Sometimes I like to spend my lunch breaks looking up old photos and historical things relating to the area. Since the Joplin area was a boomtown around the turn of the century it has a very elaborate and interesting history, much of which is still visible today, particularly in the plethora of extravagant homes found in the older areas of Webb City, Carthage, and Joplin.

Sometimes though, history is as funny as it is interesting and this photo is a prime example of how the perception of something can change if given enough time. What once said “we have the best”, if published today would be an embarrassment.