Clark turns 200
County celebrating bicentennial with various events
Birthday festivities are underway in Clark County.
Founded on Dec. 15, 1818, as part of the Missouri Territory, Clark County is celebrating its bicentennial. A series of lectures began in September and will continue through Nov. 8. Special events include a dinner Nov. 15 and a birthday party Dec. 15.
“We’ve been working on this event for about three years,” said Charlotte Jeffers, board member of the Clark County Historical Association and secretary of its Bicentennial Committee. “Then about a year ago, we got in touch with County Judge Troy Tucker, who has been very supportive.”
Bob Thompson, president of the Clark County Historical Association, said the intent of the bicentennial is “to reach out to all people in Clark County and anyone who resided at any time in south Arkansas and tell them about the history of this area.
“So many people don’t know our history,” Thompson said. “We want to involve as many people as we can. We want to make people aware of who we are … of our history.”
Rex Nelson, a newspaper columnist, will present the next lecture, which is free and open to the public, at 7 p.m. Thursday in the Garrison Center Lecture Hall at Henderson State University. He will speak on Recollections of Modern Clark County.
The schedule for the remaining free lectures, which will also begin at 7 at the Garrison Center Lecture Hall, include the following:
• On Nov. 1, Cherisse Jones-Branch, a history professor at Arkansas State University, will speak on African-American Contributions to Clark County.
• On Nov. 8, Tom DeBlack, a history professor at Arkansas Tech University will discuss Civil War and Reconstruction in Clark County and Southwest Arkansas.
Members of the Clark County Historical Association will host a mixer prior to each lecture, beginning at 6:15 p.m. outside the lecture hall. One hour of professional development credit for teachers will be offered for each lecture.
“The bicentennial dinner, which will be held at the Garrison Center, is our signature event,” Jeffers said, adding that tickets are $25 and may be purchased at the Clark County Historical Museum, 750 S. Fifth St., or at the lectures.
“We have a lot planned that evening. The social hour will begin at 6 p.m., followed by dinner at 7, which will be provided by Henderson State’s food service, Sodexo,” she said.
“Rex Nelson, who is an Arkadelphia native, will be our emcee,” Jeffers said. “We will have two singing groups — Freddie Horne of Nashville, Arkansas, and his bluegrass band; and The Singing Revs, a gospel quartet featuring ministers from churches in south Arkansas, including St. Paul A.M.E. Church here in Arkadelphia.”
Meeks Etchieson, Program Committee member, said the Nov. 15 event will also include presentations by a group from the Chickasaw Nation in Ada, Oklahoma, and a group of re-enactors from Historic Washington State Park near Hope.
Etchieson said LaDonna Brown, director of research and cultural interpretation for the Chickasaw Nation, will bring members of the Chickasaw Nation who will “talk about the Trail of Tears and how it affected the tribe.”
“One branch of the Trail of Tears cut across Old Military Road in Clark County,” Etchieson said. “They will give information about that. They will also talk about their traditional dress and show some of the items they use in their dances. However, they will not dance.”
Etchieson said re-enactors from Historic Washington State Park will portray early settlers in Clark County, including Jacob Barkman, often called the Father of Clark County, and his wife, Rebecca.
“Joe May will portray Adam Blakely, who was one of the first settlers of Arkadelphia,” Etchieson said. Blakely established a blacksmith shop on the Ouachita River at a site to be named Blakely town, now known as Arkadelphia.
“And I may portray Abner Hignight,” Etchieson said, adding that he is a retired archaeologist with the Ouachita National Forest. “He was a farmer and a bear hunter on Old Military Road.
“We are also planning to display some items that were in use in the early 19th century … antiques or relics,” Etchieson said.
The birthday party on Dec. 15 will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the lawn at the Clark County Courthouse, 401 Clay St.
“We will serve free birthday cake and soda,” Thompson said. “We hope everyone will come to join in the celebration of our 200th birthday.”
Additional bicentennial activities include a student poster contest, a classroom time-capsule project and an essay contest.
“Materials have been taken to the public schools in Arkadelphia, Gurdon and Centerpoint,” said Jeffers, who is also chairman of the Schools Committee. “The deadline for submissions is Oct. 25. Winners will be announced at the dinner.”
Jeffers said the Planning Committee is also collecting photographs for the Clark County Bicentennial Journal that will be available for sale in 2019.
“People can bring their photos to the Clark County Library System — the Arkadelphia branch or Gurdon branch — or the Clark County Historical Museum, and they will scan the photos while they wait,” Jeffers said. “We need photos from a variety of eras, right up to present day. Names of people, place names and approximate year, plus permission for the Clark County Historical Association to publish, need to be written on the form for each scan. The book will be about 200 pages and available in 2019.”
The Clark County Historical Association also had a commemorative coin minted for the bicentennial celebration. Coins are $25 each and may be purchased, while supplies last, at the Clark County Historical Museum or online.
For more information on the Clark County Bicentennial, call the Clark County Historical Museum at (870) 230-1360. Hours are 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday through Friday and 10 a.m. to noon Saturday. Information is also available at www.clarkcountyar200.org and on Facebook: Clark County AR Bicentennial.