Faith of our Fathers

The Poplar Bluff Museum tell many unknown tales of our community. I want to tell you some of those hidden tales found within the museum walls.

In 1842 the Shiloh Methodist congregation was organized on the upper Cane Creek by John Eudaley. They met in regularly homes and camps until they could build a church in 1865. This was the first church built in Butler County. John Stanard wrote in his 1993 book “Butler County, A Pictorial History” about the first church. It was called the “Mother of Preachers” because 23 young men from this small congregation went on to become Methodist preachers. Is it any wonder Butler County had so many Methodist churches? The church stood until 1962.

Neelyville’s First Methodist Church was built in 1889. Fisk’s first church was built in the late 1890s It served both as a Presbyterian and Baptist church.

The first church built in Poplar Bluff was the Methodist Episcopal Church in the late 1860s. Over the years the church has merged with other Methodist congregations and relocated several times throughout town. It settled in its current location on Fifth and Main streets in 1949.

The Episcopal Church of the Holy Cross was constructed in 1903. It is the oldest church in continuous service in its same location in Poplar Bluff. It is a historical landmark located at 420 N. Main St.

In the 1870s and 1880s more original churches were built in Poplar Bluff. They all had moved around town over the years to several locations. These include the Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Brown Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church, Pleasant Hill Colored Baptist Church, First Baptist Church, First Presbyterian Church and the First Christian Church.

Photographs of the original churches are matched up with photos of their modern church and are on display at the Poplar Bluff Museum. You will find this exhibit in the museum stairway. The Museum is handicap accessible and open free of charge Sunday 1-4 p.m. at 1010 Main St. Tell them Mike sent you.

Mike Shane is a veteran, Poplar Bluff resident and board member for the Poplar Bluff Museum.