Category Archives: History

Little Rock Look Back: Dr. John J. McAlmont, LR’s 25th Mayor and a founder of UAMS

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McAlmontJohnJ_fFuture Little Rock Mayor John Josephus McAlmont was born on this date in 1821 in New York state. (Various reports give his birth date as December 22 — but the family reports December 19 as the date.)

After studying medicine in Pennsylvania and Ohio, he arrived in Little Rock in March 1850 with his family.  After practicing medicine in nearby Benton, he returned to Little Rock in 1852.  In addition to being a physician, he was a pharmacist.

During the Civil War, he relocated his family out of Little Rock (to a spot where the present day community of McAlmont bears his name).  Following the war, he moved them back to the City.  In 1866 he was elected Mayor of Little Rock, the first elected Mayor since local government resumed following the Civil War.

In October 1879, he and seven other physicians founded the Arkansas Industrial University Medical Department in Little Rock. This institution has grown into the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences.  He served on the faculty of the medical school for several years.

Dr. McAlmont died in September 1896.  He is buried at Mount Holly Cemetery.  In addition to the McAlmont community bearing his name, there is a McAlmont street in downtown Little Rock which was named in his memory.

Little Rock Look Back: School Children Sing Christmas Carols at Robinson Auditorium

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Christmas Carols

Photo from Arkansas Gazette

Right now, music is silenced at Robinson Center.  During the renovation, violins and tubas have been replaced by saws and heavy equipment.

Similarly, 75 years ago, the halls of that building were alive with only the sounds of construction.  But out front, on December 18, 1939, the sounds of Christmas carols filled the air.

That afternoon, 500 school children from elementary schools were joined by the A Capella Choir of Little Rock High School as they sang Christmas carols on the front steps of the auditorium on a weekday afternoon.  The singers were accompanied by the Little Rock High School Brass Sextet.  The invocation for the event, which was sponsored by the Little Rock Council of Parents and Teachers, was delivered by the Right Reverend Richard Bland Mitchell, the Episcopal Bishop of Arkansas.

A Christmas tree in front of City Hall was lit up as part of the ceremony as well.  Media coverage noted that the audience witnessing the program stood on the front steps of the Pulaski County Courthouse, the side lawn of City Hall and in front of the steps of Robinson Auditorium.  It was also noted that most windows in the nearby government buildings were filled with people watching the ceremony.

Little Rock Look Back: Charles Bussey, LR’s 65th Mayor

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Mayor BusseyFuture Little Rock Mayor Charles Bussey was born on December 18 in 1918.  Throughout his life he was a trailblazer.  He was the first African American Sheriff’s Deputy in Pulaski County and expanded the Junior Deputy program into the African American community.

In 1968 he became the first African American elected to the Little Rock City Board of Directors. He was not the first African American to run for the City Board, but he was the first to win a race.  Mr. Bussey sought support not just from the African American community, but from all sectors of Little Rock.  Apparently, while campaigning in 1968, he deliberately went into the Arkansas headquarters of segregationist presidential candidate George Wallace to see about leaving campaign literature.  A hulking man with a broad smile, he shocked the young receptionist. He was undoubtedly the first (and probably last) African American to enter that campaign headquarters.

He served from 1969-1977 and again from 1979 through 1991.  In 1981 he was selected by his fellow City Directors to serve as Little Rock’s Mayor, which made him the first African American Mayor of Little Rock.  He served as Vice Mayor of Little Rock for a total of 8.5 years which is the longest of anyone in the City’s history.

Throughout his lifetime Mayor Bussey championed youth outreach efforts.  He also was active in the Arkansas Municipal League, National League of Cities, West Little Rock Rotary Club, Elks, Shriners and many other organizations.

In 2006 he was posthumously inducted into the Arkansas Black Hall of Fame.  The previous year, 20th Street in Little Rock was renamed in his honor.

19th Century Steroscopic photographs of Arkansas now on display at Historic Arkansas Museum

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Capturing Early Arkansas in Depth: The Stereoview Collection of Allan Gates, a new exhibit at Historic Arkansas Museum, opened last Friday. It explores early photographs of Arkansas.

In a world before motion pictures and color photographs, stereoscopic photography captured the attention of millions. These affordable 3-D images created a phenomenon that spanned the last half of the nineteenth century, bridged demographic and socioeconomic gaps and provoked discussions about the nature of reality and truth, science and art.

Unlike traditional studio photographers, stereo photographers took their cameras outdoors to capture life as it occurred, giving a documentary quality to many of the images.

Today, stereographs serve as a meaningful source for studying the 1800s.  In Arkansas, these views are a window into the growth of a young state, early tourism, railroad expansion and a unique culture and people.

Capturing Early Arkansas in Depth continues in the Arkansas Made Gallery through April 5, 2015.

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Arkansas Chamber Singers Holiday Concert this weekend at Old State House Museum

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IMG_9317[1]The Old State House Museum with support from the Arkansas Arts Council welcomes the Arkansas Chamber Singers performing their annual holiday concert.

The annual “Christmas at the Old State House,” will feature traditional music of the season, music of new composers and music popular during the American Civil War (marking the 150th anniversary of the final Christmastime during the Civil War).

The combination of the acoustical magic of the hall and the glorious voices of the Arkansas Chamber Singers promises to pack the house for all three thrilling performances!

Performances are at 7pm on Friday, December 12 and Saturday, December 13.  On Sunday, December 14, the concert will be at 3pm.

Admission is free, but seating may be limited, so reserve your seats now by going to the Arkansas Chamber Singers website.

10th Ever Nog-Off at Historic Arkansas Museum tonight

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Tonight from 5pm to 8pm Historic Arkansas Museum will host the 10th Ever Nog-off.  And it’s free!

Get in the holiday spirit with some holiday spirits at this celebration of a favorite holiday drink. Sample a variety of nogs and vote for your favorite at this friendly competition for the best nog in town.
Noggers include Cache Restaurant, Capital Bar and Grill, Copper Grill, the Empress of Little Rock, Loblolly Creamery, Bridget Fennel Farris, John Selig and Family, and Stone’s Throw Brewery.
Also Nogging will be Bill Worthen and his daughter Rachel Worthen who are the sixth and seventh generations to make Nicholas Peay’s egg nog.  Peay was a founder of Little Rock, served as acting Mayor and was father of Mayor Gordon N. Peay (whose birthday is today.)
The judges will be Mayor Mark Stodola; attorney and cocktail expert Joel DiPippa; and Emily Van Zandt, food and drink editor of Arkansas Life.
Live music by Kemistri featuring Nicky Parrish

Little Rock Look Back: Gordon N. Peay, LR’s 23rd Mayor

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On this date in 1819 future Little Rock Mayor Gordon Neill Peay was born.  The Peay family arrived in Arkansas from Kentucky in 1825.  They quickly became one of Little Rock’s leading families.  Mayor Peay’s father, Nicholas Peay served on the Little Rock Board of Trustees (which existed before the town was incorporated) and later served on the City Council and was acting mayor.

Godon N. Peay served as mayor of Little Rock from 1859 to 1860.  During the Civil War, Peay served as Captain and later Colonel of the Capital Guard.  He later received a pardon from the federal government.

The Peay family owned the Peay Hotel, Little Rock’s first hotel, and were also co-founders of what became Worthen Bank.  They were also a founding family of Christ Episcopal Church. Mayor Peay later served as Pulaski County Chancery Clerk.

He died on December 14, 1876, and is buried at Mount Holly Cemetery along with many members of his family.  A nephew of his, Ashley Peay, served on the City Council in the 1920s.  Mayor Peay’s great-grandson Joseph Barber Hurst, Sr. served on the Little Rock City Board of Directors from 1967-1971. His great-great-granddaughter-in-law Stacy J. Hurst concludes twelve years of service on the City Board of Directors later this month.