News

Mar232011March 23, 2011November 22, 2016by itswebteam

Summer Teacher Workshops at ASU Heritage Sites

Posted in Arkansas History, civil war, Teacher workshops

The Arkansas Heritage Sites at Arkansas State University will be hosting a series of teacher workshops this summer. Each workshop will provide six hours of inservice credit. All workshop themes and activities fit into the Arkansas Social Studies Curriculum Frameworks. These workshops are designed to feature the multi-topic and interdisciplinary educational opportunities available through three great and unique Arkansas Delta sites.

June 14, 2011: Southern Tenant Farmers Museum, “World War II in the Delta.”
This workshop will focus on the POW camps that were located in the Arkansas Delta, as well as the impact the war had on agricultural production in the state. http://stfm.astate.edu/

June 16, 2011: Hemingway-Pfeiffer Museum & Education Center, “The Hemingway Connection.”
~~This workshop will focus on Ernest Hemingway’s connection to the Pfeiffer Family of Piggott and his contribution to Arkansas’s literary legacy. http://hemingway.astate.edu/~~ Canceled

June 22, 2011: Lakeport Plantation, “The Sesquicentennial of the Civil War in Arkansas.”
Lakeport is one of 23 official stamping sites for the Arkansas Civil War Sesquicentennial Passport Program. This workshop will focus on Lakeport’s and the surrounding area’s connection to the Civil War. https://lakeport.astate.edu/

June 28, 2011: Southern Tenant Farmers Museum, “‘Roll the Union On’: The Music That Inspired a Movement.”
This workshop will focus on the protest songs written by John Handcox and how music was used to mobilize a labor movement of the mid-twentieth century.

Please feel free to forward this announcement onto anyone who would be interested in attending these workshops. For those who are interested in registering for a workshop(s), registration is available through the Arkansas Heritage Sites on either the home page or the education page (the registration tool is located in the left hand side link menu): http://arkansasheritagesites.astate.edu/AHS/

Interested folks can contact Rachel Miller directly: rachel.miller@smail.astate.edu

Mar102011March 10, 2011November 22, 2016by itswebteam

Lakeport Plantation Joins Arkansas Civil War Sesquicentennial Passport Program

Posted in civil war, Sesquicentennial, tourism

For Immediate Release

3/10/2011

The Lakeport Plantation and Lake Chicot State Park are two of 23 stamping sites for the Arkansas Civil War Sesquicentennial Passport Program. According to a press release from the Arkansas Civil War Sesquicentennial Commission: Travelers in Arkansas can visit sites around the state to learn about Arkansas’s Civil War history while earning prizes through the Arkansas Civil War Sesquicentennial Passport Program, Arkansas Civil War Sesquicentennial Commission Chairman Tom Dupree announced today.

“The Arkansas Civil War Sesquicentennial Commission welcomes everyone to visit the state’s many Civil War sites by participating in the Arkansas Civil War Sesquicentennial Passport Program,” Dupree said. “Visitors can get their passports stamped at 23 different places around Arkansas and can visit other Civil War-related properties while they are in the area. Once all 23 stamps are acquired, visitors can send in the back cover of their passport to receive an official Arkansas Civil War Sesquicentennial coin or patch.”

Arkansas Civil War Sesquicentennial Passports can be acquired at any of Arkansas’s Welcome Centers, at the participating stamping sites, by writing Arkansas Civil War Sesquicentennial Commission, 1500 Tower Building, 323 Center Street, Little Rock, AR 72201, or by e-mailing acwsc@arkansasheritage.org.

Other Stamping Sites in Southeast Arkansas include: Arkansas Post National Memorial (Gillette vic, Arkansas County), St. Charles Museum (St. Charles, Arkansas County), the Delta Cultural Center (Helena-West Helena, Phillips County), and the Phillips County Museum (Helena-West Helena, Phillips County). Associated Sites in Southeast Arkansas include: Ditch Bayou Battlefield (Lake Village vic. Chicot County), Helena Confederate Cemetery (Phillips County), and the Drew County Historical Museum (Monticello, Drew County). For more information on the Passport Program and a full list of stamping sites and associated sites visit http://www.arkansascivilwar150.com/civil-war-sites/passport/

The Lakeport Plantation house is an Arkansas State University Heritage Site. Built for Lycurgus and Lydia Johnson in 1859, the Greek Revival home is one of Arkansas’ premiere historic structures and is now the only remaining antebellum plantation home in Arkansas on the Mississippi River. The Johnson family retained ownership of the house until 1927, when the Chicot County plantation was purchased by Sam Epstein. The house was added to the National Register in 1974 and was gifted to Arkansas State University in 2001 by the Sam Epstein Angel Family. Following a massive restoration effort, the home opened to the public on September 28, 2007.

Mar022011March 2, 2011November 22, 2016by itswebteam

Preservation & Tourism News for Lake Village & Chicot County

Posted in News, Preservation, tourism

The Arkansas Historic Preservation Program, in a press release, announced Lake Village’s downtown has been added to the National Register of Historic Places. On Saturday, April 9th at 11 a.m., AHPP will hold its Walks through History program in downtown Lake Village. Lakeport will also be open following the Walks through History program.

DOWNTOWN LAKE VILLAGE LISTED ON NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES

LITTLE ROCK—The Lake Village Commercial Historic District at Lake Village in Chicot County has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the country’s official list of historically significant properties, Arkansas Historic Preservation Program Director Frances McSwain announced today.

The Lake Village Commercial Historic District – which is bounded by Lakeshore Drive, Jackson Street, Chicot Street and Church Street – features buildings dating to around 1906.

“The district reflects the growth of Lake Village as a nucleus of commerce and trade in southeast Arkansas,” the National Register nomination says. “As the county seat, Lake Village is a center for local government and the Chicot County Courthouse is a cornerstone of the downtown commercial district. The Lake Village Commercial Historic District contains 38 buildings and one monument.”

The AHPP is the Department of Arkansas Heritage agency responsible for identifying, evaluating, registering and preserving the state’s cultural resources. Other agencies are the Arkansas Arts Council, the Delta Cultural Center in Helena, the Old State House Museum, the Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission, the Mosaic Templars Cultural Center and the Historic Arkansas Museum.

On Friday, February 18th, the Delta Byways held their 11th Annual Delta Awards in Forrest City. Lake Villagers were dominated for two awards; Brianne Connelly of Lake Village was nominated for the Tourism Support Award and Lake Village Mayor JoAnne Bush was nominated and won Tourism Person of the Year.

Tourism Person of the Year Winner JoAnne Bush with family and supporters from Lake Village

Brianne Connelly, Tourism Support Nominee, with James Bacon

11^th Annual Delta Awards for Tourism Achievement

The 11th annual Delta Awards recognizing tourism achievements in Eastern Arkansas were presented during festivities Friday evening, February 18, at the Forrest City Civic Center in Forrest City, Arkansas. The event was sponsored by Arkansas Delta Byways, with support from the St. Francis County Museum and the Forrest City A & P Commission.

Finalists for the awards were as follows, with the winner designated by an asterisk:

1. Media Support Award

Cross County Historical Society Newsletter, Wynne

*Delta Crossroads Magazine, Piggott, Rector, Manila and Trumann

Rob Johnson, Forrest City Broadcasting

2. Hospitality Award

Edwardian Inn, Helena

*Lake Poinsett State Park, Harrisburg

Paragould Community Center, Paragould

3. Entrepreneur Award

ASU Farmers’ Market, Jonesboro

E. J. Miller, Colton’s Steak House, Marion

*Periwinkle Place, McGehee

4. Tourism Support Award

Brianne Connelly, Lake Village

*Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas, Little Rock

Scott Lane, Dermott

5. Festival/Event of the Year

Blues on Broadway, West Memphis

Loose Caboose XXI, Paragould

*Tour duh Sunken Lands Harvest Ride, Dyess, Lepanto, Marked Tree and Tyronza

6. Boot Strap Award

Dyess Days, Dyess

*Main Street Paragould’s Holiday Traditions, Paragould

McGehee Historic Depot, McGehee

7. Promotional Award

Arkansas DeltaMade Artists – Betsy Brackin, Norwood Creech, Suzanne Churchill,

Edward Wade and Nancy LaFarra Wilson, All Counties

*City Branding Programs, Blytheville, Helena, Paragould and West Memphis

Bike Crowley’s Ridge, Mississippi River Trail

8. Outstanding Member Award

Linda Hinton, Tyronza

*Sheilla Lampkin, Monticello

Vicki Trimble, Lake Frierson State Park, Jonesboro

9. Cultural Heritage Award

*Exploring the Arkansas Frontier, ASU Museum, Jonesboro

Civil War Helena, Phillips Helena

Parker Pioneer Homestead, Harrisburg

10. Tourism Person of the Year Award

*JoAnne Bush, Lake Village

Rosalind O’Neal, Marion

Munnie Jordan, Helena

Feb172011February 17, 2011November 22, 2016by itswebteam

Lakeport Plantation Receives Donation of Original Furniture

Posted in Catherine Verlinda Johnson, donation, furniture, Johnson, Linnie Johnson

For immediate release:

2/17/2011

The Lakeport Plantation, on February 17, 2011, received a donation of two pieces of Lakeport’s original furniture and a Johnson family doll. The artifacts, an antebellum washstand, a carved chair, and a family doll that survived the 1927 flood in Greenville, Mississippi, are the gift of Glenn Smith of San Rafael, California in memory of his wife Verlinda Catherine Rose (Linnie). Lakeport Planation Assistant Director, Blake Wintory, stated “We appreciate the Smith and Rose families for giving these important historical pieces back to Lakeport. These pieces have not been in the house for over 80 years; they are essential elements for telling the story of the plantation.”

The artifacts have gone across the county from Lakeport to Greenville to Memphis, and then onto California and Washington as the Johnson family moved west. Linnie Rose acquired the pieces from her mother, Catherine Verlinda Johnson Rose, who received them from her father, Dr. Victor Johnson. Victor, the youngest son of Lycurgus and Lydia Johnson, was the last Johnson to live at Lakeport. He and his family moved to Greenville, Mississippi in 1917. Ten years later, following the flood of 1927, the family moved to Memphis. In 2008, Sharon Rose, Linnie’s sister, donated a washstand that is similar the washstand received today. Underneath the gray marble top is a shipping label that reads, “L.J. Lakeport, Ark.” Sharon remembers both wash stands being in her family’s home. She stated “I’m so happy Glenn donated those items to Lakeport; it’s where they belong.”

Feb172011February 17, 2011November 19, 20144 Commentsby itswebteam

Lakeport Special Delivery: What’s in the Box?

Posted in Delivery

Can you guess what came special delivery to Lakeport today?
Stay tuned.

The folks at Ship Smart are some amazing packers:

Feb152011February 15, 2011November 22, 2016by itswebteam

Highway 82 Bridge Demolition

Posted in Benjamin G. Humphreys Bridge, Hwy 82

The old Highway 82 bridge (Benjamin G. Humphreys Bridge) is no longer in one piece. Last week the eastern part of the bridge was taken out through a small explosion (I almost fell out of my chair at Lakeport). This morning the center part of the bridge is being lowered on to a barge(s).

Lowering old bridge’s center

Notice the missing section on the right (eastern portion of bridge)

More evidence of bridge’s demolition

Update (2/15/2011, 3:12 p.m.):

Middle section has been lowered onto two barges

Update II (2/16/2011): Video implosion of eastern side of bridge — courtesy of mcgee3394 on YouTube

Link to last summer’s blog entry on the old bridge:

Remembering the Old Bridge; Getting Ready for the New

Feb082011February 8, 2011November 19, 2014by itswebteam

Lakeport Plantation Presents:

Posted in event, Mark Twain

Twain on the Plantation

Saturday

February 26, 2011

2:00 – 3:00 p.m.

Delta radio and television personality, David Lush, will present his Mark Twain at the Lakeport Plantation on Saturday, February 26, 2011.

A tour of the Lakeport Plantation home will begin at 12:30 pm. At 2 pm, Mark Twain will entertain guests of the Plantation with his tales (some tall; some short) of his adventures as a Mississippi riverboat pilot.

Seating is limited to the first 50 guests. RSVP by Friday, Feb. 18th (870) 265-6031 Free Admission and refreshments.

“The doors will open at 12 o’clock, and the trouble will begin at 2.”

Jan142011January 14, 2011November 19, 2014by itswebteam

New Website for Arkansas State University’s Arkansas Heritage Sites

Posted in Arkansas State University, Heritage Sites, webpage

As many of you know, the Lakeport Plantation is part of Arkansas State University’s Arkansas Heritage Sites program. There are now four Heritage Sites: Lakeport, the Hemingway-Pfeiffer Museum in Piggott, the Southern Tenant Farmers Museum in Tyronza, and the most recent addition, the Historic Dyess Colony: Boyhood Home of Johnny Cash. The program also includes the ASU Museum, as well as the Arkansas Delta Byways, which promotes tourism in the 15 county region.

Now there is a single website for all of ASU’s Heritage Sites (thanks to the work of Rachel Miller, a graduate student in Heritage Studies program at ASU). The website gives an overview of programs, with links to all of the individual Heritage Sites’ web pages.

Visit http://arkansasheritagesites.astate.edu to check out all the Sites, their programs, history, and how you can experience Arkansas’s history.