The Planters Barn Theater
History:
The limestone barn fronting on Dead Man's Alley in Hannibal was built by Samuel A. Bowen, Sr., father of Will and Sam Jr., lifelong friends of Samuel L. Clemens, popularly known as the author Mark Twain. Young Sam Clemens and Will Bowen were between fourteen and fifteen when the original structure was erected in the summer of 1849. The barn was used as a stable for the Planter's Boarding House and subsequent hotels, The Hotel Planter's House and finally The New Planter's Hotel.
Over the years several notables were guests of the Planter hotels including Abraham Lincoln. According to local lore, Illinois lawyer Abe Lincoln stabled his mules in the barn while on a business trip for his Springfield, Illinois law practice.
In 1856, W. O. Simmons, purchased the stable. He added an addition bringing it to its present size. It became known as the W. O. Simmons Livery and continued to run under that name even after Simmons lost the barn in 1878 when he put the stable up as collateral for a $1,000 loan he could not pay back. It was sold at the sheriff's auction to the highest bidder for $430.
In the 1890's the stable became the first trolley service station in Hannibal and was used by the Hannibal Railway & Electric Company as a turn around barn until the 1940's. During the 1950's and 1960's Wrights Furniture used the barn as a warehouse.
In 1973 Robert Wehrenberg, Sr., purchased the barn adding electricity, plumbing, a loft and opened the Barn 'N Loft restaurant. In 1974 the stone stable fronting on Dead Man's Alley was included in the Mark Twain Historic District listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
Tax deductible donations to the Planters Barn Theater can be made out to:
Heritage Stage Productions a National Heritage Foundation
310 N. Main St.Hannibal, MO 63401