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1924 – Logs at Bob Logan’s Mill
Oxen were often used to pull the heaviest loads, especially in muddy conditions, which were frequent since much of the land being cleared was along the river, and the river usually overflowed it's banks twice a year, contributing to the outstanding fertility of the...
1920’s – Huge Logs headed to the Mill
The virgin timber harvest yielded gigantic logs, which were very difficult to remove from the bottomlands where they were cut. Several small logging railroads solved the problem for many loggers of this era. One such line, the Bonnerville and Southern...
1924 – Logs Headed for the Mill
This is a typical logging camp in which men would set up for a few days or weeks to clear the trees from an area and then haul them to one of the numerous sawmills in the county. Mules were stronger than horses, though not as easily governed, and they were the...
1923 – Tom Thumb Wedding
In 1923, the ladies of the Presbyterian church sponsored this Tom Thumb wedding, directed by Mrs. John Stayton. Pictured are, from left to right, (first row) Billy Stephens (ring bearer); (second row) Mary Wise, Fred M. Pickens, and Elizabeth Rossington; (third row)...
1921 – I.D. Price Book Store
Bookstore owner I.D. Price Commissioned postcards of Newport scenes to be printed in Germany and sold in his store, along with books, musical instruments, and other paper goods. Postcards from Price's store traveled all of the United States and are now valued...
1920’s – Newport’s Leading Men
Some of Newport's leading men gather in front of one of their businesses in the 1920's. From left to right are George L. Robinson, John Stayton, Joe Stayton, J.E. "Cap" Wilmans, Julian Logan, Sam Phillips, and Joe Walker. Landowners all, they continued to sell their...
1920’s – Jacksonport Town Band
The Jacksonport Town Band seems to have been comprised mostly of youngster, although some grown men seem to have entered into the fun. Probably a school group, this brass band surely made quite a spectacle when in march in parades or played for celebratory...
1910’s – Loading cotton at railroad depot, Tupelo
This man is loading cotton onto railcars at the Rock Island Depot in Tupelo. Running south from Newport, the Rock Island Line provided a connection between the tiny agricultural settlements in that part of the county and the Iron Mountain Railway in Newport, for...
1917 – WWI Company E
In World War I, Company E was a regiment that mustered out of Jackson County. Uniforms were not available; most of the men wore overalls and blue shirts. and Wolff-Goldman mercantile fave each man a cap. Among the soldiers pictured here are the sons of the Shones,...
1917 – Swifton Soldier
This World War I soldier is W.A. "Bill" Woods of Swifton. Many young men from Jackson County volunteered when the United States declared war on Germany and it's allies in April 1917. And many more were drafted. (Courtesy of J.W. Hulen.)
1918 – Aunt Caroline Dye
"Aunt" Caroline Dye was known thoughout the region as a seer. At the time of her death in 1918, Dye's estate included numerous farms and exceeded $100,000. Memphis musician W.C. Handy sings about her in his 1923 "Sundown Blues": "I'm going to Newport,...
1916 – The D.D. Camp Store
The D. D. Camp General Store in Grubbs, 18 miles east of Newport, was a favorite gathering place in this little farming community. D.D. Camp stands on the left and Hendrix Williams stands on the right in this image captured in 1916. The business is typical of...
1915 – Surrounded Hill Church
The Surrounded Hill Church of Christ, west of Newport and pictured here in 1915, was thought to be the oldest church in Jackson County, having been built in the 1850's. There are many "surrounded hills" in the Arkansas Delta, which are low, wind-created sand hills...
1910’s – New Methodist Church
This postcard shows the new Methodist church at the corner of Third and Beech Streets. Built in a Greco-Roman style ( note the Doric columns supporting the pediment and the domed roof), this building still serves the local United Methodist congregation. ( Courtesy of...
1916 – Walnut Street School
The river flooded in February 916, emptying the new Walnut Street School, undoubtedly to the delight of the children. Within a year, the City of Newport began in earnest to raise the existing low levees. But it was not until the late 1930's, after two more such...
1967 – Branch High School Class Picture
1966 - 1967 Class Picture of Branch High School in Newport
1910’s – Gustave Jones Home in the Flood
Taken in front of Gustave Jones home at Second and Beech Streets, this photograph shows boaters enjoying the novelty of the flood. Standing on the porch are Jones (right) and an unidentified man. Jones's daughter Leah Jones Hurt, sits in the bow of the boat, while...
1915 – Flood on Hazel Street
Here is a rare photograph of the man behind the camera, Parker the photographer, standing at the confluence of Hazel and Second Streets. Parker captured many images of his townfolk frolicking in the unaccustomed circumstances. The caption reads, "On Hazel, Newport,...
1910’s – Minnie
Described only as "Minnie," this beautifully dressed woman was Lady Elizabeth Watson's nursemaid. All wealthy white Newport families hired African American nurses for their small children, and they liked to think they treated their maids as a part of the family. ...
1914 – Louisiana Plantation Party
In May 1914, Cap and Ella Wilmans hosted a house party at their plantation in Louisiana. Among the attendees are Newport residents Mr. and Mrs. Wilmans, Charles Wilmans, Ed Wilmans, Mart Lewis (butler), Elzia (cook), Lula and Charlie (maids), Mrs. George Farrat, Mrs....
1914 – Jackson County Fairgrounds Horse Race
The horse races at the Jackson County Fairgrounds seemed to create as much excitement as the Kentucky Derby. This race in 1914 was no exception, and one has to wonder if anyone paid attention to the sign posted to the left, which reads, "No Gambling Allowed." The...
1910’s – Jackson County Courthouse and Jail
This postcard shows the back side of the courthouse and the adjacent jail. Inside the jail was an apparatus for hanging convicted criminals, though the Olyphant train robbers had been hanged on a makeshift gallows outside. The Civil War cannons that sat on the...
1912 – Jackson County Levying Court
Jackson County judge Charles Coe's levying court for 1912 includes (first row) Fred ?, Judge Coe, R.F. Tyro, B.F. Johnson, unidentified, and A.B. Collier; (second row) John R. Loftin, H.C. Nuckolls, two unidentified men, and John F. Smith,; (third row) W.G. Hogan,...
1910 – Southwestern Telephone and Telegraph Company
Pictured here in 1910 is the office of the Southwestern Telephone and Telegraph Company at 404 1/2 Front Street in Newport. The operator was Maude Dunham. The first Newport telephone company started in 1885 as the White River Telephone Company with C.R. Hite as...