The 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 the 1990’s, the “big dog” on campus was “McGruff.” He was a large dog wearing a hat and coat. ...

The 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. You have to hand it to the music teachers of Poplar Bluff High School. They have produced world-class opera tenors. ...

Poplar Bluff museums tell the story of us, our family, and our history. I want to tell you some of those tall tales found within our museum walls. The Union Pacific Railroad defines “Girl Power” as 3,000 horsepower. In 1974, Bonnie Leake from Las Vegas became the first woman to operate a locomotive as an engineer...

The 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. Terry Ferguson built 72 model airplanes for the Kanell Hall veteran’s exhibit. Not to be outdone, I built nine ship models for the veteran’s exhibit. They are in a display case labeled “Battleship Row.” The ship models represent the history of the world’s most famous battleships...

The 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. ...

The 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...

The 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. ...

The 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...

The 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 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...

The 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 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. ...

The 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 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 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. ...

The 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...

The 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. ...

The 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. ...

The 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 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...