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.)

September 1926

Plea For Hospital - The Times-Herald has received the following communication: Sunday evening just after the 7:45 train left for Memphis carrying with it another poor sick soul on a cot bound for one of the hospitals there, I saw a gentleman go up to Mr. Keeler, who was with several others, and ask him when he was going to write another letter like he did on Civic Loyalty to our own town. Mr. Keeler replied, “What is the use no one cares till the troubles come into their own family, then they realize the need of civic loyalty." I thought Mr. Keeler had another excellent opportunity to drive in another wedge upon that much needed institution here. Surely there are men well able to take this matter up in our counsel and stop the leak and let the large sums spent in Memphis be expanded marks amongst our own merchants. Cannot some able pin help visualize this question and help to put Forrest City on the map. Remember the scripture, "I was sick and He took me in." Yours truly, listener

Comments by Landvoigt Mr. and Mrs. Neville Page of Memphis paid us a very pleasant visit while working on their way home from a fortnight sojourn in Hot Springs. More than a decade ago we learned Nevell to "juggle the leaden messengers of thought" in the Tracey Printing Companies establishment in Memphis. His good wife also at that time was employed in the bindery. Both have made good in life and have not forgotten their old boss. We certainly appreciate their visit. *** The Celtic Africa Archaeology Society of the Rock Island last week in delving and cutting the brush and weeds in the Southside Park made a remarkable discovery, that of two portions of railroad tracks. Further discoveries are anticipated when the balance of weeds are removed. ***A black eye for St. Francis County. The correspondent for the Commercial Appeal in commenting on the recent county convention, winds is up as follows: "At any rate the reputation of St. Francis County as one of the political storm centers of the great Wonder State must be upheld at any cost." *** Duets rave over the beauties of Italian sunsets but Italy has a close competitor in Forrest City. The sunsets here are grand, magnificent. Hundreds of citizens are entranced with the beauty of the kaleidoscopic movement of the fading rays of the sun, the multiplicity of colors and fantastic shapes assumed by the clouds. So frequent are these splendors that they almost become common place. Our people are not easily excited by beauty or else but in Sunday last the community was thrilled with a curious phenomenon when brilliant rays of color flashed in every direction. Horn spectacles, auto goggles, smoked glass, etc., were brought to aid to solve this display. Its source was finally located in a pair of "folderol" sox donned by our Col. They were daisies. The groundwork was of the subdued color of the dove; stripes and spots of the tiger and leopard were in scattered mass and the color scheme out rivaled in brilliancy that of the peacock and parrot and even 100% was not forgotten, as a red, white and blue stripes entwined the mass of coloring. These "folderols" were imported and the pattern must have originated in King Tuts era. The magazine covers have nothing in the way of color scheme on

the Cardinals sox. The colonel is now looking for more worlds to conquer.

Agricultural Rally - In an effort to further interest in agricultural pursuits among the colored people of New Hebron community, a movement headed by FC Clay. WD Byndon and others worked up an old time community barbecue which was given on Aug. 26. By invitation, President WW Campbell, of the Bank of Eastern Arkansas, County School Superintendent JM Wilson and several other white friends of Forrest City were present. In a speech before about 150 white and 200 color, Mr. Campbell, in a calm and pleasant manager manor, impressed upon the colored people the many paying possibilities yet awaiting those who apply themselves industriously to the careful cultivation of Crowley’s Ridge soil. Professor Wilson told of the activities of the colored people and other parts of the county in school improvement work, exhibiting a chart and cause of several Rosenwald school buildings now dotting the county and stating to the colored people that the same proposition is open to us, with some reasonable effort on our part. Mr. Campbell returned to the stand and gave birth to the movement by pledging $25 and I.N. Nelson pledged $5. In the afternoon, interesting topics were made by I.N. Nelson, Rev. Ewing of Little Rock, County Demonstration agent HR Mitchell, S.A. West and Rev. J.N. Thompson. An impressive sermon was delivered at the church by Rev. Ewing. The community club, having a balance on hand amounting to $10, it was agreed to deposit said amount as the initial effort towards the direction of a Rosenwald school building.

The Speaker - Senator MB Norfleet will speak in Forrest City in advocacy of the of the socalled Full Crew or Extra Crew law, the repeal of which is being sought by the railroads and is being opposed by the railroads employees. It is one of the measures to be voted upon in the Oct. 5 election. Senator Norfleet led the fight in the last session of the General Assembly to prevent the repeal of the measure and has been directing the campaign along the same line for the past several months.

Parker Buys Two Stores George E. Parker purchased the two store buildings immediately west of his present location on Front Street and will occupy them with his furniture business. Mr. Parker has made steady progress since engaging in business a number of years ago and his ever increasing business has called for additional floor space. The front of the stores will be changed so that there will be only one entrance and the other frontage will be used as display windows. This will give Mr. Parker the largest floor space of any retail establishment in the city, as well as the largest frontage on Front Street.

Mrs. Logan Passed Away Coming as a shock to the members of the family as well as friends was the death of Mrs. Emma Ferguson Logan. Mrs. Logan had been ill but was not considered in critical condition until the sudden development of the diphtheria which caused her death before medical aid could be given. Mrs. Logan was 55 years of age, having celebrated that birthday on 16th of August past. She was born in Millington, Tenn., but came to this county at the age of three years and has made her home here since that time. Mrs. Logan was of a quiet retiring nature but those who knew and came in close contact with her became her good friends and warm admirers. She is survived by three children, Mrs. Ethel Bridgforth and Edgar Logan of the city and Snydor Logan of

Helena, three brothers Jack, Will and Joe Ferguson, and three sisters, Mrs. Bob Britain and Mrs. Tom Rowland of this county and Mrs. Blanche Francis, Atlanta, Ga. Funeral services were conducted by Rev. Blount F. Davidson, pastor of the First Baptist Church, and Rev. WV Womack, pastor at the Methodist Church. Interment was in Forrest Park Cemetery.

Shot By Cousin - A hurried trip by automobile to a Memphis hospital by the father conveying his wounded son Dorris Aldridge, age 12, who had been accidentally wounded by the latter's cousin, failed to save the youth’s life. The funeral was held with burial in Macedonia Cemetery. The boy was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Tom J Eldridge and lived 16 miles north of here near Pine Tree. While hunting, he stepped in the line of fire and his cousin Billy Adams, age 14, just had the latter pulled the trigger of shotgun. The charge struck the younger boy in the back. The father, as soon as he learned of the accident, took the boy in the car and started on the long drive to Memphis. The boy is survived by both parents, three sisters and a small brother. W.H. Aldridge of the city is his granduncle.

Award - In circuit court the only case of general address to come up in the early part of the week was that of Mrs. Julius Jolly suing the estate of Louis J Pugh for damages for the slaying of her husband. The jury awarded Mrs. Jolly damages to the amount of $11,750. It is not known as yet whether the case will be appealed. Louis Pugh killed Julius Jolly in July 1925, grand jury for first-degree murder, but his case never came to trial because he died at hospital following an operation before the adjournment of that term of court. The grand jury made its report and was discharged for the term. The report was routine and contained nothing of unusual interest.

Arrested - Andrew Simpson has been arrested in Champaign, Ill., at the request of St. Francis County authorities. Simpson was indicted for firstdegree murder by the St. Francis County grand jury at the September term 1925. He was charged with killing James Walker in July of the same year. Both parties are colored and the killing occurred at a church supper a few miles north of Forrest City. Since was arrested by Champaign authorities information furnished by Chief J.O. McDougal, who traced him to that place. Russell Williams left Tuesday night to bring him to Forrest City for trial.

Forrest Park Cemetery - The eyes of the county are turned toward Forrest Park, our new cemetery. The beautiful fence and imposing interest attracts the attention of all who ride by "Our Silent City of the Dead." The weeds have been cut and the road graded through the grounds. Every lot is marked by four concrete post. Arrangements have been made to cover the grounds with Bermuda grass this fall and our local florists are planning on putting a hedge along the front fences. A number of lot owners are beautifying their lots. Mr. McClendon is building concrete walls around several lots this week. Others who might like to have their lots enclosed with a concrete wall can save money by doing it at this time, as Mr. McClendon is making a special price while he has his machinery and tools on the grounds. Only a very limited number of lots are available at the special price of $100 and persons desiring some should see about it at once. Remember that after the first 100 lots are sold the price goes up. See Mr. Walter Stevens and arrange for a lot. If you do not have all the money, you can arrange to pay part and give a note for the balance. Get yours today.