Thanks for a Wonderful Season

Thanks to our patrons, volunteers, Board Members and SSCHS members for a great 2010 Museum season. We'll reopen Thursday, May 5, 2011. In the interim, we'll be busy gussying up and putting together Civil War exhibits for next year.

Come see us at the Fall Fest next Saturday at Bell Park. We'll be glad to tell you about the Historical Society and the Museum Complex and will have Key magazines, tee shirts and books for sale.

Civil War Sesquicentennial Nears

As autumn brings welcome rain and relief from the heat, we are reminded that a new year is just around the corner. With 2011 comes the 150th anniversary of the Civil War.
The Civil War exhibit at the Old Jail Museum is in its infancy. We are noted on the Arkansas Civil War Sesquicentennial Commission's website If you have family stories , documents or artifacts to share, please contact the curator. It is the Musesum's goal to share the story of South Sebastian County families during the War.

Our uniform, a centerpiece of the current display, is taking a few days off. It will return to the display Monday. Many thanks to Larry Puckett for loaning this- and other- items.

The Search for Sarah: Author Nancy Dane Helps Sarah's Name Endure

There are many chapters of Civil War orphan Sarah Ann Campbell's life that we do not know- and may never know. But her name will live on thanks to author Nancy Dane. Nancy has been writing a novel about a six year old Fort Smith, Arkansas girl who was shipped north by steamboat when her parents were killed by bushwhackers. Nancy had called her Sarah. Now Nancy has given her a last name- Campbell.

We have shared photos of Sarah's uncle's family and the letters exchanged during the two decades that Uncle Samuel Pevehouse Campbell and Sarah's sister and husband searched for Sarah across Illinois. We hope the story of Greenwood's Sarah will be an inspiration to Nancy as she weaves this tale of Arkansas's Civil War days.

Nancy Dane is the author of three novels and one documentary about the Civil War in Arkansas. All of Nancy's books are being used as curriculum in Arkansas public schools. Read more about Nancy at www.nancydane.com .

Photo of unknown Civil War era mother and daughter from Library of Congress.