MIAMI, Okla. — Nearly eight decades later, a dream of George Coleman Sr. to finish the upstairs of the Coleman Theatre in downtown Miami for use as a ballroom just might be realized.

The nonprofit organization Friends of the Coleman will launch a fund-raising effort next month to raise about $800,000 to complete the restoration, said Barbara Smith, theater director. read more...

Events

Sunday, April 20
STYLE SHOW
Please join us for a trip back in time. The Excelsior Springs Cultural Guild is excited to host the Annual Gatsby Days Style Show. Come to the Hall of Waters in Historic Down Town Excelsior Springs on April 20th from 2 to 4 PM to admire the fashion sensibility of the Gatsby Era. read more...

CARTHAGE, Mo. — Although much has changed over the years, historic Route 66 through Carthage continues to be the road to interesting sights and events in the city.

Following the original route carries you along Spring River northeast of the city to the intersection of Central and Garrison avenues (once touted as the “Crossroads of America”), south two blocks to Memorial Hall, then west on Oak Street toward the city limits and beyond. read more...

When the old stencils were found, they posed a mystery with more questions than answers.

Who made them? How old are they? How did they survive in a house in Joplin’s historic Murphysburg District for more than 70 years?

When the stencils were brought to Leslie Simpson’s attention, she knew they were quite old. read more...

The opulent apartment complex that once held forth as one of Joplin’s most elegant and stylish buildings could shine once more thanks to one local private college administrator.

Mark Williams, vice president of college advancement at Ozark Christian College, said it took only one tour of the vacant Olivia Apartments building at 320 S. read more...

Imagine a big, empty box, and you are an artist who wants to do something creative with it.

That’s about to happen with the former Bagcraft building at 1027 S. Main St. Three people connected to the world of art, A.J. Wood, Mary McPherson and Paul Whitehill, are purchasing the historic building from James Baine, of Joplin. read more...

POWELL, Mo. — Linda Lindquist Baldwin, 60, lives in Joplin now, but she was born and raised in Powell and still owns land in the area.

She said there are two things people associate with her hometown.
One is gospel music legend and Powell native Alfred E. read more...

The hill, northwest of Main Street and Murphy Boulevard, was designated “Dover Hill” in 1951, when Joplin honored one of its native sons, Percy Wenrich, the famed ragtime composer.

The “Dover” designation came from one of Wenrich’s most famous songs at the turn-of-the-century, “Put on Your Old Gray Bonnet.” read more...