The ceremony to mark 150 years of the establishment of Nevada County was held this morning in its courthouse courtroom in Prescott. Speakers there gave a sense of the richness of the county’s history.
About 75 people attended. On offer in the lobby was a slice of three cakes baked in the shape of the Arabic numerals one, five and zero and cold apple juice. T-shirts commemorating the event were also on sale. In the courtroom, on the plaintiffs’ and defendants’ tables, was a television showing a slideshow of historical photos, several framed historical pictures as well as several school yearbooks dating from as early as 1929.
The program began with an invocation from Rev. Ivor Curry that acknowledged the current difficulties facing the nation and called on God for continued guidance.
Next was Jamie Hillery, Prescott-Nevada County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director. who welcomed the audience. She admitted that today’s ceremony was a year late because pandemic caution reigned on last year’s July 7. But she pointed out that a 1972 commemoration of the county’s centennial had also been a year late.
She invited audience members to stay afterward to get their pictures taken where the time capsule will be buried and then, it is hoped, exhumed on Nevada’s 200th birthday. “We have filled it with all kinds of things that we have promoted in the last 150 years,” Hillery said of the capsule’s contents.
Nevada County Judge Mark Glass spoke to recognize the presence of Arkansas Representative Danny Watson and US Congressman Bruce Westerman.
Then Research Historian of the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism Revis Edmonds took the podium to recount his own experiences of Nevada County history, which goes back to the 1950s. “While some of you might call me an interloper from the western county,” he said. “Over the county line more or less. I can happily attest this little boy from a place called Hope counts many of his fondest memories growing up in this area came from this side of the county line.
“While Civil War historians often consider Arkansas a peripheral theater--some will even call it less than that--during the Civil War, the people who were in the path of [Union] General [Frederick] Steele’s Camden expedition at Elkin’s Ferry and Prairie D’Ane probably thought differently.
“Nevada County's own governor, Thomas McCrae, fought for education, a modern highway system, and was a rarity at that time: he stared down the Ku Klux Klan and commuted the sentences of six of those convicted unjustly after the Elaine Massacre, in contrast to the attitudes of many of his contemporaries, which was a true profile in courage, indeed.
“Yet Nevada County became known for another mystery, called Old Mike. I knew we weren't going to get away without [mentioning] that, right? He was kept alive in a fashion until he, like Governor McCrae, became a permanent resident of the cemetery. It took a community to come together to provide for a dignified burial and tribute and to give him equally dignified final rites. And specifically, thanks to Jerry Westmoreland for stepping up that day.
“I was one of those kids who also saw Old Mike in the flesh. In his last years on display a friend of mine that I grew up in the same neighborhood with when we were at my grandfather's house. After going to the corner store, he says guys, all right, let's go see Oh, Mike. And after several blocks in blazing, summer Arkansas heat, with me thinking we were going to see some kindly old man spinning local wives’ tales, we ended up in the front door of a funeral home. And the rest is history.
“And what of the Nevada County’s true theme park? If you go back as far as I can, who can forget going into the [Ark-La] Village? Well, many of us know that old Mr. Witt Stephens always admitted that our village never made him a dollar. But yet, he brought smiles and happiness to the guests that came through there and a benefit to the community.
“For me, no trip to the Ark-La village was complete without sarsaparilla in the saloon, or a ride on the train, or even a look at Don Fore’s famous tack and saddlery. After I-30 sadly claimed the village, the Gaslight Bowl was still there for many years to provide many of us kids from Hope and around some of our best teenage memories and lasting friendships. And I say thank you to the Bradley family for keeping that going.
“And who can forget that immortal nonconference football rivalry between Prescott and Hope this existed even back during the time my mother attended Hope High School, graduate of 1954? And it never lessened during the 70s, during the clashes of teams led by the legendary Eddie Jackson and, across the line, Lawrence Brock Hudson. Both were the fastest of friends and the most intense of rivals.
“And, of course, Firestone in the roofing business, and Potlatch in the timber business were both big deals for people on both sides of the county line, and provided good livings and a good life for many residents. Yes, you kids could not have had a better life that I had growing up.
“And it intensifies the honor I have for being here today, to give you these brief remarks that also convey not just my love for this place during the time I grew up, but at the same time honoring you for celebrating this milestone in your history. I'm extremely grateful for the memories you gave me. And again, I am honored and humbled to share your special day. Thank you all very much.”
Next, Dr. Tom Mitchell, pastor of Central Baptist Church from 1977 to 1999, provided an outline of the history of the county, but lingered on a brightly-lit story in which he played a part: “On July 4, 1991, as Operation Desert Storm concluded, I was asked to lead the celebration with fireworks on the baseball field. Now I'm referring to this, not because of the personal involvement so much, but because I have been in different places and met people who said, ‘You're from Prescott?’ ‘Yeah,’ I said. ‘Well, were you there when the fireworks went crazy?’ I was.
“I got a fireworks license for professional fireworks, and Karen and I drove to the Little Rock. This was when Bob Hope was to be there, and they had gotten a lot of fireworks, and they ordered enough for us because a lot of the town's people had contributed to paying for those fireworks. Well, we drove back with my wife shivering because she knew we were going to explode just anytime."
When the fireworks show, which was set to be accompanied by music, began, “everything was going fine,” Mitchell said. “Until the first five-inch mortar was to be fired. It was supposed to go 300 feet up in the air. Now I had already told the crew, ‘If I yell run, you don't ask me why.’ That mortar did not go 300 feet. It went up about 100 feet and just decided to come back down. It took one bounce and landed. That’s when the teenage boys jumped out. And I yell, ‘Run.’
“I'm telling you fireworks went off everywhere. Barton raised his hand trying to get over the fence. Gary Lewis sprained an ankle. I had burns in the back of my shirt, as I was the last one to leave. The back of the centerfield fence was burned. The grass was everywhere burned. And the fire truck came out. Bonnie Baker went back home. Larry said, ‘Well, Bonnie, how were the fireworks?’ She said, ‘They were just beautiful. But they were so short.’"
In closing, Mitchell said, “I was born in Ashdown. But for 21 years, my family and I resided here in Prescott, Nevada County. We fell in love with this place. And when I was President of the Chamber of Commerce, I continually had people encourage me to always regard this as our hometown. . . . In the days and years to come. I hope that people will remember every teacher who has stood before a class. Every preacher who has preached to a congregation, every automobile salesman that sold the vehicle, every grocer who bags groceries. Remember, they touched the lives of many people this last century and a half. May God bless each of you who are residents. May that continue.”
The Sesquicentennial Planning Committee consisted of Heather Shelman, Jade Cornelius, Jamie Hillery, Larry Jones and Roy Johnson.
