Re: Early history

The history of Ark City is really fascinating. There's a 3 volume set of booklets called "Between The Rivers", By Bess Oldroyd (I think), that gives a very good history of the town and local area. I believe the public library has a copy of it.

I'm especially fascinated by the history of the canal and how it was used to power a mill, a furniture factory, and electric power plant. I understand that Hap Benshoff (sp?), who went to our church when I was a child, was responsible for operating the old headgates out north of the old city dump. He would have to go out there and regulate the flow of water flowing through the canal. I wish I could have seen the canal when it was "working".

Another part of our history that I like is about the Aunt Sally riverboat that came up the Arkansas river, then the Walnut river and docked around where Walnut Park is now located. From what I've read there was a park where the big dug-out hole south of the east Madison bridge is located. Indians used to camp there and there was quite a nice park there.

I remember the old Ice House on south F street, just south of Madison. I'm not sure, but I think it may have burned down.

I, too, am saddened that so many structures of our past have been destroyed. The Elmo Hotel was one of my favorite buildings in the whole town.

It's not too late for Ark city to make a come-back. Sure, we've been hit hard by plant closures in past years (packing house, refinery, etc), but I believe there are enough inovative people here to overcome the adversity we've faced as a town and to begin a fresh start, building on the solid foundations of our historical past.


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Steve Manley