Museum Board shares need to preserve history of area
Members of the St. Francis County Museum Board on Tuesday discussed the need to preserve history today for tomorrow’s citizens.
Board member Ben Story shared with board members that 10 to 15 years ago he thought about driving through the city to videotape streets, buildings and businesses to keep a video record of the city, but never did.
"I really wish I had done that now," Story shared with board members. "Even now, there are so many buildings we do not have now that we had then."
"Especially on Front Street," agreed member Kim Danehower.
"My next grant is to get audio and video equipment," SFC Museum Curator Judy Sweet told board members. "I would like to start a scan disc catalog of videos and recordings of our citizens."
"Yes, because there is a lot of our history that is gone and not being recorded," agreed Danehower.
Danehower lamented the recent passing of several centurions whose stories were not preserved.
Sweet said several family members of older residents recently donated items to the museum after their loved one died, but she regrets those seniors had not been interviewed before they passed.
"For example, we have a centurion who lives near Crow Creek," said Sweet. "That family bought the land from the Bonds. We have nothing about the Bonds except what is on the walls in the hall."
Board member Emily Holley said she noticed the museum did not have any information on display about Lincoln High School. LHS was an all black school that was integrated with Forrest City after 1970.
"I was in the last class at Lincoln," said Holley. "What I would like to see is the museum bring that information downstairs to let people know we had that here in Forrest City."
Sweet suggested using an area downstairs near the entrance that was set up for rotating exhibits.
"Groups that have something are responsible for putting it up and taking it down, but while it is here, I take care of it," said Sweet. "A reunion committee could come in and display those items."
"Wouldn't it also be nice to have a Lincoln group here so I could record it as well? A reunion committee could come in and display items too," added Sweet.
Sweet encourages any Lincoln alumni who have items from the school, especially yearbooks, to donate them to the museum. "Or offer them on a short-term loan,” she said.
(Continued from Page 1) "A lot of the history preserved from Lincoln was taken out of the trash," board member Mario Graham revealed.
Danehower said local history is slipping away due to no one preserving it.
"And that is sad," said Danehower.
"Going to school in Forrest City, it surprised me and distressed me all at the same time that the history of Lincoln is not there," said Sweet, adding that preserving those records would be important for oral histories as well.
The board also discussed local cemeteries that are in need of preservation.
In other business, the board approved new member Kathy Cockmon.
"She will be replacing one of our at-large board members," said Sweet.
Sweet also asked the board to consider recommending names of those for appointed positions that she could recommend to St. Francis County Judge Hughes.
"The Quorum Court has cleared Claire Dearing for one of the appointed positions, but we need a few more names," said Sweet.
"If you know of anybody, we'd like to keep the board as diverse as possible," added Danehower.
Danehower also said the board needs to consider additional committees that might be needed to promote interest in the museum. "Be thinking of ways to get more people involved," she said.
Sweet told the board that she hopes to begin offering story times and book handouts for children soon.
"We have a living grant coming through to hand out books to third grade and down," said Sweet. "It worked really well for the summer program."
According to Sweet, the pandemic has impacted the museum’s visitor numbers.
Danehower asked fellow board members to bring back names and reach out to fellow history enthusiasts for fundraising, exhibits and other ideas to get people into the facility.
The board also observed a moment of silence for the more than 500,000 U.S. lives lost during the pandemic.
The next board meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, April 27, at 5:15 p.m.