Book Discovered.George S. Benson was president of Harding College for years and years, approximately 1936 to 1965.  The book was written in 1991 by John C. Stevens.  I am sad to say that I never knew that it was written and published.  How about you?  Just a few days ago I found it at a Searcy AR estate sale and now own it and can put it in my collection of publications by Searcy-interested folks.  And now I wonder how the book escaped me.  I even graduated from Harding back in the early 1970s.  I have not had time to read it but it says that "The Conflict" begins in 1936 when he came to Searcy. So, Searcy Sleuths, do you have or have you read this book???? 05/18/2025

No picture today. Well, perhaps a picture of my daughter, whom the blog is about.  As normal, she had encouraged me to try something new. To be honest, she has insisted that I do many things!!I was a real estate agent and blogging was something new so off I went.  How many years is that?   18!!   How many blogs have I done?   OMG!!   2078 blogs.  They began as real estate related and have now grown to be more like historic things from my area.  So here goes the first one. Click https://activerain.com/droplet/7Kcg .Or read it here.  Using your wit.Using your wit is a great way to make it in life.  My daughter decided to go to San Francisco shortly after graduating from college.  She'd been in small cities all her life and all at once she was on her own in a huge city where one side of th... 05/12/2025

 Let's see.  2025 -1904 = 121 years ago?  That's a long time ago when this cookbook was compiled by the Ladies' Aid Society of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Searcy AR.  The gift was from my good friend and great Searcy artist, Howard Johnson.  He says it is a copy of the original and  reportedly possibly the oldest church cookbook in Arkansas.  The Church is still in great shape and was already 54 years old when the original book was done.  Here is a page showing a few recipes and the style in which they were done.  My daughter looked at it and said, " That Lemon Pie looks easy to do!" No list of needed supplies like today's cookbooks!  AND.....the ladies were known by the hubby's names!  I did a blog about this custom that still existed for years and years..... Click to read it... 05/08/2025

I received a surprise package in the mail today!It has no name on who sent me the package of 10 wonderful old photos of the beginning Pee Wee football players in Searcy AR from 1969 to 1972.  This one is of the Duncan's Roadrunners.  Look at the coaches in the back.  Aren't they handsome!!  The one on the right is of my husband Rodger Duncan and one on the left is Sidney Quattlebaum and they were instrumental in beginning the teams and the program. Okay, next you are seeing a group of 9 pictures.  Someone way back there saved them and knew I would like them.  The gift was mailed from Alabama.  I'd love to thank the person who sent them!  I love and will cherish them so         SPEAK UP!  Tell me who the wonderful gift-giver is so that I can say THANK YOU!!!        04/16/2025

We all loved Sears, Roebuck and Co.I stumbled upon this very old looking packet of sandpaper with the Sears name on it.  All 6 sheets of sandpaper were still in it.  I could find no price or date on it anywhere.  One of the sheets is shown below.  What is Aluminum Oxide?  Our beloved Sears has been gone for a long time so this is sort of a memory of Sears and how they sold everything!  From sandpaper to houses!As a matter of fact, we have at least one Sears house remaining in Searcy AR!  Wonder if they'd like this memory to hang on a wall? I did a blog about it back in 2011 and the blog can be pulled up here      https://activerain.com/droplet/4F9S    if you'd like to read it.  It no longer looks like this but the house is still there.  Should I stop by and offer them this little gift?L... 04/11/2025

WHAT A CREW!    WHAT A MEMORY!I know, I know!  Can't remember some of this crew?  Realize it was about 33 years ago and that helps with the reason and I have the same problem.  But it is a REALLY good memory.  I am on the bottom row right proudly wearing my new RE/MAX jacket and I guess we were holding fingers up because we aimed to be #1!RE/MAX was a brand new franchise in the country and the guy in the white shirt and tie, Robert Cargile, brought it to town.  Several agents joined him and I was one of them.  And I love this happy picture! I also love knowing that RE/MAX has been an asset to Searcy AR!! 04/08/2025

Wonderful MemoriesCheck your bookshelves.  As I did.  You may find this wonderful book of memories of Searcy AR.  As I did. It was written in 2012 by Patsy Pipkin, a Searcy lady, and Carolyn Boyles, who seems to go from place to place writing these memory books.  She chose Searcy for one and had Patsy Pipkin help her write it. Patsy  was an award-winning author and longtime resident of Searcy and White County.  She was a local newspaper columnist for over 15 years and she and Carolyn Boyles compiled a wonderful collection of photos contributed by many different groups and individuals from White County.  I have not looked it over since 2012 and decided to look at it again.  It is filled with old historic photos of downtown, community, commerce, personalities and folks of leadership.Patsy... 03/30/2025

Another "style" picture from 1970.Old yearbooks are a lot of fun to look through.  I was searching the 1970 one and saw this group picture of the Future Homemakers of America. Looks like all girls, doesn't it.  Then I noticed all those legs on the front row. Notice two girls with what we used to call "saddle oxfords" and they date way back to the 50's and were worn with socks, always with socks. Note there are no socks on these girls but all of the shoes look as if they need socks! A style change, I guess.And sadly, the reason I was checking the old yearbook was because one the girls, third from left on front row, was Vani Jo Quattlebaum Geroy who passed away this month.  She was lovely and always fashionable.  Notice the hairstyle in the picture below!  That style became so beloved so ... 03/22/2025

Top Agent Nicky Dean: Northwest Arkansas’ Luxury Real Estate ExpertFor over two decades, Nicky Dean has been a powerhouse in the Northwest Arkansas real estate market. As a seasoned Realtor and Executive Broker at Collier and Associates, Nicky has built an exceptional reputation for listing and selling luxury homes. With a deep-rooted passion for real estate and a lifetime of experience in the region, she has become the go-to expert for high-end properties in Northwest Arkansas.A Legacy of Excellence in Real EstateHaving lived in Northwest Arkansas her entire life, Nicky possesses an intimate knowledge of the area’s evolving market trends, sought-after neighborhoods, and exclusive listings. Since launching her real estate career in 2001, she has successfully navigated market shifts, hel... 03/18/2025

Moving Notice!  On handkerchief!  Unusual??  I stumbled across a large stack of old vintage handkerchiefs a few weeks ago. It startled me to find this one!  Someone had evidently used handkerchiefs to announce their move.  I'd never seen that before.  Here's a picture of the whole hanky.  It was Earl Bernard who was moving to 35 West 39 Street in New York, NY.  I wish it had a date.  The artist was, I guess, Gale.  That's the name at the corner.  03/10/2025

1950's typing class.Who remembers this?  Do they still have them?I found this old picture inside a 1950 Searcy Arkansas yearbook.  It was a free picture just inside the book with several other pictures, mostly football.  So I assume that it was from the 1950 school year. Searcy Sleuths may even recognize some of the students.  I definitely remember being in a classroom that looked like this and learning how to type.  Now I think that it was one of the best classes to take and learn typing.  Typing is still something I still do a lot of when using the computer. The knowledge has stayed with me all through the years.So.....do they still teach typing in school? If not, what took its place?  03/04/2025

 The Ultimate 1968 Fashion Photo Example!Hold it!!  I was not referring to the people in the photo even though being a hippy was popular back then.  I was talking about the wrought iron porch pillar posts.    Driving now through Searcy's first subdivisions with covenants, Lambert Terrace and Cloverdale, you can still see lots of wrought iron decor like these.  Some has been replaced with wood but lots remain. If curious, click the link below for my view of what happened regarding carports and garages in our area.  In 2007 I wrote a blog about the unofficial history of carports and garages in the south.  Read the blog by clicking the link below.  It tells an interesting story.               https://activerain.com/droplet/tnNBQuestion? Oh, the couple? That is my husband and me dressed to ... 02/24/2025

Pine cone roses?A long lasting gift.So many, many years ago these rose-shaped cones were given to me.  I sometimes think that if I were going through motherhood right now I'd end up in jail for giving my kids the freedom that I gave them when they were growing up.  We lived on the edge of town near pastures, streams, woods, etc., and I let them roam around at will.  They survived and had a great time.  I might receive gifts that they found and brought home.The picture above shows probably the best gift and the longest lasting.  They were off a tree that grew somewhere in the McRae Street, Searcy AR neighborhood.  They were beautiful then and they still are.  They had a small hole in the back and I glued stems in the holes  in lots of them for putting in vases.The tree died and we don't ... 02/21/2025

Norma Young and Kay WrightRemember 1971?  Searcy AR was home to a wonderful cook who may have invented Chicken Dipper's Nuggets and won a $10,000 award. (How much would that be today? Google says $77,927!) Norma Young is shown on the right above and her daughter, Kay Wright, on the left.  I cannot remember going to a restaurant and ordering chicken nuggets at that time so that is why I say she possibly began them.  I am showing her recipe below.  She entered a cooking contest and won!  I just rediscovered the cookbook, Kay's Kitchen, which was published in 1984, and written by Norma and Kay.  Kay was a great cook also.I seem to remember making them and serving them to the family.  The kids loved them!!  You had to cut the chicken yourself. One chicken breast made 12 nuggets! It is calle... 02/15/2025

     Handsome Hubby Always a great memory from 2008!  I have blogged this before but it is still one of my favorite Valentine's stories and so true.  Valentine's Day has rolled around again and this memory always pops back up! It is about my husband and a new side of him.  He has never been a romantic!  The club that we attend decided to delay Valentine's until Saturday night and charge an enormous amount for the dinner.Well, our buddies decided along with us that we'd boycott the dinner and celebrate Valentine's Day on the proper day.  We were sitting around the table at the club discussing what we'd do instead. Two of us left to go to the ladies' room and when we got back the rest of the table said, "We've got it planned.  ____ will buy the steaks, Rodger (my hubby) will cook the stea... 02/11/2025

What! A fence blog?I admit that I might be a little amazed that I am putting this picture on a blog.  But I was in Beebe AR,  which is a neighbor to Searcy AR, on a dreary rainy day in a private yard.  When I got out of the car, walked around mudholes to get in, I noticed nothing unusual.Then when I got back to my car, opened the door and got inside and looked out the driver-side window, I did a double-take!  I shouted, "That fence is a work of art!"  This picture does not do it justice but you get the idea!!  Age, weather, nature has done a good job of painting this picture!!!!I may have to go back and admire it again! 02/10/2025

Tour was so delightful and educational.This historic home is for sale right now and the REALTORS were invited to tour it.  I accepted the invitation and was delighted to see all the historic items still in and around the house.The windows in the house are original.  The tile on the roof  had to be special ordered to be the same type as the original when built in 1924 and designed by Charles Thompson, architect. The Edward Lightle family moved into the house in 1926.  Thus, the name Lightle House.  Notice the wonderful brick work that looks as if it could be around another 100 years!It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.  Go there to read more about the home and to see it.  Howell Realty Pros have the listing and it would be wonderful to have another owner che... 02/07/2025

Recognize this?  The small building on the left is still in Searcy on Spring Street at 110 Spring just before you get to Spring Park.  The info at the court house says it was built in 1950 and is 1152 sq. ft. in size.  Sleuths,  anyone know who the guys were?This picture shows it a little on the left and a parade was going on with a date of 1955.  The larger building was a depot, I think, and is now long gone.I love this building!  I admire it when I drive by and I took this picture a few months ago.  And I am always thankful that it is still standing.  One of my favorite memories is that when my daughter required braces on her teeth I had to take her to Little Rock to a dentist.  Then when my son needed braces a dentist had moved to Searcy and had his office in this building!  What a g... 02/02/2025

Phyllis Alexander, Searcy artist, impresses me again!I have blogged (bragged) about this lady before.  She has been a successful Searcy AR artist for many years and here she has accomplished another successful venture.  She has illustrated two children's books!  Here she is in my kitchen (she is also my neighbor) and I asked her to let me picture her with the books!  One is written by Wesley Thompson and the other one is written by Stephen W. Smith.  She did wonderfully expressive illustrations on each page!!You would love going back to two of my blogs and see other examples of her art skills. Check these out!  You will be as impressed as I am!! Click on each one below.                      https://activerain.com/droplet/4Jst                       https://activerain.com/droplet/JjDXPhyl... 01/26/2025

Stunning New Construction Home in Beautiful Bella Vista, Arkansas20 Singleton Drive, Bella Vista, AR 72715Welcome to your dream home! This gorgeous new construction residence is nestled in the picturesque community of Bella Vista, Arkansas. Boasting modern architecture and high-quality finishes, this home is designed to provide comfort and style.As you step inside, you’ll be greeted by an inviting open floor plan that seamlessly connects the main living areas, perfect for entertaining family and friends. Cozy up to the stunning fireplace, which serves as the focal point of the spacious living room, creating a warm ambiance on those chilly evenings.The kitchen is a chef's delight, featuring state-of-the-art appliances, sleek countertops, and ample cabinetry. Enjoy meals in the adjoining ... 01/14/2025