The Gingerbread Gang has solved Watertown mysteries, author crafts one final adventure

Watertown produces unique talent in the fine arts. Lois Hart, author of the preteen novels "Mystery at the Old Church" and "The Case of the Winter Dog," is one of those talented individuals.

The novels take place in 1950s Watertown and follow the adventures of a band of children that find themselves with a mystery to solve. The teens call themselves the Gingerbread Gang, gingerbread being a code word that they can use if they find themselves in trouble.

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Publishing a novel was never something Hart imagined she would accomplish. She spent 40 years at Mount Marty University teaching writing, literature and many other subjects, including history and Greek Mythology.

When Hart retired five years ago, her sister Jane Miner suggested that she write a book as part of a fundraiser for the Codington County Heritage Museum. Miner had experience with publishing as she has also written several books about Watertown's history.

"At the gift shop at the museum, there weren't any books for tweens and teens. They have adult books on South Dakota history and little kids' picture books, but nothing for those in-between," said Hart.

Growing up before the internet, cell phones and computers

Growing up in the 1950s, Hart had an opportunity to explore Watertown's countryside and city streets long before cell phones and the internet. Her band of friends experienced coming-of-age lessons and adventures that look quite different from the experiences of today's youth.

"I decided I would write about when I was a 14-year-old girl," said Hart. "I'm going to show today's kids what it was like when we didn't have cell phones, TVs and computers. My family had none of those, but we still managed to have a good time."

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Both her novels are riddled with remembered adventures of what it was like to grow up in 1950s Watertown. Her love of Nancy Drew inspired her tales to have a mysterious twist that the Gingerbread Gang needed to solve.

Her first book, "Mystery at the Old Church," had the gang trying to discover who was stealing the church's collection money. It grew quickly in popularity.

"When the book came out, lots of people were reading it. But most of those people were not teenagers. They were people my age who had grown up in Watertown. They like that the book reminds them of the places they went and things they did," said Hart.

Despite the book's allure to the older generation, the Gingerbread Gang has earned a fanbase of young adults from all over the country.

"An 11-year-old girl from Tennessee has a grandmother from Watertown who sent her one of my books. When she came to Watertown to visit, she had me sign her book. She told me it was her favorite chapter book," said Hart.

Her readers asked for a second novel, and Hart decided she would create another mystery for the Gingerbread Gang to solve. This time regarding the murders of stray dogs during the cold South Dakota winter months.

The book was published during the COVID-19 pandemic, which caused book sales to lag on "The Case of the Winter Dog."

"No one knew it was out, and people weren't visiting the museum. It didn't sell as many as my first book, so I thought I was done writing," said Hart.

Third and final journey for the Gingerbread Gang

But with her experience as a teacher, the recent political movements in social studies standards inspired her to write one final book. This time the story focuses on South Dakota history and not just the adventures found within Watertown.

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"In particular, I think people should know Native American history," said Hart. "I am bothered about the changing social studies standards and taking everything that is uncomfortable out of teaching history."

"A Secret at Iron Creek Lake" is still a work in progress, but unlike the mystery of her previous books, this novel will have the Gingerbread Gang camping in the Black Hills as they embark on a journey of self-discovery and acceptance of what is feared and misunderstood.

"Anyone can change. It's the only real hope we have in the world," said Hart. "There must be people who can grow in understanding and caring. That's why I am excited to write this book. I haven't written a story about change before."

Writing is hard work, which Hart quickly discovered upon crafting her first novel. But she is actively working on her third and final novel and hopes to be done within a year.

"I don't know when it will be done. It's harder to write a book than I thought," said Hart. "Nobody is a good writer. You can just try to be a good re-writer. Every sentence you write, you have to go back and tighten it up and be as specific and readable as possible."

The 'Gingerbread Gang Adventure' stories are available at the Codington County Heritage Museum and DDR Books. These novels are meant for fundraising, and proceeds help maintain and enrich the museum. To learn more, visit www.cchsmuseum.org.

This article originally appeared on Watertown Public Opinion: Watertown author sends Gingerbread Gang on final Black Hills adventure