‘Zoo’s Who!’ provides glimpse of Hot Springs’ historic animals
The Garland County Historical Society is offering the public an online glimpse of the past in “Zoo’s Who! Hot Springs’ Historic Animals.”
“In ‘Zoo’s Who!’ society President Clyde Covington takes a lighthearted look at Hot Springs’ furred, feathered, and scaly friends of the past — including a beer-drinking bear, a heroic fire dog, an advertising elephant, a mammoth alligator, and a mysterious merman from the Orient. ‘Zoo’s Who’ can be viewed on the society’s website … by clicking on the ‘Special’ button on the site’s toolbar,” a news release said.
According to Liz Robbins, executive director, the Garland County Historical Society is determined to serve the community “even though we can’t open our doors to the public right now.”
“We’re adapting to the current situation with technology, particularly our website and our Facebook page,” Robbins told The Sentinel-Record in an email. “Among other things, on our website people can view an interesting photo gallery and also view new features we’re putting online (such as “Zoo’s Who!”). Discovering our history might help people get through this — one fascinating story or photograph at a time.”
Covington said in the release since the society cannot hold its April program meeting, they decided to offer a program through their website, http://www.garlandcountyhistoricalsociety.com.
“In the coming weeks we will continue to provide glimpses of the past on the website page labeled ‘Special,’” he said. “Also, our Facebook posts provide fascinating historic photographs and a chance to chat about them. We want to help students, seniors, and everyone in-between by giving them ways to explore Garland County’s rich heritage from their homes.”
Robbins said the society’s Facebook manager and board member Toma Noble Whitlock “constantly posts images, and people ask questions, make comments, really ‘talk to’ each other about the places and people and events in the photos.
“This is a wonderful forum for people to share their knowledge and memories or learn more about Hot Springs and Garland County. For
example, our recent post about the Sunset Drive-in on Central is drawing a great response,” she said.
A few highlights of “Zoo’s Who!” will include Black Diamond, a star of the Ostrich Farm on Whittington Avenue, who was supposedly the most famous ostrich in America and the most photographed ostrich in the world, the release states.
“So popular was the 350-375 pound, 9-foot-tall bird that his obituary was printed in (The Sentinel-Record) when he died in 1924 at the age of 59,” the release said. “Besides taking visitors for a spin, he often raced other ostriches on the farm’s one-fourth mile track.”
“Thanks to the hard work of our volunteers, who have digitized over 40,000 images, we can use technology to continue our education mission,” Robbins said. “And perhaps people who, in the past, haven’t been able to come to our monthly program meetings or come to the archives will discover that they can learn about our history and our society from home.”
Robbins noted people can also help the society preserve the history that is taking place right now by taking photos of any scene that shows what Hot Springs is like during the pandemic. Photos can be emailed to gchs@hotsprings.net.
“We would truly appreciate the community’s help in making a visual record of the stores, streets, and sights of this remarkable time in our history,” she said, noting they will continue to help people who email, phone, or mail questions to GCHS.