Historic 1856 Smyrna Church west of Searcy is undergoing work to restore it to
its original form, and the effort will cost in excess of $100,000. To
assist in fund-raising, artist-instructor Janelle Selvidge of Searcy has
donated this beautiful water color painting of the church to the White County
Historical Society. She and the Society are selling 11x14 acid-free prints of
the scene, suitable for framing, for $50. The rendering is based on the
earliest known photograph of Smyrna Church, taken about 1915. The steeple no
longer exists but is being rebuilt as a part of the restoration. The
restoration project has run into unexpected problems in the substructure of
the building, which will require more funding than originally anticipated.
The Historical Society is sincerely grateful to the many families who have
already donated for window memorials, and to the Arkansas Historic
Preservation Program which has provided 2-for-1 grant funding to assist in the
project. We are hopeful others will help us continue the work at Smyrna until
we are finished.
Prints may be purchased by contacting any Historical Society officer or
director. The cost is $50 if they are picked up. Mail orders should add $3
and be sent to WCHS, P.O. Box 537, Searcy, AR 72145.
