Tall Tales: History of Butler County
Mike Shane is a veteran, Poplar Bluff resident and board member for the Poplar Bluff Museum.
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Riding the circuit of our first courts
Posted Friday, April 19, 2024, at 5:13 PMThe 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. In 1849, Missouri counties did not have enough business to occupy a full time judge. The General Assembly grouped their counties into judicial districts. ... -
Where was Poplar Bluff's first jail?
Posted Friday, February 23, 2024, at 4:26 PMThe 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. ... -
Scooby-Doo, where are you? Poplar Bluff.
Posted Friday, February 9, 2024, at 4:21 PMThe 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. Scooby-Dooby-Doo, where are you? He’s here in Poplar Bluff! Did you know the crazy talking canine detective has Poplar Bluff roots? Poplar Bluff native Scott Innes was the voice of the iconic cartoon character. ... -
The original Mule led PBHS to victory
Posted Friday, February 2, 2024, at 4:44 PMThe Poplar Bluff Museum has tales of us, our family, and our history. I want to tell you some of those tales found within the museum walls. E.T. Peters is known as the father of Poplar Bluff High School sports. Emery Thomas (E.T.) Peters liked to be called “Pete.” Originally from Warrensburg, Missouri, he became a teacher at PBHS in 1923. He taught history, health and physical education. He also coached football, baseball and track... -
The Hole in One Gang
Posted Friday, January 26, 2024, at 2:40 PMThe 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. They’re not a gang of outlaws, but they will definitely rob you on the “back nine.” The Godwin Gang are a family of professional golfers that have dominated the sport in Missouri for decades. ... -
Mules football: The undefeated years
Posted Friday, January 12, 2024, at 3:11 PMThe 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. Poplar Bluff is a football town. Its first team was formed as an independent team in 1898. The coach was Fred Lohner. In 1906, the high school organized it’s own team called the Yellowjackets. When World War I erupted, football was postponed. The sport was resurrected in 1920... -
The Interceptor's career began here
Posted Friday, December 22, 2023, at 12:00 AMThe 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. Kenny Rowland was a three-year varsity letterman in football and track. In 1992 he set a record of 141 interceptions and 37 tackles at Poplar Bluff High School. Kenny was selected as the 1993 All State Defensive Back... -
The not-so-little Mule
Posted Saturday, December 16, 2023, at 12:00 AMThe 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. The only thing little about Brent Little is his name. He was an All-Star at Poplar Bluff High School. Brent was a two-time champion in the long jump, and a six-time All-State jumper. He set the record in the long jump and the triple jump... -
Meeting someday at Fiddler’s Green
Posted Saturday, December 9, 2023, at 12:00 AMThe 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. “Halfway down the road to hell, In a shady meadow green, Are the souls of all dead troopers camped... -
Sailing the arctic patrol
Posted Saturday, December 2, 2023, at 12:00 AMThe 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. The United States Coast Guard Cutter Mojave (WPG 47) was commissioned in 1921. It was in a new class of four ships with a modern power plant. The Mojave immediately went into service in Alaska patrolling the Bering Sea. In 1925, the ship was deployed to the Atlantic chasing rumrunners from Boston to Bermuda... -
The man behind Githens Hall
Posted Saturday, November 25, 2023, at 12:00 AMThe 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. Jay Githens grew up in Poplar Bluff. His mother, Evelyn Githens, was a school teacher at the Mark Twain school from 1938 to 1944. He later attended Georgia Tech. After two years in the Navy, Jay took over his father’s business, J.W. Githens Construction... -
Poplar Bluff on the Billboard 100
Posted Saturday, November 18, 2023, at 12:00 AMThe 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. “I never had a pair of shoes that weren’t of hand-me-downs, and daddy’s morning coffee came from ol’ left over grounds. My mama wore no jewelry or any store bought stuff, and home was on a hillside forty miles from Poplar Bluff.”... -
Terry’s Flying Circus
Posted Saturday, November 11, 2023, at 12:00 AMThe 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. What’s a military museum without airplane and ship models? Kanell Hall truly tells our veterans’ stories through the use of them. ... -
Our county’s first to fight
Posted Saturday, November 4, 2023, at 12:00 AMThe 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. “Air raid Pearl Harbor, this is no drill!” was the alarm that went nationwide Dec. 7, 1941. “A day that will live in Infamy.” America was at war. The battleships USS Arizona, USS Oklahoma, USS West Virginia and the USS California were on fire and sinking... -
Doc brings home the bass
Posted Saturday, October 28, 2023, at 12:00 AMThe 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. Zera Lee Stokely was known by many names. Some called him “Doc” since he was a former dentist. ... -
Meet America’s women warriors
Posted Saturday, October 21, 2023, at 12:00 AMThe 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. Women have served in combat next to America’s fighting men since the Revolutionary War. It wasn’t until 1901 that Congress established the Army Nurses Corps. 34,000 women served in World War I but did not have full military status. In 1917 the Navy allowed women to serve in the Naval Reserve... -
Honoring Bill Hicks of the USS Wasp
Posted Saturday, October 14, 2023, at 12:00 AMThe 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. Bill Hicks was an electrician’s mate on the aircraft carrier USS Wasp. The ship was engaged almost daily in naval and aerial combat in 1945. Kamikaze attacks were becoming routine and so far, the USS Wasp had fought them all off... -
The full bird colonel
Posted Saturday, October 7, 2023, at 12:00 AMThe 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. Arno Ponder was always a hometown boy. He graduated from Poplar Bluff High School in 1947 and attended the University of Missouri. ... -
The plumbers who built Poplar Bluff
Posted Saturday, September 30, 2023, at 12:00 AMThe 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. Mr. H.J Morrison founded the Morrison Plumbing and Sheet Metal Company in 1890 at the corner of Broadway and Cedar streets. His business was damaged so bad during the 1927 tornado that he had to move to North Broadway. Mr. Morrison operated continuously for 51 years... -
The American knife
Posted Saturday, September 23, 2023, at 12:00 AMThe 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. Hap Smith Jr. is a retired Marine veteran and a knife maker. When he was asked by the Vietnam Veterans of America and the Student Veterans Association of Three Rivers College to build a knife for them, he felt a sense of honor and pride...
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