RECOLLECTIONS
50 Years Ago Pea Ridge Graphic Vol. 2 No. 32 Thursday, Aug. 10, 1967
Mrs. Frank Crabtree was treated for an injured foot suffered Saturday afternoon when a pressure cooker being used to can tomato juice blew up at the Crabtree home. The explosion caused considerable damage to the kitchen, including a hole blown in the kitchen ceiling, the destruction of the kitchen stove and tomato juice spread widely over the kitchen.
Fifty-six years in the same location, the Bank of Pea Ridge has supported the town continuously since it was organized in 1911. During these years, it has occupied the same location on Pickens Road (Arkansas Hwy. 72) near the crossroads at the center of the business district. W.T. Patterson, who organized the bank, served as its first president and the only president to bank here for 46 years. His partner, J.M. Putman, and Patterson both reached their 90th birthdays about three months apart eight years ago. Patterson was 98 recently. During the serious banking crises of 1933, the Bank of Pea Ridge was among the few banks to remain open. Three men now constitute the Board of Directors of the bank. They are: Sam M. Walton of Bentonville, chairman of the board; Hearn Oliver of Pea Ridge, president; and R. E. Buck of Bentonville, secretary.
40 Years Ago Pea Ridge Graphic-Scene Vol. 12 No. 32 Wednesday, Aug. 10, 1977
As a child traveling with his hard-working family in a wagon pursuing farm and logging work in Arkansas, Missouri and Oklahoma, Howard Gilliland carved small toys from wood with his pocket knife and sold them to help eke out a family living. Thus the Washburn native began his lifelong involvement with wood which has provided him with a livelihood and now in his retirement years, a rewarding hobby — building and restoring stringed instruments, particularly fiddles. With no training or experience in music instrument repair and construction, six years ago Gilliland began his hobby of collecting and trading old fiddles. The only tools he has ever used are his picket knife and broken pieces of glass. Now at age 64 he and his wife live in a comfortable home on Arkansas Hwy. 94 south in Pea Ridge. His home now contains a sizable collection of fiddles, banjos and guitars which Howard Gilliland has carefully and lovingly restored to playing condition.
Diana Hanner began her reign as Miss Pea Ridge last week as she was chosen from a field of seven contestants and crowned at the Pea Ridge Community Fair. Miss Hanner is the 17-year-old daughter of Larry and Doris Hanner of Pea Ridge.
30 Years Ago The TIMES of Northeast Benton County Vol. 22 No. 32 Wednesday, Aug. 12, 1987
About 350 to 400 guests are expected to converge on Pea Ridge City Park Saturday night at 6:30 for the annual Northwest Arkansas Cattlemen’s Association picnic. This will be the second year in a row for the group to meet here. President Les Cruse, who first invited the group to meet here last year, says it was such a success the group wanted to come back. The affair is strictly for fun, with no business agenda, Cruse says. This year’s speaker will be Jack Shewmaker, Bentonville, chief financial officer for Wal-Mart. TIMES editor Cal Beisner will give the invocation.
A marijuana plant, one of about half a dozen, were picked by Pea Ridge marshal Kelly Wallace and deputy Roger Harris. Harris said the plants were found growing in the woods after two tips by area residents. Police destroyed the plants Saturday afternoon.
20 Years Ago The TIMES of Northeast Benton County Vol. 32 No. 32 Thursday, Aug. 7, 1997
The Pea Ridge Police Department continues to investigate a burglary at Pea Ridge High School. Superintendent Roy Norvell said that the burglary took place on the weekend of July 2627. According to Pea Ridge Police Chief Tim Ledbetter, there was no sign of forced entry into the building but he said that the burglars did force their way into the school library. Stolen were nine VCRs, two televisions and a cordless telephone, Norvell said. He said that the items were valued at approximately $2,000. Norvell said that the burglary was the first at the school in about a year.
Pea Ridge Outlet in Downtown Pea Ridge — BACK TO SCHOOL — Tube Socks 6 pr. $2.97; Disney backpacks, special buy $9.97; Name brand girls tops sizes 2-16, $2.97-$4.97; Retro/Krazy Kats girls jr. tops, special buy, $11.97 up; Adult knit shorts, $2.97; Kids t-shirts, $1; Kids shorts, kids jeans, $5.07 or 2 for $10; New shipment Lee jeans $14.97 up; Lady Wranglers Relaxed Fit $9.97; Wrangler Pro, Rodeos & Red Tags ir. $9.97-$11.97; Men’s $5 work jeans.
Real Estate for sale — two-bedroom house on 6.6 acres six miles north of Pea Ridge on Missouri KK Highway — 1/4 mile highway frontage, storm cellar, pole barn, two workshops, $47,500.
10 Years Ago The TIMES of Northeast Benton County Vol. 42 No. 32 Wednesday, Aug. 8, 2007
Area businesses are being challenged to show their support for the Blackhawk football team this fall, according to head football coach Mark Laster. Businesses are encouraged to “out-spirit” all other businesses by decorating their place of business on Fridays during football season. At the end of the season, the ball players will vote for the business they think showed the most support. The winning business will receive a free advertising banner hung for each home game during the 2008 season — a value worth up to $500.