Poplar Bluff is growing. Construction of a massive power plant is greenlit in 1949, and in 1974 citizens will vote on whether to expand city limits. A new fire station and Amtrak route are also on the way.
100 years ago
March 12, 1924
• A car salesman’s abrupt disappearance has people scratching their heads.
Mangold-Buick Automobile Company employee “Dusky” Brown vanished between March 10-11, and his boss Perl Mangold said he took an unknown amount of money from the dealership’s accounts with him. Mangold had not yet called the police to investigate, but told a reporter an unknown amount was missing from the accounts and two checks worth $27.50 and $75 were also taken. The smaller one was cashed at the Poplar Bluff Post Office.
Brown arrived in Poplar Bluff approximately a year ago and was well regarded by his employers and coworkers. His wife reportedly disappeared with him.
75 years ago
March 12, 1949
• A $2.9 million power plant will be constructed just outside Poplar Bluff.
Officials at M&A Electric Power Cooperative announced contracts had been awarded to build the plant on a 40-acre plot four miles west of town, along Highway 60.
Funds for the project came from the Rural Electrification Grant of 1948. In addition to the plant, which will produce 10,000 kilowatts of power, 69,000 new volt transmission lines will be constructed to supply towns within the Ozark Border Electric Cooperative and the Scott-New Madrid Cooperative.
50 years ago
March 12, 1974
• The city council held a special meeting last night to discuss new city limits and potential sites for a fire station.
Citizens east of North 14th Street petitioned to annex a 10-acre tract into Poplar Bluff so they can access to city services. The council adopted an ordinance to place it on April’s election ballot.
Five potential sites for a new fire station were reviewed, all located between Lurlyn Road and Oak Grove School road. The station will be a relocation and upgrade of Fire Station No. 2, and will lower insurance rates in Poplar Bluff.
Fire Chief Farris said the new station will be identical to the more modern Station No. 3 and the site should be large enough for a fire training tower.
• The first Amtrack passenger train is due to stop in Poplar Bluff tomorrow on its new route between St. Louis and Laredo, Texas. The Chamber of Commerce and city officials plan to welcome the train with a public ceremony, and the city council declared March 13 “Amtrak Day.”
Menu
