 1957 to 1984

Emma Sue Hills at Mr. Swiss & Hillbilly Hills: 1967 to 1987

In honor of Women’s History Month and Joplin’s Route 66 Centennial Celebration, Historic Murphysburg Preservation, Inc. will proudly present two stories. The first story is about Dorothy Peck, who along with her husband, co-owned and operated Mac’s Bakery and Donuts from 1957 to 1984. The store was located at 701 West 7th Street on Route 66, which is also the gateway to the Murphysburg Historic District. At Mac’s you could enjoy a freshly made pie, cake, or donut with your cup of coffee. During the last three decades of Route 66’s official years there were many “mom and pop” bakeries in Joplin, but it is Mac’s that locals still remember.

Between 1957 and 1987, travelers got their kicks on Joplin’s Route 66 by stopping at Mac’s Bakery & Donuts and at Mr. Swiss Drive-In.  At Mac’s you could enjoy a freshly made pie, cake, or donut with your cup of coffee.  At Mr. Swiss you could eat a traditional hamburger with fries and ice cream, or a plate of Spaghetti Red.  What—you don’t know what Spaghetti Red is?  

Both establishments were on opposite corners of South Sergeant Avenue and West 7th Street, an important Joplin and Route 66 economic corridor.  The establishments were also on the southern edge of what is now the residential Murphysburg Historic District, considered a Route 66 complementary corridor.  During the last three decades of Route 66’s official years there were many “mom and pop” bakeries, but it is Mac’s that locals still remember. 

THE STORY OF DOROTHY PECK AND MAC’S BAKERY
THE STORY OF EMMA SUE HILLS and MR. SWISS DRIVE-IN

May 2011 Joplin Tornado Crashes Into Dorothy’s Life and Hugh’s Life

Michelle, another daughter, said after the tornado Dorothy continued her life of kindness toward others and the ability to “take charge.” Immediately after the tornado, she gave shelter and medical attention to her injured and crippled neighbors.  She used every towel she owned to treat their wounds and blankets to comfort them—all this at the age of 89 years old!  After the Redwood apartments were completely rebuilt, Dorothy returned to live there.
Dorothy’s beloved Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints building (Joplin Stake Center), where she was a member, also took a direct hit.

After Emma Sue’s death in 2007, Hugh remained active with his lawn service.  Just like Dorothy, Hugh also miraculously survived the Joplin tornado.  He sheltered in a bedroom closet!  Unfortunately, his house, photographs, and his Mr. Swiss mementos were destroyed.  Seven days after the tornado, President Barack Obama toured Joplin and spoke to Hugh in front of his destroyed house.  A photograph with the President and Hugh can still be viewed by searching “Joplin tornado” on Wikipedia.

Just a few days after the E-F5 tornado struck Joplin, family and friends were helping clear debris and try to save family heirlooms. Photo left to right. Daughter in-law, Kristen Hills, daughter, Conni Lipe, grandson, Dylan Hills, President Obama, friend, Mark Callihan, Hugh Hills and son Tom Hills.

Final Thoughts
Travel writer Sage Scott said it best, “The iconic Mother Road wouldn’t be what it is today without the women who helped shape it.  From musicians and motel owners to restaurateurs and preservationists, their contributions continue to inspire every traveler who sets out on America’s most famous highway.” 

THE STORY OF DOROTHY PECK AND MAC’S BAKERY

In honor of Women’s History Month and Joplin’s Route 66 Centennial Celebration, Historic Murphysburg Preservation, Inc. will proudly present two stories. The first story is about

Dorothy was born in 1921 in St. Joseph, Missouri, graduated from Central High School in Tulsa, Oklahoma in 1939 and married Wallace Peck in 1941.  Together they raised six children.  Dorothy would bring the children to Mac’s Bakery and they all worked there while growing up. 

 It was truly a family business.  In a November 2025 interview with Terri Holgate, one of the Peck’s daughters, she said, “It was a happy business because people bought cakes for celebrations.”    

Terri further explained that her mother preferred to remain “behind the scenes.” Dorothy was self-taught from books.  She developed recipes to make them better like the icing used on the cakes.  The recipe remains a family secret.  Besides baking, decorating, parenting, plus managing the books and finances, Dorothy found time to teach cake decorating.  Terri described her mother as fearless, driven, and very honest.

In a March 2026 interview with Michelle Peck Endicott, another one of Dorothy’s daughters, she relayed the story of how Dorothy would manage the daily cash intake.  Every night Dorothy would put the cash in her purse and carry it around all week!  By Sunday, Dorothy’s shoulder was weighed down from carrying the purse.  On Sunday the family would sit around the table and sort the money so it could be deposited on Monday.  It was Dorothy’s idea to locate their store on Route 66 because she thought it would draw a lot of traffic.

DIVERSITY and KINDNESS on ROUTE 66

Dorothy was always giving away donuts, especially to children.  One day a little boy wanted a gingerbread house so much that Dorothy gave it to him for free.  It normally sold for $20.  The gift “put the boy into ecstasy.” 

Some customers were low income while some came from the wealthier parts of town.  While Dorothy embraced the diversity of the neighborhood around 7th and Sergeant, she would ask “panhandlers” in front of her business to come to the back door where she would give them coffee and donuts.

On May 11, 2017 at the age of 95, Dorothy passed away at a daughter’s home following an illness.

“MAC’S” — WHAT’S IN A NAME?

Wallace and Dorothy purchased Mac’s Pie Shop in 1957 from Harry and Flora Thurston.  Three years earlier the Thurston’s purchased the pie business from O. F. MacLendon, thus the name “Mac’s.”  When the Pecks retired in 1984, their daughter Terri Peck Holgate and her husband Robert took over for the next 30 years. 

After MacLendon was no longer affiliated with the business, customers would still ask for “Mac,” so Wallace adopted the nickname of “Mac” and later so did Robert because it was easier than the explanation.  The first line in Wallace’s obituary read, “Wallace Townes “Mac” Peck, age 82 of Joplin, passed away…”

Tools of the trade
Tools of the trade

May 2011 Joplin Tornado Crashes Into Dorothy’s Life

As the Joplin EF5 Tornado developed on May 22, 2011, Dorothy watched the sky from her Redwood Apartment Complex.  At the advice of her granddaughter who lived upstairs, Dorothy moved to her bathroom just before the tornado hit the complex.  The deadly tornado also damaged approximately one-third of the city.  As Terri said, her mother was fearless.  While the complex sustained major damage and some buildings were totally destroyed, her individual unit survived the storm.  Only one plate broke and Dorothy was unharmed.  Michelle, another daughter, said after the tornado Dorothy continued her life of kindness toward others and the ability to “take charge.” Immediately after the tornado, she gave shelter and medical attention to her injured and crippled neighbors.  She used every towel she owned to treat their wounds and blankets to comfort them—all this at the age of 89 years old!  After the Redwood apartments were completely rebuilt, Dorothy returned to live there. Dorothy’s beloved Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints building (Joplin Stake Center), where she was a member, also took a direct hit. 

James & Mary Anne Dangerfield House

405 S. Moffet Avenue circa 1890 | Queen Anne

James H. Dangerfield (1842-1909 MH) and his wife Mary Anne Newman Dangerfield (1842-1908 MH) were born in England. After moving to Joplin, James engaged in mining and later launched a real estate business which grew to include loans, insurance, rentals, collections, leases on mining land, and construction. James’s office was at this house. Their son, Edward Dangerfield (1870-1955 MH) and his wife Blanch lived here with (and later without) his parents. Edward was active in the father/son duo’s business. Edward was a director of Mount Hope Cemetery and one of the founders. Edward married second wife Alma Smith (1879-1964 MH) in 1920.

Tea & Scandals story

Tea & Scandals… An afternoon Tea with a Twist at the Dangerfield House

The recently restored historic Dangerfield house at 405 South Moffet Avenue, in Joplin’s Murphysburg Historic District, will once again host an afternoon tea—mimicking a social event that was held there over a century ago.

Historic Murphysburg Preservation, Inc. (HMP)l hosted two afternoon teas on Saturday, December 20, 2025 at 12 noon and again at 3:00 p.m. All guests were be treated to a tour and historic account of the house decorated for the holidays. The event was more than just a selection of teas with delectable traditional English finger foods and delicacies—this even also included tales of scandals that enveloped the Dangerfield family! What is a society gathering without a little neighborhood gossip?

In august of 1908 Mrs. Blanch Dangerfield (the daughter in law of the original owners of the James Dangerfield home) hosted a fifty person tea party here for the who’s who of turn of the century Joplin. It was a well regarded event described in social circles as an elegant affair. However the success of this gathering could not predict the utter chaos that would befall the family mere months later. By the end of 1909 both James and Mary Ann Dangerfield would be dead, in the next year their son in law charged and convicted of embezzlement from Mt Hope cemetery, adultery and the scandals of divorce from both progeny of the Dangerfields would shock the city and seal the family’s downfall.

Tea & Scandals: After Dark Speakeasy

If tea is not your thing, there was also be a separate ticketed “speakeasy event” at 6:00 p.m. All guests were treated to a tour and historic account of the house while enjoying the holiday decorations, $20 per person. A complimentary beverage was offered. Tea & Scandals: After Dark Speakeasy was a come-go event, While having a signature drink with new friends you will learn about  tales of scandals that enveloped the Dangerfield family!