Liberty Cemetery Circa 1909

Liberty Cemetery rests among the trees south of Highway 96 on the eastern edge of Greenwood. At one time, Old Highway 96 (now the northernmost lane in the cemetery) formed its northern boundary.  It looked much different in 1909 (see photo). Gone is the garden gate and gone are the fences and walls that marked family plots.

Join us Sunday, October 14 at 2 PM at Liberty Cemetery as we step back in time and celebrate the lives of eight Greenwood citizens You'll learn about the cemetery's history, a family's Civil War mystery, a family's Civil War tragedy, the workings of a pottery, how the city's first Boy Scout Troop was established and much more. Admission by donation. Proceeds benefit the South Sebastian County Historical Society.

Trip to Devil's Backbone Mountain Ridge Battle Site

Isaac's clouds cleared just in time for Saturday's tour of the battlefield on Devil's Backbone Mountain Ridge. Larry Puckett, in a woolen Federal uniform on this warm late summer day, was our guide. Beginning the tour adjacent to Stroud Cemetery on Stroud Road in south Sebastian County, he showed participants where the old Waldron Road passed through the valley and began its ascent into the mountains. It was over this military road that troops and wagons passed on that fateful September 1 so many years ago.

The battlefield is accessed via Boone Road or Nickeltown Road, but is located on private property. Heavily wooded and rock and boulder covered, it is a rugged site. One can imagine the challenge of drawing a wagon or riding a horse or mule over the terrain. It is said some families earned their livelihoods rescueing travelers and repairing their vehicles throughout the history of the road. (It was used as recently as 1930.) As Larry recounts the story of the battle, we can envision Rebels hidden behind every boulder.

We think about the men who were conscripted, who, having little choice in the matter, fired upon men who were at times their neighbors, relatives or friends. We think about those who fell. And we think about those women and children who were left behind. And as we ponder, a tabby kitten clambered across the rocks, chasing a butterfly.

Family Fun at Fall Fest

Blustery weather didn't stop folks from coming out Saturday for the seventh annual Fall Fest at Bell Park. Thanks to everyone who helped and everyone who visited the SSCHS booth in the Wilkinson Pavilion. Special thanks to member Charles Efurd for sharing the story of Bell Park's treasure hunter Charlie McNabb.

SSCHS Meeting Tonight

Please join us tonight for our monthly meeting, featuring a presentation by Larry Puckett regarding the Battle of Devil's Backbone Ridge.

7 PM

Community Room, Farmer's Bank

Greenwood

Volunteers are asked to report at 6:15 for safety training and are invited to stay for the meeting.

Kersey Family Seeks Information

Peggy Kersey Winkel is searching for information regarding the Kersey family, early settlers of Greenwood, Sebastian County. Please contact the Old Jail Museum curator at curator.sschistoricalsociety@gmail.com if you can help.

Click on the photo to enlarge it.

Old Schools of Sebastian County

With last week's parent-teacher conferences, we are reminded of the old schools of Sebastian County. The Sebastian County website at Rootsweb has a wonderful collection of photos and information. You can see more at the Old Jail Museum's Redwine Pioneer Schoolhouse. Photos of area schools and pupils line the walls. You'll see the classroom rules and consequences for misbehavior that were posted to make any potential miscreant think twice. The portraits of Lincoln and Washington will remind you of your own school days. A jar of marbles recalls playground fun and the "little house" behind the school makes us thankful for modern conveniences.

The Museum sells two publications about early schools: "When the Old Bell Rang" and the 1998 edition of the Key Magazine. They are available for purchase at the Old Jail Museum.

The 2010 Museum season is drawing to a close at the end of October. Come see us this weekend and enjoy South Sebastian County History and the beautiful weather.

Fall Festival Coming November 6

Mark your calendars and plan to join us at the Fall Festival at Bell Park Saturday, November 6. The weather promises to be beautiful and the food delicious. Lots to see and do. We'll be there to answer your questions about the Old Jail Museum Complex, the Society and all things historical. "I've Been to Jail" t-shirts and Key Magazines will be available for sale. And, of course, Louise and Vernon will have their homemade butter and churn. See you Saturday, November 6!

Lighting the Night: The Betty Lamp

Ancient lamps, originally crafted of clay and, in later centuries, of iron, copper and bronze, burned grease, fish oil, or fat. The wicks were composed of twisted cloth scraps. When lighted, the lamps produced smoke and frequently dripped or spilled. The Betty Lamp was designed to eliminate the problems associated with these early lamps.

The Museum is pleased to have received the donation of a Betty Lamp. This lamp was the most commonly used lamp in America from colonial times until the 1850s, when it was replaced by the kerosene tubular wick lamp.

A Familiar Face

Luan Hearn Moore (left), past president of the South Sebastian County Historical Society and guest Polly Johnston (right), toured the museum today. Along with her many other contributions to the Society, Luan was instrumental in the development of the Coal Miner's Memorial, the acquisition of the Vineyard Log Cabin and served as editor of the Society's publication, The Key. Many thanks to Luan for her dedication to SSCHS and committment to the preservation of the history of South Sebastian County.

Museum Featured in Online Encyclopedia

The brochure of the South Sebastian County Historical Society has been uploaded to the Arkansas Encyclopedia of History and Culture. Future articles on the Old Jail Museum and the Society are forthcoming.

Search for Sarah: Update

Our efforts appear to be panning out. We made contact this week with a descendant of Sarah's cousin, much to our delight. Stay tuned!

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.

Walking the Talk

We suggested you put your own family stories on paper or into digital files of one type or another. We're practicing what we preach. The South Sebastian County Historical Society has begun collecting oral histories of South Sebastian County citizens. Residents are sharing their family stories and memories of South Sebastian County. Greenwood High School senior Erika Lindsay is shooting, editting and producing. Historian Glenda Wallace and Curator Donna Goldstein are interviewing. Our plan is to develop a library of digital family and community histories that will be available for viewing at the Old Jail Museum.

For more information, email curator.sschistoricalsociety@gmail.com

Collect Oral Histories: Create Your Own Family "Museum"

The members of your family and your community have stories to share. The sharing of the stories of their personal lives provides a wonderful way to deepen family relationships and opens the window so that future generations can have a peek at what life looked like during their lifetimes.

Much of what we know about the past we have learned from old letters, documents, books and shared family stories. People today seldom write their memoirs- or correspond in the form of letters- but you can document the events of your family or community through the collection of oral histories. They can be transcribed or digitally recorded as audio or video files.

This link is to the Smithsonian Folklife and Oral History Guide. It offers suggestions for interview questions. Good luck!

The Search for Sarah Continues

We've been looking for some time for information regarding Sarah Ann "Annie" Campbell, a Civil War orphan from Greenwood. We know that she was transported by steamboat to Illinois at age six and that her Greenwood uncle, Samuel Pevehouse Campbell, and her sister searched extensively for her. Letters to the editor, published in the Fort Smith Elevator, document that her uncle became aware of her whereabouts when Annie was age twenty-five. It has become our quest to determine whether Annie ever returned to Greenwood. We've been assisted by a wonderful genealogical researcher from Fayetteville, who has donated many hours to the search.

We have learned that Annie owned land near Milltown, but have not yet documented whether her signature appears on any of the documents, hopefully indicating her married name and residence. We hope to make a trip to the courthouse to look into that this week. We have stumbled upon a number of business transactions in old postal ledgers by her uncle. And, at last, we have located a photo of Uncle Samuel Pevehouse (S.P.) Campbell. It was right under our noses-- in plain sight-- on the rear cover of the 1996 Key Magazine.

S.P. is pictured here with second wife Tennessee McClendon Campbell and family in front of the Campbell home. Front row: Clarence Cason, Samuel P. Campbell, Tennessee McClendon Campbell, Cyrus Walker Campbell. Back row: Lewis Cason, Martha Campbell Cason, baby Wendell Lewis Cason, Laura Cason and Claude Cason.

The Document Room

The Old Jail Museum's second floor is home to a library of historical documents. Items available for researchers to review on site include cemetery records, records of the justice of the peace, postal and mine company ledgers, newspapers, original photographs, books, family Bibles, books written by area residents, historical medical and pharmaceutical texts, local biographies and various other materials. The Document Room is open during regular museum operating hours (11AM-3PM, Thursday-Saturday) and other days by appointment. Email curator.sschistoricalsociety@gmail.com for additional information.

Adopt Sebastian County Historical Site

Many who are interested in Sebastian County history have enjoyed Lynn Risener's site at http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~arsebast/. It is part of the U.S. and Arkansas GenWeb Project. GenWeb is a volunteer organization that produces free genealogical resources. The site contains a wealth of documents, records and images from the early days of the county. Lynn is stepping down and is looking for someone to manage the site. If you're interested, and we hope you are, contact Lynn at: banardrisener@yahoo.com. This attractive and well organized site is a treasure trove of information.

Go, Garrett! Go, Vernon!

Garrett Lewis of Channel 5 interviewed SSCHS's Vernon Stewart this morning at the Old Jail regarding Vernon's tremendous generosity in donating his time and talents to the Society and many other local and area organizations and events. Catch it on the 10 PM news tonight or watch the video after 11 PM in the "Go, Garrett, Go!" spot on the Ch 5 website: http://www.kfsm.com/weather/roadtrip/calltoaction

For those who may not be aware, Garrett rides his bright green bike across northwest Arkansas to focus on volunteerism. Quite a feat in these 100 degree plus temperatures. We thank Channel 5 for shining the spotlight on Vernon Stewart. And, thanks, Vernon, for all you do! A special thank you, too, to Vernon's wife, Louise, for her devotion and many, many contributions to help preserve the history of South Sebastian County.

Sabrina Edwards, A. C. Brown and Kim Brown were on hand to lend their support.

Pictured are Vernon Stewart, Mayor Ken Edwards and Garrett Lewis; Vernon Stewart, Curator Donna Goldstein, Garrett Lewis, President Ruth McConnell; President Ruth McConell with News 5 "Go Garrett Go Car."

Summer Reading

There's no time like the summer for a book that reads easy-- a book you can read snippets from now and then when the notion strikes. We have two "easy reads" at the Old Jail Museum: "When the Old Bell Rang" and "Strings and Things."

"When the Old Bell Rang" was written by William David Redwine, former editor and publisher of the Greenwood Democrat, and father of Delma Joyce Woosley. The book chronicles the lives of early teachers. After reading the book, make a visit to the Redwine Pioneer School at the Museum Complex, see the Redwine family artifacts and imagine yourself sitting on one of the benches writing on your slate. And, yes, the school has an old bell.

For a look back at the Greenwood of yesterday, try "Strings and Things." This book, editted by Jane Babin Rogers, is a collection of the newspaper columns of Estella Wright Szegedin. Mrs. Szegedin, who wrote well into her nineties, shared her observations of life in Greenwood with her readers in the pages of area newspapers for many decades. Readers will recognize many familiar events and personalities.

Both books are available for purchase at the Old Jail Museum.

"When the Old Bell Rang".....$15.00
"Strings and Things".........$10.00

Did you know the South Sebastian County Historical Society maintains a Document Room at the Old Jail Museum? Visitors can read historical documents of local interest, view historic pictures, investigate cemetery records and read books about the past of South Sebastian County.

Rain Didn't Dampen Spirits

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The celebrants of Freedomfest 2010 were not deterred by a little rain. Brave folks with umbrellas ventured out and enjoyed the morning's festivities. By mid afternoon, the sun was shining and the Square was rocking to the sounds of “Mr. Cabbage Head and the Screaming Radishes”, “Common Thread”, “10 Spur” and “Fordamatic."

The Old Jail Museum had a steady stream of visitors. Many youngsters were guided by docents through the displays of artifacts from South Sebastian County's early days. They asked insightful questions. Here's hoping they left with a new interest in history!