Monthly Archives: June 2014

Little Rock Look Back: John Widgery, LR’s 8th Mayor

Posted on by

LR sealOn June 17, 1802, future Little Rock Mayor John Widgery was born in Portland ME to Mr. and Mrs. William Widgery.  His father died in 1804.  At the age of 11, John Widgery entered Bowdoin College.  He was the youngest student admitted to the college.

Widgery studied law with his uncle, Nathan Kinsman.  He married Ann L. Woodward, who was from Boston MA.  According to Bowdoin College records, he later “wandered away into the Southwest” spending time “in the Cherokee country.”

Widgery spent most of his adult life in the south. For a time Widgery was clerk of the Mississippi House of Representatives.  He then moved to Little Rock prior to 1840.  By 1840, he was Recorder for the City of Little Rock.

According to media reports at the time, several tradesman groups encouraged Widgery to run for Mayor in January 1841.  He did run but lost to Rev. Samuel H. Webb.  The next year, Widgery ran again and this time was elected Mayor.  He took office in January 1842.  On May 24, 1842 he resigned from office.  He later served as Secretary of the Arkansas Senate (where he made $8 a day when the Senate was in session).

Widgery eventually settled in St. Louis.  He later returned up north.  He died on August 2, 1873 in Portland ME and is buried there.  He and his wife did not have any children.

No known painting or photograph of Mayor Widgery exists.

Little Rock Look Back: Ark Municipal League President R. E. Overman

Posted on by
Overman

Mayor Overman in a photo from a campaign flyer

The Arkansas Municipal League is having the 2014 convention and celebrating its 80th anniversary this week here in Little Rock.  The first meeting took place in 1934 at the Hotel Marion.

On Friday, Mayor Mark Stodola will become the sixth Little Rock city official to be president of the Arkansas Municipal League.

Each day this week will feature a look at a previous Little Rock leader who led AML.

Mayor Richard “R. E.” Overman, was the third president of the Arkansas Municipal League serving in 1937.  While he was AML president, he started his second two year term as Little Rock Mayor.

First elected in April 1935, he was re-elected in April 1937.  Mayor Overman led efforts to create the first public water utility in Little Rock and to upgrade the wastewater system.  He also worked with the various New Deal programs to build up the city’s infrastructure.  In November 1936, he asked the City Council to call a special election for January 1937 to pass the bonds to allow for the construction of a new municipal auditorium. That initiative was passed by the voters.  Mayor Overman spent much of his last two years in office dealing with the water, wastewater and auditorium projects.

Mayor Overman was defeated in a bid for a third term in 1939.  He continued to live in Little Rock until his death in April 1947.

Hear the Glenn Miller Orchestra blow off the roof of Robinson Center Music Hall tonight

Posted on by
GMO2When Robinson Auditorium opened in 1940 (though the downstairs convention hall opened in late 1939), big band was THE music genre.
Over the years the legends of Big Band have played on both the stage of Robinson Auditorium as well as in the lower level. Before the building closes for a remodeling, the sounds of Big Band music return to the Robinson stage for one final time.
The legendary Glenn Miller Orchestra from New-York will perform one night only in Little Rock as they tour the world, bringing timeless classics like “In the Mood,” “Moonlight Serenade,” “Chattanooga Choo Choo,” “Pennsylvania 6-5000,” “String of Pearls” and “Tuxedo Junction” back to the stage. Even 75 years after founding his famous orchestra, Glenn Miller’s music is alive and well.
Tonight at 8pm, twenty musicians and singers will bring the unforgettable Glenn Miller sound to the Robinson Center Music Hall, performing timeless songs that everyone remembers. This is a must-see show for jazz and swing fans alike or the incurable romantics who want to step back in time. The legendary Glenn Miller was the most successful of all the dance bandleaders back in the Swing era of the 1930s and ’40s.
Producer Didier Morissonneau is proud to bring the most famous orchestra of all time to the Little Rock music scene, to perform their classic two-hour greatest hits show, directed by their new leader, the young and dynamic Nick Hilsher!

Looking Great at 178 is the State of ARKANSAS

Posted on by

Ark178One hundred and seventy-eight years ago today, Arkansas was admitted to the Union.  Happy Birthday Arkansas!

 

Set a World Record on FLAG DAY

Posted on by

flag bannerToday is Flag Day. A day to honor the Stars and Stripes, Old Glory, the Star-Spangled Banner.

It was 200 years ago, in 1814, that Francis Scott Key wrote the poem that became the National Anthem.  In celebration of that, the Smithsonian National Museum is working with local partners to create a nationwide attempt to break the Guinness Book of World Records for “the most people to sing a national anthem at one time.”

In Arkansas, the partner is Flag and Banner along historic 9th Street.  The singing will take place at 3pm CDT.

This official Smithsonian party will be held at Arkansas’ Flag and Banner located in downtown Little Rock to celebrate the 200th anniversary of The Star Spangled Banner. All guests are encouraged to sign up to sing during the sing-a-long which will be coordinated to happen at the same time with all the other party locations across the nation- including Ft. McHenry where the song was written. A National Guard Color Guard will present the colors during the sing-a-long which will take place at exactly 3:00 p.m.

Arkansas’ FlagandBanner.com has also partnered with the American Legion of Arkansas, local area Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts to present a dignified flag disposal ceremony to respectfully dispose of unusable U.S. Flags. Bring your their tattered and faded flags in for retirement and receive a coupon for $5 off the purchase of a new flag.

Kerry McCoy, owner of Arkansas’ FlagandBanner.com encourages everyone to come to this history making event, she said, “Flag Day is always an exciting annual event here at Flag and Banner, but this year is special because we are partnering with the Smithsonian National Museum, one of our long time customers, to make history. Come make history with us! Remember singing starts sharply at 3:00 p.m. and you must be signed up to be counted in the Guinness Book of World Records.”

During the party Arkansas celebrities will be on hand to lead the sing-a-long and give out prizes plus guests can sign up to win an in-ground residential flagpole kit with flag from Arkansas’ FlagandBanner.com. The event will include a special tribute to the troops and veterans along with a tribute to father’s since Father’s Day is this Sunday.

Refreshments and activities include free popcorn, a candy buffet and drinks-plus free games, face painting and activities for the kids at this family friendly event. Vendors selling burgers, barbecue, catfish and ice cream will also be available.

The party takes place Saturday, June 14, 2014 from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Arkansas’ FlagandBanner.com offices located at 800 West 9th Street in downtown Little Rock. This event is free and open to the public.

For more information e-mail tammie@flagandbanner.com or call: (501) 375-7633.

Celebrate Arkansas’ Quest for Statehood at Old State House and Historic Arkansas Museum today

Posted on by

OSH logohamlogoTomorrow is Arkansas’ 178th birthday.  Two state museums are helping people get in the mood by giving them a one day head-start on festivities.

The Old State House Museum and Historic Arkansas Museum are partnering to mark Arkansas’s 178th birthday with the annual Arkansas Statehood celebration, The Quest for Statehood, on Saturday, June 14, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Visitors will be given a chance to view and participate in a living history of  1836 Arkansas. Costumed interpreters will transform The Old State House and Historic Arkansas Museum to portray Arkansas as it was 178 years ago.

Several games and activities will be offered, including a large-scale game of commerce and trade that will provide an immersive experience. Living historians will portray the townspeople of 1836. These include a tavern keeper, phrenologist, carpenter, shop keeper, owner of a ladies’ emporium, silhouette artist and more.

The Old State House Museum and Historic Arkansas Museum are agencies of the Department of Arkansas Heritage.

 

CELEBRATE public art tonight at CALS

Posted on by
celebrateIn conjunction with 2nd Friday Art Night, the public dedication of Celebrate, the Central Arkansas Library System’s (CALS) newest public art piece, will take place Friday, June 13, at 6 p.m. 
This kinetic sculpture was commissioned in 2010 by CALS, Jim Conner, and other donors to commemorate the library’s centennial of service to the community and was recently installed on the Main Library’s campus, between the patron parking lot and the Arkansas Studies Institute building. 
The sculpture, in the shape of a spinning top, is inscribed with the word “Celebrate” in numerous languages from English to Binary Code to Klingon.
 
Michael Warrick, the sculptor who created Celebrate, and Bobby Roberts, director of CALS, will speak at the dedication. All will be welcome to try out the kinetic sculpture by giving it a spin. Afterward, attendees will be invited into the Butler Center Galleries to enjoy refreshments and live music as part of 2nd Friday Art Night.