The Burned Block

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. His family owned brick and stave factories in town. J.R. served on the city council. He owned a lot of property in the city and county. One of those properties was the Reynolds Building. It was located downtown on the corner of Main and Vine streets, caddy-corner to the courthouse. The building took up an entire city block. It contained many small businesses, including the Reynolds Hotel. The hotel had 45 rooms with a parlor.

In 1909, a fire broke out in the Reynolds Building. In two hours, the entire city block went up in flames. The glow from the fire could be seen as far away as Piedmont. It was the biggest fire in Poplar Bluff history. The fire department was able to maintain the damage to one block. The cause was never determined.

J.R. lived two blocks away and rushed to the scene. He watched it burn. He was quoted saying, “Let it burn, it’s paid for.”

There was no insurance on the building and it was estimated his loss was $100,000. J.R. was planning to rebuild the hotel making it stronger and fireproof. When a lumber dealer approached him with building materials, he smiled and said, “Lumber burns.”

When J.R. applied for a building permit, the city council denied it. They disapproved of using the used brick from the burned building. J.R. was outraged at the stupidity of the city council. Don’t they know how bricks are made? They put them in a fire and heat them up! Bricks were fireproof. They made chimneys out of bricks. He used to make bricks. When J.R. was on the city council, he never made decisions like this.

J.R. was so angry that he decided not to rebuild. The city council kept after him to do something. This was prime commercial real estate. J.R. told them to “Go chase a rainbow.” He threatened to plant corn in the middle of downtown Poplar Bluff. This city block remained vacant for 32 years. It became known to the locals as the Burned Block. It wasn’t until J.R. passed away in 1935 that the Burned Block was sold. The land was finally developed to support downtown businesses in 1941.

Jesse Reynolds’ biography is on display in the People Room, as well as a map of the Burned Block.

The Museum is open free of charge and handicap accessible. It is open 1-4 p.m. Sunday at 1010 N. Main St. Tell them Mike sent you.