Greene County, Arkansas - Centennial Edition 5

"Greene County's pioneer heritage was celebrated at the dedication of Crowley's Ridge State Park in 1936"

In 1912, my dad, W.T. Crowley, was appointed Walcott postmaster. He and Mom, Cynthia Gramling Crowley, moved their family from our farm two miles south of Walcott -- my dad's inheritance from his father, Samuel Jefferson, a grandson of the original Ben Crowley

Walcott was a thriving little town then. There were three doctors, Dr. Thad Cothren, Dr. W.M. Majors and Dr. Hutchens.

Mr. Alonza Jones owned a grist mill and blacksmith shop just north of the Baptist Church, which was, at first, a Mission of Mt. Zion Baptist Church.

Across the road was the two-story building housing Dr. Cothren's office above and the post office, drug store and soda fountain below. My dad tended all this. This building burned and a new one was built. Next was the Walcott Bank, run by Carrol Willcockson and Flora Light Seay. This building still stands.

In front of the bank was Dr. Majors' home and office. He owned the first automobile in town or country. Many a horse has been scared into a runaway at the sight or sound of this car.

Mrs. Majors bought the first self-playing piano anyone had ever seen. As Saturday was the gathering time for all the folds around, we youn folks would gather on her front porch to see and hear her play.

Next in line from the bank was a mercantile-general store, owned by J.L. Dacus. Many needy things were exchanged for the farmers' produce. He also owned a cotton gin. Sal Steinburg ran the next store, a furniture store, a branch of the Bertig store in Paragould

Believe it or not, the next store was owned by a man who sold coffins. It was told that he made his rounds each morning to the doctor's offices to see if anyone had died so he could sell his coffins

There also was a small jail where the drunks would be put to sober up. It was made of wood and was miraculously burned, presumably by one of its frequent visitors.

People for a five-mile radius had telephones, the kind that hang on the wall with a crank. The switchboard was run by Lee Speer and his daughters, Edna, Vera and Velma.

All this business section was on the west side of the road. The east side was the residential part, with some beautiful homes.

There was a two-teacher, two-story school house just west of the Baptist Church. The upper floor was the Woodsmen of the World lodge hall. Here they had a mechanical goat for initation purposes. Some teenaged boys broke in at school and were trying to ride it when the teacher caught them. They didn't try it again.

Skipping to entertainment for the good people of Walcott: a circus came to town each fall with an elephant, trained dogs, clowns, side shows, maybe a two-headed calf and once a spider woman. We were estatic. A hot air balloon was sent up. Also, there were medicine shows--one medicine cures all ills--spelling bees and school exhibitions.

We were at the celebration of the formal opening of the Crowley's Ridge State Park. The CCC boys were a group of wonderful young men who contributed a lot to the building of the park. Some of the area girls married these boys who are good citizens of our community and state.

Acton and I, with my brother, Wiley, and his wife, Winie, and my dad boarded the crowded special train headed for Gov. Marion Futrell's inauguration at Hot Springs. It was an experience to be remembered. It was our honeymoon.

Early next morning, all was quiet in the coach. Some were sleepig. Along came two men unraveling a roll of toilet tissue, yelling, "Morning Paper." We had a lot of fun and were happy to be a part of this occasion.

Eula Crowley Hughes, Walcott