Where was Poplar Bluff's first jail?

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

On Dec. 16, 1850, John Watson was hired to guard the first prisoner of Butler County. He was paid a dollar a day for two days. We don’t know who the prisoner was or what crime he committed. We also don’t know where Watson kept him for two days. We assume he took him to his home in Cane Creek. An abandoned log cabin located on the town square was later used as the first jail.

When the Civil War erupted in 1861, there was panic in Poplar Bluff. The town felt that there was a real threat of being raided by bands of partisan militias. The guard force was increased to three. They were John Ferguson, George Farmer and Kiah Burchett. In 1857, the County Superintendent P.L. Varner passed a $500 bond to construct a permanent jail. It was built on Vine Street between Poplar and Fifth streets. This was a frame structure complete with leg irons in the cells. No more log jail.

George Loughead wrote a column for the Daily American Republic called “Butler County History, Bit by Bit.” This is one of the many stories he tells. They are on display in the People Room of the Poplar Bluff Museum.

The museum is open free of charge and handicap accessible. It is open 1-4 p.m. Sunday at 1010 N. Main St. Tell them Mike sent you.