The Story

W.A. Holcomb operated a foundry and machine works at 623 South 5th Street. Listed in the 1909-10 city directory under machine shops, this facility likely produced cast iron and steel products for local construction, manufacturing, and repair needs.

Holcomb Foundry & Machine Works was one of Poplar Bluff's early industrial enterprises, providing machine-shop services, metalworking, repairs, and equipment for businesses throughout the surrounding region.

The company's history dates to approximately 1896, when William Allen Holcomb, a former railroad locomotive engineer, reportedly brought a small machine shop to Poplar Bluff. Over the following decades the enterprise developed into a substantial foundry and machine works on South Fifth Street.

By January 1909 Holcomb operated the Poplar Bluff Foundry and Machine Shops in partnership with Robert Breuer Sr. On January 28 of that year the Poplar Bluff Republican reported that Holcomb had purchased Breuer's interest and become sole owner of the operation, describing the foundry and machine shops as among Poplar Bluff's important industries and serving customers from miles around.

Destruction in the 1927 Tornado

On May 9, 1927, a devastating tornado swept through Poplar Bluff, destroying much of the city's built environment. The Holcomb foundry and machine works was among the industrial properties severely damaged, and the following day's Daily American Republic reported that the plant was practically a total wreck. The newspaper placed the destruction along the west side of South Fifth Street between Henderson and Park avenues, where numerous buildings had been demolished.

Despite the extensive damage, a May 13 report stated that no one had been killed at the Holcomb plant. Within days of the disaster, William Allen Holcomb announced his intention to rebuild, beginning the next chapter in the company's history.

Historical Significance

The original Holcomb plant represents Poplar Bluff's early industrial development and the machine-shop and foundry operations that supported regional businesses and infrastructure. Its destruction in the 1927 tornado also illustrates the widespread loss of industrial buildings during one of the city's defining disasters.