Celebrating National Historic Districts & Places That Matter

Tea & Scandals…An Afternoon Tea with a Twist

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

The afternoon teas are open to guests over the age of 10 years old at $40 per person

Noon Seating
3:00 Seating
Less than five years ago the Dangerfield home had a condemned notice on its front door. Now it has been lovingly restored and is ready to host its second tea party and tell the tales of the walls of this house. A true preservation story. All for a good cause.


For additional information or to purchase tickets, visit Murphysburg.org or by calling Paula Callihan at (417) 208-9376.



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.

HMP is a (501)(c)(3) non-profit organization that implements charitable and educational activities. They promote and stimulate historic awareness and preservation throughout the historic district and the greater Joplin area.



 “Whisky & Whispers: A Reflection on Prohibition”

Step back in time and party like it is 1933!  Yay! The18th Amendment has been repealed!  Joplinites can enjoy the free flow of liquor again! Celebrate with us at a Whisky Tasting & Food Pairing event on Saturday, September 27 at 6:30 p.m. hosted by Historic Murphysburg Preservation, Inc. Whisky & Whispers: A Reflection on Prohibition will be held at The Main Event, 611 South Main Street in downtown Joplin on Historic Missouri Route 66. 1930’s dress attire is welcomed.

Grant Testerman, our whisky sommelier will facilitate the event by teaching guests how to enjoy various types of whisky and food that is best paired with them. Included in the tasting, 5 top shelf Whiskies, Wilders signature whisky tasting glasses, food pairings, tasting note cards, and history interpreters will be provided. Guests can also purchase raffle tickets before and during the event for a chance to take home premium bottles of specialty whiskies and more.

Your $125 ticket will include 5 whisky tastings & food pairings.  Our top shelf libations are from Japan, Kentucky, Ireland (the Quiet Man 8 Year), and Tom’s Town Distillery out of Kansas City, Missouri. Our feature is the “unicorn” Blanton’s Single Barrel Bourbon.  The food pairings will bring out the flavor of these choice liquors. Our commemorative tasting glasses are sponsored by Wilder’s Steakhouse.  Every taster will receive a commemorative glass with the historic Wilders Steakhouse logo. Our guests will learn how Vern Wilder played a colorful roll in in Joplin during Prohibition!

If you don’t want to be in on the tasting but want to come and have fun and learn about prohibition, purchase a $50 companion ticket.  It will include 2 bootlegger drinks sponsored Tall Pines Distillery (peach moonshine). 

All  guests will be treated to a harvest of beautiful charcutiers style food & great music. The Main Event will have their bar open to purchase beverages to keep the fun going through the evening.  

Thank you Wilder’s Steakhouse & Tall Pines Distillery out of Pineville, Missouri!

Whisky tasting & pairing ticket
Companion ticket
$20 for 1 Whisk(e)y raffle
$50 for 3 Whisk(e)y raffle

TICKETING – Tickets can be purchased in advance or at the door for $125 per person for the whisky tasting, special seating. $50 per person for a companion bar & couch seating. Guests must be 21 years old to attend. Be prepared to show ID. For tickets or additional info contact paula@murphysburg.org or by calling Paula Callihan at (417) 208-9376. Check out website for updates at murphysburg.org

The Volstead Act and the 18th Amendment caused the sale and consumption of liquor to become illegal and was commonly referred to as “Prohibition.”  All liquor sales had to end by January 16, 1920.  However, local newspapers reported that after Prohibition was ratified, Joplin remained a “wet oasis” in the Four-State thanks to bootlegging. 

But many residents saw the benefit of having the country and Joplin go “dry.”  Men and women were active in the Anti-Saloon League of America and the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union.  One of the slogans attributed to the WCTU is “Lips that touch whiskey are lips that will never touch mine.” Prohibition ended with the 21st Amendment in 1933. 

How do you like your whisky?  Drinking whiskey is a personal experience – there’s no right or wrong way to drink whiskey as long as you savor the flavor.

Neat: Room temperature with nothing added allows you to experience its full complex flavor profile.

On The Rocks: Adding ice chills the whisky, providing a refreshing drink that slowly dilutes the spirit as the ice melts, want a slower melts try a big cube.

With a Slash of Water: A small splash of water can mellow the whisky’s harshness and help release its subtle aromas and flavors

Whisky Stones: Freezer safe cubes made of soapstone, metal or marble provide chill without diluting your spirit.

Murphysburg Treasure Hunt

The Murphysburg Treasure Hunt Coordinators.
The winners of the $1,000 Prize. Our friend on the right, Michelle Ferguson represented SMB and was there to give the prize to our happy treasure hunters.
More treasure hunters at the finish line. They stated, even though they did not win a prize they learned a lot about Joplin and had a good time.

 Historic Murphysburg Preservation, Inc. produced an exciting community  event to celebrate Historic Preservation Month: The Murphysburg Treasure Hunt is race to solve riddles, uncover clues, and explore Joplin’s rich history.

Want to take the Treasure Hunt on your own? The hunt features historical sites throughout the city. Each one is tied to significant events and unique stories from Joplin’s early days.

Message us on our Facebook page for Answers or more hints to find the treasures.

A special thanks to Southwest Missouri Bank for for sponsoring the event.

Paula’s Beauty shop

Joshua Shackles Production

City of Joplin

Celebrating Our Local Preservation Heroes for Historic Preservation Month in May

Joplin Historic Preservation Commission announces annual awards During Preservation Month in May, The commission gives out three awards — the Murphysburg Award, the Leslie Simpson Award and the Jeff and Carolina Neal Award.

A ceremony was held Thursday in the lobby of the historic Frisco Building in downtown Joplin. William Mountz, chairman of the commission, said those who received awards worked to save buildings as well as memories from Joplin’s past.
Winners were:

The Murphysburg Award – Awarded to groups or organizations who have made significant contributions to historic preservation in Joplin by way of improving our historic neighborhoods through community engagement or rehabilitation of a historic home. RICK BUSSEY, recipient of the 2025 for his work restoring the century-old home at 402 N. Wall Ave.

From the left: Emily Ellis, Joy Ellis and Kay Ellis

The Leslie Simpson Award – Awarded to an individual who has made significant contributions to historic preservation in Joplin by way of preservation administration, education, events, outreach, planning, research, or service.  EMILY AND KAY ELLIS, formerly of Joplin, were honored for contributions of reenacting as Living Historians and Period Dressers.

The Jeff & Carolina Neal Award – Awarded to people who have made significant developments to historic preservation in Joplin by way of developing and restoring/revitalizing buildings and property within Joplin’s commercial corridors. DAVID GLENN received the Jeff and Carolina Neal for his work nearly 40 years ago saving a classic train station that sat at 10th and Main streets.

Then on April 29th the Neal Group were one of eleven “Preserve Missouri” honor award recipients given by the Missouri Alliance for Historic Preservation, also for the Pennington Lofts on the rehabilitation of the 400,000 square foot Pennington Drug Company building began nearly seven years ago. Although the building stood vacant for nearly 40 years, the historic open floor plates and exposed structure provided a clean canvas on which to start the rehabilitation. The first step in the project removed a non-historic 1950s facade which allowed the building to be listed in the National Register of Historic Places and qualify for historic tax credits. The developer immediately added a new roof and then, over the course of four years, rehabilitated the once vacant building into 21 apartment units, called “Pennington Lofts,” and three commercial spaces. The apartment design highlights the building’s historic industrial use, and features unique inverted steel rod trusses and historic steel windows. The project overcame several obstacles, including the global pandemic, increased construction costs, and higher-than-expected interest rates. Within the first three months of the building reopening, it was nearly 85 percent occupied. In addition to state and federal historic tax credits, the project received Chapter 353 property tax abatement from the City of Joplin. This retrofit celebrates sustainable design, art, open-mindedness and is a great example of giving a 100 year old building a better next century.

Crystal Cave Joplin Missouri

Six miles of chartered underground passages, it is one of the most significant caves in the state according to Missouri Caves in History

Deep beneath the bustling streets of Joplin Missouri lies a hidden crown jewel. Once the subject of intense personal pride by area residents, this gone, but not forgotten, crystal-lined geode cave is now permanently flooded by the high water table in the area. 

On Saturday, July 4, 1908, the cave entrance building was completed, and the cave was opened to the public. Admission was 25 cents. Guests descended down 80 wooden steps to enjoy year round entertainment in a comfortable climate.

Carbon arc electric lights existed in the cave. The wooden dance floor in the cave was about eight feet wide, by 20 feet long. 

The 21st Annual Report of the Bureau of Mines and Mine Inspection of the State of Missouri, published in 1907,  stated that the dimensions of the cave, as measured, are 10 to 40 feet in height, 45 to 70 feet in width, and 250 feet in length.

 In the late 1800’s and early 1900’s, the Tri-State area of Oklahoma, Kansas and Missouri has seen a great deal of mining activity. A variety of minerals were mined, with the primary ores being lead and zinc. The ores in the Tri-State area were deposited in cavities that had been dissolved out of the limestone. From time to time, considerable voids would be found containing minerals such as galena and large calcite crystals.

The cave chamber is elongated from the northwest to the southeast. Being located some 80 feet beneath the city streets, the cave was like a giant geode full of large calcite crystals up to 22 inches in size! The entire surface of the cave, including the top, bottom, and all sides, were covered with closely packed calcite crystals with well formed faces!

The Honorable James Roach broke into the natural cave while digging a mine shaft in the early part of 1893, near the corner of 4th Street and Gray Avenue in Joplin.

Crystal Cave was closed by 1932, the cave entrance was blocked so vandals could not enter the closed cave. The uniquely constructed cave entrance building still remained standing.

After World War II, the remaining mines in the area shut down. Their pumps were all turned off, and the water table gradually rose. This water eventually flooded the mine level and then Crystal Cave above. The smaller mine above Crystal Cave flooded also.

The information was taken in part by the MISSOURI’S CRYSTAL CAVE Joplin’s Crown Jewel by Gary K. Soule’s article In the publication The Journal of Spelean History.