A decision looms for the historic Poplar Bluff Post Office in 1974, and citizens aren’t letting the building go down without a fight. Alternate proposals and a heavily signed petition were presented at the most recent city council meeting.
100 years ago
March 19, 1924
• Neelyville citizens are pooling the resources to hire bloodhounds.
Thieves broke into the pool room of W.R. Buster overnight and stole two pistols, a rifle and $50 cash. Blood was found on the sill of a broken window and searchers are confident they traced it to an abandoned house, though it was empty when they arrived. So far, $39 has been raised to hire dogs and handlers for the case.
75 years ago
March 19, 1949
• Two conservation agents are recovering from gunshot wounds today.
Agents Roger Reed and Ed Hartel were investigating a report of illegal wild goose hunting in Mississippi County and made contact with a lone subject in a wheat field. The man opened fire without warning and fled. Hartel was shot in the legs and lower abdomen and Reed’s legs were hit. Reed managed to get both of them to a Sikeston hospital.
Doctors believe the wounds to be superficial and said the two should be released soon. Authorities think the shooter aimed low so as not to kill them.
Missouri’s Director of Conservation believes this may be the agency’s first such shooting in the line of duty. The Conservation Agency’s protection section and Missouri State Highway Patrol are investigating, and arrests are expected soon.
50 years ago
March 19, 1974
• A city council workshop meeting turned into another hearing over the fate of the Downtown Poplar Bluff’s Post Office last night.
A controversial proposal to demolish the historic building to construct a parking garage has circulated for months. Those in favor of demolition previously said the building has no further use and a parking garage is necessary to preserve downtown businesses. The opposition believes a parking garage could be constructed elsewhere, the money might be better spent on other projects and the building’s historic significance should be respected.
Former postmaster Dr. Z. Lee Stokely presented a notarized petition with 875 signatures to save the building. The signatures came from all areas and demographics, “from the hearts and souls of Poplar Bluff,” he said.
Stokely and Councilman Al Looper called for a citywide vote on the issue.
Attorney Ted Henson claimed the proposed parking spaces would cost $4,000 to construct but only produce $156 of additional annual revenue to businesses, and advocated for hiring consultants to remodel and find new use for the Post Office. One attendee suggested making it a fine arts center. Other citizens advocated for spending the $400,000 price tag on a bus system, monorail, subway or Black River barge system.
No formal action was taken at the meeting. A decision will be made at the April 1, 1974 council meeting.
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