Category Archives: History

Special Event at Mount Holly on Saturday morning

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mthollyMt. Holly Cemetery, burial site of Governors, Mayors, Senators and Pulitzer Prize winners, will host a special event tomorrow (Saturday, June 22) at 9:00 am.

This special event will give guests a sampling of all Mt Holly has to offer to the community in Little Rock’s oldest cemetery. We will start at the 13th Street gate with a brief historical tour, followed by a performance from Tales of the Crypt, and finish with Scott Lyon who will give us a garden series lecture–all in an hour!

The Mt. Holly Cemetery Association invites the public to come spend an hour at the cemetery. Refreshments will be served in the shade of the bell house. The public is invited to bring a lawn chair and wear a gardening hat!

A $5.00 suggested donation gets you a door prize ticket for a Mount Holly Cookbook and other gifts for this event. We will also have Mount Holly Cookbooks for sale.

Entrance on the 22nd will be via the 13th Street gate only.

June 20 Architeaser: Old Game & Fish Building

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Today’s architeaser features two friezes from the old Arkansas Game and Fish Commission Building behind (to the west) of the Arkansas State Capitol.

Originally built to house the Game and Fish Commission offices, the building has been subsumed by the One Capitol Mall complex (aka Big Mac). The Game and Fish Commission offices are now out in west Little Rock near I-430.

One frieze depicts a woman feeding a deer, a family of deer, and a bow hunter. The other frieze depicts a modern fisherman with rod and reel and an 19th century boy sitting along a river bank with a cane pole.
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LR Look Back: Mayor John Widgery

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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.

Brooks Robinson at Lamar Porter Field Tonight

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brooksrobinsonLittle Rock native Brooks Robinson, who was inducted into the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame in 1983, returns to his hometown on Saturday, June 15, to lead the birthday festivities for the field where he first honed his playing skills.

Lamar Porter Field, at the corner of 7th and Johnson Streets in the Stifft Station neighborhood, will mark its 77th year, making it the oldest actively-used baseball stadium in the state of Arkansas. The complex also includes the Billy Mitchell Boys and Girls Club.

Robinson, who played his entire 23-year major league career with the Baltimore Orioles, will help kick off a multi-million dollar effort to restore the facilities and grounds to better serve the city’s youth.

The program will take place from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Lamar Porter Field (3200 West 7th Street). Tickets are $10 each and are available at Sportstop (10720 Rodney Parham Road). Each ticket includes admission to the event, a hot dog, soft drink and popcorn. Robinson will be available to sign autographs as well. All proceeds will benefit the campaign to restore the Lamar Porter Field and complex

Happy 177 Arkansas

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

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June 2nd Friday Art Night is busting with Fun

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2nd Friday Art NightJune is Busting Out All Over with great art and music downtown on 2nd Friday Art Night.  Visual art, music, refreshments, a trolley for transportation can all be yours for the low price of FREE.  The festivities run from 5pm to 8pm, unless otherwise noted.

Among the highlights:

  • Old State House Museum (300 West Markham) will feature Geoff Robson and David Gerstein performing duets for violin and cello.
  • Historic Arkansas Museum (200 East Third) will celebrate the opening of its new Arkansas Made Gallery; in addition there will be live music by Parkstone.
  • Edge Gallery (301B President Clinton Ave) will be featuring contemporary art.
  • Butler Center Galleries (401 President Clinton Ave) is showing Creative Expressions; Arkansas Arts Educators; From the Vault: Works from the CALS Permanent Collection; and Old School: Remembering the Brinkley Academy
  • Courtyard Marriott Downtown (521 President Clinton Ave) is teaming up with Spirited Art Little Rock and hosting a painting class in its cafe beginning at 6:30pm.
  • Hearne Fine Art (1001 Wright Ave, Suite C) will host an opening reception for Reflections In Silver: Silverpoint Drawings by Aj Smith & Marjorie Williams-Smith.
  • studioMain (1423 South Main Street) they are featuring a UALR Student Furniture Showcase.  This has become an annual exhibit of furniture pieces created by students of the UALR Applied Design program.

June 13 Architeaser: Capitol Hill Apartments

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IMG_5779Today’s Architeaser features the unique lights on the west side of the Capitol Hill building.

In the 1960s the state purchased a building known as “The Rackensack Apartments,” north of the Capitol building, backing up to 3rd Street. Built in the 1920s, the structure, now called Capitol Hill, continues to provide legislators’ housing and overflow office space.  The lobby is a popular place for receptions and meals for legislators.