A rocky introduction

The editorial page writers have recently been extolling the wonders of our Arkansas Grand Canyon. I got my first view of it under a little different circumstance. Lavon White, Halton Zachary and I are 1949 graduates of Star City High. After being discharged from four years of Navy service during the Korean War (yes, I said war), we returned to Star City in August 1954. Arkansas was undergoing a severe drought with record temperatures. The nearest place we could cool off was the watering holes of Pine Bluff.

We departed Star City one early August morning in my 1950 Plymouth coupe. Our destination was Fayetteville to explore enrolling in the College of Engineering. We had never been north of Conway. All highways then were routed though the downtown area. In Russellville, the highway signs were confusing where Arkansas 7 connected. I pulled over to the curb where three old coots were sitting a few feet away on a bench. Lavon stuck his head out the window and asked, “This the road to Fayetteville?” One replied while pointing north up the highway, “Yeah, paved road all of the way.” Five hours later, we arrived in Harrison.

After we came to the higher elevations, the road had to be much the same as it was in wagon and T-Model days, very narrow and winding. The roadbed was floored in many places with huge flat stones the size of an automobile. I doubt that anyone ever got stuck on the upper regions of Arkansas 7. A few miles south of Jasper, which had to be in the vicinity of the Grand Canyon of Arkansas, suddenly, the side of the mountain caved in from being dynamited. It happened no more than 200 yards in front of us. No signs. No flagman. The road was blocked with boulders. Some were the size of my car. We sat for more than an hour while bulldozers cleared a path.

We arrived in Fayetteville about dusty dark. I expect those three old coots are still laughing. Yes, we graduated with degrees in electrical engineering. Woo Pig Sooie! WILLIAM S. TUCKER

Benton