Central High School National Historic Site

                Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site serves as a powerful reminder of the struggles faced during the Civil Rights Movement. Located in Little Rock (Pulaski County), this historic site commemorates the "Little Rock Nine," the group of black students who, in 1957, broke barriers by becoming the first to integrate Central High School. This moment was crucial in the ongoing fight for racial equality in the United States.

                To fully appreciate the significance of what took place at Little Rock Central High School, it's important to consider the backdrop of the landmark 1954 U.S. Supreme Court case, Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas. This ruling declared that segregation in public schools was unconstitutional, asserting that "separate but equal" was inherently flawed. Despite this decisive verdict, many Southern states, including Arkansas, resisted the integration process, leading to intense struggles for civil rights on both local and national levels.

                In the summer of 1957, the Little Rock school board made the pivotal decision to start integrating Central High School. This move faced harsh opposition from segregationists within the community, as well as a stand from Arkansas Governor Orval E. Faubus, who sought to block any black students from entering the previously all-white institution.

                On September 4, 1957, nine black students—Ernest Green, Elizabeth Eckford, Melba Pattillo, Minnijean Brown, Gloria Ray, Carlotta Walls, Jefferson Thomas, Terrence Roberts, and Thelma Mothershed—attempted to enter Central High for the very first time. They were met with a hostile crowd of white protesters, who hurled insults and even objects at them. Tensions escalated quickly, and the Arkansas National Guard, summoned by Gov. Faubus, barred the students from entering the school.

                In response to this injustice, President Dwight D. Eisenhower stepped in, dispatching federal troops to Little Rock to ensure the safety of the students and uphold the Supreme Court's ruling. On September 25, 1957, the Little Rock Nine made their entrance into the school, accompanied by 1,000 U.S. Army soldiers for protection. Throughout that school year, these students faced ongoing harassment, isolation, and violence, yet they remained resolute in their quest for education and equality. 

                In recognition of Little Rock Central High School's critical role in the fight for civil rights, the site was designated as a National Historic Site in 1998 by the Department of the Interior. The Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site now stands to honor the legacy of the Little Rock Nine and to educate the public about the significance of this important chapter in American history.

                The historic site features several significant locations, including the central school building, the visitor center, and the area where the Arkansas National Guard stood against integration. The visitor center, located in a former auto showroom, boasts exhibits, videos, and interactive displays that bring to life the events of 1957 and the ongoing fight for civil rights. Guests can delve into the personal journeys of the Little Rock Nine, exploring their struggles and their unwavering determination to alter the trajectory of American history.

                In addition to commemorating the past, the Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site plays an essential role in current conversations about civil rights, racial dynamics, and education in the United States.

                The site frequently hosts educational initiatives, community gatherings, and discussions aimed at engaging the public and ensuring that the lessons learned from the Little Rock Nine resonate with future generations. It also invites visitors to contemplate the strides made toward equality while acknowledging the work still needed to guarantee equal opportunities for all Americans, regardless of their background.

                The Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site stands as a vibrant tribute to the sacrifices of the Little Rock Nine and the ongoing journey to fulfill the principles of equality and justice for everyone.

Dryden Pottery

                Hot Springs (Garland County) is known for its natural beauty, which extends to its arts scene. The historic downtown area has art galleries, studios, and public art installations that showcase the work of local artists. The proximity to Hot Springs National Park inspires many artists, drawing on the area's natural beauty and historical significance. One of the remarkable establishments preserving a centuries-old art form is Dryden Pottery, found on Whittington Avenue in the beautiful Spa City.

                Dryden Pottery was established by James “Jim” Dryden in Kansas before relocating to Hot Springs in 1956. Over the years, it has garnered a reputation as a collectible brand and has been featured in Schroeder’s Antique Guide.

                Born the son of a successful hardware merchant in Ellsworth, Kansas, Dryden spent his formative years working alongside his father. After serving in the South Pacific during World War II, he returned home searching for a job. Despite his passion for art, particularly cartooning, he realized it wasn’t a viable path to support his family. A fortuitous encounter with the renowned ceramicist Norman Plumber sparked an innovative idea that merged his artistic inclinations with pottery production. This led him to the University of Kansas, where he studied ceramics under the guidance of Sheldon Carey. After navigating numerous challenges in a short time, Dryden Pottery was officially launched in Ellsworth, with its inaugural sales taking place in his father’s Dryden Hardware store in 1946.

               To grow his business, Dryden employed a range of inventive sales strategies. From creating personalized pottery for customers to organizing pottery contests for children, he understood the importance of engaging the community. He also made headlines with a series of cartoon advertisements featuring local materials, distinctive labels on each piece, pottery tours, and even a rattlesnake attraction alongside complimentary ice water. His vibrant handmade pottery quickly found markets across the United States, but Dryden yearned for a busier location. After conducting an extensive survey of potential sites nationwide, he ultimately chose Hot Springs for its abundant raw materials and high number of hotel rooms per capita. In 1956, he moved his family and the kilns, startup materials, and plaster molds to this bustling community.

                Dryden discovered clay in nearby Malvern (Hot Spring County), perfect for brickmaking, and obtained permission to excavate there. Talc sourced from Bryant (Saline County) and quartz from the Ouachita Mountains became essential for his pottery glazes. His customer base primarily included tourists flocking to Hot Springs National Park, Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort, and other area attractions.

                He found a warm welcome in the Hot Springs business scene, acquiring property at 341 Whittington Avenue, conveniently located near the national park. Dryden implemented his successful business strategies from Kansas, emphasizing long hours and innovative marketing tactics—like playful cartoon character imagery—to entice visitors to his factory. Guests were invited to observe skilled craftsmen at work before browsing in the showroom. He utilized a high-speed dental drill for personalizing pre-fired pottery before glazing and final firing, creating unique souvenirs that took time but offered great appeal. The spacious showroom attracted shoppers, with bus tours providing free factory walkthroughs, where employees explained the transformation from raw materials to finished pieces.

                Over the years, Dryden Pottery evolved significantly. Additions to the buildings and the installation of high-capacity kilns marked a turning point. The focus gradually shifted from molded and poured clay to predominantly wheel-thrown pottery. Dryden’s son, James K. (“Kimbo”), along with many employees, mastered the art of wheel-making. Thrown pottery pieces prominently featured the potter’s initials, the production date, and a distinctive Dryden logo decal. Each potter developed a unique style, with artistry flourished through local decorators who enhanced some pieces with clay relief designs and painted glaze motifs. Dryden often collaborated with his son, adding his characteristic cartoon fish motif to some of the thrown pots.

                Dryden Pottery has proudly thrived through three generations of family craftsmanship. Today, Kimbo Dryden’s sons, Zack and Cheyenne, contribute their artistic flair, expanding the collection with exquisite porcelain pieces, intricate glasswork, sparkling crystal glazing, and a selection of unique Raku pots.

                Free demonstrations on the potter's wheel happen Monday through Friday at 10 AM and 11 AM, with sessions available throughout the day on Saturdays. For more details about Dryden Pottery or to shop their products online, check out www.DrydenPottery.com.

Withrow Springs State Park

            One of my favorite state parks in Arkansas is the 786-acre Withrow Springs State Park in Madison County. The park offers a serene escape for campers and RV travelers, surrounded by lush forests, deep valleys, the limestone bluffs of War Eagle Creek, and the magnificent Ozark Mountains. Visitors can hike scenic dogwood trails, float down the Withrow Spring, and catch glimpses of foxes, bobcats, groundhogs, and river otters.

            Named after Richard Withrow, who established the region's first grist mill, the park features a campground with sites for tents and RVs up to 40 feet long. Outdoor enthusiasts can spend their days exploring over three miles of hiking trails, fishing for bass in the river, or searching for the rare Ozark trillium orchids.

            Withrow Springs State Park accommodates both traditional campers and RVs, with 29 full hookup sites featuring water, electricity, and sewer connections, as well as 10 primitive walk-in campsites. All sites include a picnic table and fire pit, and campers have access to modern bathhouses and a dump station. Note that cell phone reception is unavailable in the park.

            For added convenience, the park offers a variety of amenities, including a children's playground, a gift shop, a picnic area, canoe rentals, and a shop that sells snacks, ice, and firewood. There’s also a crossbow range, tennis courts, volleyball nets, a fishing pond, and baseball and softball fields (with guests required to bring their equipment).

            Fishing is a popular activity at Withrow Springs State Park, which is open to both day visitors and campers. Anglers can enjoy river fishing for catfish, bream, perch, and bass in the creek, or try their luck for rainbow trout in the park’s small fishing pond, which is stocked seasonally. The pond is also used for the annual fishing derby held every June.

            Hikers will find plenty to explore, with over three miles of trails winding through the park. The one-mile War Eagle Trail runs along the river, passing rock formations and even a cave. The easy three-quarter-mile Dogwood Nature Trail takes about an hour to complete and is especially scenic in the spring when the dogwood trees are in bloom. The longer, one-and-a-quarter-mile Forest Trail offers a more challenging hike and is great for wildlife watching as it follows an old roadway along the park’s western edge.

            In addition to its hiking trails, the park is home to diverse wildlife. Deer, foxes, wild turkeys, groundhogs, bobcats, and river otters can often be spotted, while birdwatchers may have the chance to see eagles in the winter months.

            For water lovers, Withrow Spring provides opportunities for canoeing and kayaking. The visitor center rents out canoes, kayaks, and life jackets, with a put-in and haul-out service available (reservations are required). Alternatively, visitors can relax by the large swimming pool during the summer, from Memorial Day through Labor Day.

            Located on Arkansas Highway 23, just five miles north of Huntsville, Withrow Springs State Park is easily accessible for visitors. However, those traveling with large rigs should avoid heading north on AR23 from I-40 due to challenging mountain grades and tight curves. The park’s interior roads are mostly paved, with a few short unpaved sections. Trailhead parking areas are available for day visitors, and large rigs can be parked at the campground for overnight stays.

    If you're planning a visit to the park soon, there are a couple of important updates to keep in mind. The day-use area at Withrow Springs State Park is currently closed while a new playground is installed and flood damage is repaired. However, all other areas of the park remain accessible. Also, the bathhouse and restrooms in the camping area will be closed for construction from Monday, April 7, to Thursday, April 10. 

    For additional details about Withrow Springs State Park, feel free to reach out to the visitor center at (479) 559-2593 or visit their website at https://www.arkansasstateparks.com/parks/withrow-springs-state-park.

    Although Withrow Springs might not be as well-known as more famous state parks like Crater of Diamonds and Petit Jean, it truly deserves a spot on your itinerary when exploring the Natural State.

Dollarway Road

                

                In Arkansas, you'll find an array of unique roads with names that stand out from the norm. Take Acorn Kid Loop in Conway (Faulkner County) and Wuthering Heights Lane in Texarkana (Miller County) for instance—not your typical road names! There’s also the curious Damerham Road in Bella Vista (Benton County); really, what's up with the aversion to a woman’s ham? Many of these streets honor the families that were among the first to settle in the area, like Kiehl Avenue in my hometown of Sherwood (Pulaski County). Others weave tales of local legends and history, such as Dollarway Road in Jefferson County.

                Dollarway Road boasts not only a unique name but also serves as a testament to Arkansas's early efforts in automobile road construction during the early 1900s. The road got its name from the costs associated with its construction, which we'll explore shortly. Once finished, Dollarway Road earned the title of the longest continuous concrete pavement in the country and helped to pave the way for Arkansas’s adoption of reinforced concrete in bridge building.

        In 1896, Arkansas’s Good Road Movement sprang into action, largely driven by the enthusiasm of local bicyclists. This energy led to the establishment of the Good Roads League of Arkansas. The main goal during this era was to improve road conditions and secure necessary funding for various road projects. By 1907, the state legislature had created road improvement districts—locally managed entities that had the power to determine road placements and financing. Among them, Road Improvement District No. 4 took charge of the Dollarway project.

                It's said that the Dollarway got its name from the original construction cost of one dollar per linear foot. However, the actual expense clocked in closer to $1.36 per foot. In July 1913, Little Rock contractors Shelby & Bateman were chosen to build a nearly twenty-three-mile stretch running from Pine Bluff to the Jefferson County line. Property owners along this route were expected to contribute to the construction costs, which sparked some dissent; yet, the issue was resolved amicably, as the individual assessment turned out to be quite manageable.

                For the nearly nine-foot-wide road, concrete with a bituminous coating was chosen as the material. The design also featured four reinforced concrete bridges. The contractor concluded that concrete was a more cost-effective solution and more durable than the traditional packed stone paving, known locally as “macadam.” Construction kicked off in November 1913 and completed in October 1914.

        The system for improving roads in the Dollarway Road area was implemented, but it didn’t quite work as intended. In 1913, the Arkansas Highway Commission discovered numerous problems with this district system, particularly pointing out a lack of oversight and inadequate personnel training. By 1915, the commission faced a range of difficulties, including allegations of power abuse. That same year, the state legislature enacted the Alexander Road Law, allowing residents along specific routes to set up road improvement districts. This legislative change, combined with the Federal Aid Road Act of 1916—designed to enhance post roads—led to the establishment of around 500 road improvement districts across Arkansas by 1921. A subsequent Federal Aid Road Act introduced in 1921 mandated that state highway departments oversee all road construction projects to address ongoing issues. It wasn’t until the Martineau Road Act of 1927 that the responsibility for funding road construction shifted from property owners to actual road users.

        There are no signs to mark Dollarway Road, though you can still spot some remnants of the original route, mainly swallowed up by the modern Highway 365. A portion of the road near Redfield was recognized for its historical significance and added to the National Register of Historic Places on May 17, 1974. The nomination was expanded in July 1999 to include a segment of Dollarway Road that remains functional today as Reynolds Road. This stretch also features two original concrete bridges from the Dollarway era.