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Daily American Republic

Poplar Bluff City Hall demolition, history

Thursday, February 29, 2024
DAR file photos

Demolition began recently on the Second Street complex that once housed city hall, the police department and city court. Photographs capture the history of Poplar Bluff's city halls, starting with a 1902 building that no longer stands, through its current location on Vine Street.

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    Construction of the earliest permanent Poplar Bluff City Hall was completed in 1902 in the 300 block of South Broadway.The two-story brick building held city offices, the police department and fire trucks on the first floor, and city council chambers and a firefighter dormitory on the second floor.The location is now the site of the Poplar Bluff Skate Park.
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    Water damage in the former 301 S. Broadway city hall location is photographed in July 1981.
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    A 1989 edition of the Daily American Republic discusses plans to purchase the former McPheeters Clinic on Second Street.
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    The Second Street complex is pictured in 2013, on the city hall side.
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    Gov. Jay Nixon speaks in the city council chambers in February 2013.
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    Architect Ben Traxel addresses city officials in March 2015 about the costs of renovation of the Second Street complex versus new construction.
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    A committee tours an area of the police department in March 2015, where an outdoor cover is used to protect equipment from leaking ceilings.
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    Then police Chief Danny Whiteley and then city judge Dean Million talk about problems in March 2015 at the Second Street complex.
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    Members of the police department show committee members leaks in the evidence area of the police department in March 2015.
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    The roof of the Second Street complex, plagued with leaks, is shown in March 2015.
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    A furnace area, identified as a large renovation expense, is shown in March 2015.
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    Then city judge Dean Million shows committee members the small space used for city court in March 2015.
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    A committee members looks at an area of water damage in March 2015.
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    Workers begin moving furniture out of the Second Street complex in September 2016. The police department had already moved, and other city hall and city court offices were in the process of relocating.
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    Then city manager Mark Massingham discusses moving plans in September 2016 at the Second Street complex.
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    Workers move furniture out of the Second Street complex in September 2016. 
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    Workers move furniture out of the Second Street complex in September 2016. 
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    Workers move furniture out of the Second Street complex in September 2016. 
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    The exterior of the Vine Street city hall location is pcitured in September 2016.
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    The exterior of the then vacant city hall is pictured in November 2017, on the city hall side of the Second Street complex.
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    The exterior of the Vine Street city hall is pictured in 2020.
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    Demolition of the Second Street complex is pictured Feb. 28 and Feb. 29.
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    Demolition of the Second Street complex is pictured Feb. 28 and Feb. 29.
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    Demolition of the Second Street complex is pictured Feb. 28 and Feb. 29.