Among the early commercial structures that helped shape downtown Poplar Bluff was the Begley Building, a building that served local businesses and shoppers for many decades.
One of the most significant early occupants of the building was the Allison Mercantile Company, which operated there during the early 1900s as Poplar Bluff was experiencing rapid growth tied to the railroad and regional commerce.
A Growing Mercantile Business
The 1911 Poplar Bluff City Directory describes the Allison Mercantile Company as a thriving enterprise, reporting an annual business volume between $150,000 and $200,000. For a town the size of Poplar Bluff at that time, this suggests the store played an important role in the local economy.
Mercantile stores in this era typically sold a wide range of goods under one roof — clothing, dry goods, household items, and everyday necessities — serving both residents and travelers passing through town.
The business was led by J. M. Allison, whose residence was listed in the directory at 637 Ninth Street.
The People Behind the Store
Like many successful businesses of the period, Allison Mercantile Company employed a number of workers who helped keep the operation running. The 1911 directory lists several employees connected with the store, including:
• Millie Garner, cashier • Grover Greer, driver • Matie Hutchison, clerk • A. G. Laws, clerk • Roy Mathis, clerk • Josephine Prall, bookkeeper
These names represent just a portion of the staff that likely worked in the store during its busiest years. Their roles illustrate how mercantile businesses depended on a team of clerks, bookkeepers, and delivery drivers to serve customers throughout the region.
The Building Through the Years
Over time, the Begley Building continued to house various businesses as downtown Poplar Bluff evolved. Many residents in more recent decades will remember the building as the home of Hay's Music, a store that served the community until relatively recently.
The Begley Building's long history reflects the changing character of downtown Poplar Bluff — from early mercantile trade during the railroad era to later retail establishments serving new generations of residents.
Preserving the Story
Historic buildings like the Begley Building remind us that downtown Poplar Bluff has always been a place of commerce, activity, and community life.
Although businesses change and buildings sometimes disappear, the stories connected to them remain an important part of the city's history.
If you have photographs, advertisements, or family stories connected to the Begley Building or Allison Mercantile Company, we would love to learn more.
You can share information or memories with us here: https://historicpoplarbluff.com/SubmitStory
Every piece helps preserve another chapter of Poplar Bluff's past.
Photos
Then-and-now composite view of the Begley Building at 401 Vine Street, constructed in 1908
Historic Poplar Bluff
Story Contributor
Source:
1911 Poplar Bluff City Directory
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People in This Story
Related Businesses
These connections were automatically identified by AI from the story text and have not yet been verified. They may be inaccurate or incomplete. They are shown for research purposes and will be updated as they are reviewed by our archivists.
