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 1954

42-year-old fence post removed in good condition Ernest Tooney, an employe at the Sweet Brothers Farm at Haynes, turned the calendar back 43 years when he removed an osage orange fence post which been had placed in the ground when he built the fence in 1912. The surprising result was that the post is still in good condition, with the exception of slight water wear. The incident occurred during the process of repair work which was being done on the fence. The farm is owned by Lockhart and Webb Sweet.

Accused - Roy H. Taylor, Forrest City, wanted here on charges of burglarizing the Delta Ice Co., was arrested in Des Arc, officials report. Taylor is wanted there on charges of committing numerous burglaries. A hearing will be held for him there soon. He has only recently been released from the State Penitentiary where he was sentenced in 1940 on charges of committing several burglaries in the Forrest City area. Approximately $15 was stolen from the Delta Ice Co., after the thief broke into the building by forcing a window open.

Answers call - Local firemen answered a call to the home of Mrs. Danny McCrary on East Stone Street. A television set had developed a "short" and considerable smoke resulted, officials said. There was no damage.

Beech Grove - The Beech Grove Canasta Club met in the home of Mrs. Francis Vandiver on Circle Drive. An arrangement of tulips was used in the living room as a house decoration, and the hostess served a salad course preceding the games. Club members playing were: Mrs. Richard Stephens, Mrs. Rudell Quattlebaum, Mrs. Boye Britton, Mrs. James Nance, Mrs. Charles Lawson, Mrs. Meredith Reed, Mrs. Price Robinson and Mrs. Aubrey Water. Special guests were: Mrs. Ray Kerr, Mrs. Lloyd Graff and Mrs. J. W. Vandiver. Prizes wore won by Mrs. Reed, high; Mrs. Robinson, second high, and Mrs. Kerr, bingo.

Big fish - Jimmy Barry of Forrest City caught the largest bass at Bear Creek Lake near Marianna reports indicate. The bass weighed 4 1/2 pounds and was caught with Paul Bunyan lure. The son of Mr. and Mrs. George Barry of Forrest City, Jimmy is home for Easter vacation. He is a student at Arkansas State College at Jonesboro.

Big maneuver - Lt. Earl Jackson Jr., son of Mr. and Mrs. Earl Jackson of Forrest City, arrived at Fort Bragg N.C., where he will participate in the Atlantic Warfare Maneuvers. He will be umpire for B Company of the 112th Engineers Combat Battalion. In Exercise Flash Burn. A total of 60,000 troops at Fort Bragg will participate in this, the largest peacetime maneuver ever held.

Boy wanted found here Howard Eugene Mathis, formerly of Heth, wanted in connection with a shooting at Hick’s Corner, has been apprehended by police in Knoxville, Tenn., and is being returned to Forrest City, local officials said. The Knoxville officials reported the boy has been living in Memphis. A hearing for Mathis will probably be held this week, Prosecuting Attorney Fletcher Long said. Mathis is charged with assault with intent to kill. He and three other boys from Heth reportedly drove through Hick's Corner one night last November and that at a crowd of negroes there, barely, missing them. The other three boys were arrested but Mathis escaped. Hearing was held for the other boys and two of them, Cleve Harris and Charles Harris, received sentences of three years each in the Boys Industrial School at Pine Bluff and the other boy, Eugene Harris, was sentenced to two years there.

Boys sentenced - Two Forrest City boys, Jimmy Barnes, age 17, and Bobby Smith, age 16, were sentenced to three years each at the Boys Industrial School at Pine Bluff on one count with 10 years suspended. At a hearing in Circuit Court here, with Judge Elmo Taylor of Searcy, officiating, the boys were charged with burglary and grand larceny, after admitting they committed 10 burglaries here during the past several months. The youths were arrested and a preliminary hearing for them was held at which time they confessed to burglarizing the following business houses here: Oklahoma Tire and Supply Store, Broadway Store, Haven Hardware Store, Highway Liquor Store, School Cafeteria (twice), Grammar School (twice), Lincoln School and Delta Liquor Store.

Builds schoolhouse in Korea - Army Cpl. Richard L. Enterkin, whose wife lives in Forrest City, recently helped build a schoolhouse in Korea. Members of this unit, Company C of the 185th Engineer Combat Battalion, built the desks and benches for a school as part of the Armed Forces Assistance to Korea program. Corporal Enterkin, son of Mr. and Mrs. Jack Enterkin, Route 1, Jena, La., entered the Army in December 1952 and arrived In Korea last July from Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., where he completed basic training.

Burglars - Burglars broke into two Forrest City business houses local police reported. On Saturday night a break-in occurred at Whittenton's Service Station on West Broadway and last night a break-in occurred at the Imperial Theatre on North Washington. The intruder gained entry to the service station by breaking the glass in a door. Nothing has been reported missing however, police said this same service station was burglarized March 23 and approximately $30 was stolen at that time. An undetermined amount of money was taken from the Imperial. The management said the amount was small, however, as it was only money from the concession booth. The thief entered the building by breaking a lock on the door of the storage room. George Trusty, chief of police who investigated the incidents, said no suspects have been arrested yet.

Cancer drive chairman Lockhart Sweet, well-known local planter, has been appointed chairman of this year's annual fundraising drive for the Cancer Society in St. Francis County. Citizens are urged to send their contributions without being solicited. Donations should be mailed to: "Cancer" care of Lockhart Sweet. Mr. Sweet plans to appoint committees to solicit the various towns in the county and city chairmen to canvass the white and colored sections here. These appointees will be announced, he said.

Collision - An accident involving a local school bus and a taxi occurred at the Broadway-Washington intersection, city police report. There were no injuries. The school bus, filled with children, was driven by Floyd Cowan Sr., and the taxi was driven by Willie Legg. City Policemen Peevey and Bradford said the accident occurred when Legg ran a red light and struck the bus. The right side of the taxi was damaged considerably but only minor damage resulted to the bus. Legg was charged with running red light and no charges were placed against Cowan.

Corner Drug Store Construction has begun on a new Cortier's Big Star here, which according to Sam Corder, manager will be the most modern grocery store and market in Eastern Arkansas. Located on the corner of Rosser and Dillard Streets, the store will be constructed of brick and will be 51 feet wide and 115 feet long. It will cost approximately $35.000, Mr. Cordor said. The new supermarket is expected to be completed within two or three months and will feature all new equipment and continued quality merchandise. At the time of completion of the new building, Corder's Big Star, now located on West Hill, will be discontinued. Contractors for the project are Doveroux & Finch and plans were drawn by Estes W. Mann and W.C. Mann, Memphis architects. The building will be constructed for Burk Mann.

Honored upon retirement - A luncheon honoring Miss Constance Mitchell, widelyknown former teacher and head of the library at Arkansas State Teachers College, Conway, for many years, was held in the Hotel Marion Ball Room, Little Rock. The luncheon is being held in honor of Miss Mitchell upon her retirement after 35 years of active service. At this event a gift, possibly a television set or an automobile, will be presented to her by her many friends.

Last rites - Victor L. Hunt, age 77, passed away at Roy Hospital here. He had been in poor health for about 10 years and had been in a critical condition for the past 10 days. Born in St. Francis County near Bonair on July 7, 1876, he was the son of Mary Catherine Ligon and James Hunt. He spent his entire life here and had been residing west of Palestine for almost 20 years. He was a painter and paper hanger but his health had forced him to retire over 10 years ago. He married Miss Nora Grantham in 1903 and the couple had six children, five of whom survive him. Mr. Hunt was a member of the First Christian Church here and was one of the last three surviving members of that church. Surviving him, in addition to his wife, are his children, Mrs. Carroll Young and Mrs. Audrey Fickle, both of Palestine, Miss Louis Hunt of Benton, Mrs. Lawrence Ashcraft of Pine Bluff and Charlie Hunt of Riverside, New Jersey; five grandchildren, one great-grandchild; two halfbrothers, Jess Farr of Wynne and John Farr of Memphis; and one sister, Mrs. J.D. Youngblood of Dallas. Funeral services were conducted at Stevens Funeral Home by Rev. Kent Dale. Burial was in City Cemetery. Pall bearers were Standish Young, Roy Young, Edwin Rountree, Johnny Gann, Gorman Osburn, Gene McGraw, Wayne Williams, Mervin Bryant, Harold Woods, Wilbur Woods and Cecil Elliott.

Minor crash - Four local teenagers suffered minor injuries in an automobile collision at North Washington and Lamar Street. Those involved were Jackie Sue Clarke, who suffered bruises on her leg and hand; Billy Swan, who suffered lacerations on the forehead; and Joyce Ryan and George Brimhall, who suffered shock. All were treated at CrawleyCogburn Clinic and then dismissed. City Policemen, Gunter and Westmoreland, who investigated, said the accident occurred when Billy lost control of the car he was driving when it struck a puddle of water, and skidded into the car driven by George, which was approaching in the opposite direction. The accident occurred during heavy rainfall. Miss Clarke was a passenger in Billy's car and Miss Ryan was riding with George.

Old folks - A small wardrobe is needed for the old folks at "Peaceful Acres" St. Francis County's new home for the aged, Mrs. Emory Sweet, chairman of the women's committee in charge of furnishing the home, said. One of the rooms is without a closet and the old people have no place to hang their clothes, the committee said. Anyone having a wardrobe which they will donate is asked to phone Mrs. Sweet at 275.

Operation Flag Hoist - FAR EAST (FHTNC) - While serving the amphibious force flagship USS Mount McKinley, Tommy G. Burns, electrician's mate third class, US, son of Mrs. Louis T. Burns of Caldwell, and husband of the former Miss Helen Neill of Forrest City, participated in Operation Flag Hoist an amphibious training exercise on the Island of Iwo Jima. The operation which involved thousands of Navy and Marine Corps personnel, was designed to promote the combat efficiency of all participating units. It afforded training in the planning and execution of an amphibious landing under realistic combat conditions. The training exercise took place nine years after the capture of the small Pacific Island. Japanese resistance ended March 16, 1945.

Palestine - J.T. Furrells and Benjamin Jones represented the Palestine colored school in the Oratorical Contest at Madison. Mrs. Pearlie Williams and 20 other citizens of the community accompanied them. ***The pupils of the fifth and sixth grades made a tape recording of negro spirituals, "Home on the Range" and "America, the Beautiful.” Several of the students recited Lincoln's Gettysburg Address. The recording machine and loud speaker were furnished by L.A. Willis, white. Mr. Willis stated that he is always happy to do anything possible to encourage and help the students in the colored school.