Stories | Historic Poplar Bluff

The Butler County Courthouse: Fire, Tornado, and Rebuilding in Poplar Bluff

The courthouse standing today in Poplar Bluff is actually the fourth courthouse to serve Butler County since the county was organized in 1849. Over the decades, earlier courthouses were lost to both fire and natural disaster, each time prompting the community to rebuild.

The First Courthouse (1851)

When Butler County was organized in 1849, Poplar Bluff was selected as the county seat.

The county's first courthouse was constructed between 1850 and 1851. It was designed by Jesse T. Gilley and built under the supervision of Phillip L. Varner. Contemporary accounts describe the structure as a small weather-boarded plank building located on the southeast corner of the public square.

Though modest, the courthouse served the young county during its earliest years as the population of the region steadily grew.

The Second Courthouse (1860s)

As Butler County expanded, the first courthouse quickly became inadequate. A larger two-story brick courthouse was begun around 1860.

Construction was delayed during the Civil War years, but the building was eventually completed in 1867. At the time, it was considered a substantial and impressive public building for the community.

This courthouse would stand for nearly two decades before disaster struck.

The Courthouse Fire of 1886

On December 14, 1886, a fire broke out in the Butler County courthouse.

According to reports published in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, the fire was discovered around 10:20 in the morning and likely began near a faulty flue connected to the Probate Judge's office. The flues were known to be in poor condition, and the fire spread quickly through the building.

Despite efforts to save records and nearby property, the courthouse was destroyed by the fire. Fortunately, many important county records were preserved in the fireproof vault.

The Third Courthouse (1887)

Following the fire, Butler County moved quickly to rebuild. A new courthouse was constructed in 1887 by L. B. Walker & Company at a cost of $11,475.

This courthouse served Butler County for approximately forty years and became a familiar landmark in the growing town of Poplar Bluff.

The 1927 Tornado

Another disaster struck on May 9, 1927, when a devastating tornado tore through Poplar Bluff.

The courthouse sustained severe damage during the storm and was considered beyond practical repair. In the months that followed, local newspapers debated whether the county should repair the damaged structure or construct an entirely new courthouse.

Articles in the Daily American Republic asked the question plainly:

"Will we have a new court house?"

County offices were temporarily relocated to what newspapers described as an "emergency county capitol" while discussions about rebuilding continued.

The Bond Issue and Public Debate

Throughout 1927, citizens and local officials discussed the cost and design of a new courthouse.

Newspapers published question-and-answer columns explaining the proposed project and addressing concerns from taxpayers. Residents asked about construction costs, financing plans, and even whether the courthouse square mound should be leveled.

Illustrations of the proposed courthouse design were published ahead of a special election in which voters would decide whether to approve the courthouse bond issue.

Ultimately, the voters of Butler County approved the project.

Construction of the Present Courthouse (1928–1929)

Construction of the new courthouse began in 1928, and the building was completed in 1929 at a cost of more than $300,000.

According to contemporary newspaper accounts, the new courthouse included:

Approximately 41,000 square feet of floor space
176 windows and 130 doors
Nearly five miles of electrical wiring
Materials sourced from 14 different states
More than 500 railroad carloads of building materials

Built of stone and designed to be fireproof throughout, the courthouse was constructed on solid rock and became one of the most impressive public buildings in the region.

Nearly a century later, it continues to serve the citizens of Butler County.

A Curious Courthouse Relic: The Cannonball Story

One unusual story connected to the earlier Butler County courthouse involves a Civil War cannonball.

According to historical accounts reported in local newspapers, Union soldiers under Captain Poole approached Poplar Bluff during the Civil War believing the town contained Confederate forces. During the encounter, a cannon was fired toward the town.

One cannonball reportedly struck the courthouse and became embedded in the north wall of the building, where it remained for several years as a curiosity for local residents.

When the courthouse burned in 1886, the cannonball was recovered from the ruins. It was later preserved by local citizens and eventually came into the possession of Judge Deem, who hoped it might one day be displayed on the courthouse square as a reminder of Poplar Bluff's Civil War history.

A Landmark Through Time

From its earliest plank courthouse in 1851 to the present stone structure completed in 1929, the Butler County Courthouse has witnessed the growth of Poplar Bluff through generations of change.

Despite fire, tornado, and the passage of time, the courthouse remains a central landmark of Butler County and a lasting symbol of the community's resilience.