Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Celebrate Our Freedom July 3



Free trolley rides with a tour guide will be one highlight of Greenwood's Fourth of July celebration- occuring this year on July 3. When the bell clangs and the trolley stops at the Old Jail, step off the trolley and into the 19th century. Our docents will be happy to show you around. Admission is by donation. Hours July 3, 9AM-6PM.

The City of Greenwood has an old-fashioned fun-filled day planned on the town square. See you there!

9:00 AM Turtle Race- BYOT (bring your own turtle)
Firecracker Walk (musical chairs)
Hubba Bubba Bubble Gum Contest
9:30 AM Watermelon Roll
Soap Bubble Buckets
10:00 AM Sack Races, Three Legged Races
10:30 AM Hoola Hoop Contest
Double Dutch Jump Rope Contest
11:00 AM Sponge Run
Uncle Sam Says (Simon Says)
11:30 AM Water Balloon Toss
Big Ball Balance Run
Noon Free lunch! (Hot dogs, chips, drinks, ice cream)
1:30 PM Free music events begin and run through 11 PM
9:15 PM Fireworks!

Sunday, June 27, 2010

Make the Museum Part of Your Holiday Celebration


The Old Jail Museum Complex is extending its hours Saturday, July 3, from 9AM-6PM. Admission is by donation. Come see our exibits including WWI, WWII and Civil War artifacts, as you reflect upon and celebrate our liberty. Our 1848 Vineyard Log Cabin, Old Barn, and Redwine Old Schoolhouse remind us of the sacrifices and joys of pioneer life in rural America.

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

ESA Presents Gift to South Sebastian County Historical Society


Kay Voss and Martha Beshears of Epsilon Sigma Alpha (ESA) presented a check in the amount of $2,100 to Ruth McConnell, Chairman of the South Sebastian County Historical Society at the group's June 21 meeting. The donation represented the proceeds from the first annual "Airing of the Quilts" show. Mrs. Voss and Chairman McConnell announced that the show will become an annual event, held in May. McConnell expressed the Society's appreciation for the generous donation and the group's enthusiasm about establishing this new tradition and friendship with the wonderful ladies of ESA.

Friday, June 18, 2010

"Spring Cleaning" at the Museum



Spring brings renewal. The museum is busy getting the grounds and buildings into shape. The Redwine Schoolhouse is getting a new coat of paint.

The Vineyard Log Cabin, Old Jail and Redwine School received a checkup when Dennis Driscoll, Technical Support Coordinator for the Arkansas Historic Preservation Program, visited June 17. Dennis made recommendations for the maintenance and preservation of the structures. Many thanks to Dennis and the Historic Preservation Program for sharing his expertise. To learn more about the Arkansas Historic Preservation Program, visit their website at http://www.arkansaspreservation.com/

Thursday, June 10, 2010

"Barrington"


The museum is honored to receive the donation of an autographed edition of Edward Tatum Wallace's autobiographical novel "Barrington."

"Barrington" is said to be a tale of early day Greenwood. Set in "Seba County" on the banks of the Vache Grasse, it is hard to believe otherwise.

The author was born and reared in Greenwood. He authored three books and was a popular writer for New York City area newspapers during the 1940s and 1950s. He retired from the Daily News in 1975 and passed away in 1976.*

The book is available for research purposes in the document room at the Old Jail Museum.


* University of Arkansas Retrospective 2008 (Annual Report)

Saturday, June 5, 2010

Grandma's Apron



Don't you love to find a package in your mailbox? This week the museum received a package from museum visitor Catherine containing seven lovely vintage aprons, two of which are pictured here. These aprons will be incorporated into our Hearth and Home exhibit. This exhibit is part of our participation of the Department of Arkansas Heritage's 2010 theme, "Roads Less Traveled: The Enduring Heritage of Rural Arkansas."

Many of us have have fond memories of the aprons worn by our grandmothers, aunts and mothers. Enjoy this tribute, author unknown.

Grandma's Apron

The principal use of Grandma's apron was to protect the dress underneath, but along with that, it served as a potholder for removing hot pans from the oven.

It was wonderful for drying children's tears, and on occasion was even used for cleaning out dirty ears.

From the chicken coop, the apron was used for carrying eggs, fussy chicks, and sometimes half-hatched eggs to be finished in the warming oven.

When company came, those aprons were ideal hiding places for shy kids.

And when the weather was cold, grandma wrapped it around her arms.

Those big old aprons wiped many a perspiring brow, bent over the hot wood stove.

Chips and kindling wood were brought into the kitchen in that apron.

From the garden, it carried all sorts of vegetables. After the peas had been shelled, it carried out the hulls.

In the fall, the apron was used to bring in apples that had fallen from the trees.

When unexpected company drove up the road, it was surprising how much furniture that old apron could dust in a matter of seconds.

When dinner was ready, Grandma walked out onto the porch, waved her apron, and the men knew it was time to come in from the fields to dinner.


It will be a long time before someone invents something that will replace that 'old-time apron' that served so many purposes.


~ Author Unknown

Sarah Update

Our search for missing Civil War Orphan Sarah Ann Campbell is moving right along. Thanks to Channel 40/29's recent coverage, we've received the assistance of a marvelous researcher from Springdale. He's delving deep into historical archives to determine whether Sarah was able to return to her Greenwood home and family following the war. We'll keep you posted.

Wednesday, June 2, 2010

TV 40/29 Assists in Search for Sarah

Catch the 6:00 news tonight as the search for Sarah continues. Damon Maloney interviews curator Donna Goldstein about Greenwood Civil War orphan Sarah Campbell.

Tuesday, June 1, 2010

Searching for Sarah

During the height of the Civil War, Greenwood's Sarah Ann ("Sallie" or "Annie") Campbell found herself, at age six, orphaned and alone. She was placed on a steamer and sent from her Arkansas home to Cairo, Illinois with other refugees. Sarah, from age six, overcame tremendous challenges and made her own way in life. When Sarah was twenty-five, a compassionate friend wrote a letter to the "Fort Smith Elevator" newspaper, hoping a relative or friend of Sarah's may have remained in the area following the war, would read of Sarah's plight and come to her aid. Sarah's uncle, Samuel Pevehouse Campbell, overheard the friend's letter being read aloud while waiting for mail at the Greenwood Post Office. He quickly contacted the letter's author and sent word that the Campbell family had sought Sarah far and wide, going so far as to send family members into Illinois, and would welcome her home with open arms.

History hasn't revealed to us yet if Sarah and her family were reunited. The Museum staff is eager to know. If you can shed light on the story of Sarah Ann Campbell, won't you please contact us at curator.sschistoricalsociety@gmail.com ?

The Civil War exhibit at the Old Jail Museum displays letters and documents regarding Sarah and her family. Open Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 11 AM- 3 PM.

To read historical documents regarding the relocation of Civil War refugees to Cairo, Illinois, follow this link.

http://mac110.assumption.edu/aas/Manuscripts/whiterefugees.html