City was rocking a century ago
This weekend, Texarkana is celebrating the Scott Joplin Centennial with a variety of events and music. Activities end today, with a concert at the Perot Theatre and later the enshrinement of two local music legends at the Walk of Fame at the Arkansas Municipal Auditorium.
Joplin, the king of ragtime music, grew up in these parts and has significant ties to Texarkana.
His music is still acclaimed 100 years after his death.
In the beginning, of course, his greatness wasn’t recognized.
He was likely viewed as a pretty good piano player trying to catch a break. Beyond his ability to tickle the ivory keys, he was probably just another guy lost in the crowd.
And downtown Texarkana was crowded in those days, and bustling with a lot going on.
A hundred years ago, many important milestones were reached. Nowadays, we are acknowledging many of them.
On Tuesday, for example, the Wilbur Smith Rotary Club of Texarkana celebrates its 100th birthday with a dinner and shindig at the Four States Fairgrounds. Back then, it was the Downtown Rotary Club, but its influence in local philanthropy and promoting goodwill in the city is well-documented and has not waned. (See special section in today’s edition.)
Earlier this year, Texarkana Lions Club had its 100th birthday.
Last year, you might recall, we celebrated the 100th anniversary of CHRISTUS St. Michael Health System and its long-standing commitment to the city.
It started out as Michael Meagher Hospital, named for the man who gave $80,000 to get it started.
The period from 1916-25 was a fruitful one in the life of Texarkana—a bit surprising in hindsight, because those first years align with World War 1.
Also 100 years ago this year, the Texarkana Chamber of Commerce was formed from the merger of Young Men’s Business League and the Board of Trade.
In 1921, Texarkana heard its first radio broadcast, and in 1922, Bryce’s Cafeteria opened. After a long and famous run, it moved out to Interstate 30, where it still serves up good food today.
In 1923, the Texarkana Kiwanis Club was organized. Between the Rotarians, Kiwanians and Lions, community service here was in high cotton.
The same year, Texarkana celebrated its 50th anniversary, a citywide event that attracted the governors from both Texas and Arkansas to a State Line Avenue conclave and rally.
It 1924, the city broke ground for the Hotel Grim, a tall and elegant building that would sport almost 200 rooms and become the shining star of city social life.
By the 1990s, the shine was off, but the potential remained. Recent efforts to reclaim and repurpose that space are gaining traction.
Also in 1924, the Saenger Theatre was built on Main Street.
A few years later, it would become the Paramount
Theatre. You know it now as the Perot Theatre— and it’s still a jewel in our crown.
The same year, the Texas side of town acquired the land that would become Spring Lake Park.
In 1925, Texarkana’s first public library opened with 1,400 books, and its first radio station, KFYA, started broadcasting.
A bit beyond the scope of this timeline, in 1926, an earlier version of Union Station was torn down to make room for a much grander and granite-cut version, and Texarkana Municipal Airport opened at the present location, replacing the airstrip at Spring Lake Park.
All these former milestones are alive and well today in some form or fashion— except for the vacant Union Station.
Those were grand days for Texarkana, and the achievements had staying power.
A hundred years is a nice round number that represents a lot of coming and going.
Being remembered 100 years later, or 100 years after you die, is a big deal, a validation of sorts.
Our culture seeks out individuals who live to be 100 for their keen insights and timeworn memories.
Looking backwards provides perspective, but so does looking forward.
Soooooo … when Texarkanians look back 100 years from now, what will will they find that we have we created in these days that will have had lasting value, staying power? What will our legacy be?