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Historical society forms in Bryant |
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Monday, 21 April 2008 |
A new group of people interested in highlighting the history of Bryant has organized as the Bryant Historical Society, according to Steve Gladden, president of the new group.
Gladden announced the first general membership meeting will be at 6:30 p.m. Monday, April, at Gabe’s Grill in Bryant.
“We have been meeting in small groups and making plans for three significant projects that we hope can be accomplished in our first year.” he stated. He said those projects are cleaning up and restoring the Kirkpatrick Family Cemetery on Arkansas 5, to work with the city and property owners to enhance the geographical marker of the center of Arkansas that is inside the city and to build a replica of the city’s former depot to highlight the role played in Bryant’s early years by the railroad.
Society secretary-treasurer LaVenia Jones is a member of the Kirkpatrick family and has considerable knowledge of the cemetery and those buried there. It contains the graves of a Confederate soldier, a young girl and at least three American Indians, plus others. Gladden is planning a work party from the 30-member group to start the cleanup of the cemetery by early May.
The marker identifying the state’s geographical center is on Arkansas 5 adjacent to Pinecrest Memorial Park, but has recently been annexed into the city, making Bryant, in essence, the geographical center of Arkansas.
“This and the depot project,” said Gladden, “will require time and cooperation with others to make it happen.”
Another area the society will be working on will be to get better recognization for the Hurricane Creek battlefield. Although considered a skirmish, the fight has some interesting stories. Local attorney Ted Boswell, who is well versed in local history, has given the Society a narrative on the battle.
Gladden encouraged anyone interested in Bryant’s history to attend the membership meeting.
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