The fate of the historic Poplar Bluff Post Office on Broadway Street hangs in the balance at a city council meeting in 1974. Downtown merchants claim demolishing the building to create a parking garage would be a boon to their businesses, while citizens and the county historical society decry the unnecessary destruction of a landmark. A farmer and the sheriff offer rewards for information on what are believed to be race-related arsons in 1924.
Feb. 27, 1924
• Three houses, one vacant and two being rented by Black families, were destroyed by arson on the night of Feb. 25. No casualties were reported. Suspicion rests on the Ku Klux Klan, which threatened the Youngs, a Black farming family near Dexter, two weeks ago.
The arsons took place in the Pike Slough area south of Poplar Bluff. Property owner Earnest Bacon and Sheriff J.R. Hogg are jointly offering a $500 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the arsonists. The reward also applies to similar arsons from the past year.
Many regional farm workers at this time are Black. Bacon stated most white people in the area had no interest in becoming hired farm hands, but complained about Black families relocating to Southeast Missouri for the jobs.
• An inquiry is launched after an audit finds the financial records of the last Butler County sheriff are missing.
The records cover 1918-1920, during Sheriff Charles Robinson’s time in office. Robinson told the county court he left the records filed away in the corner of his office when he retired. The department’s former bookkeeper and other witnesses were also examined. Prosecuting Attorney R.I. Cope is continuing the investigation.
Missing are the execution docket, which shows all money received and paid out by the sheriff, and the fee book, which records all fees paid to the sheriff.
Feb. 27, 1949 — No issues available.
Feb. 27, 1974
• It was standing room only at last night’s Poplar Bluff City Council meeting as citizens spoke for and against the proposed destruction of a historic post office to make way for a parking garage.
The project’s greatest support comes from Downtown property owners, 70% of whom signed a petition in the garage’s favor due to the economic benefits of increased parking, particularly as they compete with shopping centers on Westwood Boulevard. The Poplar Bluff Chamber of Commerce is also in favor. Most of the objections came from the Butler County Historical Society and private citizens, who highlighted the historic value of the building, claimed other areas would be better suited for parking and questioned whether the garage’s $300,000 price tag would be better spent elsewhere. The BCHS presented two petitions in opposition.
Comments included:
“Folks, that Post Office is a Poplar Bluff landmark. It couldn’t be replaced for less than $350,000. Why in the name of God should (we) put a demolition ball into that building to build a garage we do not need?” — Dr. Z. Lee Stokely, retired postmaster.
“If you took the floor out of the old Post Office, it might hold a lot of hay. That’s about all it’s good for.” — Wally Hartman, owner of Charlie Miller Ladies Ready-To-Wear.
“We aren’t opposed to progress in the Downtown area, but we think the expenditure of $300,000 could be used for some project that would be of much greater benefit... The 50% increase in merchant licenses is quite a large slice and we think the 65-cent tax levy on the property is awfully high.” — Ted Henson, attorney.
“This is not progress. Our old Post Office is one of the most famous old government buildings in Southeast Missouri... And if we get one more shopping center on 67 North, there will be plenty of vacant buildings Downtown to buy for parking garage sites.” — Mac Carmichael, operator of Ozark Beauty College.
“Unless we get new parking, eventually we’ll have no business.” — Bennett Willis, operator of Family Shoe Store.
“It looks like you could compromise and move south and take a certain establishment instead of destroying our old Post Office.” — Stanley Bradley, citizen.
• John Wayne Kearbey of Poplar Bluff wins the Distinguished Expert Medal, the highest rifle qualification award in the country, from the National Rifle Association. He had to shoot hundreds of targets and climb through 14 lower ranks to reach the top level. Kearbey is a member of the SEMO Junior Rifle Club.
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