Arkansas Gazette Aug. 7, 1980 Loss of Railroad Prompts Holly Grove Renovation by: Philip Launius
In 1976, this small Monroe County farming community of 866 people lost its railroad, an event some said spelled certain doom for the town. As workmen removed the tracks, the clank of metal against metal echoed off the business buildings hugging each side of the railroad right-of way.
"It was the death knell," one long time resident said, "We thought it was all over for the town."
The scar left in the earth by the track’s removal was a daily reminder to Holly Grove residents that an era had ended. It was the railroad that first gave Holly Grove a reason for being. And, it appeared that as the last load of track was carted away the town’s ability to survive might have gone with it.
The railroad came to the area in 1873 when the when the Arkansas Central laid tracks here to complete its Helena to Clarendon route. At the time, a large settlement – known as Lawrenceville – had grown up to the south of what is now Holly Grove. The completion of the railroad, however, brought most of the people from Lawrenceville north to relocate along the tracks. The railroad held out the promise of increased commerce and accessibility to the outside world.
The tracks through Holly Grove, which became an incorporated city in 1876, were taken over by several different railroad companies through the years, the last being the Missouri Pacific in 1917.
The depot, which still stands, was constructed in 1898 by the Arkansas Midland Railroad Company. The building also served as offices for the Wells Fargo Express Company. Its exterior was originally covered with one-inch cypress boards. Although it since has been stuccoed, it remains basically the same as when it was constructed.
Ironically, the railroad’s leaving Holly Grove as provided an impetus for a community-wide improvement program and sparked the development of an effort to renovate the entire downtown business district.
The old depot has been turned into restaurant decorated with railroad artifacts. Owned by the Holly Grove Depot Development Corporation, a nonprofit enterprise, The Bent Rail Restaurant is operated under a lease agreement between the development corporation and a local businesswoman.
Another indicator of Holly Grove’s determined effort not to roll over and play dead is the recently completed $40,000 pedestrian mall that occupies the old railroad right-of-way.
Last year, the entire downtown business district was included in the National Register of Historic Places and a grant application is being developed so that the entire area can renovated.
Tommy Hargrove, an official with the Bank of Holly Grove, said, "the total community improvement effort got under way with the Bent Rail Restaurant project and it has just snowballed from there."
The mall and other business district projects are being undertaken by an umbrella organization known as the Holly Grove Downtown Improvement Association, which numbers just about everyone in town in its membership.
Hargrove believes that the downtown renovation project will be successful.
"After the mall was completed," he said, "we all saw that we could get something done if we pulled together. The momentum is here now to complete our other projects."
Holly Grove was included in the National Register because it is a "significant example" of a small southern farming community and because alternations have not changed the basic character of the downtown business buildings since their initial construction.
"We got into the register," Hargrove said, "because what most people would call progress basically passed us by. We don’t have a lot of plastic and metal false fronts on our buildings. They are pretty much the same as when they were built."
He said that the renovation projects already completed in the business district, "were done in such a way that the buildings blend in instead of standing out."
Ruth Dearing helped spearhead the drive to raise Holly Grove’s share of the money for the new pedestrian mall.
"When you only have 860 people," she said, "and you are talking about raising $20,000, then the magnitude of the job which faced this town is obvious."
With assistance from the state Department of Local Services, the town also received a grant which matched the local contribution.
After countless bake sales, plant sales, flea markets, tennis tournaments, fish frys, and horse shows, the community’s money finally was in hand. One fund-raising plan was to write as many former residents of Holly Grove as could be located and ask them to contribute to their hometown’s project.
"If you are from a small town," Mrs. Dearing said, "you don’t ever forget or lose interest in it. I think you leave a little bit of yourself behind when you move away."
She termed the response to the letter-writing campaign, "tremendous – the money came in by droves."
The new mall runs almost the full length of the business district and features a turn-of-the century gazebo, patterned after the one at Little Rock’s MacArthur Park. Mrs. Dearing said a local carpenter, Junius Davidson, "built the gazebo himself using his own plans. He’s an artist and it’s a work of art as far as everyone in Holly Grove is concerned."
It also was not unusual to see local residents on the mall wielding shovels or hoes during the landscaping of the area.
"We would grab anyone who happened by," Mrs. Dearing laughed, "and tell them to lend a hand."
Although she says the phrase is overused, "You can truly call this a community-wide effort. If everyone had not been willing to help, it would never have gotten done. It took the whole town pulling together."
The mall was designed by an architect, Mrs. Dearing said, "because we wanted it in keeping with the plans to make the downtown area a historical district. We wanted the mall to mesh with those plans."
Mrs. Dearing said, "We borrowed ideas from all over. The benches are patterned after the ones at the Arlington Hotel in Hot Springs and we also got the idea for the lighting fixtures from those along Bathhouse Row in Hot Springs."
The three-year process of fund raising and construction culminated with the dedication of the mall this spring.
"We all breathed a sigh of relief after that," Mrs. Dearing said.
Rosalyn Carter mentioned Holly Grove in a December, 1978 article she wrote for Good Housekeeping as an example of the "bootstrap improvement" efforts being undertaken in the smaller communities of the country. In the article, Mrs. Carter said that she had a special feeling for Holly Grove, "because it is not very much larger than Plains, Ga."
Although no one at Holly Grove would have wished the railroad away, "we have certainly gotten a lot done since they took the tracks up. I guess it got us stirred up," Mrs. Dearing said. (contributed by Julius Gannon and Sue Gannon Cheatham)
-- Edited by Danyelle McNeill Fletcher at 07:37, 2005-12-09
Monroe County Citizen Aug. 27, 1925 Holly Grove Gleanings "We will soon have 24-hour electric current in our little city, of which we will all be proud."
Monroe County Citizen October 29, 1925 Holly Grove Now Has New Light Service "The Arkansas Light and Power Company, which purchased the Holly Grove Electric Light Plant some time ago, yesterday cut in its high tension transmission lines to connect with the Holly Grove station, giving the town a 24 hour electric service, the same as that furnished to Brinkley and Clarendon, thus giving the Company three in this county which are connected with the Remel Dam power plant and other generating plants of the company."
This isn't a history of the town, but it does discuss people and businesses in the town during 1947
Monroe County Sun
March 20, 1947 Editor Visits Holly Grove
When we alighted from the bus in Holly Grove last Friday morning, we had clear skies and bright sunshine and a balmy day. This was our first visit to this beautiful city, but it will not be our last. The warm reception we received from the merchants and business men of that city will long be remembered by your humble servant. They showed to us that neighborly spirit which abounds between Clarendon and Holly Grove and how we did enjoy the few hours we had in that city. Prosperity of this lovely city was no around the corner, but was visible even in the nooks and corners.
S. Geronin & Son When we stepped off the bus we were in front of the S. Geronin and Son’s, who have had a store in Holly Grove a half century. He came from St. Louis, Mo. around fifty years ago and began his career in that city in the dry goods business and he is now a fixture in the city with a large stock of merchandise. He greeted us very warmly.
E. L. Riner We found E. L. Riner, a native son, in his large general merchandise store, which was established in 1908, 39 years ago and he is doing an excellent business. Mr. Riner was very friendly and gave us a cordial welcome, and is a new reader of the Sun. Thanks.
Williamson Grocery and Market Here we ran into a busy bunch of fellows, who were serving the trade in the Williamson Grocery and Market. H. L. Williamson, the manager took time off to shake our hand and show us around. They have been serving the people groceries and meats for many years and they were coming in for more while we were there. Mr. Williamson is a new reader of the Sun. Thanks.
Lambert General Merchandise Here we found a well established store with B. J. Lambert, manager. This store began business in 1904 and has continued through drought and flood doing a nice business. D. H. Cocke, an employee of the store, began in 1905 and he is still very much in love of his job and his employers.
Bank of Holly Grove J. I. Matthews was at the window of this bank when we called. He is Vice-President. This is a home owned bank with a million and three hundred thousand dollars deposits, which expresses the great volume of business this friendly bank in doing.
W. A. Johnson & Son We met J. A. Johnson in his friendly store, which has been in operation for the past 80 years under the same management handling general merchandise. He has a full stock of select merchandising.
B. F. Dempsey He is just setting up a second hand clothing store as we passed along and will soon have it in operation.
Style Shop Here we found a complete line of ladies’ ready to wear, bolt goods, and many other articles of merchandise in that line. With Mrs. L. R. Johnson, manager, this business has been in operation for 14 years.
Thompson Drug Store We were greeted with a friendly handshake in this progressive store which the manager, H. L. Thompson tells us has been in operation for two years and is gaining friends and customers.
Serve You Café This progressive café has been in operation since December 4th last year, and they serve good lunches well cooked, and they are now new readers of the Sun and will get the news each week from the county capitol. Van Webster is the owner and manager. Thanks.
Ray Teeter The only barbershop in town is owned and operated by Ray Teeter, who lives on long hair and whiskers and he has the population well groomed and looking nicely and he gets a splendid patronage and he is a friendly fellow and makes you feel welcome at his shop.
King Motor Company Here we met a friendly group of mechanics and service men who appreciate their patronage and give an excellent service to their trade. E. G. King, the manager, at one time worked for the Jacob’s Motor Company in Clarendon.
City Café A new thriving café with J. A. Hartsell began business around the first of the new year and has a good patronage. He and his good wife are giving real service and they are new readers of the Sun.
G. W. Johnson For thirty-five years, G. W. Johnson has been a grocery man in Holly Grove and today he is enjoying a nice patronage from his many friends. Mr. Johnson is not in good health at this time and he told us he is going to the Baptist Hospital in Memphis for a complete medical checkup the first of this week. He is a new subscriber to the Sun. Thanks.
Holly Grove Furniture Company Here we met a friendly man, Tom Kameron, operator. He says that he came to this city not intending to stay and he has been in business for the past 9 years and he likes this city best of all. Tom is a good cure for the blues. Glad to have been in his store.
The Leader The Leader is a ladies ready to wear, millinary, and dry goods store operated by Miss Helen Bowles, which opened 8 years ago. She likes the business and says she has a nice trade which she appreciates.
J. A. Walls and Son This is a large general merchandise store with M.P. Walls as manager. It was established many years ago. When we called in this store, Manager Walls was out.
Postmaster Postmaster Lambert gave us a warm welcome to his new place of business, the post office of Holly Grove, to which he was recently appointed. He is a friendly kid and we predict that the city and communities will have an efficient man at the masthead. He takes the place of Postmaster Ruel Sain, who was transferred to Route 1, out of the city.
Mayo and Mayo These people have one of the largest stores in Monroe County. They are readers of the Sun and have been for many years. Here we met Joe Patterson, whose wife is our correspondent for Holly Grove and a good one. Mail or phone your news to her on time and you will have the news from Holly Grove each week.
Home and Auto Store Reports a nice business, which began last July and the trade has increased with each month says operator P. E. Williamson. He has a nice stock of supplies.
G. L. Frank Grocery and Market G. L. Frank Grocery and Market is an old established firm and Mrs. Frank says this store just fits right into their farming operations. Mr. Frank was ill at home and not able to be down when we called.
R. Abramson Store This store was founded in the year of 1870, when the county seat of Monroe County was at the town on Lawrenceville and when the railroad came to Holly Grove, the store moved to that city. Here we met Ernest McCastlain, who is the manager of the store and he is a native born son, and he is now a reader of the Sun and J. B. Calloway, who works there also became a new reader from the press with a good line of Holly Grove news in it. Thanks
Home Service Station The Home Service Station is a well equipped station and the owner and operator J. T. Thompson knows how to greet his customers with a smile. He is getting an excellent patronage from a wide circle of friends. He is a new reader of the Sun and will get the news each week from his county seat. Thanks.
In 1947, Martha King wrote a brief history of Holly Grove. That written history ran in a series of articles in the Monroe County Sun between November 20, 1947 and December 4, 1947. The newspaper articles had been burned in some kind of fire, so there are words that are impossible to make out:
History of Holly Grove by: Martha King
The beginning of the community of Holly Grove was in 1884 and although there were no families right in Holly Grove, or the place which was later to be called Holly Grove, there were families living all around in a circle. Some of these families were the D.B. Renfros, J.H. Kendalls, J.M. Smiths, William Mayos, J.H. Suttons, Frank Kerrs, Dawse Bennetts, J.H. Kempers, and J.L. Prides(?).
J.M. Smith bought some land to build the first house, where the T.G. Dial family now live. In 1854, J.H. (Jere) Dial built the second house where the (?) Dial family is now living. Frank Kerr named the community the first time, which was "Fussy Ridge". He gave it this name because people were living all in a circle on a small (?) of land. They were always wanting (?) land and were never happy with what they had.
The first church, the Presbyterian Church was called Macedonia-(?) Presbyterian Church. (?)down by the Macedonia Cemetery.
There was a "galley" as they called it, for the slaves to sit in and listen to the service, as well as the white people. The membership included one negro, William Johnson, who was a former slave. The church was built in 1867. It burned in 1875.
In 1871, the Missouri Pacific Railroad Co. put a railroad through from Helena to Clarendon. J.H. Kemper was the first conductor and later to be postmaster. The community of Fussy Ridge wanted the depot here, so did Duncan. Since there was a light pull for the depot, this community was then called "Pull Light". J.M. Smith gave the lot to build the depot on and James Kerr gave the adjoining lot. Fussy Ridge got the depot because the land was given.
Later Mr. and Mrs. J.M. Smith and Dr. Roberts gave the town the name of Holly Grove because there was a grove of holly trees in the center of town which was cut down when the depot was built.
The first business in Holly Grove was started in 1872. It was put in by W.D. and B.F. Kerr. The store building was where the present Holly Grove Furniture Store is.
Whiskey was openly sold until 1881. The "saloons of Holly Grove" were one of the town’s big features at that time. Jake Johnson owned and operated the first saloon.
For a while there were no schools, whatsoever. Some of the wealthier families had private teachers for their children. Since there were no schools, children came from homes around and attended school at the homes of these people. The first school was a little log cabin school, located in front of where Mr. Basil Sain now lives. The schoolhouse was a typical log cabin, with an earth floor and split log seats. It was built about 1874.
The Methodist Church was built about 1875 on the left hand corner of where our present school is. Mrs. Ed Mathews’ home was formerly the parsonage. The present Presbyterian Church was built in 1881. One of the first pastors was Rev. Wilson.
A second school called the Kerr Lodge Adademy was built by the Masons in 1886. This school was moved when the present one was built in 1922. The auditorium, gymnasium, and first, second, and third grade wing was added in 1940.
A wooden water tank was built about 1910 and used until the present steel water tank was erected in 1929, but didn’t start operating until 1930. Before an electric plant, owned by Mrs. Connar, was built, Holly Grove had oil street lamps. The homes’ lights were turned on at 6:00 p.m. and off at 12:00 a.m. The Arkansas Power and Light Co. took over the system. Mr. Ed Mathews had the first radio in town.
About 1925, the chief industry was lumbering. This occupation (?) on by the large company of the Chicago Mill Co., and Fisher Delta Lumber Co.
In 1927, the first modern garage and filling station was built by Mr. Rue Abramsom and operated by the Jacobs Motor Company in Clarendon, with Ellis King as manager.
The present Methodist Church was built in 1932. Rev. J.W. Moore was the pastor at that time. Dr. T.B. Sylar had the first car in this community. Mr. Goolsby from Marvel owned and operated the first theater to be in Holly Grove. It was located where the bowling alley formerly was.
Mr. Adolph Abramson built the first gin in this community behind the Kerr Lodge.
Holly Grove now has a Rotary Club, a Parent-Teacher Association, and a Boy Scout Organization.
Although this community has been growing for a long time, it’s still growing and developing into a prosperous community.
-- Edited by Danyelle McNeill Fletcher at 17:02, 2005-11-12
