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 TimesHerald.)

August 1946

Truck Abandoned - Sgt. Glen Garrett and Patrolman Dwight Galloway, state policeman, found a wrecked Army truck on Highway 70, one and a half miles east of the Cabin-in-theCotton. The front tire was blown off the right wheel and the headlight and fender smashed. The truck had been abandoned. It was towed to a garage here by a wrecker. The Memphis Air Conditioning Company, which owned the truck, was located at noon today. The driver of the truck had not been found, according to the police.

Locals - Happy Hollow misses the W.W. Campbells, both Bill and Miss Victoria have gone to Montreat, N.C., for a two-week vacation and to join daughter Ann, who is spending the summer as counselor at a Presbyterian Assembly training to become a Christian leader. Ann will return home with her parents. Everyone will be pleased to welcome her. ***Notice of the death of a dear lady, Mrs. Sue Brantley Culp, 80, grandmother of Nall Brantley, esteemed citizen and clerk in the F.C. Post Office, was read with a pang of sorrow in The Press-Scimitar. Deceased was mother of Mrs. J. Norvell Taylor, at one time a voice teacher here. Mrs. Culp was also the aunt of Mrs. Jerry Burns of this city. ***Mr. and Mrs. Claud Tittle and pretty little daughter, Joe, of Johnson Township, were visiting and trading in the city and paid Happy Hollow a pleasant call. Old Claud, a shifty bird, reports it won't be long until he starts cooking up a batch of sorghum for fall and winter sweetenin. Ole Crowley Ridge can't be beat for sorghum molasses-it’s half a man's livin' when the frost is on the punkin' an' the fodder's in the shock.

Watermelon Party - Six couples enjoyed a watermelon feast given by James Devazier on the lawn of his home. Later in the evening they went to Swing Inn for a dancing party. The guests included: Miss Rosemary Haven and Wilson Oswalt, Miss Martha Jane McCollum and Haynes Newman, Miss Betty Jean Smith and Joe Davidson, Miss Ada Louise DeRossitt and Bobby Joe Peeples, Miss Maxine Bell and Bill Aycock, Miss Mary Margaret Smith and Marshall Carlisle.

New Fire Truck - The new fire truck ordered March, 1945 from the American LaFrance Foamile Corporation was shipped from Elmira, New York. It should arrive here Aug. 20, according to Bob Myers, fire chief. This fire truck is a 750 gallon pumper with all the latest fire fighting equipment.

Bear Creek Vacation - A party of nine spent several days at cabins on Bear Creek Lake near Marianna. They enjoyed fishing, boating and picnicking. In the party were: Mr. and Mrs. Leo Grobmeyer, J.O. Bridgeforth, Mrs. John Cargill, Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Dickerson and daughters, Nell and Jan, and their nephew, Don Smart, all of Blytheville.

Happy Hollow Lady - It all started when that gracious and thoughtful Happy Hollow lady, Mrs. Ralph L. Urton, went down to see Mayor Deaderick and told him about how the dust was such a pain in the neck to those living at the intersection of Forrest and Garland streets. The mayor listened, and lo and behold, here came Commissioner Ed Sargimer and his boys, equipped with large fire hose and soon the dusty Happy Hollow streets were washed clean and cool. It happened on Saturday afternoon and the grapevine wants to join in thanking the street crew for getting the job done. It's a hard task, but it was well executed and the streets were washed as clean as your parlor floor. Then on Sunday morning as if adding His blessing, a thunder cloud came over. Soft breezes blew and there was a sprinkling of mercy drops which gave promise of a break in the terrible hot spell which had continued a number of days. God be thanked and praised from one and all in Happy Hollow.

August 1954

Wynne Child Dies - Jane Chapman, 8, of Wilson was killed when her bicycle ran down an embankment underneath an empty semitrailer here. The accident occurred on Highway 1 near a railroad underpass. Hilman Robinson of Cherry Valley, driver of the truck, said he saw the child and two companions sitting on their bicycles at the top of the embankment but had passed and he knew nothing of the accident until he heard a bump and screams of the other children. A rear wheel of the empty trailer passed over the child's body. She was dead on arrival at the hospital here about 10 minutes after the accident. She was the only child of Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Chapman, who arrived here to visit Mrs. Chapman's uncle, Dr. R.G. Kemp, a chiropractor from whom Jane was to take a series of treatments.

History Books - "The History of St. Francis County” already is a valued possession but 10, 15 or 20 years from now its value will be greatly increased; in fact it will become a collector's item." That's the statement of a Forrest Citizan who purchased 'History of St. Francis County,’ with the idea of giving two of the books to his sons later on. If you're interested in preserving a written account of the things you have known and enjoyed in St. Francis County, plus an authentic early history of this county, with hundreds of pictures of churches, businesses, individual streets, etc... then hurry in the TimesHerald office and purchase a copy of the book. The purchase price is $4. Add 25¢ if you wish a copy mailed.

Teen Towners - The Stewart Elementary School here (colored) will present the TeenTowners of Memphis in a program at Lincoln High School. Under direction of A.C. Williams, the Teen Towners broadcast over Station WDIA each Saturday morning.

Patio Hamburger Supper Continuing the series of "stags" events for various teams of the Jaycee Midget Baseball League, the Dean's Milk group was entertained. Co-heads were Mr. and Mrs. Rodgers Deaderick and Mr. and Mrs. Ben Hamilton, who prepared and served a hamburger supper, crowned with iced watermelon, to the boys and their managers at the Deaderick's home on Mississippi Street. The managers, who were special guests, were Leroy Dangeau and Ray Harrell. Members of the team who comprised the guest list were: Alva Archer, Phil Hickey, Eddie Anderson, Doug Smith, Bobby Wright, Ben Hamilton, Mike Deaderick, Rickey Stevens, Jerry Shurgar, Collie Walker, Don Gattinger and Larry Fleming.

Haywood Brown Accident Haywood Brown of here, 24year-old fitter crew helper for Arkansas Power & Light Company, suffered third-degree burns when he accidentally came in contact with 110,000 volts at the substation at Brinkley. He was rushed to Mercy Hospital in Brinkley where his condition was reported as satisfactory. The burns extend from his chest to his ankles. At the time of the accident, Mr. Brown was removing birds' nests from one of the steel towers. He attempted to remove the nest with a four-foot copper wire. Witnesses to the accident say that in all probability, he would have been electrocuted, had the wire not carried the majority of the charge to the ground. It was Mr. Brown's last day to work prior before leaving on a twoweek vacation with his wife. Money for his traveling expenses, which he had in a billfold in his pocket, was completely burned.

Art Class - Mrs. Wendell Weed of here would have charge of the art class conducted for local young people. This activity, which was being held in conjunction with the "Communality Youth Night" program sponsored by various churches, supplements the regular games and dancing for the young people.

Exciting 1911 Model - One of the first automobiles to travel the streets was a 1911 Overland own by Dr. P.P. Boggan. A picture was taken Jan. 18 on the corner of Washington and Front streets. On his left was Dr. J.A. Bogart. And the two boys in the back seat, enjoying themselves greatly, were Forrest Bogart and David Webb. The picture was included in "History of St. Francis County.”

Playground At Beech Grove Plans for sponsoring a playground in Beech Grove were formulated at a business meeting of the Forrest City Business and Professional Women's Club. Property for the playground in central Beech Grove had been donated by Burk Mann, local lawyer, and he offered to furnish some of the play equipment. B&PW Club members planned to furnish equipment also, and to plant shrubbery and trees on the site. "We are going to begin the project immediately and hope to have much of the equipment installed by this fall," Miss Virginia Dooley, club president said.

County Nurse - Aug. 20, Miss Martha Prince, public health nurse, was at Rawlison Store, near Hughes, for the purpose of giving typhoid inoculations. Miss Prince would also be at the city hall in Hughes to give the inoculations.

Natural Causes - The official coroner's report on Robert Franklin Smith Jr., 31-year-old employee of Orkin Pest Control Co., Memphis, was that the man died of natural causes, possible heart attack. Mr. Smith was found dead under a house on North Washington Street, which he was inspecting for the company. His body was discovered by neighbors who became alarmed when he failed to return from under the building. W.B. Barnes of 111 N. Washington, under whose house the man was found, said the company had not been hired by him, but was making an inspection preparatory to giving Mr. Barnes an estimate of costs on possible work to be done.

W.M. Jones Dies - Mrs. Judith Emma Jones, age 78, passed away at her home near Caldwell. She had been in poor health for the past six months and had been critically ill for a month. She was known to all her friends as "Mrs. Watermelon" Jones. She married William Milton Jones 61 years ago and moved to Caldwell in 1901. She had 13 children, 12 of whom survived her.

Hughes Child Dies - Mary Stone Stokes, five-year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Stokes of Hughes, died shortly after she was struck by a pickup truck on Highway 50 in Hughes. Seriously injured in the accident was Billy Henry, nineyear-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Warren Henry of Hughes. State Trooper Carl White, who assisted with the investigation, said the youngsters were riding their bicycles down the highway when they were struck by a 1948 Chevrolet pickup truck, driven by Lester Jennings of Heth. Jennings said the children were traveling west on his side of the highway as he was driving east. He stated that he did not see them in time to avoid the accident. The Stokes child died enroute to a hospital. The Henry child was taken to a clinic in Hughes for treatment of broken bones and other injures and his condition was reportedly serious.

Dead Cow - An automobile driven by John Blevins struck and killed a cow on Highway 70, just east of State Police Headquarters.

Found Dead - Martha Tyler was found dead at her home at 610 Center Street here. County Coroner Charlie Hubbard said the woman apparently died as the result of an asthma attack. Neighbors said she had suffered with asthma for some time. The woman was found sitting in a chair in her living room, by a neighbor and was dying at that time, the neighbor said. City police investigated but found no evidence of foul play. They were unable to locate anyone who knew the whereabouts of any of the woman's relatives.

Dessert Rook Party - Mrs. Emory Sweet entertained at her home in the Walker Apartments with a dessert rook party. Dessert was served on tables covered with small arrangements of rosebuds. Other floral arrangements were used throughout the home. Guests were Mrs. A.A. French, Mrs. Garnet Prewett, Mrs. E.J. Kyle, Mrs. Rolfe Eldridge Sr., Mrs. A.E. Smith, Mrs. A.L. Hutchins, Mrs. D.A. Hoshall and Mrs. Bessie Fletcher.