A day in the life
Family fun takes flight in Jacksonville
FAMILY FUN TAKES FLIGHT IN JACKSONVILLE
Most folks know Jacksonville as the home of the Little Rock Air Force Base, but the city holds a special place in my heart as my hometown. I spent countless hours exploring the city as a teen before moving to Little Rock about five years ago, so I was surprised to find a number of attractions that were new to me.
8:40 A.M.
The grass was wet with dew when I arrived at the Ron Newport Recycle Education Park, one of Jacksonville’s most popular field-trip destinations. Since there were no school groups visiting at the time, I took a solitary stroll along the paved walking trail, which is dotted with repurposedmetal sculptures, such as park mascot Scrappy the giraffe.
A railroad car forms a backdrop to areas for demonstrating composting and mulching, and signs along the trail provide information about recycling everything from cardboard to computers. I learned that if the Pilgrims had used aluminum cans, the cans would still be here today! I left the park with the motivation to recycle items I might have previously thrown away.
9:15 A.M.
Although I had driven past the Jacksonville Museum of Military History many times, I had never actually gone inside. Executive Director DannaKay Duggar showed me around the facility. The building is on the foundation of the administration building of the Arkansas Ordnance Plant, which covered about 7,000 acres during World War II.
“When they first opened, Jacksonville only had about 400 people living here,” she said. “At its height, the plant employed 13,000, so Jacksonville just exploded overnight.”
Near exhibits dedicated to the women ordnance workers, also known as WOWs, is an exhibit honoring the Arkansans who served at D-Day, as well as exhibits about the Pacific Theater. Of particular interest is
the story of former museum board member Col. Charles O’Sullivan, a fighter pilot who was shot down over New Guinea, where he survived 30 days in the jungle. I was also fascinated by the collection of original World War II posters that lined the museum walls.
Other displays explain Arkansas’ role in the Civil War, and the museum was hosting an exhibit of the Arkansas State Archives called The Great War: Arkansas in World War I. An addition at the back of the museum, which is being set up to showcase the history of the Little Rock Air Force Base, offered information about the C-130 Hercules, a C-130 propeller and a video of a cargo drop.
The area also houses information about the Titan II missiles, 18 of which were located in Arkansas between the 1960s and ’80s, Duggar said. Visitors can experience a simulated missile launch at a real launch control panel. Outside the museum is a memorial honoring the 53 civilian contractors killed in the Titan II Missile Accident near Searcy in 1965.
Also on display are a life-size model of a desert outpost used during Operation Iraqi Freedom and exhibits about the Vietnam War, including a huge map signed by Vietnam veterans. The museum also boasts a theater and a room dedicated to home life during World War II.
Understanding the location of the ordnance plant in Jacksonville reveals a wealth of information about the city, Duggar said. For example, Main Street is divided into two one-ways because the area was once the plant’s front gate.
“If you don’t know your history, then it’s hard to understand why you are the way you are, why the people around you are the way they are. Once you understand that history, it all makes sense,” she added. “That’s why I think history is so important and the history of Jacksonville is so important.”
10:45 A.M.
Having whet my appetite for history, I drove to Reed’s Bridge Battlefield Heritage Park, a testament to Jacksonville’s role in the Civil War. At the museum, Duggar had described the Battle of Reed’s Bridge, which took place in August 1863. With Union troops advancing toward Little Rock, Confederate forces hoped to delay Federal progress at Bayou Meto. After holding off the Union troops for a day, Confederate soldiers retreated across the waterway, burning the bridge behind them.
I crossed the present-day Reed’s Bridge to reach the site, which includes cannons, a homestead and informative signs. I first explored the buildings at the homestead, which provide a glimpse of life during the Civil War through period furnishings such as a dry sink and a quilt-covered wooden bed.
Then I walked over the battlefield itself to reach the banks of Bayou Meto. With the sun climbing higher in the sky, I could only imagine how the soldiers must have baked in the August weather. A sign at a nearby walking trail explained how several men were shot while trying to refill their canteens. The field was quiet, but when I closed my eyes, I could almost hear the cannon fire and Confederate officers shouting the orders, “Delay! Delay!”
12:05 P.M.
Having seen several pieces of antique artillery, I decided to dine at The Bar B Q Shack, known locally as the Smoking Cannon. I had lunch with my father, Kevin DeClerk, a Jacksonville resident who retired from the U.S. Air Force a few years ago but still works on base as a civilian contractor. He was to accompany me on my next adventure, trapshooting at the Arkansas Game and Fish Foundation Shooting Sports Complex. He had little experience with trapshooting in particular, and I had little experience with shooting in general, so we were both excited to try out the sport.
1:10 P.M.
The Shooting Sports Complex was buzzing with activity in preparation for the Arkansas Youth Shooting Sports Program
Championship, which was set to begin the next day. We were fortunate enough to meet Arkansas Trapshooting Hall of Famer Doyle Gaskin, who showed us the ropes. The 74-year-old is a familiar face at the complex, where he coaches shooters and teaches classes in spring and fall.
After picking up our gear at the pro shop, we headed to the field, where several high school students were practicing for the championship. Since we were novices, Gaskin stood behind us as we shot, providing pointers.
By the fourth shot, I was comfortable with the basics. I took position and called, “Pull!” Then I followed the target up — smoothly, Gaskin reminded me — and pulled the trigger, hitting my first clay pigeon. I was overjoyed, since I hadn’t expected to hit a single bird.
Dad and I took turns shooting until we ran out of ammo, occasionally hitting a target; then Gaskin pulled five pigeons for himself, breaking each one.
“I shot really well throughout the years,” he said. “When I was inducted into the Hall of Fame, I thought, ‘I’m going to give something back, if I can.’ So that’s what I’m doing now.”
He added that the complex, which opened in 2014, has already had a major impact on Jacksonville. The regional and state championships benefit the economy by bringing vast numbers of people into the city, and the sport builds character among youth shooters, he said.
“I’ve never been involved in anything that teaches as much discipline as the game of trap, and coaches and parents are real supportive of it — and school systems,” he said, adding that about 300 schools and 850 coaches now participate in Arkansas trapshooting. “It’s making a big impact on the state of Arkansas, period, so great thing, great thing. If we can just keep this heritage going, it will be an even greater thing.”
2:55 P.M.
By the time we finished shooting, I was ready for a dip in the pool, so I headed to Splash Zone. After purchasing my ticket, I chatted with cashier Billy Whitehead. This is his third year to work at the water park, and he seems to enjoy the communitybuilding nature of his job.
“It’s a way we can all come together and enjoy ourselves, and on top of that, among the employees, the respect level is high, so high expectations equal higher results,” he said. “My favorite part is making the little kids laugh in the front-desk area. When I check bags, I always ask if they’ve got a turtle in their bag or a fish, just to crack a funny little joke.”
Tots frolicked on an aqueous play structure while their older siblings slid down the two water slides or did tricks off the diving board. Meanwhile, parents lounged on the jetted massage bench. Like the rest of Jacksonville, there seemed to be something for all family members to enjoy.