The Way It Was:
City playgrounds, swimming pools ready for use
100 years ago June 5, 1917: FERRY OUT OF COMMISSION
Automobilists cannot cross Red River at Index for three of four days. It was announced here this morning. Wood’s ferry is out of commission and repairs are being made. ALSOCentral Christian church was the winner of the Sunday School contest by good measure with 376 pupils.
June 6: MILLER COUNTY REGISTRATIONS TOTALLED 1,866
Registered in Texarkana and the counties of Miller and Bowie was ideal, according to all reports given. Bowie County had 993 register. The attendance of citizens at the patriotic demonstration in this city was one of the largest ever seen here on any occasion, it was declared by many.
June 7: THE BEST LIBRARY
We have suddenly seemed to grasp what Solomon wailed over when he had only a small bunch of parchments (and 900 wives to dust them) : “Of the making of books there is no end.” We start out in life with the idea of reading them all; then we decide to keep up with the latest; we end up by laying hands only on what appeals to us, and this is wisdom?
June 8: TO EAT AND SMOKE
Richard Cocke’s grocery, at Eleventh and State Line Avenue, was broken into and robbed last night, and a good bill of groceries taken away, no clues to the invaders being found. In the list, there were three 24 lb. sacks of flour, one middling each of smoked and dry salt meat, one 25 lb. pack of sugar, and a box of cigars. Entrance to the store was by breaking a hole in the window.
June 9: TO BUILD NEW GARAGE
Architects have prepared plans and specifications for a one story brick garage building to be built on the vacant lot on Pine Street to the rear of the Rialto building for C.M. Blocker, Horace Endsley and C.E. Palmer. A line of accessories, repairs, etc., for automobiles will be handled. With this new building, and the completion of the large new Carter building back to Pine Street, a considerable area that was vacant this time last year will have been substantially built with brick. Notice is being taken that the automobile industry is making use of a first class type of buildings in Texarkana as in other cities, thus showing that autos cause building improvements.
June 10: “EXPENSIVE TO BEAT A WIFE”
R. Moss, a local, was given a fine and costs, aggregating $33.40 in Arkansas municipal court this morning on conviction for beating his wife. In default of the money he was turned to the county road gang.
June 11: CHAUTAUQUA TO BRING SEVERAL NOTABLES HERE
Week of entertainment, educational value and fun will start Monday afternoon. The Althea Players, a sextette of young ladies, is opening attraction, while Lou Beauchamp will deliver the first Leacture. With the exception of the erection of the tent, everything now is in readiness for the opening of Texarkana’s Chautauqua Week on Monday morning. The tent will be erected on the Whitener lots, Third and Pine Street.
50 years ago June 5, 1967: CITY PLAYGROUNDS, SWIMMING POOLS READY FOR USE
The summer recreation program of the city of Texarkana, Ark., is moving into high gear under the direction of John Herring. Inghram pool already is open and Bramble pool will open at 1 p.m. Wednesday. The city’s supervised 10-weeks playground program will get underway June 12. Herring said playgrounds will be located at Bramble Park. College Hill School, Washington High School, and W.8. Daniel School. There will be no charge but children must be residents of Texarkana, Ark. Herring said he expects about 750 children a day to participate in the program.
June 6: BIRTHS
St. Michael’s Hospital: May 26—Mr. and Mrs. Ned Darrell Jackson, a girl; Mr. and Mrs. Edward Lee Harris, a boy
May 27—Mr. and Mrs. Larry Wayne Crank, a boy
May 28—Mr. and Mrs. Kim G. Sutton, a girl
May 29—Mr. and Mrs. Henry Gordon Harmon, a boy
May 31—Mr. and Mrs. Calley O. Dudley, a boy
June 1—Mr. and Mrs. Harry Louis Church, a boy
June 2—Mr. and Mrs. Virgel Larry Kirby, a boy
June 7: NUCLEAR POWER FOR ARKANSAS
Arkansas largest single industrial plant investment was announced jointly by Governor Rockefeller and Reeves Ritchie, president of Arkansas Power & Light Company, at a press conference in the State Capitol. They announced that AP&L will build a $140 million nuclear power generating station, Three sites are under consideration in the state. Construction of the 800,000 kilowatt nuclear plant would start in mid-1968 with completion scheduled for late 1972.
June 8: AWARD WINNERS RECEIVE TRIP
Electric project award winners from 48 schools in 13 Arkansas counties will receive a trip Southwestern Electric Power Company’s Wilkes Lodge in Northeast Texas on June 8-9. Award winners from this area include David House, Jim Carpenter, Mike Johnson, Joel Jones, Chester Batson, Brude Floyd, Alvin Vaughn, Rocky Cummins, Danny Roberts, Walter Vanerburg, Brent Stewart, Wayne David, William Easter, Steve Ashley, Mike Brewer, Eddie Cherry, Richard B. Cravens.
June 9: WRITE 500TH SUBSCRIPTION
Billy Griffin, 14, son of Mr. and Mrs. Jack Griffin of 1702 Lowell St., received a Polaroid camera for writing the 500th subscription in the Texarkana Gazette and Daily News big New Orleans Special Subscription Contest in which the newspapers will send 40 carriers to New Orleans for an all expense paid two day and nights sight-seeing trip.
June 10: NEW PASTOR
The Rev. Charles O. Walthall has been assigned to the pastorate of the First Methodist Church in Lewisville, Ark. Rev. Walthall was formerly pastor of the Pleasant grove Methodist Church in El Dorado, Ark.
June 11: HOMER MCQUEEN GETS DEGREE IN PHARMACY
A master’s degree in pharmacy was awarded to Homer McQueen, son of Mr. and Mrs. Baker McQueen, 704 Pinehurst St., by Drake University in Des Moines, Ia. He was an honor graduate from Washington High School, class of 1961. McQueen has accepted a position as staff pharmacist at Sisters of Mercy Hospital in Cedar Rapids, Ia.