Looking Back
(Editor’s Note: This column looking back at St. Francis County’s history is featured each Friday on this Lifestyles page along with the week’s History Photo. The items included in this column were printed in previous editions of the Times-Herald.)
April 1940
7th Calvary-The Seventh Cavalry Brigade(Mechanized)of some 3,300 officers and men and over 1,000 vehicles marches from Fort Knox, Kentucky, to Monroe, La. to participate in the Third Army Maneuvers in the Saline Area, in two serials and will pass through Forrest City as follows: First serial, 11:35 a. m., May 4, and Second serial, 11:35 a. m. May 4 and Second serial, 11:35 a.m. May 6. Mayor Charles D. Buford has received a letter from Major C.H. Unger, 1st Cavalry, advising Mr. Buford of their route, which it said: it is desired to interfere little us possible with the normal traffic. Past experience has proven that large motor columns interfere least with such traffic lights through congested areas without halts. Your cooperation in this matter is solicited. It is suggested that police officers stationed traffic lights, important intersections and sharp turns to facilitate passage of serials through your corporate limits would be most desirable from every point of view.
8th Grade Class Won-In the Girls' Junior Tournament, held Tuesday. Eighth grade won five games, and the Seventh grade two. The three afternoon games between the seventh and eighth grades were won by the eighth with scores of 12 to 8, 44 to 12 and 12 to 0. The first evening came between the seventh and eighth grade was won by a score of 19-2, by the eighth grade, the second game was won by the seventh grade, 14-10. The winner of the first game defeated the ninth grade 31-1, and the winner of the second evening game was victorious over the ninth 7-6. Marie Jolly Delanie Massey, Betty Ruth Copt, Tinsy Puckett refereed the games. Jane Rowland was score keeper, Norma Dell Humphrey, time keeper and Virginia Wood and Jorene Rounsavall assisting: Mrs. Walker and Mrs. Holwerk with the teams. The $7.30 which was realized from the night games will be used for gym equipment.
Cocklebur Kills-Virgil Carey Vandiver, Jr.10-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Virgil C. Vandiver, passed away about 11:00 o'clock this morning at St. Joseph's Hospital in Memphis following a short illness. He became ill several weeks ago and his death is reported to have been the result of an infection caused by a cocklebur he swallowed a short time before his illness. Besides his parents, the child is survived by one brother. Funeral services will be conducted at 1:00 o'clock tomorrow afternoon at the Stevens Funeral Home by the Rev. G. C. Prince.
Auto Wreck-Mr. and. Mrs. J. E. Brock and daughter, Yvonne, house guests of Mrs. Brock's sister, Mrs. Walter V. Durst, and Mr. Worst, returned Saturday afternoon from an auto trip to Gary, Ind., where they visited relatives. On their return trip to Forrest City the Brocks ran into a snow storm at Sullivan, Ind., and their car skidded on the slick pavement and turned over several times. The Brock family received no serious injuries, but their automobile was badly smashed. Mr. Brock has made temporary repairs on his car and he and the family will leave for their home in Tampa, Fla, tomorrow. Mr. and Mrs. Walter Durst will accompany them as far as Greenwood, S.C. where they will visit their son, Marion E. Durst and family.
Bridgforth Dies -Lindsay Bridgforth, prominent St. Francis County planter, passed away suddenly at his home here last night, following a heart attack. Mr. Bridgforth was a native of Pleasant Hill, Miss. He was horn on March 20, 1881 the son of James O. Bridgforth and the late Mrs. Ora Jenkins Bridgforth. He came to Forrest City when a youth. Early in his business career Mr. Bridgforth was associated with the Forrest City Cotton Oil Mill. Later he became interested in farming. Since 1918 he had operated a large tract of land, a gin and a store at Whitmore. He was prominently identified with religious civic and social interests of the county, and was a leader in the agricultural progress of this section. He was one of the directors of the Arkansas Agricultural Council and was a member of the Arkansas Farm Bureau. He was also affiliated with the Arkansas Wildlife Federation and was very active in the St. Francis County chapter. He had been a member of the Church of the Good Shepherd and of the vestry for many years. In 1913 Mr. Bridgforth married Elizabeth Gatling of this city. Surviving are his wife, two children, Miss Dorothy Bridgforth and Jack Bridgforth: his father, and a sister, Mrs. Leo Grobmyer. Funeral services will be conducted tomorrow morning at 10:00 o'clock at the Church of the Good Shepherd by the Rev. Gardner D. Underhill, pastor. Interment will be in the City Cemetery.
Cabins Under Construction Six modern tourist cabins are now under construction for Newton Landers and James Lanier, on their lot on Broadway and North Forrest, to the rear of the Sinclair Filling Station. The cabins, Mr. Lanier told the Times-Herald, will be the nicest between Memphis to Little Rock, and will be luxuriously furnished, to attract the better class of tourists. They are being constructed of hollow tile, and white stucco on the outside and plastered inside, to be fire resistant. They will be heated with butane Supply Co. Building costs, exclusive of lighting and heating are estimated at $7,500. Mr Lanier said and total costs including furnishings will probably total $10,000 total costs, including furnishings, will probably total $10,000. Operation of the cabins will be under the supervision of Mr. Landers who also lessee of the Marion Hotel.
Canaan Overpass-Work started today on the new Highway No. 1. south of Haynes, where the highway crosses the Missouri Pacific tracks. S. M. Dixon of Warren is the contractor; E. P. Douglas, resident engineer; S. H. Daggett, inspector, and Eugene R. Badiailli of Helena, instrument man. Mr. Douglas was engineer on the St. Francis River bridge constructed several years ago. About 30 men began work on the job today. The new overpass is to be several hundred feet north of the one now in use, and there will be no interference with traffic. Work is to start soon on the paring leading to the new overpass, the contract having been awarded to D. B. Hill. The two projects will cost approximately $100,000 and both, it is expected, will be completed on or before Oct. 1.
Celebrates BirthdayYesterday was a gala day for the Fred Seaton family, for it marked the birthday anniversaries of Mary Virginia and Dick. In celebration of Dick's birthday, Mr. and Mrs. Seaton entertained with a lawn party at their home in the afternoon. The guest list included 13 playmates and friends of Dick. The afternoon was spent in playing many outdoor games which had been planned for the occasion. A prize was awarded to Mary Lynn Dillon for winning a contest. Ice cream, birthday cake and lollipops were served. On the birthday cake were eight candles. Balloons were given as favors. Those present were Marjorie Russell Williams, Ann Lancaster, Faye Moore, Eleanor Sanders, Nancy Poole, Janet Walker, Ann Harvey, Mary Lynn Dillon, Marshall Vance, Hal Vandiver, Edwin Sales, Bud Harvey and Sonny Conaway. Last night Mr. and Mrs. Seaton surprised Mary Virginia with a dance at the Aycock Blue Room. Snapdragons and Hydrangea blossoms in shades of pink and blue were used in decorating the Blue Room for the event. A pink and blue color scheme was also carried out in the dessert course served at intermission. Those who attended the dance were Betty Jean Connaway with Ben Fogg Jr., Bernice Ash with Prentice DeRositt, Joan Perdzock with Al Nimocks, Jr., Jean Newman with Tommy Lloyd, Virginia Rhea Ruffin with A. P. Thomas Jr., Marion Bell with Clark Kinney, Gladys Williams with Paul Ritchie Eldridge, Virginia Gorman with Billy Seaton, Martha Carlisle with James Dillon, Ruth Horton with Seyman Gold-stein, Marion Pearl Heustess with Kenneth McCown, Ann Poole with Frank Warren, Jr. Bobbie Maupin with Knox Kinney, Frances Maupin with Fred Seaton, Jr., Bill Gatlin, Jerry Hicky, Todd Parker, Joe Gray and Tom Aycock. Tom Ayecock was the honoree's escort.
Circuit Court Convenes-St. Francis County Circuit Court convened this morning for the Spring term, with Judge E. M. Pipkin on the bench, Sheriff-John I. Jones, Clerk G. B. Fogg and court other attachers in attendance. Petit Jury lists were impaneled as follows: First Panel James DeRossitt, Mrs. Sam Ashworth, B. McCullum, Love Banks, Mrs. W.S. Gorman, Mrs. E. S. Brown, Mrs. W. S. Skipwith, Chas Sartin, V. A. Bean, Ralph Brown, Benard Ray, Frank Warren. Second Panel Lockhart Sweet, Mrs. Ray Garrison, Gaither Dooley, H. C. Baker, J. D. Heustess, O. J. Candy, J. C. Lindsey, Leta Whittenton, Fenner Laughinghouse, Howard Cranor, Mrs. Fred Jones. The court will be occupied with the trial of civil cases this week, and will take up the criminal docket, Monday of next week.
Exonerated-H. A Hennard. Wheatley barber, was exonerated in St. Francis County Circuit Court of first degree murder filed against him in connection with the fatal shooting of his wife's brother, Erwin (Crip) Ochlschlager, last September in Wheatley. The jury retuned a verdict of "not guilty' late yesterday afternoon after an hour deliberation. Hennard pleaded self-defense. Circuit Court was adjourned by Jude В. М. Pipkin early last night following the trial of Robert Lee Thomas, Negro, who was exonerated of burglary charges.
FC Giants Start PracticeInitial practice was held yesterday at Rowe Park in the west end for the Forrest City. Giants base ball club which will represent the city as an independent club. J.K. Rowe is business manager of the club and the field manager will be elected by the team. A committee of three judges of baseball knowledge will assist in selecting the team and reserve. The opening game will be played about the first of May and the Giants are anxious to schedule strong clubs in this section, both home and away dates. The grandstand constructed last season will be improved and enlarged and the field fenced with a seven foot fence. Season tickets will be printed and placed on sale at an early date. About thirty prospects answered practice call yesterday and a strong team is in view. Three pitchers and two catchers were on deck in Harold Knowelton, Forrest Henderson and Billy Williams and backstoppers being Ben Horne and Vernon Turk. Other prospective performers were Thaderick Tatum, Les Starks, George Avery, Dale Hoррег, Pressley Clark, Mervin Clark, Charles Clark, Bill Clark, Vernon Parker, Chester Parker, Aldridge Parker, Howard Coleman, Melvin Sossaman, John Poe, Harold Wood, Harold Bridgforth, Bob Cope, Jack DePriest, Larry Durbarrow, Andy Forrester, Baldwin Spencer, Eugene Freeman, Neal Hope, Leo Buchanan and George Fleming.
Gain-The population of Forrest City, County of St. Francis, State of Arkansas, as shown by preliminary count of the returns of the Sixteenth Census, taken as of April 1, 1940, is 5,638, as compared with 4,594 on April 1,1930. The 1940 figures are preliminary and subject to correction. Jennings A Patterson, Supervisor of Census. The count gives Ward No.1 a population of 1279, the Second Ward 2830 and the Third Ward 1529. Enumeration in cities ended last night. Enumeration in the rural areas will not be completed until April 30.
High Winds-The high wind which preceded the heavy rain in this section last night caused considerable damage to two buildings at Blackfish Lake, a resident of that community reported this morning. A tin roof, size 60x100, on the barn at the Vernon Bernard farm was ripped off and carried away by the wind; and the steeple on the new Blackfish church was also blown away by the gale.