Explore Lawrence County
South Park (aka PC Park or Bluff-side City Park)
Since the 1890s the City Park has been a center for summer band concerts and gala affairs. An island in the lake held a platform for band concerts in the 1890
Pierce City, MO RecreationTheron Bennett Home
Theron Bennett, nationally known ragtime composer, lived in Pierce City until returning from college 1902 when he left to begin a career where his unseen future would become the past that we can now recall as his successful contribution to the music world.
Pierce City, MO Famous HomesPrincess Theatre
The Princess, our walk-in theatre, has all the old time charm of days gone by and seating for 600
Aurora, MO Theatres1886 Firehouse
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the old City Hall and Firehouse was built in 1886 and houses two vintage fire trucks from overseas. This building is privately owned.
Pierce City, MO Historic BuildingsC.L.N. Haines Home
The front second floor room was built for a Billiard Room. There are designed parquet floors on the first floor and stained glass windows. There is a back staircase for access to the maid's room.
Aurora, MO Historic HomesSunset Drive In
The drive-in theatre is one of the few remaining in the area and families from Joplin and Springfield as well as farther away drive to Aurora to see movies here. It'
Aurora, MO TheatresChapman School - Jolly Mill Park
The Chapman School was built in 1884 and originally located on the Chapman property about 2 miles from the Park. First called the "Hazel Hill," the school was later renamed "Hazel Dell," and eventually "Chapman." When it was closed in 1951
Pierce City, MO Historic SchoolhousesFirst United Methodist Church
The United Methodist Church was built in 1881 at a location a few blocks north of its present location in 1903. Originally in the 1870s, the Methodist Episcopal Church and the Methodist Episcopal Church, South groups met in homes until both were able to build in 1881. In 1903
Pierce City, MO Historic ChurchesFirst National Bank Building (no longer standing)
THIS BUILDING WAS DEMOLISHED AFTER SUSTAINING EXTENSIVE DAMAGE IN THE MAY 4, 2003, TORNADO.
The old First National Bank building was located next to the bandstand was built in the 1890s. After the Lawrence County Bank (on the opposite corner) was dissolved in the mid-1920
Pierce City, MO ArchitectureGrave of the Old Shepherd
In his book, "Old Matt's View of It," J.K. Ross wrote about the death of the Old Shepherd from Mutton Hollow. He was gored to death by a bull. A Civil War tombstone marks the grave of James Marion Wood, who met this untimely fate in 1910
Mt. Vernon, MO Cemeteries