History Happens
/By Velvet Hall Cool, Board President of the Texarkana Museums System
History happens and then, sometimes, gets buried. Pieces of our heritage get chipped away, and the lessons of the past must be relearned by future generations. Even our physical landmarks often erode in such a way that the story of a place becomes modified.
Downtown Texarkana Businesses: The banner stretched across street indicates the first talking picture.
The geography of our downtown has shifted over the decades. Once the epicenter of daily life’s “hustle and bustle,” downtown has become a focal point for our heritage and the arts. The Grim Hotel, which once hosted travelers, will soon be residential lofts for locals. Hopkins Feed and Seed no longer provides for local farmers, but Hopkins Icehouse serves great food and beverages to locals and visitors alike.
Texarkana’s buried past includes many forgotten stories—and some of the stories we’ve remembered have been muddied by the passage of time. Was the land that Texarkana was built upon traded for a plow and some oxen? Was Scott Joplin born in Texarkana? Were the Arkansas High School Razorbacks in existence before the University of Arkansas Razorbacks? All questions or stories we may never be able to truly answer.
But one buried question we will soon be able to answer is this: what did Texarkana residents in 1973 think to leave behind for the current 2023 community?
The first football team was organized in Texarkana in 1909 at Texarkana Preparatory School which was located at 822 Maple Street. This photo took place on October 16, 1909, with a score of Arkansas High: 5 and Prep School: 0.
On April 14th and 15th, for Texarkana’s Sesquicentennial Celebration, we will excavate the 1973 Centennial Time Capsule, which has been buried for 50 years. As long as Mother Nature and the structural integrity of this time capsule have worked in cooperation with one another, we will be fortunate enough to have a glimpse into the past.
A groundbreaking for hotel officials with twins Emma and Frances Berry of Texas, and Loma and Frances Fouke of Arkansas.
What do we hope to find? Several people have reached out to the Sesquicentennial Committee with stories of letters and even packages they have been told were placed in the time capsule. We expect to find mementos of businesses in existence during 1973—maybe business catalogs, cards, or even sample wares. Wouldn’t it be great to find some college or high school yearbooks? Proclamations or notes from the mayors of both cities would also be wonderful to read. Do you think they were left behind?
As you make your plans to join us on April 14th and 15th for the big reveal, ponder this question: what do you intend to leave behind for future generations? Perhaps a family Bible that documents the genealogy of your family and faith? Perhaps a newspaper clipping that highlights something that touched your heart? A photograph of your wedding day or the day your first child was born? A letter to your great-great grandchildren? Do you think there is some facet of your life that deserves to be documented? Do you think you have a story that needs to be told and preserved for at least 50 years? You do.
NOTE: The TXK150 Committee will be collecting your stories to be placed in the new time capsule, which will be opened at the Bicentennial Celebration in 2073. More information can be found at goTXK.org/TXK150 or on Facebook at TXK150.