The hurried formation of Fort Chaffee in the early days of World War II resulted in the relocation of many Sebastian
County families and the dissolution of such communities as Cornish, Oak Grove,
Center Valley, Auburn and Biswell Springs.
The South Sebastian County Historical Society will honor the memory of
the many families and communities of the area in a special program Monday, July
15, 7 PM at Greenwood’s Performing Arts Center.
Jerry McConnell,
retired reporter and editor of the Arkansas Democrat, born in the Oak Grove
community, will reminisce about his father, W. M. (Bun) McConnell, and his
country store at Cornish, the hub between Oak Grove and Union Grove. Betty Mayo, local historian and merchant, will
relate her experiences growing up in Union Grove during the 1920s and 1930s.
She’ll share her memories of friends, housewives’ remedies, entertainment,
school days and games she played.
A
national award winning tribute to the families and communities, entitled “You
Can Never Go Home Again,” will be presented by Dr. Aaron White, Jeff Turn,
Brant Warrick and Clifton James (pictured below as seventh graders in 1984 with then-Governor William Clinton.)
Music will be provided by Mansfield’s “Just
Us” and Hartford’s Shankle Sisters, who will perform a medley of tunes,
including one famous melody written at a kitchen table in the area we now call
Fort Chaffee. Ken Edwards will serve as master of ceremonies.
