Arts and Humanities Commons^™

Life In The Time Of Covid-19, Joe Jeffers

Articles

This narrative is a personal account of the COVID-19 pandemic and its effect on my life in 2020. Three factors come to bear on my reactions. First, I am 75 years old. Second, I have a minor heart condition. Third, I am a scientist. The first two put me in a higher risk category, and my behavior changed accordingly. The third is the window through which I view the world. It affects my reaction to data as the nature of SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 are revealed. I follow numerous information sources about the pandemic and share those articles on Facebook. Retirement …

French Place Names In Clark County, Arkansas, Joe Jeffers

Articles

French place names are common in Arkansas, especially in south Arkansas, where after the French explorers left, French trappers and settlers from Canada moved in. Some of those names remain unchanged from the original French. General usage and English speaking settlers modified others. Clark County was one of five counties established in the Arkansas Territory. Its boundaries changed five times before reaching its present form in 1877. This article explores French place names in today’s Clark County and in the original Clark County formed in 1818.

Clark County, Arkansas: The Garden Spot Of The Sunny South, Lisa K. Speer

Articles

Presented here is a typescript of a pamphlet produced and distributed circa 1877 by the St. Louis, Iron Mountain, and Southern Railway to promote settlement in Clark County. The original pamphlet is housed in the collections of the Arkansas State Archives.

First Airplane Lands In Arkadelphia One Century Ago, Wendy Richter

Articles

Many technological advancements occurred in the United States during the early twentieth century, bringing about change in many phases of life, including transportation. One new type of travel drew a lot of attention in Clark County on Saturday, May 25, 1918, when an airplane landed for the first time at Arkadelphia.

Flanagin Serves On Military Board, Wendy Richter

Articles

At a critical point in the Civil War in Arkansas, major troop movements occurred in Arkansas after the United States army occupied Arkansas's capital city on September 10, 1863. Union General Frederick Steele led the U.S. Army into Little Rock, and the Confederates withdrew to the southwest.

Automobiles Take Over Roadways A Century Ago, Wendy Richter

Articles

In the early twentieth century, a transportation revolution was underway: automobiles were becoming commonplace on the roads. In 1903, a Hot Springs man drove to Arkadelphia "on his automobile," and by 1910, about twenty-five Arkadelphians owned cars.

Banking Establishments Popular In Clark County, Wendy Richter

Articles

Clark County is home to a number of banking institutions today. Some of these businesses have many branches across the state and the region, all connected with modern methods of communication. The banking business was much different in the early twentith century when a brand new facility was constructed in downtown Arkadelphia.

Discovering Historical Data In Clark County: Sociology Of Research Methods, Layten Moseley

Scholars Day

Learning how to conduct studies using ARC GIS mapping, enabled this class to gain a new perspective of the historical significance of Clark County. Becoming educated in this software, along with obtaining a deeper knowledge of the history in Clark County, has enabled integration and appreciation for the community and higher learning.

Richardson's Paintings Depict Landscapes, Wendy Richter

Articles

At this time of year in Arkansas, flowers, shrubs, and trees come to life showing new colorful leaves and blooms for the enjoyment of all. The nautral beauty of Clark County in the springtime brings to mind the work of an Arkadelphia artist who produced many paintings depicting the area's natural environment. Charles Richardson's well-known and very recognizable landscapes featuring river scenes and beech trees are prized possessions for many today. His work continues to be highly sought-after today.

Bozeman House One Of County's Oldest Structures, Wendy Richter

Articles

One of Clark County's oldest stuctures stands a few miles west of Arkadelphia alongside Highways 26 and 51. The historic Bozeman House endures as a reminder of a bygone era. The frame, Greek-Revival home was built in the mid-nineteenth century for early settler Michael Bozeman.

Daylight Saving Time Introduced A Century Ago, Wendy Richter

Articles

Last weekend marked the annual change from Standard Time to Daylight Saving Time. One hundred years ago Arkadelphia's Southern Standard newspaper reported on the then-new concept, implemented in the United States during World War I to give people more time to spend in their gardens after their workday was over.

Habicht-Cohn-Crow House One Of The Oldest In Town, Wendy Bradley Richter

Articles

One of Arkadelphia’s oldest homes sits at the corner of Eighth and Pine streets. Known as the Habicht-Cohn-Crow House, the building was constructed in 1870 for Captain Anthony E. Habicht, who came to the South during Reconstruction. Local legend says that Habicht patterned the house after one he had seen in Natchez, Mississippi, and its design was heavily influenced by the Greek Revival style.

Barkman Considered "The Father Of Clark County, Wendy Richter

Articles

At this time of year, excitement abounds at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs as thoroughbred horses race around the track there. Since beginning operations more than a century ago, Oaklawn remains one of Arkansas's most popular touist desinations. However, many may not know that Clark County had a race track of its own which pre-dated Oaklawn by almost 100 years!

Ashby's Building Used By Freedmen's Bureau, Wendy Richter

Articles

The years following the Civil War were tumultuous times in the South as people began to adjust to a new way of life. To assist in that effort, the Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands--commonly called the Freedmen's Bureau--began work in Arkansas in June of 1865. In the state, the federal agency helped a population of approximately 110,000 African Americans.

History Of Library Cannon, Wendy Bradley Richter

Articles

Today, relatively few Arkadelphians know the history behind the cannon that sits on the lawn of the Clark County Library on Caddo Street.

Manufactured by the Confederate Army at the foundry/arsenal here in Arkadelphia in the early 1860s, it never fired a shot at an opposing army. Interestingly, the weapon also served as a hitching post after the war, before being place on the library grounds.

Cates Remembered As Early Pioneer, Wendy Bradley Richter

Articles

Few people were privileged to witness the spread of settlement into the virtually untouched wilderness of Arkansas following the arrival of European explorers. Even by the time of the Louisiana Purchase in 1803, only two places in what is now Arkansas could truly be called settlements, and both were near the Mississippi River.

Contributions Of Women To Clark County's History, Lisa K. Speer

Articles

Excerpted from a lecture given for the Clark County bicentennial, this article focuses on the contributions of Clark County women to the community during the major movements and events of the late 19th and 20th centuries.

Arkadelphians Play Baseball In Montana, Lisa K. Speer

Articles

Perhaps a little known facet of Clark County history is its connection to Negro League baseball in the early 20th century. Between 1917 and 1939, sixteen young men from Arkadelphia played baseball for the Butte Colored Giants in Montana.

The Early Arkadelphia Post Office, Wendy Bradley Richter

Articles

At this time of year, many people begin to make preparations to send or receive packages by mail during the holiday season.

Today, practically all homes and businesses receive some sort of communication each day the United State Postal Service operates. But, many don't stop to think about the improvements that have take place in that service through the years.

Clark Remembered For Exploration Of Louisiana Purchase, Wendy Bradley Richter

Articles

In the early days of Arkansas history, counties were physically much larger, although much more sparsely settled.

Clark County was one of five counties in existence when Arkansas Territory was established in 1819. In fact, the county celebrates its 199th anniversary later this week.

Crow Becomes First To Work In Arkadelphia Real Estate, Wendy Bradley Richter

Articles

Through the years, many Clark Countians have enjoyed distinguished careers and have made significant contributions to the development of the area.

One such individual was businessman Austin M. Crow. While no one today has a living memory of Mr. Crow, his wide-ranging activities place him among the early leaders of the Arkadelphia community.

Steps Taken To Reduce Flooding, Wendy Richter

Articles

Development of drainage districts in the early twentieth century benefitted Arkansas's economy, but their construction could often be controversial. Without proper drainage, low-lying land was useless for farming: once cleared and drained, rich soil could be very productive. In Arkansas, the history of districts in the northeastern part of the state has been explored, but little attention has been given to south Arkansas.

Clark County Civil Court Records, Archivists

Guides and Finding Aids

Clark County was established in 1818, and therefore became one of the five counties in existence at the time the area became known as Arkansas Territory in 1819. Court was held in various places in those early days, such as the home of pioneer settler Jacob Barkman, west of the Caddo River, near what is now Caddo Valley. Later, a county seat was established at Greenville, which was located to the southwest along the Military Road (also known as the Southwest Trail). In 1842 Arkadelphia (previously known as Blakelytown) became the permanent location of the county seat.

These numbered files …

Flood Of 1927 Damages County, State, Wendy Bradley Richter

Articles

Ninety years ago, what was arguably the nation's greatest natural disaster wreaked havoc on Arkansas and the entire Mississippi River Valley. The Flood of 1927 brought tremendous destruction to the region, taking hundreds of lives and inundating over sixteen million acres of land. Water covered more than 13 percent of the state of Arkansas, damaging approximately 162,000 homes. About 700,000 people were displaced as water inundated the land to depths of up to thirty feet.

Milling An Important Part Of County's Economy, Wendy Bradley Richter

Articles

In the early twentieth century, the Arkadelphia Milling Company was an important part of Clark County's economy. The company produced flour, meal, feed, and other products, and also supplied much of Arkadelphia's electrical power for many years. Among the Milling Company's best-known product lines were Dolly Dimple and Robin Red Breast, which were shipped to all parts of the world. Advertisements read, "Arkadelphia Milling Company Feeds the World." Other slogans painted on the sides of buildings included "The Heart of the Grain Plus the Art of the Brain," and "We Never Sleep."

Ucv Established To Preserve History, Wendy Bradley Richter

Articles

About 106 years ago, in April of 1911, a camp of the United Sons of Confederate Veterans was established in Arkadelphia. The group's founding came at a time of renewed interest in the Civil War---the fiftieth anniversary of the start of that conflict---as well as recognition of the fact that many veterans were passing away and living memory of that part of history would soon be lost.

Farming Popular Occupation In Clark County, Wendy Bradley Richter

Articles

At this time of year, many people begin to plant vegetable gardens and hope for a successful growing season. In the first part of the twentieth century, when farming was the occupation of many in Clark County, a good bit of agriculture-related news appeared on the front-page of the local newspaper. Stories often pertained to first or early harvests, as well as large or unusual produce. Legends and lore, as well as factual information, were all included in the paper. From the articles, it is clear that a wide variety of items were raised in the Clark County area, and …

Bethlehem School Served Students East Of Arkadelphia, Wendy Bradley Richter

Articles

In August of 1912, Arkadelphia's Southern Standard newspaper announced an upcoming event during which the cornerstone for the new Bethlehem School building would be laid. A program featuring speeches by B.F. Condray, Farrar Newberry, and R.W. Huie, Jr., would highlight the occasion. The school was located about six miles east of Arkadelphia on Highway 51 at the junction of Highway 128 and a county road--in the heart of the Joan community.

Beirne Considered Best Shipping Point, Wendy Bradley Richter

Articles

The town of Beirne in southern Clark County was founded in 1880 by James Lewis Beirne from Grafton, Illinois. Beirne established a sawmill as well as a Methodist church, at which he served as the first minister. Postal service began in the community in that year as well, with the town's founder as postmaster. By the end of that year, a railroad depot had been completed, and Beirne's sawmill and grist mill became fully operational. People of the surrounding area considered Beirne to be among the best shipping points for the new railroad passing through the state. The small village …

Telephone Service Simple In Arkadelphia, Wendy Bradley Richter

Articles

As the nineteeth century came to a close, telephone service began to flourish in Clark County. In its infancy, Arkadelphia's first telephone service was indeed simple; it allowed communication between two places. For example, in 1878, a store on Johnston Street connected with a nearby warehouse. And, a phone line linked the Southern Standard newspaper office with a local store. Other lines ran between particular businesses and residences.