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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David adopts a museum
Posted Friday, October 25, 2024, at 2:24 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 1988, David Johnson went down to the Poplar Bluff R-I School District office and bought the abandoned Mark Twain School for $1.00. ... -
Walking with Kati
Posted Thursday, September 12, 2024, at 5:07 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. Kati Wylie Ray loves history. She is one of the most prolific Butler County historians today... -
Poplar Bluff’s own Tom, Dick and Harry — Minetree
Posted Friday, September 6, 2024, at 9:54 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 phrase “Tom, Dick and Harry” is a placeholder for unspecified people. It is most commonly used as “every Tom Dick and Harry,” meaning anyone and everyone, a set of nobodies. ... -
Poplar Bluff’s war correspondent
Posted Friday, August 23, 2024, at 4:15 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. Gregg Jones is an award winning journalist, author and international correspondent. Recently, he was selected as the 2015-2016 Kluge Fellow by the Black Mountain Institute of Nevada and the John Kluge Center at the Library of Congress... -
Centenarians are written in history
Posted Saturday, August 17, 2024, at 4:05 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. A centenarian is defined as a person who is 100 or more years old. Do you know a centenarian? It’s not that unusual. ... -
The incredible Mr. Linc
Posted Saturday, August 10, 2024, at 4:06 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. Abraham Lincoln Hinrichs was born in 1894. He didn’t go by the traditional nickname of “Abe,” but liked to be called “Linc.” He lived a long, fantastic and storied life similar to the modern fictional character of Forrest Gump... -
Love and honor: The Kennedy saga
Posted Saturday, August 3, 2024, at 4:06 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 1932, the Daily American Republic recognized Walter and Clara Kennedy as honored and beloved citizens. They were true pioneers in Poplar Bluff, impacting the early days of our town... -
The first entrepreneur
Posted Saturday, July 27, 2024, 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. An entrepreneur is defined as someone who starts a business at great financial risk. George Begley was such a man. ... -
‘Roll in the dirt’ cops
Posted Saturday, July 20, 2024, 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. Mike Elliott was a Poplar Bluff police officer for 25 years. He began his career as a rookie in 1978. He later described himself as “the best darn roll in the dirt, take it in the gourd, split your head and spit in your eye Copper that ever lived.” Mike’s Law was “It’s not about right and wrong, it’s about legal and illegal and I’m the one writing the report!” He freely admitted that they would never hire a cop like him today. ... -
The Burned Block
Posted Saturday, July 13, 2024, at 4:14 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. Jesse Reynolds was considered to be the wealthiest man in Butler County. He liked to be called “J.R.” In 1900, he was president and owner of the Butler County Bank. ... -
The railroad lawmen
Posted Saturday, July 6, 2024, at 4:13 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. The museum honors all our local law enforcement agencies upstairs in the First Responders exhibit. There are displays from Troop E of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Butler County Sheriff’s Department, Poplar Bluff Police Department, Department of Defense Police (John J. ... -
A higher calling
Posted Monday, July 1, 2024, at 11:02 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. James Gieselmann grew up in Memphis, Tennessee. He came from a military family. Dad was a World War II veteran. He and his two brothers attended ROTC at the University of Tennessee. James (Jim) was commissioned as a lieutenant in the Army Engineer Corps in 1967. The Vietnam War was in full swing... -
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...
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