Nero fiddles and Poplar Bluff freezes

World news eventually passes on to be world history. For one resident of Butler County, current events bore a striking resemblance to a 2,000-year-old trope. In 1950, Poplar Bluff was hammered by ice storms in a mirror to the forecast for the present day’s weekend. One hundred years ago, the city celebrated the efficient operation of its coal-powered electric plant and the upgrade of its post office to first-class.

No issues available: Jan. 4, 1925; Jan. 5, 1975

Saturday

75 years ago

Jan. 4, 1950

Just as the forecast predicts winter weather in the present day, Poplar Bluff got a visit from Old Man Winter 75 years ago on this date. With heavy rainfall across a 24-hour period followed by freezing temperatures, the city was cloaked in ice.

Fortunately, the Black River did not flood due to the freeze. The temperatures continued to drop into the low teens causing further slippery conditions.

50 years ago

Jan. 4, 1975

In South Vietnam, Communist troops have reached the outskirts of the capital of Saigon. Meanwhile, President Gerald Ford was recently photographed being frivolous in the winter weather. Ed Shaw, a Butler County resident, had this pithy remark to give in his letter to the editor:

“Our President, playing in the snow at this time, reminds me of Nero, fiddling while Rome burns.”

In other news, 85-year-old retiree Ben Cowan of Dexter crossed the milestone of logging 5,500 hours of volunteer service with the Veterans Administration Hospital. It was reported he accomplished this cumulative feat by setting “missions” for himself every day consisting of tasks at the hospital. He accomplished between 160 and 330 missions per day.

Sunday

100 years ago

Jan. 5, 1925

Poplar Bluff’s post office was given the distinction of being a first-class facility following record business conducted in 1924. This honor was shared by only one other post office in Southeast Missouri in Cape Girardeau. In order to qualify as first-class, a location needed to do more than $40,000 in business in one year.

In today’s dollars, this equates to $729,463.58. Poplar Bluff’s post office exceeded this amount 100 years ago by $246.17.

Poplar Bluff Post Master Whitworth received a $300 bump in his salary and the ability to appoint a Superintendant of the Mail.

75 years ago

Jan. 5, 1950

Two new stop signs were placed on Pine Boulevard at Sixth and Ninth Street. It was reported many motorists failed to stop due to not noticing the new signs had been placed.

Poplar Bluff Chief of Police Lester Massingham said the police department would continue to issue warnings but would start making arrests Jan. 10. In other news, the temperatures started to rise after the blistering winter weather.

The Black River, which crested at 12 feet, began its return to normal levels following the heavy rain.

Monday

100 years ago

Jan. 6, 1925

Casper Cole, the alleged murderer of J.J. Epley in Butler County, successfully appealed to the Supreme Court of Missouri. The court reversed the case and remanded for a new trial. Cole was previously convicted and sentenced to 20 years in prison.

Meanwhile, the Poplar Bluff light plant report showed efficient operation for the year 1924. The plant generated 1,985,800 kilowatts of electricity and consumed an average of 5.25 pounds of coal per hour.

The energy generation efficiency improved by 222,740 kilowatt-hours over 1923. Plant superintendent Hecker attributed this success to rigid adherence to procedure and scheduling. City Councilman McCroskey brought forth a resolution thanking Hecker for the good work done in the previous year.

75 years ago

Jan. 6, 1950

Two men were killed and a third injured when they were struck by a train near Junction J and Highway 53. They were driving a 1937 Chevrolet truck and tried to cross the tracks while a Cotton Belt local locomotive en route to Bernie was on the tracks.

53-year-old Edward Rogers and his nephew Bobby Rogers were the two deceased. Rogers’ son, Oscar, survived with injuries to his left side and a broken left shoulder.

On the topic of auto accidents, it was reported that a total of five had been hospitalized due to crashes as a result of the ice storms over the weekend.

50 years ago

Jan. 6, 1975

The banks of Butler County reported a dearth of gold stores due to an apparent lack of demand. None of the county’s four banks stocked gold to sell.

“We haven’t had anybody who wanted any,” Executive Vice-President Robert Davis of First National Bank said. He added that gold is “too speculative” and his bank has not received any inquiries.

However, all four banks still could take orders to have gold shipped. Commerce Bank President Don Hamm said he received only one inquiry in recent memory.

“We’re not going to deal with it,” he affirmed, “There’s not much interest.”

The Bank of Poplar Bluff managed to make a few gold sales, but far fewer than in previous years. At the time, the precious metal sold for $193 per ounce.