The man behind Githens Hall

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.

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.

Jay served as chairman and president of the Parks and Recreation Board for 30 years. Through his office, Jay built the famous Founders Bridge spanning the Black River in the middle of Poplar Bluff. He built numerous pedestrian and road bridges throughout the city park system. When the post office was demolished, Jay saved the historic columns and moved them to the Poplar Bluff Museum. He helped develop McLane Park and expanded the municipal golf course to 18 holes. Jay was recognized by the Missouri Park and Recreation Association with an Individual Citation Award. In 1997, He was honored by the Greater Poplar Bluff Area Chamber of Commerce as Citizen of the Year.

In 2013, Jay rescued a giant O Scale model train layout previously owned by Harold Leamon. The layout covered over 400 square feet with 208 feet of track. The father and son team of Jay and Joey Githens built the layout in Joey’s business garage. They improved it with state of the art electronics. Jay and Joey added a local touch to it, including many Poplar Bluff businesses along the tracks.

Jay currently serves as the committee chairman of the executive board of directors of the Poplar Bluff Museum, formerly the Mark Twain School. To honor him, Githens Hall was dedicated. Inside Githens Hall is the former classroom of his mother, Evelyn Githens. The following dedication at Githens Hall reads:

“Nothing in human life is more to be admired than that a wise and generous man be motivated to do good for his fellow man. Jay Githens has sought to do good for all who visit the Poplar Bluff Museum. Through his profound dedication, his continuous support and unfailing response to the needs of the museum as it seeks to preserve and interpret what has made Poplar Bluff and Butler County special in the hearts of its people. He honors all our citizens, past and present, through his varied and generous contributions. We salute him and extend our deepest gratitude.”

Be sure to visit Githens Hall on your next visit to the museum. The museum is handicap accessible and open free of charge 1-4 p.m. Sunday at 1010 Main Street. Tell them Mike sent you.

Mike Shane is a veteran, Poplar Bluff resident and board member for the Poplar Bluff Museum.