Effort on to name post office for Cash
Kingsland residents have long recognized how being the place where J.R. Cash began his legendary life is no small honor. Besides his now world-famous likeness on the local water tower, the Man in Black’s legacy looms large over his birthplace. Easter Sunday — today — will mark the 30th anniversary of Johnny Cash and is wife June Carter performing a dedication concert on the grounds of the then newly erected Kingsland post office.
A bill is currently being presented before the House and the Senate by Arkansas Congressman Bruce Westerman to rename the U.S. post office at 80 First Street in the town of 447 residence to the “Kingsland Johnny Cash Post Office.“The bill is co-sponsored by Arkansas Representatives Steve Womack, French Hill and Rick Crawford.
Johnny’s cousin, Wayne Cash said, “Johnny and June dedicated the new Kingsland post office on March 31, 1994. The U.S. Postal Service was unable to name the post office for him at that time because they require a person be deceased at least a decade before a stamp can be issued or one of their facilities named in his honor.”
The Postal Service came up with an option for a Johnny Cash postage cancellation stamp dated March 31, 1994. The 3,000 in attendance that day had the opportunity to purchase a newly released 29 cent Carter family stamp issued on September 25, 1993 and have it marked with a “Johnny Cash Station” cancellation stamp featuring Cotton Belt engine 819.
The Lisemby Family of Cleveland County served as Johnny and June’s backup band along with their son John Carter Cash and all Johnny’s living siblings accompanying them on stage. They ended the performance with the Carter Family classic, “Will the Circle Be Unbroken.” Soon after Cash’s Kingsland concert, his “American Recordings” album won a 1995 Best Contemporary Folk Grammy Award.
In 2013, 10 years following Johnny’s death in 2003, the Postal Service issued the Johnny Cash forever stamp. On that date, June 5, 2013, a second Johnny Cash “First Day of Sale” cancellation stamp was also introduced and available at the Kingsland Post Office. Wayne Cash went on to say, “Renaming of the Kingsland Post Office in his honor will complete the process. I’m not sure if anyone has ever had a postage stamp, post office, and two cancellation stamps issued in their name.”
Incorporated July 22, 1884 shortly after completion of the Cotton Belt railroad, Kingsland arose almost overnight next to the newly built tracks. The local populace was quick to recognize and relocate nearer potential economic prosperity that was opened to the long depressed region by arrival of the trains.
Set in the midst of vast pine and hardwood forests and surrounded by rich Saline River and Moro Creek alluvial farmland, Kingsland became a center of transportation and commerce, hosting 464 citizens by the 1890 census. A second major transportation route came through Kingsland in 1935 in the form of U.S. Highway 79. Arrival of the all-weather, two-lane, paved thoroughfare literally put the tiny burg on the map.
The thriving economy brought need for gas stations, a bank, general mercantile, an apothecary, livery, jail and of course, a post office. In August, the old post office, located just down First Street from the current one, is being presented to Arkansas Historic Preservation for admission to the state Historic Registry.
An article from the Cleveland County Herald dated February 22, 2023 describes a Johnny Cash commemorative display in Little Rock at that time. It reads, “The Post Office Exhibit located on the main floor of the Capitol Building includes photos of Johnny Cash at the Old Kingsland Post Office along with his friend, Johnny Horton, in May 1959 while they were visiting the area on a fishing trip.”
“The exhibit does a great job of showing a visual history of the post offices of Arkansas and their place in Arkansas History,” said Wayne Cash. “Johnny Horton’s song ‘Battle of New Orleans,’ that was written by Jimmy Driftwood of Mountain View was the number one song in the nation during this time and would go on to be the 1959 song of the year. Following in July, 1959, Johnny Cash, released his song “Five Feet High and Rising.” Also included in the exhibit is the 1994 Johnny Cash dedication of the New Kingsland Post Office.”
There are four Arkansas Heritage Johnny Cash historic markers in Cleveland County, one of which is located adjacent to the old post office in Kingsland. In addition, another is found at Crossroads north of Kingsland near Cash’s birthplace on the Rivers’ family farm, a third at the Cleveland County Courthouse and a final one outside Wildcat stadium in Rison. Each one contains a QR code linked to an audio presentation by Rosanne Cash sharing the significance of each location in her father’s storied life.