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Bauxite welcomes its residents home at reunion |
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Tuesday, 27 May 2008 |
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There’s Bauxite today and then there’s Old Bauxite. Anyone who lived in the town many years ago is quick to say that there’s a big difference between the two.  Herbert Kitchens, center, a retired Army chaplain, performs with Phil Daugterty, right, and Felix and Marilyn Childress following Kitchen’s featured address at the Old Bauxite Reunion on Saturday. The band led the audience in singing several gospel songs and performed “It’s Good to Be Back Home Again” and a parody of “Country Roads” substituting the words “Bauxite, Arkansas” for “West Virginia.” (Courier photos by Lynda Hollenbeck)
Those with ties to the Bauxite of yesteryear gathered this weekend at the Bauxite Community Hall to renew old acquaintances, reminisce about days gone by and to just generally have a good time.
Around 300 people registered for the weekend events, with Howard Page of Dayton, Wyo., traveling the farthest to attend. Recognition also was paid to the “most senior attendee,” Bryant resident Mary Lou Sharp, who turned 93 on May 9.
Activities got under way Friday with “movie night” under the direction of Randle Wilmoth, who put together the entertainment fare that included a “Superman” cartoon, an episode of the old “Dragnet” series and the feature film “Tarzan in New York” starring the legendary Johnny Weissmuller as Tarzan and Maureen O’Sullivan as Jane.
In a nostalgic effort to recreate the happy times many of the folks people spent at the old Bauxite Theatre — which was razed in anticipation of mining that never occurred — refreshments of soft drinks and popcorn were sold. Wilson DuVall, who was the chief popcorn popper at the old theater, again took up that post, dispensing America’s favorite movie treat for 25 cents a bag.
Saturday’s events included visiting, refreshments, tours of the Bauxite Museum, gospel singing led by Jane Wilmoth and Melba Shepard and a talk by Herbert Kitchens, a retired Army chaplain, who was a member of the Bauxite High School Class of 1958.
Kitchens, who now lives in Jonesboro, Ga., earned the nickname the “singing chaplain” for writing a song about the Screaming Eagles, which referred to the 101st Airborne Division of Fort Bragg, N.C.
In his talk, Kitchens focused on his years at Bauxite High School. His wife is the former Donna Wells, a member of the Benton High School Class of 1960.
Following his remarks, Childress joined local musicians Phil Daugherty and Felix and Marilyn Childress to perform several John Denver songs and gospel favorites “I’ll Fly Away,” “I Saw the Light” and “Amazing Grace.”
Their selections included “It’s Good To Be Back Home Again” and “Country Roads,” in which they substituted “Bauxite, Arkansas” for “West Virginia.”
The sale of refreshments at the reunion events benefited the Bauxite Historical Association and Museum.
Displays in the museum include the old town whistle that blew at 8 a.m., noon and 4 p.m. announcing the beginning and ending of Alcoa work shifts as well as the lunch break for company employees. It also served as the fire code alarm.
Alcoa donated the whistle to the museum and Jack English had it mounted in the museum’s mining room.
Other displays in the museum include one featuring old Bauxite High School class rings in the Donnor room. Recent donors of rings have included Phil Davis, Christine Huggins, and Janice and James Smith.
A new display in the museum’s War Room area honors A.C. “Bottle” Wilmoth, who died a few months ago.
Eulon Holland donated a display case for a 1937 white football that contains the names of all the team players and the coach. This was the game ball used when Bauxite beat Benton 6-0, which was considered a monumental event. Two of Holland’s brothers and a cousin played for Bauxite in the game.
The ball is in the Sports Room.
According to Holland, Tony Hogue is the only surviving player from that team.
Dr. John P. “JP” Duke Jr. has donated a collage of photographs for the Sports Room as well as another group displayed in the Donnor Room. These pictures show teenagers at the old swimming hole at clear lake.
Hanging in the main entrance hall is a large tapestry that once hung in the Rucker House across the street from the community hall. The tapestry belonged to Gordon “Sody” Brazil’s mother.
The museum is open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Wednesdays and 1:30 to 4 p.m. on Sundays.
Joe E. DuVall Jr. is president of the Historical Association’s Board of Governors; Melba Shepard is vice president; and Randle Wilmoth is treasurer. Other board members are Vickie Staggs, Bob Tedford, Lisa Tull and Tommy Tarver.
The board meets at 7 p.m. on the first Monday of each month.
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