Fire and ice: Puxico burns and Bootheel freezes

Southeast Missouri faced fire and ice on this weekend in history. In 1925, a fire wiped out most of Puxico’s business district. Within days the town was sifting through the ashes and promising to rebuild. In 1950, a historic ice storm turned Poplar Bluff and other towns into hazard zones of falling branches and collapsed power lines.

No issues available: Feb. 1, 1925; Feb. 2, 1975.

SATURDAY

75 years ago

Feb. 1, 1950

• Poplar Bluff is encased in ice today after one of the worst sleet storms in local history, downing trees, collapsing infrastructure and causing bizarre accidents.

The lines of all local phone, utility and rail companies were damaged by yesterday evening’s storm. The ice brought limbs down on streets, telephone wires and power lines, and falling branches concussed two people. Two people were electrocuted in a mechanic’s shop when a 220-volt wire landed on the building. Mechanic Emery Payton was knocked down by the shock and burned his hand. The car’s owner was in the car at the time and reported the electricity burned his tongue, but he was otherwise uninjured.

Only one school in town closed. Students were warned to watch out for fallen wires as they walked to class.

50 years ago

Feb. 1, 1975

• Two firemen were moderately injured while extinguishing a fire at Roberts Plumbing and Heating Co. last night. It’s a parallel to news from 1925 wherein three firemen were almost crushed by a collapsing wall during one of the worst fires in Puxico’s history; thankfully, firefighters William Black and Jim Thompson only suffered a dislocated shoulder and bruises from falling debris, respectively.

The fire was caused by an electrical cable and was mostly confined to the roofline and attic. The body of the building was water damaged but employees reported company records survived.

SUNDAY

100 years ago

Feb. 2, 1925

• Two days ago firefighters Barney Leimkuehler and Walter Moore, both of Poplar Bluff, and Lyster Williams of Dexter barely escaped death when a brick wall collapsed during a blaze in Puxico. All three are recovering well today, doctors said.

Both Poplar Bluff firefighters forgot their heavy-duty helmets at the station and wore hats instead. Surprisingly, this could have saved their lives — other firemen believe if they’d worn the helmets, the weight of the falling bricks would’ve broken their necks.

The Poplar Bluff Fire Department’s mascot dog, Old Folks, visited the men in the hospital today.

“The dog has apparently been wondering why Moore and Leimkuehler had not returned to the fire station,” the article said.

75 years ago

Feb. 2, 1950

• “Considerable melting” was reported in parts of Southeast Missouri as the ice storm’s aftermath met sunshine. Poplar Bluff residents are cautiously optimistic that clear skies will speed the process, but are wary of the damage a gust of winter wind could do to overburdened trees and lines.

Several towns in Butler County remained isolated without phone service or power. Repairs were progressing as quickly as possible.

MONDAY

100 years ago

Feb. 3, 1925

• Today, the city of Puxico began rising from the ashes — residents intend to rebuild the businesses destroyed in an inferno three days ago.

The recovery is extraordinary because the city was still recovering from the collapse of its largest bank 14 months ago. The Jan. 31 fire was also the second time Puxico’s business block has burned; the first fire was several years ago. The severity of this fire showed how badly fire protection measures were needed in Puxico, and efforts are underway to implement them.

Puxico also collectively apologized that some firefighters had to pay for food and coffee because cashiers didn’t recognize them in the confusion.

“They... hope to be able to show their appreciation in some way in the future,” The Daily Republican wrote.

75 years ago

Feb. 3, 1950

• Only 600 of Poplar Bluff’s 2,400 drivers have purchased license plates, according to city officials. Last year’s plates, also called tags, were paper stickers and didn’t stay on the cars. Police Chief Lester Massingham said this made it hard to enforce license plate rules. This year’s tags are metal.

50 years ago

Feb. 3, 1975

• Two Bootheel businesses were robbed within a day of each other.

Ace Shumway, owner of the Super Quick 7-11 in Malden, was held up at gunpoint around 11 p.m. Feb. 2 while walking to his car, carrying the day’s cash receipts in a bag. Two men, one of them armed, ordered him to drop the bag and get on his knees. They fled with the money on foot.

Only a day later, the Tri-County Bank of Morehouse was robbed. Bank President Joe Gooch said the thieves broke out a large front window at night but only got $15 from the teller cages, though they also stole two checkbooks. One of the suspects was identified as Robert Laminack, 20, and he’s believed to be fleeing to Florida with an unknown accomplice.