On this date in history A spectacular blaze levels Noe’s Drug and Jewelry store on the North side of the square. Also damaged is the Lewis store in the Horn Building and Carolyn’s Dress Shop in the Arnold Building. Picture was taken just days before the fire in 1940.
The business started in 1909 when H.L. Noe and brother, Wood, opened a jewelry store in Hill City, KS. The brothers parted ways and H.L. moved to Butler and opened on the north side of the Butler Square. Noe's offered jewelry, a pharmacy, optometry and a soda fountain. After the fire, they rebuilt and H.L. continued until his death in 1950. In the early 1950's another fire burned the business to the ground but again they rebuilt. One of his sons, Bill, took over and operated until his death in 2000. -courtesy Poplar Heights Living History Farm
