RECOLLECTIONS
50 Years Ago Pea Ridge Graphic Vol. 2 No. 30 Thursday, July 27, 1967
There was a three-day riot in the center of Pea Ridge last week — a riot of people meeting and greeting each other, laughing and visiting together, and, in general, having a grand time. The gigantic gettogether marked the 17th annual Pea Ridge Community Fair. An estimated 6,500 to 7,000 persons were on hand for the Saturday night festivities. It was the kind of riot that America needs more of — lighthearted friends and neighbors, fresh out of the fields and farmhouses and factories gaily enjoying a carefree hour together.
A girl with a golden tan, 16-year old Nancy Smith, was crowned the 1967 Miss Pea Ridge on the opening night of this year’s Pea Ridge Community Fair last Thursday. The new Miss Pea Ridge received a $25 savings bond from the sponsoring organization, the local Jaycettes, and will be eligible to compete in the Miss Benton County contest held in September in conjunction with the Benton County Fair.
A good growing season in the Ozarks made itself felt in the Jaycette-sponsored community booth at the Pea Ridge Fair. Fresh fruits and vegetables of high quality, a colorful array of blossoms, both cut flowers and potted ones, and fine-looking home canned goods attracted the attention of many fair visitors. Entries in the exhibit were judged on Friday by Miss Bernice Cook, Benton County home economist. All entries were given ribbons, ranging from first to fifth place.
40 Years Ago Pea Ridge Graphic-Scene Vol. 12 No. 30 Wednesday, July 27, 1977
A Pea Ridge writer, Billie Allen Jines, has recently completed her first book, which is now being produced by Harlo Printing of Detroit, Mich. Titled “Tracks of the Allen Family,” the 208-page illustrated hardback is a combination history and genealogy of the author’s paternal ancestors. Mrs. Jines and her husband, Earle, published the Graphic-Scene for nine years, selling it in February 1976 to the present publishers.
Groundbreaking ceremonies were conducted June 26 for the new Weston Street Chapel Church. The building site is approximately a quarter mile south of the present location. The Rev. Fred Franks, vice president of the Full Gospel Evangelistic Association, from Granby, Mo., dedicated the property and gave a benediction. Charles Hardy, Pea Ridge City city administrator, gave the church a welcome to the city. Pastor W.H. Booth said he wants to work with all the churches in the area and hopes the church will be an asset to the community.
Fred H. Kinney, son of Mrs. C. H. Kinney of Pea Ridge, is currently undergoing Navel Reserve Office raining Corps (NROTC) summer training. He is a midshipman at the NROTC unit at University of Missouri, Columbia. He is a 1975 graduate of Pea Ridge High School.
30 Years Ago The TIMES of Northeast Benton County Vol. 22 No. 30 Wednesday, July 29, 1987
The number of visitors at Pea Ridge National Military Park has dropped nearly 30 percent since the $1 per person fee went into effect, according to park superintendent Betty Gentry. From about 38,000 last year, the number of visitors has dropped to about 28,000 this year, she says.
Kathy Stephens has opened a fabric shop on Weston Street, in the second house north of the ball park. Mrs. Stephens says she has wanted for a long time to have such a shop but waited “until the time was right.” Kathy’s Fabrics will be holding a grand opening July 21-25 with opening specials.
20 Years Ago The TIMES of Northeast Benton County Vol. 32 No. 30 Thursday, July 24, 1997
The historic concrete block building housing the Pea Ridge City Hall has just undergone major remodeling. It has served, however, as the seat of government here since its purchase in late 1970. It provides attractive, efficient offices and a council/courtroom that a town or city of any size might be proud to introduce to citizens and their friends at this time. There will be an open house at Pea Ridge City Hall Friday to show off the results of an extensive renovation project. Mayor Jackie Crabtree said that the project was started in March 1996 and involved two phases, renovation of the western half of the building, then renovation of the eastern half of the building. The total cost, he said, was approximately $80,000.
The Rev. Robert Fairchild and his wife, Joyce, are finally settled in the parsonage at Pea Ridge Assembly of God. Fairchild has been an Assembly of God pastor for 21 years. Pea Ridge Assembly of God observed its homecoming last Sunday. It was founded 20 years ago on July 17.
The Pea Ridge City Council has appointed Jim Dawson to fill the vacated alderman’s seat formerly occupied by Jason Tennant. He told the council that he could make decisions based on merit and that he was aware of the growth in the area and the potential for Pea Ridge as a “bedroom” community to attract and facilitate that growth. The council voted unanimously to appoint Dawson whose term will extend through 1998.
A committee to formulate campaign plans to get the millage increase passed in order to build a new Pea Ridge High School building met on July 17 at the Bank of Pea Ridge. The committee discussed the process of meeting people in the community and encouraging them to vote for the millage increase, which would add 6.6 mills to real estate property taxes.
10 Years Ago The TIMES of Northeast Benton County Vol. 42 No. 30 Wednesday, July 25, 2007
After being closed for about a year, the Lost Bridge runway is again open. The private strip, owned by Lost Bridge Village Property Owners Association, has been repaved and restriped. A grand opening/fly-in is planned for September, according to Bill Schoonmaker, member of the Lost Bridge Village board of directors. The 3,220-foot strip began as a grass strip on a narrow peninsula surrounded by Beaver Lake. It was paved with an asphalt chip seal surface in 1972-73 and is 40 feet wide. The strip, other than a little patching, had not been maintained over the past 25 years and had deteriorated to the point where it was unsafe and was closed last year, Schoonmaker said.